We again stayed in Topsham, on the Exe estuary. It's one of our favourite places down there. It's one I'm also very familiar with, visiting there since being a young boy when my Grandmother was living there during the 90s & 00s.
Inevitably, visited the estuary and Bowling Green Marsh a couple of times. BGM in particular, was rammed with birds, with Black-Tailed Godwits & Wigeon numbers very much in the hundreds. It was cool to pick out one each of UK and Icelandic-ringed Godwits, one of which was over 9 years old.
I saw the long-staying 1st-winter Long-Billed Dowitcher a couple of times, though always distant, loafing amongst the Godwits and Redshank. A 1st-winter drake Scaup was nice, showing itself on 29/12, together with good numbers of Pintail, a drake Goldeneye and a few Red-Breasted Mergansers out on the estuary, Brent Geese, a couple of Pochard and plenty of Teal, Shoveler etc.
Wader interest consisted of up to 3 Greenshank, a couple of Barwits, a Ruff, c20 Grey Plover out on the estuary, 100+ Avocet, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Curlews and lots of Redshank.
Monday 30/12 was a pretty mild, sunny day which we spent in the Brixham area, starting with a walk down to the beach at Man Sands. As well as it being a nice walk, I was also hoping to see the 1st-winter drake Blue-Winged Teal which had first appeared here in early November. It had taken up residence on the small marsh managed by the National Trust, nestled just inland from Man Sands beach, in what is a gorgeous little valley.
The 15-20 minute walk down from the car park, was brightened up by the discovery of at least one lovely Firecrest flicking around a small copse with a couple of Goldcrest and also a Chiffchaff. A nice surprise!
A quick scan from the hide didn't locate the Teal initially. Further down the path however, with a far better view of the marsh, I managed to pick it out feeding amongst the vegetation. Soon after, he obligingly had a stretch, revealing those vivid blue wings. The white face marking was beginning to show - seeing it in full male plumage would be quite something. I watched it for a while, taking in all the features and enjoying my second UK lifer in just over a week!
The marsh was a great bit of habitat and would make a really decent patch to work throughout the year. Cetti's Warbler(s) were heard frequently, as could a Water Rail, while the marsh also held a pair of Gadwall, several Teal, 3 Snipe and a few Tufties too.
The feeders by the hide allowed great views of several common passerines on the walk back, while the Firecrest continued to show in the same area. I really took a liking to the place; hopefully somewhere I'll return to some day.
Em and I spent the afternoon wandering around the picturesque fishing harbour town of Brixham. It was good to return here, following the brilliant twitch for the White-Billed Diver back in 2013 - almost 6 years to the day! A stroll around the harbour produced at least 5 Great Northern Divers showing really well at times. Several Shags were generally about, a Guillemot was off the breakwater, a few Kittiwake and Gannets offshore, 1-2 Rock Pipits and some very tame Turnstones.
Stars of the show though, were the 6 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwater rocks, showing amazingly well, hopping around the surf and one even running right up to within feet of me, sat on the breakwater wall. I really enjoyed sitting and enjoying these little characters at close range, as they went about their business. A real treat and the first I've seen since 2014!
Finally, the next day I also found the time to pop in to Labrador Bay near Teignmouth, to have a look at those local specialities, the Cirl Buntings.
After a bit of a search, there were 10-15 towards the W end, exactly where I saw them last time I was there. I sat down and let them come to me and they did, popping out of their hedgerow for a look and then coming down to feed along the field margin.
A partially leucistic female Cirl Bunting was also about, with a big white patch in the wing. A vocal pair of vocal Ravens and a female Stonechat were the other things of note.
