Saturday 9th November

The highlight was a Slavonian Grebe briefly offshore, the first new arrival for this formally regular species since March 2017; the flightless resident bird remained in the estuary.  Counts from the estuary included 972 Oystercatcher, 530 Dark-bellied and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 400+ Dunlin, 310 Wigeon, 154 Teal, 40 Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Shelduck, five Red-breasted Merganser and a Greenshank.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was still at the Main Pond, the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was at the seawall, six Goldcrest and two Chiffchaff were on site and also offshore two Red-throated Diver and eight Great-crested Grebe.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit (ringed in Norway) - Alan Keatley

Friday 8th November

A switch to cold NW winds saw virtually no overhead movement, except a tardy flock of 35 Wood Pigeon. Elsewhere three Goldcrest and two Chiffchaff were in the bushes, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on offshore sandbars. The highlight was the first Long-tailed Duck of the year, an immature off the seawall, before flying south with Common Scoter, also offshore two Eider, three Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver.

Thursday 7th November

A third consecutive morning of pigeon movement with 11,140 Wood Pigeon and 18 Stock Dove heading SW before 8.30am, when the tap was abruptly turned off. Also over 98 Jackdaw, 18 Skylark, five Snipe and a couple of Siskin.

Elsewhere single Red-throated and Great Northern Diver were offshore, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and counts from the estuary included 651 Oystercatcher, 605 Wigeon, 332 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 93 Teal, 77 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plover, 15 Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wednesday 6th November

The conditions looked good for continued vis mig and for once the birds followed the books with 19,458 Wood Pigeon counted heading SW along with a minimum of 76 Stock Dove, the largest flocks heading out to sea before 8 o'clock. Also moving a high count of 754 Jackdaw, 221 Starling, 100 Skylark, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Siskin, just six Chaffinch, six Shoveler, two Pintail and single Snipe and Golden Plover.

Elsewhere the highlight was a Little Auk briefly off the seawall, the first since 2015, also offshore 75 Common Scoter, two Eider and two Red-throated Diver. Counts from the estuary were much reduced as a paraglider flushed all the waders and wildfowl with just 530 Wigeon and 223 Brent Geese returning in any number, also present four Greenshank, a Great Northern Diver and the Slavonian Grebe.

Kestrel - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: At least five Common Darter were still on the wing with three Red Admiral, whilst a Grey Seal was offshore. good numbers of fungi are out including Bird's Nest Fungi Crucibulum laeve in the Desert.

Bird's Nest Fungi - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 5th November

Pigeons continued to move with 33135 Wood Pigeon and a minimum of 82 Stock Dove heading SW during the morning along with 48 Lesser Black-backed Gull south and 39 Skylark, 11 Jackdaw, seven Lapwing, two Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin also overhead. Three Peregrine were hunting the pigeons and elsewhere two Sandwich Tern, seven Greenshank, three Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary.

Monday 4th November

Visible migration started up again but finches remain largely absent. Totals included 5320 Wood Pigeon, 141 Jackdaw, three Bullfinch, a Siskin and a Great-spotted Woodpecker which flew high west. Grounded migrants included a Firecrest in the Entrance Bushes, four Goldcrest and three Chiffchaff, whilst the Cetti's Warbler remained at the Main Pond.

Elsewhere a juvenile Peregrine hunted pigeon flocks, two Eider were offshore, the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was at the seawall and counts from the estuary included 302 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (27 juveniles), seven Greenshank, four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two late Sandwich Tern and the Slavonian Grebe.

Due to the significant ongoing erosion, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path has been washed away, so is completely closed with no access. Access to the Hide and Warren Point is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of any high tide. The only access to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

Sunday 3rd November

Counts over high tide were limited due to considerable boat activity in the Exclusion Zone flushing the majority of waders and wildfowl in Shutterton Creek. Totals included 770 Oystercatcher, 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, with a good percentage of 53 juveniles, 246 Redshank, 68 Turnstone, 12 Greenshank, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

A Mistle Thrush was the pick of a small overhead passage with 300 Wood Pigeon, 20 Skylark, 17 Jackdaw, two Stock Dove, two Siskin and single Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere three Eider and single Red-throated and Great Northern Diver were offshore, the Merlin was again around the Bight and two adult Peregrine hunted the pigeons.

Wildlife News: A probable Vagrant Emperor flew west along the Dune Ridge.

Saturday 2nd November

Attention was turned to the sea following the overnight gale but seabirds disappointed with just 140 Gannet, 58 Kittiwake and a Skua sp through before 11am but other seawall highlights came in the form of the first Goosander of the year circling the bay, five Great Northern Diver, a Merlin and a Fieldfare, with the Scandinavian Rock Pipit still present.

Elsewhere a Black Redstart and a Wheatear were on the Dune Ridge at what remains of John's Watch, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond, a second Merlin was around the Bight and counts from the estuary included 328 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 141 Great Black-backed Gull, 56 Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Shelduck, 10 Greenshank, a Whimbrel and the Slavonian Grebe.

Friday 1st November

Counts from the estuary continue to increase with 1540 Wigeon, 1445 Dunlin, 362 Dark and four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 223 Black and 29 Bar-tailed Godwit, 59 Sanderling, 43 Turnstone, 10 Greenshank, two Shoveler and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Eider and a Great Northern Diver were offshore, two Lapwing were again on the Golf Course, the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was on the seawall, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond with two Firecrest and a Redwing on site.

Great-spotted Woodpecker - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was offshore and two Red Admiral and a Painted Lady were on the wing.