Saturday 28th February

The Bonaparte's Gull was again off the seawall early morning though distant. Two Long-tailed Duck were again off John's Watch with a Great Northern and three Red-throated Diver, 15 Common Scoter, 15 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere it was again quiet over a low high tide but a pair of Shoveler were on the Main Pond. 

Friday 27th February

In calm conditions 28 Great-crested Grebe and seven Red-throated Diver were off the seawall with two Long-tailed Duck and a Slavonian Grebe off John's Watch. In the estuary the high tide was very low so there were very few roosting waders but two Slavonian Grebe were off Cockwood. Elsewhere a Redwing dropped into the Entrance Bushes and at least five Moorhen and three Little Grebe were on the Main Pond.

Sanderling - Lee Collins

Thursday 26th February

A Black-throated Diver was reported offshore with single Red-throated and Great Northern Diver, two Long-tailed Duck and a Slavonian Grebe.

Wednesday 25th February

Milder conditions but no change yet in the birds. Records from the estuary included 144 Grey Plover, 125 Brent Geese, 76 Knot, 58 Redshank, 13 Turnstone and a Greenshank with the Water Pipit again in front of the hide. Elsewhere two Raven cronked overhead and 20 Common Scoter and 15 Great-crested Grebe were all that could be found offshore. 

Water Pipit - Lee Collins

Tuesday 24th February

The Water Pipit was again in front of the hide briefly with 165 Grey Plover, 87 Knot, 31 Turnstone and 20 Sanderling. Elsewhere two Shoveler were on the Main Pond. 

Wildlife News: The first Frog spawn of the year was recorded today. This species is a recent arrival on the Warren with Common Toad far more frequent in the site's ponds. 

Monday 23rd February

The Bonaparte's Gull was again with Black-headed and Common Gull in the Railway Saltmarsh during the morning. Also in the estuary 24 Shelduck, a Greenshank and a first winter Mediterranean Gull. 

Sunday 22nd February

The Bonaparte's Gull was in the Railway Saltmarsh mid morning with 172 Grey Plover, 120 Redshank, 92 Knot, 90+ Bar and 54 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Ringed Plover and two Greenshank. Off John's Watch there were eight Red-throated Diver, 18 Common Scoter, 23 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe, whilst a 75 minute seawatch after midday produced 178 auks sp south along 151 Guillemot but just four Razorbill among the closer groups, 21 Gannet, six Kittiwake and two Fulmar. Elsewhere a Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course and three Shoveler were on the Main Pond. 

Saturday 21st February

Counts over the high tide included 1900+ Dunlin, 690 Oystercatcher, 362 Brent Geese, 201 Curlew, 159 Grey Plover, 136 Redshank, 80 Knot, 13 Shelduck, four Sanderling and three Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 74 Common and two Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a Siberian Chiffchaff was in the Entrance Bushes early morning, 14 Common Scoter, 10 Great-crested Grebe and nine Red-throated Diver were offshore with three Shoveler and two Gadwall on the Main Pond. Off site three Purple Sandpiper could be seen on Maer rocks from John's Watch.

 Knot - Lee Collins

2014 Ringing Report

In addition to recording and reporting sightings of birds and wildlife, the recording group maintains a database of ringing recoveries. The number of field recoveries continues to increase and the 2014 report is below and can be downloaded here. The 2013 report is also available on the website and can be downloaded here. 

Friday 20th February

The high tide saw good numbers of waders roosting on the Warren with counts of 1800 Dunlin, 159 Bar-tailed Godwit and 148 Grey Plover. Also in the estuary 235 Brent Geese, 58 Red-breasted Merganser, three Black-tailed Godwit, three Ringed Plover, two Pintail and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Velvet Scoter and 11 Red-throated Diver were offshore with four Shoveler and three Gadwall on the Main Pond. 

Monday 16th February

The Red-necked Grebe was reported again offshore. 

Wildlife News: Two nationally scarce liverworts can be found on the bare ground under two Bird Cherry trees next the toilet block just to the west of the tunnel.  Micheli's Balloonwort (Sphaerocarpos michelii) and Blue Crystalwort (Riccia crystalina) were both first found last year and are found nowhere else in Devon. Although outside the recording area their presence is highlighted here in the hope they will not be destroyed cf the Pennyroyal site on the Warren. 

