Birdwatching Trip Report - 22nd October 2023

Report by Guide Steve Waite.

The final Birdwatching Tram of the 2023 season departed Seaton Station at 8:30am on the 22nd October, in what can only be described as perfect conditions.  For the duration of the two-hour trip the weather simply could not have been better, pure sunshine and no wind, with a distinct autumn chill in the air reminding us winter is just around the corner.

As the tram was heading north from Riverside Halt a Wryneck that flew along the track ahead of the tram resulted in the Guide frantically instructing the driver to stop!  Thankfully everyone on the tram was able to see this small ground-dwelling woodpecker perched up on a track-side bush.  Wrynecks breed in Southern and Eastern Europe and pass through the UK in variable numbers, primarily during the autumn migration following easterly winds.  This bird represents the first Wryneck seen in the local area for over four years, and the Guide’s first for thirteen years so they are not at all frequent here. A tremendous sighting.

Wryneck aside, it was a bird-rich trip.  Although almost all of our summer migrants have now departed for warmer climes, the clear blue skies encouraged our incoming winter migrants to pass over in good numbers.  Several flocks of Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws were seen flying west, with Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Siskins, Goldfinches and Pied Wagtails also recorded migrating overhead.    

At least four Kingfishers were seen during the trip, including some close flight views and more distant but prolonged views of one perched up and occasionally diving in for fish from a post upriver from Tower Hide.   Other smaller birds seen included multiple Stonechats, a couple of Reed Bunting, Rock Pipits and Grey Wagtails, as well as more Linnets and Meadow Pipits that would often perch on the overhead tram wires.

The first Shoveler of the ‘winter’ was nice to see on Seaton Marshes, a smart drake, with large numbers of Teal present and at least 40 Wigeon.  Numbers of all three of these species will only increase as we head towards the end of the year.   

Wading birds put on an excellent show as well, with the common species like Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew and Black-tailed Godwits showing well, supported by some scarcer species with Greenshank, Grey Plover and Ruff also recorded from the tram.

As usual, Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail remained unseen but were heard on several occasions, with a Common Snipe also heard. 

In total 60 different species of birds were recorded during the trip: