Ortolan, Ibis and Eagle

During the last couple of weeks I have been regularly checking the coastal fields for migrants near the East Devon Golf Course, where I was lucky to find an Ortolan Bunting back in September 2023.  Highlights included the Cirl Bunting counts which seem to have had a good breeding season, plus Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatears. However, on the morning of 9 Sep, it seems lightning can strike twice, as I found another Ortolan Bunting, less than 600 metres from the one in 2023!

The bird was really vocal (see video below with sound) and similar to the 2023, it was with a Cirl Bunting. Having watched it for a minute, I then tried to take a photo, only to find my battery had died! So I called local birder and friend, Matt Knott, to see if he was nearby as his patch is adjacent to the area. Within a few minutes he arrived, but I was convinced the bird had since departed, as I heard the Ortolan calling and then saw a passerine head off high to the west. We searched the area for about 30 minutes and could not relocate it. That could have been the end of it, but luckily Matt returned in the afternoon to find it back in the original spot! I was literally just on my way back to double check the area when Matt rang with the good news! Phew! Thanks Matt! I returned and enjoyed some wonderful views with Matt and Clive as the bird fed in the newly ploughed field just meters away from us. Such a great bird!

Fast forward to 16 Sep and back on the Otter Estuary, a group of 9 Glossy Ibis spent just a couple of hours on site, having first been seen at Dawlish Warren. Thanks to a message on our local WhatsApp group, I was scanning the skies of the Otter as the message confirmed the birds had departed Dawlish and were heading east. Just 20 minutes later I picked them up flying over Big Marsh north. They settled briefly, before relocating to nearby Little Marsh where incredibly, just 10 minutes later, an immature White-tailed Eagle suddenly appeared and began circling above the Marsh before drifting off west. My first WT Eagle on the Otter and a very exciting 30 minutes!!

Juvenile Ortolan Bunting, West Down Beacon 9 Sep 2026

One of 9 Glossy Ibis, Little Marsh 16 Sep 2026

9 Glossy Ibis, Little Marsh 16 Sep 2026

Immature White-tailed Eagle & Buzzard, Little Marsh 16 Sep 2026

Immature White-tailed Eagle & Buzzard, Little Marsh 16 Sep 2026

Caspian Tern, Otter Estuary NR

A very exciting morning birding the patch today when I found this adult or near adult Caspian Tern feeding at high tide over Big Marsh North. I had pretty much finished a pleasant morning's birding around the Otter Estuary, when I stopped to chat to fellow birder Simon Bates. Whilst chatting I scanned the water only to see this unmistakable carrot-bill of a tern flying over the top end of the marsh and I shouted out some expletives to Simon! We then both watched it as it actively fed over the water and it caught a fish. It only stayed feeding for around 25 minutes, but really pleased a few locals managed to see it before it headed south out of the estuary at around 11.15am.

It appears to be the 7th record for Devon (Thanks to Mark Bailey for the stats as always!) and more importantly it is a 1st for the Otter Estuary. Interestingly, it is clearly unringed and so a different bird to the one seen on the Exe in mid July (this bird was colour-ringed). It's only the 2nd one I have seen in Devon when friend Matt Knott found one on the Exe on 5th August 2014.

Bonaparte's Gull

I was very pleased and fortunate to find a 2nd cal year Bonaparte's Gull on the patch yesterday evening 14 March. During recent weeks there have been hundreds of Black-headed Gulls visiting the Otter Estuary and with an influx of Bonaparte's Gulls into the SW, the species has definitely been on my radar. In the morning, it was lovely and sunny and it actually felt warm for once! The Mrs and I were pleased to see our first Wheatear of the year, a lovely male as expected.

During the evening, I headed out again to check the estuary. Numbers of Black-headed Gulls were few, but nice to see the Black-tailed Godwit flock was still present. So I walked north to check Little Marsh for Water Pipits, when a big flock of Black-headed Gulls flew overhead and I noticed a slightly smaller gull in with the flock that seemed to have a fairly striking all pale underwing. I didn't get my bins on the bird until the bird was flying away from me, so too late to see any detail other than size. It dropped onto the estuary much further south with the rest of the Black-headed Gull flock. 

