Thursday 5th December

A low high tide reduced wildfowl and wader numbers with just 440 Dunlin, 265 Wigeon, 104 Teal, 87 Redshank, 51 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 42 Grey and a Golden Plover, two Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the three female Eider, 19 Great-crested Grebe, six Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore.

Shag - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 3rd December

A Golden Plover in the Bight was the only unexpected addition to the regular flocks of waders and wildfowl in the estuary with six Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe also present. Elsewhere the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was still at the seawall and half a dozen Cirl Bunting were on site.

 Golden Plover (with Dunlin & Grey Plover) - Lee Collins

Cirl Bunting - Lee Collins

Monday 2nd December

A Whimbrel was off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Sunday 1st December

The crisp & cold weather was not the only sign of impending winter with 19 Fieldfare and two Lapwing overhead and a couple of Redwing in Dead Dolphin Wood. In the estuary a female Goldeneye was a new arrival with 162 Dark and five Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 59 Shelduck and the Slavonian Grebe also present. A total of 82 colour-ringed Oystercatcher were recorded over high tide.

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore, 45 Goldfinch were feeding in the Entrance Bushes and at least four Water Rail were in the flooded areas around the First and Main Pond. 

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.

28/11/19

02/10/19

Friday 29th November

The highlight was an enormous flock of Black-tailed Godwit in Shutterton Creek, with the count of 976 a new site record and almost double the previous peak of 512 back in December 1984!  This is the majority of the wintering population on the Exe although c200 birds were also on Exminster Marshes this morning. A more unwelcome sight was the presence of at least 38 Carrion Crow around the Bight at high tide; the increased numbers were constantly disturbing the roosting waders. Also in the estuary 548 Wigeon, 153 Bar-tailed Godwit, 116 Knot, 79 Teal, 49 Common Gull, 45 Snipe, six Greenshank, four Shoveler and the Slavonian Grebe.

Elsewhere a second Slavonian Grebe was a welcome sight off the seawall with three Red-throated Diver, 18 Great-crested Grebe and 12 Common Scoter, two Raven were overhead and six Cirl Bunting and a Chiffchaff were on site.

Thursday 28th November

The highlight was a reported Grey Phalarope but no details were received. There was no seabird passage offshore but eight Great Northern and five Red-throated Diver were noted. Counts from the estuary included 342 Black-tailed Godwit, no doubt displaced by flooding further upriver, 120 Knot, 102 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 29 Snipe flew over Greenland Lake and two Chiffchaff were in the bushes.

 Great Northern Diver - Alan Keatley

Bullfinch - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was offshore.

Wednesday 27th November

Over high tide 51 Shelduck, five Golden Plover and four Pale-bellied Brent Geese were in the Bight, with 146 Bar-tailed Godwit, 74 Snipe and the Slavonian Grebe also in the estuary.

Tuesday 26th November

Counts from the estuary included 425 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 60+ Snipe, 56 Shelduck, 38 Great Black-backed and 29 Common Gull, five Red-breasted Merganser, five Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the female Shoveler was on the Main Pond, the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was at the seawall and at least seven Cirl Bunting were on site.

The overnight wind and rain combined with the high tide lead to further serious erosion along the Dune Ridge and the exposure of the geotube in a couple of places. This was a core part of the 2017 Beach Management Scheme and was buried at the back of the rebuilt dune and intended to remain buried even under storm conditions. It was estimated, depending on the severity of future storms, that beach levels would return to 2016 levels within 20 years, it has taken just two years for the beach to drop beyond 2016 levels.

Monday 25th November

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood this evening with a possible adult Bonaparte's Gull.