 Riccia crystalina (Blue Crystalwort) - Andrew Cunningham

Sphaerocarpos michelii (Micheli's Balloonwort) - Andrew Cunningham

Sunday 15th February

The Bonaparte's Gull was seen again early afternoon, flying past the hide and out towards the estuary mouth, with a Water Pipit in the Saltmarsh and a Dartford Warbler in the adjacent scrub. Counting an hour before a low high tide WeBS numbers were very low with fewer than 500 waders present. Elsewhere 28 Great-crested Grebe and six Red-throated Diver were offshore and six Shoveler, six Gadwall and a Snipe were on the Main Pond.

Saturday 14th February

The Long-tailed Duck was again off John's Watch with the Water Pipit in front of the hide. In the estuary an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Railway Saltmarsh with nine Black-tailed Godwit and two Pintail. 

Friday 13th February

Counts from the estuary included 710 Dunlin, 300 Brent Geese, 144 Grey Plover, 99 Knot, 44 Cormorant, 29 Ringed Plover, 26 Turnstone, 14 Red-breasted Merganser and two Pintail. Elsewhere six Red-throated Diver were offshore and four Shoveler were on the Main Pond. 

Turnstone - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A Stoat was hunting around the seawall and Amusements mid morning.

Thursday 12th February

The Red-necked Grebe and Black-throated Diver remain offshore with the Water Pipit in front of the hide. Elsewhere five Gadwall, four Shoveler and a Snipe were on the Main Pond with 60 Knot and 27 Ringed Plover in the estuary. 

Wednesday 11th February

The Bonaparte's Gull was in front of the hide mid morning with the Red-necked Grebe off groyne 5 and a Black-throated and 10 Red-throated Diver off Langstone Rock. 

Tuesday 10th February

The Bonaparte's Gull was around Groyne 5 mid morning before flying back out to sea. No other news was received. 

Monday 9th February

The Bonaparte's Gull was offshore during the morning, around the groynes and occasionally feeding phalarope-like on the sea. Also offshore four Red-throated Diver and half a dozen Common Scoter.

Sunday 8th February

The Long-tailed Duck was again off John's Watch with the Water Pipit in front of the hide. Elsewhere fewer than 10 Great-crested Grebe were offshore with two Red-throated Diver with five Gadwall, three Snipe and at least three Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Gadwall - Lee Collins

Saturday 7th February

The Red-necked Grebe remained offshore with just seven Great-crested Grebe, also present the Bonaparte's Gull, a drake Velvet Scoter and four Red-throated Diver. Counts from the estuary included 1675 Oystercatcher, 1650 Dunlin, 386 Curlew, 115 Grey Plover, 92 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, 84 Redshank, 80 Knot, 36 Turnstone, 31 Red-breasted Merganser, 16 Sanderling and two Greenshank. Elsewhere seven Shoveler and five Gadwall were on the Main Pond and a pre-roost count of 637 Herring Gull.

 Shoveler ( & Snipe) - Lee Collins

Teal - Lee Collins

Thursday 5th February

The Black-necked Grebe remains offshore with 21 Great-crested Grebe, 16 Razorbill, 11 Common Scoter, three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Counts from the estuary included 1030 Dunlin, 130 Grey Plover, 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Knot and three Sanderling. Elsewhere five Shoveler, three Gadwall and two Teal were on the Main Pond and 85 Carrion Crow were on the mudflats at dusk. 

Wildlife News: A Bottle-nosed Dolphin was off Langstone Rock late afternoon. 

Wednesday 4th February

A Red-necked Grebe off the seawall was the first of the year with three Red-throated Diver, 44 Great-crested and a Black-necked Grebe also present. The lack of any Slavonian Grebe denied a five grebe day, this species used to winter in nationally important numbers but is now a scarce visitor. Elsewhere at least one Gadwall was on the Main Pond, both Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker were in the Entrance Bushes and 23 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank were in the estuary. 

Wildlife News: The last known site for Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium in the recording area has been lost, replaced by a graveled private parking area. This species has the highest level of legal protection available but this hasn't prevented its deliberate destruction and probable loss from the Warren.

Tuesday 3rd February

The Bonaparte's Gull was around Groyne 4 briefly late morning before heading into the estuary. Elsewhere around a dozen Common Scoter were offshore and the Water Pipit was reported in front of the hide.

Sunday 1st February

The Black-throated Diver was again off the seawall with just a single Red-throated Diver and 35 Great-crested Grebe with the Bonaparte's Gull again just south of Langstone Rock. Elsewhere both Long-tailed Duck were off John's Watch, 28 Sanderling were in the Bight and the Water Pipit was in front of the hide. 

Oystercatcher - Lee Collins