Panic Over!

Saturday 4th December
An exciting day's birding (in terms of the Otter!) today. Clear highlight was a Short-eared Owl found by Ray this morning. It was sitting on the salt marsh vegetation being harrassed by carrion crows, until it finally had enough and flew high west. A scarce bird in Devon these days.

Waders today gave a good show with 33 Dunlin (particularly good count), 1 Knot, 1 Grey Plover (scarce bird on the Otter), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6+ Redshank, 4+ Ringed Plover, 4+ Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Curlew and 12+ Snipe, but no sign of yesterday's reported Ruff. Other highlights included 2 adult Med. Gulls, 2+ Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Bullfinch 300+ Skylark a single Brambling and the first Water Pipit of the winter on the Cricket Pitch.

Finally, why the title Panic Over?
Having become quite attached to our now resident Glossy Ibis, I last saw the bird on the 30th November and it appeared to not be feeding too well and roosting when it should have been feeding. I was therefore concerned it may have finally moved on or even succumbed during the recent freeze. However, today it was alive and well, but has moved north of White Bridge rather than its favoured southern fields - Phew!