So I Was Just Passing By And...

..As it was lunch time I figured I'd have a go for the Red-necked Grebe that's been tarting about off Dawlish Warren.

As I was there.

You know, just passing by.

Anyways, with no knowledge of whether it was even there, I set up at Lifeguards and started scanning whilst sipping free coffee and munching a nice porkus pieus [oh, it's a hard life, it really is...]

Grebes, grebes, everywhere but not a RNG to see...

GCG in s/pl

There was at least one close one.

Birds mostly well out to 'aaaargh that's a dot' range, but this is what Big Scopes are for, and nothing in line of sight escapes 75x   :)

The RNG was lurking off the mouth of the Exe. Waaaay off.

10+ GCG, 7 C Scoter, and lots of Shag and Cormorant were closer.

Time for a wee yomp....

Groyne 16 [from the beach, not the dunes! I'm good] and the RNG was right out there.

Out where?

Out there!

Beyond the sand banks

No, really.

Zoom in [when camera decided to behave a bit and the grebe was actually in view and on the surface....]

Red-necked Grebe

[yes, it is.]

Much much better through the scope, but a higher state of tide, earlier in the day, may be required if you want a decent photo..?

Also in view, 17+ GCG, 2 Eider, 1 RTD, 4 Teal [?] and a Med Gull [nothing close, oh no]

I did get a nice fly-by;

Brents!

Some of 45 which had been feeding on weed by Langstone Rock.

Then I turned attention to the fresher side of the spit,

Those Spoonbills again!

Hiding under the Cockwood bridge, the rascals.

Still a few waders about The Bight, including Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Barwit, Curlew, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher...

Wandering back the inland way, groups of Linnet [22+] and Greenfinch [11] plus a lone regular-flavour Chiffchaff, with a Kestrel overhead, were nice if not spectacular.

For once, no trespassing dog walkers, kitesurfers, paddleboarders, or random mundanes..!

[It was a bit nippy, mind]

Anyways, that's it.

Be Seeing You...