Monday 12th November

Due to the significant erosion by storms at Dawlish Warren NNR, Teignbridge District Council (TDC) is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point is possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide.  Access to the bird hide is via Warren Point. The only public access, up and back down, to these areas is therefore along the beach at lower states of tide.  Contact TDC for questions about access.

No birding today but a cannon-netting session lead to 53 Oystercatcher being trapped and ringed this morning. Four birds were re-traps, three from the Feb 2018 catch and a ringed bird from March 2004.  Of this catch, 10 Oystercatcher were fitted with GPS devices (along with the usual colour-rings plus an extra uncoded small blue ring above the metal on the left leg).  These GPS devices will record locations once per hour, research that will provide valuable insight into feeding locations around the Exe Estuary and further afield.

Please continue to submit your sightings to Exeoystercatchers@gmail.com For more information on the Exe Oystercatcher project visit http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/oystercatchers.html.

Sunday 11th November

Sadly, the weather of the last few days has resulted in significant erosion of Dawlish Warren. Teignbridge District Council are advising extreme caution when visiting this area. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe to use. Access along the site, to and from the bird hide & Warren Point is along the beach only, with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water.

The Slavonian Grebe, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two Goldeneye and two Greenshank were in the estuary with three Eider offshore. Elsewhere 42 Pied Wagtail roosted in the Golf Course Pond and 160 Wood Pigeon were overhead.

Saturday 10th November

Sadly, the weather of the last few days has resulted in significant erosion of Dawlish Warren. Teignbridge District Council are advising extreme caution when visiting this area. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe to use. Access along the site, to and from the bird hide & Warren Point is along the beach only, with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water.

Counts from the estuary included 1150 Dunlin, 1150 Oystercatcher, 500+ Wigeon, 409 Dark and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 55 Grey Plover, 41 Shelduck, 41 Snipe, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Great-crested Grebe, five Knot, four Goldeneye, four Greenshank, three Mediterranean Gull, two drake Tufted Duck and single Little and Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 18 Long-tailed Tit and six Chiffchaff moved around the bushes and c12 Cirl Bunting were on site.

 The reason the Dune Path is closed after Groyne 10. At least five metres of dune has been lost since last year's beach recharge.

Warren Point. Severe erosion has also occurred in the Desert with much of this area being lost.

Change is a constant feature of the Warren, in the mid 1990's this area was part of the main Exe channel. The sand level was approx. two metres lower back then but has also been approx. two metres higher than today in recent years.

Friday 9th November

Sadly, the weather of the last few days has resulted in significant erosion of Dawlish Warren. Teignbridge District Council are advising extreme caution when visiting this area. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe to use. Access along the site, to and from the bird hide & Warren Point is along the beach only, with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water.

Counts from the estuary included 1449 Dunlin, 900 Oystercatcher, 297 Dark and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 57 Grey Plover, 31 Shelduck, 24 Turnstone, seven Sanderling, two Greenshank, two Goldeneye, a Knot and a Great Northern Diver. Despite strong southerlies few birds were offshore with a two hour watch early afternoon producing just a single Gannet; the three Eider were off Warren Point.

Pale (& Dark)-bellied Brent Geese - Dave Jewell

Thursday 8th November

A Purple Sandpiper in front of the hide was the highlight, a scarce bird here and even rarer inside the estuary. Also from the hide 264 Dark-bellied and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 140 Great Black-backed and the adult Yellow-legged Gull, nine Sanderling, the first four Goldeneye of the winter and the Slavonian Grebe.

Purple Sandpiper - Lee Collins

Wednesday 7th November

The overnight storm saw two Pomarine and a Great Skua south offshore first thing with 50 Gannet and 40 Kittiwake but passage soon halted. Counts from the estuary included an adult Yellow-legged Gull with 100+ Great Black-backed Gull, an increase to 25 Shelduck, a male Shoveler with the Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe again with four Red-breasted Merganser.

Elsewhere an Eider was off Langstone Rock, eight Chiffchaff, six Redwing, two Goldcrest and a Blackcap were in the bushes with single Mistle Thrush and Redpoll overhead.

Monday 5th November

The first Black Redstart of the year was around the Boathouse Inn and seawall early morning.

Sunday 4th November

Seawatching from first light saw three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver head south along with 335 Gannet, 56 Kittiwake and 36 auk sp.

Saturday 3rd November

Counts from the estuary included 1065 Dunlin, 264 Dark-bellied and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 175 Great Black-backed Gull, 41 Grey Plover, 35 Turnstone, seven Sanderling, four Knot, two Greenshank, two adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe with four Red-breasted Merganser.

Elsewhere 115+ Gannet were offshore with 65 Kittiwake, 20+ Guillemot, 13 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver and three Chiffchaff were in the bushes.

Friday 2nd November

A Black-throated Diver was off Langstone Rock with a Red-throated Diver and three Eider. Elsewhere a Velvet Scoter south of the recording area off Dawlish.