Budleigh Salterton & Aylesbeare Common RSPB - Fri 15 Apr

After a good morning on Dartmoor we headed back west and paid a visit to Budleigh Salterton. I was after one bird in particular, and it did not take me long to locate it on the estuary...a first winter Bonaparte's Gull. This was only the second time I had seen this species, the previous one also in Devon.

We then walked up the river, scanning the fields where we noted at least seven Wheatears, one of which was a pretty smart looking Greenland Wheatear, noticeably larger and with much more colouration on its underparts. A Sedge Warbler was seen briefly in the small reedbed and a Cetti's Warbler also made a cameo appearance.
After about a mile long walk upstream we decided to take a seat and whilst doing so I noticed a few House Martins hawking over the fields, my first of the year. We then retraced our steps back to the car park and I managed to get a better view of the Bonaparte's Gull.
We then drove up to Aylesbeare Common and took a quick stroll around the heathland. Several Chiffchaffs were singing and a few Linnets were about. We were looking for Dartford Warblers but we drew a blank. As Ellie was meeting a friend for a cup of tea we headed back home after a great day out in Devon.