Birdwatching Trip Report – 20th August 2023

An excellent evening out on the line, with common, scarce and even some rare birds seen during the two-hour trip. 

One of the real surprises was a Garganey (probably an adult female) on Colyford Marsh scrape, it emerged partially obscured among the feeding Teal on the mud but then ended up being the only duck swimming on the water.  Garganey is a rare visitor to the Axe Estuary, in fact it is a species that is often not recorded here for several years in a row, it is also the only species of duck which is strictly a summer visitor to the UK.

Even rarer, although far less exciting for most on the tram was a young Caspian Gull seen briefly settled on the Estuary before flying off south.  Initially thought to be a Yellow-legged Gull but some slight anomalies in the plumage meant photos had to be inspected post-trip, which confirmed it to be a Caspian Gull. Caspian Gull is essentially the ‘Herring Gull of Eastern Europe’ however they are spreading and now breed in Germany and Holland. This sighting constitutes the 30th ever record of Caspian Gull on the River Axe.

There were plenty of other scarcities noted, particularly wading birds with 16 different species of ‘waders’ recorded.  At least six Avocet were on Black Hole Marsh, including the three young birds which hatched here earlier this year, along with several Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits.  On Colyford Marsh scrape were two Ruff, two Greenshank, a Turnstone, a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe and several Ringed Plover and Lapwing.  On the Estuary two Knot showed close to the tram, with a Whimbrel, two more Greenshank, several Redshank and Common Sandpipers.  

There were four sightings of Kingfisher, including prolonged flight views of one early in the trip.  A Barn Owl made it on to the trip list, thanks to one of the local birds roosting at the entrance of its nesting box on the opposite side of the river!  

There weren’t that many small birds recorded, and frustratingly despite hearing a couple of Yellow Wagtails none were seen.  The same could be said for Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail which were also only heard.

In total 56 different species of birds were recorded during the trip, listed below: