Birdwatching Report - 15th March 2026
15th March, 2026
As usual for our birdwatching tram trips in early spring, there were many signs that the seasons are changing, with some wintering birds still on show, but many signs of early breeding and spring also prevalent.
In keeping with the cold wind that suppressed the temperature during the morning, wintering birds still on the Axe included surprisingly good numbers of Wigeon and Teal, two pairs of Gadwall on Seaton Marshes, and a single Lapwing remaining on Black Hole Marsh.
Other wading birds included a couple of brief Snipe, the usual Oystercatchers, Curlew and Redshank, plus six Black-tailed Godwits. Although the Godwits do winter here, one of them was looking stunning it is red breeding plumage, indicating it may be heading off to Iceland soon for another nesting season.
Three Coot on Black Hole Marsh were novel to see, and presumably at least two of them will attempt to nest on the Lagoon at Seaton Marshes.
More signs of spring were visible in the resting gulls on the estuary, with a high number of Common Gull and several Lesser Black-backed Gulls present. Both species migrate through the Axe in good numbers in late winter/early spring as they head north to their breeding sites.
The sound in the air during the trip was also a harbinger of spring, with many of the resident species of bird in full song including Blackbird, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Cetti’s Warbler. Singles of Chiffchaff and Blackcap also singing were a nice treat, although it’s impossible to know whether these individuals were early spring migrants, or lingering wintering birds just warming up their vocals.
On the raptor front, several Buzzard, a breeding pair of Kestrels and a single Sparrowhawk were noted.
In total 56 species of birds were recorded during the two-hour trip.
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Species List - 15/03/2026 |
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Mute Swan |
Great Black-backed Gull |
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Canada Goose |
Woodpigeon |
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Shelduck |
Magpie |
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Gadwall |
Rook |
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Wigeon |
Carrion Crow |
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Teal |
Jackdaw |
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Mallard |
Green Woodpecker (heard) |
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Shoveler |
Blue Tit |
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Little Grebe |
Great Tit |
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Pheasant |
Blackcap (heard) |
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Little Egret |
Chiffchaff (heard) |
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Grey Heron |
Cetti's Warbler (heard) |
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Buzzard |
Wren |
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Kestrel |
Starling |
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Sparrowhawk |
Blackbird |
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Coot |
Song Thrush (heard) |
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Moorhen |
Robin |
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Water Rail (heard) |
Stonechat |
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Lapwing |
Dunnock |
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Oystercatcher |
House Sparrow |
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Black-tailed Godwit |
Meadow Pipit |
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Curlew |
Rock Pipit |
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Redshank |
Pied Wagtail |
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Snipe |
Chaffinch |
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Black-headed Gull |
Greenfinch |
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Common Gull |
Goldfinch |
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Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Linnet |
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Herring Gull |
Reed Bunting |