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Wednesday 25 April 2012

Exminster marshes

Dashed out to the marsh as soon as finished work at 14:00 and glad I did getting good views of the 3 black winged stilts thanks to the use of a scope from the gathered birders. Poped home via matford marsh were the Egyptian goose Was still present. Returned to exminster marsh at 17:00 with bins and scope had 23 wheatear in fields on right of station road and my first swifts for the year with 20+ in 2 hours. No sign of the black winged stilts but large numbers of whimbrel very mobile best estimate was 800-1000 including a group of 130+ high over the estuary. Good numbers of swallows and sand martins and 12+ house martins 30+ little egrets around the marsh, 100+ shelduck, 6+ wigeon, 8+ tufted duck, a brief view of a short eared owl towards the motorway bridge. An excellent afternoon