As I had only seen the underwing without my bins and Bonaparte's was already in my mind, I thought it was probably just wishful thinking, but something made me walk back south for around 800 metres to see if I could re-find it in the flock. As I arrived, Black-headed Gulls were beginning to take off and head south, presumably out to roost on the sea, so I knew I didn't' have long to scan through the flock. More birds started taking off and again I noticed a smaller gull with a pale underwing, so I just went for my camera as I literally only had seconds. Very fortunately, I got lucky with one shot I needed to confirm the id!

This evening (15 March), the bird re-appeared, but again it was literally on view for a matter of seconds as I picked it out from one of the many Black-headed Gulls flocks that were heading south down the valley and out to sea, presumably to roost.

Fingers crossed I  get to see it for a little longer over the coming days if it continues its pattern. Finally, thanks to my old mate Peter for being involved in the excitement and discussion of some initially poor photos before I found the lucky shot!

This is the 3rd for the Otter Estuary:

Friend and local birder Matt Knott found a bird in Jan 2007.

Then I found one April 2011

The last bird I saw in the UK was this lovely adult in Dorset in May 2018

The lucky shot!

2nd Cal Year Bonaparte's Gull, Otter Estuary NR 14 March

2nd Cal Year Bonaparte's Gull, Otter Estuary NR 15 March

2nd Cal Year Bonaparte's Gull, Otter Estuary NR 15 March

Bonaparte's Gull with Black-headed Gulls, Otter Estuary NR 15 March

Northern Wheater, my first of the year, Otter Estuary NR 14 March 

   16th March: Briefly on the deck this evening

More White-fronts

 A late afternoon walk around the patch today was timed well as the flock of 22 White-fronted Geese arrived onto Little Marsh at around 4.10pm where they joined the Canada Goose flock. They arrived from the north, so may be feeding further up the Otter Valley during the day. 

Greater White-fronted Geese

A miserable windy grey day was brightened up late this afternoon thanks to Rick who found a group of 22 Russian White-fronted Geese on Little Marsh. The last time the species was seen here was back in December 2021, so it was a welcome sight! 

Other birds recently on the patch include - a bizarre sighting of 2 South African Shelducks on the evening of the 15th with an Avocet. The two immature Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank and Little Stint continue to overwinter on site.

16 of the 22 Greater White-fronted Geese, Little Marsh

The 22 Greater White-fronted Geese, thinking twice about departing in southerly gale!

South African Shelduck, Big Marsh North

Up to 4 Cattle Egrets have been see around Little Marsh

Two immature Spoonbills, seem to be commuting between the Otter and the Teign

Spoonbills

Grey Plover, always nice to see, as ever a common species on the Otter Estuary

Purple Sandpiper

The Slavonian Grebe, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank all still remain faithful to the Otter Estuary NR, but today's surprise was a Purple Sandpiper feeding on the southern edge of Big Marsh with a small group of Ringed Plover. Although I have recorded Purple Sandpiper before in Budleigh, I have only ever seen them on the rocks off Otter Head and they are always very scarce, so to see one feeding on the mudflats was quite exciting.

Purple Sandpiper Otter Estuary NR 10 Jan 2026

Spotted Redshank, Otter Estuary NR 09 Jan 2026

Unseasonal Little Stint

Yesterday during the late afternoon, I was very surprised to find a Stint on the patch. It was always distant and the light was fading, but I managed some poor record shots. Despite the distance, I was pretty happy it was just still a Little Stint and nothing rarer. However, I was keen to see it closer, particularly as the plumage looked slightly odd.

The bird was still present today and finally showed much closer, so it was good to confirm it was a juvenile moulting into 1st winter plumage. It's an unusual plumage to see in the UK and it will be interesting to see if the bird stays the whole winter.

Moulting Juv to 1st winter Little Stint 31/12/25, Otter Estuary NR 

Moulting Juv to 1st winter Little Stint 31/12/25, Otter Estuary NR

Moulting Juv to 1st winter Little Stint 31/12/25, Otter Estuary NR

Moulting Juv to 1st winter Little Stint 31/12/25, Otter Estuary NR

Little Stint, Otter Estuary NR taken on 30th December

More Slavonian Grebe

Great to see the Slavonian Grebe is happy still residing on the patch today and a lot closer too!

It was feeding on what I think are Sand Goby.....

Slavonian Grebe, Otter Estuary NR

Slavonian Grebe with Sand Goby, Otter Estuary NR

Slavonian Grebe, Otter Estuary NR