A morning visit to Seaton Wetlands

Really this British weather is impossible. I had with me, in the car, a sun hat, a woolly hat, a raincoat and a fleece, boots and trainers, as I had no idea what to expect. In the event it was fine, and a sweater was all I needed and there were only a few drops of rain.

We assembled in the car park, where we were greeted by a robin beside the car waiting for titbits, and we were divided into two groups. I went with Stuart, and we first went to the viewing platform where we saw some farmland birds like dunnock, house sparrows and a chaffinch.

Then on to the Tower Hide, where there was a lot to see. We started to look at the lagoon, where there were distant waders, a selection of shelduck, in various stages of life. They were smart, fully re-plumaged adults, some very scruffy in eclipse, and a nursery of young. It was nice to see them in these stages. They really are very smart birds. A kingfisher was flying around, which was lovely in the sun. Looking over the river we saw a lot of gulls on the sand banks. We only saw great and lesser black-backed gulls, herring gulls and black-headed gulls, a few cormorants, and mute swans.

We then went to the Island Hide. From there we could see the waders more clearly. We then had the fun of sorting them out. There was a group of black-tailed godwits which were easy to see, then there were the redshanks. Among them was a spotted redshank which we missed and the other group got. We had excitement at seeing a pair of wood sandpipers. They were easy to see as they were just in front of the hide. We saw several common sandpipers as well. There was also a ringed plover, much to Audrey’s delight as it was the first of the year for her.

We then went to the neighbouring Colyford Common where we saw a curlew and then a pair of whimbrel. There was a great flock of Canada geese on the grass. Then we wandered back to the car park. Tried again, and failed, on the spotted redshank. We did manage a few finches like goldfinches and greenfinches. As we were going passed the Lookout we were nearly attacked by a low flying object, namely a female mallard which flew over our heads. Made us jump.

It was a lovely cheerful morning out. My thanks to our team who made it such fun. As well as being in the company of some excellent birders.

Ann Crawford

50 species recorded (by the two groups combined; H = heard-only): Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Shelduck; Mallard; Teal; Swift; Stock Dove; Woodpigeon; Moorhen; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Ringed Plover; Whimbrel; Curlew; Black-tailed Godwit; Dunlin; Common Sandpiper; Redshank; Wood Sandpiper; Spotted Redshank; Greenshank; Black-headed Gull; Common Gull; Great Black-backed Gull; Herring Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Little Egret; Kingfisher; Kestrel; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Raven (H); Blue Tit; Great Tit; Swallow; Chiffchaff; Reed Warbler (H); Wren (H); Robin; House Sparrow; Dunnock; Pied Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Linnet; Goldfinch.