Birdwatching Trip Report - 23rd March 2024

The weather was not kind to us today, with almost constant rain to some degree or other. With a chilly NW wind as well, it was no surprise that many birds kept their heads down!

Still, it was great to see the tramline House Sparrow flock early on, sending us on our way with a lot of cheerful chirping!

The latter part of March is normally a good time to expect one or two early migrants, like Wheatear, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff, but it was hardly a day for long-distance travel, and only the latter species showed up this morning, with an elusive individual in the tramline bushes.

Many of the wintering wildfowl have moved on now, but Teal were still around in decent numbers, with some lovely views of this tiny duck. We heard Wigeon too, and a male Gadwall on Seaton Marshes was slightly unusual; it’s a regular species along the Axe, but never guaranteed. Another oddity was an escaped Bar-headed Goosehanging out with the local Canada Goose flock at the northern end of the estuary.

Waders were represented by Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits and the usual noisy Redshanks and Oystercatchers.

The smaller birds were quite hard to come by in the inclement weather, but at least two Cetti’s Warblers were in fine voice, singing from deep cover, and we managed one or two Stonechats and Meadow Pipits too.

Both Fox and Roe Deer were seen, with a shaggy-looking Roe buck posing for a minute or two.

The species count for the morning was 49, with all birds seen or heard listed below.