Seaton

Today dawned sunny and cloudless, and the early morning frost soon disppeared. After doing a couple of chores around Exmouth, we decided to go east to Seaton and the Axe estuary and have a walk there for a change. So we pulled up at the entrance to Seaton Marshes reserve and wandered round the area. After a Long-tailed Tit put in an appearance, I was soon on to my firstChiffchaff of the year, which performed in the small trees adjoining the pond next to the pleasant aspect of the local sewage works! There were plenty of birds around the Axe estuary and we spent a little time in the hide overlooking the river, but nothing unusual stood out. Interesting to see Little Grebes on the floodwater though, wouldn't have thought the water to be deep enough for them here, but there they were diving..... We meandered on down the valley to the seafront, and ate our sandwiches sat in the sunshine, something we've been unable to do so far this year! Unfortunately there were crowds of people about taking advantage of the fine weather, (I don't blame them!), but no birds of note were seen. Victuals consumed, we ambled back to the car, adding Kingfisher to my 2014 list on the way. It was sitting on fenceposts next to some drainage channels on the lower part of Seaton Marshes, and having picked it up distantly through the bins, we were able to get a little better views through my 'scope.