Birdwatching Trip Report – 24th July 2026
27th July, 2026
Birdwatching Trip Report – 24th July 2026
Steve Waite
A stunning evening for the first birdwatching tram since the summer break, and a great time of year to be out with the post-breeding migration of birds well underway.
Four Cattle Egret with cattle north of Seaton Marshes were a nice surprise, with one even sat on a one of the cows! In the same area we saw our only Kingfisher of the trip which offered a couple of brief views frustrating giving most on the tram the slip.
Wading birds were well represented as expected for this time of year, with the highlight being four Avocet on Black Hole Marsh. Although this species has bred here once before, these were migrating birds clearly having a rest during their migration between their breeding and wintering sites. Whimbrel showed well too, with at least three along the Estuary along with Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers and singles of Greenshank and Dunlin.
Other highlights included a family of Gadwall, some nice views of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and in the sky above good numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins.
In total 54 species of birds were recorded during the trip. The Black Swan that we saw at the lower end of the Estuary can’t be included in the list as it’s not counted as a wild bird, having presumably originated from a private collection or a feral population, although oddly Pheasant is allowed!
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Species List - 24/07/2026 |
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Mute Swan |
Woodpigeon |
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Canada Goose |
Stock Dove |
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Shelduck |
Magpie |
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Gadwall |
Rook |
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Mallard |
Carrion Crow |
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Cormorant |
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard) |
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Pheasant |
Swallow |
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Little Egret |
House Martin |
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Cattle Egret |
Sand Martin |
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Grey Heron |
Kingfisher |
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Buzzard |
Great Tit |
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Coot |
Reed Warbler (heard) |
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Moorhen |
Sedge Warbler (heard) |
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Lapwing |
Chiffchaff (heard) |
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Oystercatcher |
Cetti's Warbler (heard) |
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Avocet |
Wren (heard) |
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Curlew |
Starling |
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Whimbrel |
Blackbird |
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Black-tailed Godwit |
Robin |
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Greenshank |
Stonechat |
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Redshank |
Dunnock |
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Common Sandpiper |
House Sparrow |
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Black-headed Gull |
Meadow Pipit |
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Common Gull |
Greenfinch (heard) |
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Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Goldfinch |
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Herring Gull |
Linnet |
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Great Black-backed Gull |
Reed Bunting (heard) |