After work was going to go over exminster marshes but with the thick mist decided to do double locks wetland and the river valley park on the exe and a very productive afternoon it turned out to be.
Walking down the canal path from the swing bridge at countess wear a chiffchaff was near the viewing point on the the first pool with 2 buzzards in trees and a snipe at back of the pool. On the second pool 10 teal and 2 more snipe, 2 reed buntings, and a fight between 2 water rails was a surprise. The walk around to the path on the riverside of the pools produced another reed bunting(m) , 5 bullfinch(2m,3f) , 2 chiffchaff, on the next pool 8 wigeon, 3 snipe, 1 shoveler but no sign of the green sandpipers, 3 great spotted woodpeckers, 15+ meadow pipits and another chiffchaff.
Then looked along the river and appearing in the mist were
3 Goosanders (2m,1f)
they were very flighty and lost them a couple of times but were always in the area of the double locks pub on the river. Also along the river to the quay produced 3 little egrets, 1 kingfisher, 1 treecreeper, and 1 more chiffchaff.
A very good afternoon along the river.
