Sunday 12 February – Exe Estuary coach trip Leader: Jane Cumming

The annual coach trip to the Exe Estuary arrived at Dawlish Warren just after 10:00. After a pleasant close-up encounter with six Turnstones, a scan of the bay produced little with around twelve Great Crested Grebes and two Eider being the highlights. Walking the dunes alongside the golf course a small group of Skylarks fed on the ground next to 14 Oystercatchers. A Chiffchaff fed in the birch scrub surrounding a pool that supported four Shovelers, Teal and Water Rail. Three of our group managed a sighting of the reported Cirl Buntings while two others glimpsed a Dartford Warbler, naturally in Gorse scrub. Two Stonechats gave us good views as we returned to the coach. After clinching Kestrel and Treecreeper at Powderham, all 32 of us embarked upon a walk to Exminster Marshes taking in many wildfowl and waders as we went. Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and Dunlin were numerous on the mud while Brent Goose and Lapwing spread themselves over the fields. At the canal lock a Ruff and a Greenshank were many people’s ‘bird of the day’ as were the eight Red-breasted Merganser on the receding tide. Here, from the Turf Hotel, Grey and Golden Plover, and Avocet made use of the expanding mud. The marshes were a bit quieter but c. 400 Brent Goose was a spectacle as a Marsh Harrier kept the ducks, which included Pintail, Shelduck and Wigeon, forever wary. In total we listed 73 species seen or heard. Thanks to Judy for organising and to Jane for leading. Mike Jackson