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Monday, 5 March 2012

Exminster marshes

A cold north-west wind so few birds singing or displaying. Noticeably fewer ducks and geese than before my holiday. There were 6 barnacle geese, although one kept to itself and may have been the individual that wintered on the marsh, one bar-headed goose and 3 greylags. The American wigeon was with c60 wigeon and good number of shoveller (c40), a few teal, 10 pintail and 12 tufted ducks. A female adult peregrine was sitting on the ground amidst the Canada geese.


On the canal bank I saw a chiffchaff - the first for me at this location since the new year. That was a nice surprise. Then it called and I realised it was a tristis. It showed well, providing all the correct plumage for a Siberian chiffchaff and and continued to call. It was about 100m north of the Turf.