Sunday 31st May

Seawatching early morning saw eight Great Northern Diver head south along with two Little, two Common and three Sandwich Tern, 63 Kittiwake, 48 Common Scoter and a first summer Mediterranean Gull. Over the high tide wader counts included 233 Oystercatcher, 104 Dunlin, 67 Ringed Plover, five Turnstone, four Grey Plover, a Whimbrel and a Knot. The continued highlight though were the flocks of Sanderling, with a site record 326 present today, the previous record of 300 was 60 years ago. Elsewhere a Spotted Flycatcher was in Dead Dolphin Wood, the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood and a distinctly unseasonal drake Wigeon was in Shutterton Creek.

Saturday 30th May

Waders continue to feature but numbers were higher on the morning tide suggesting birds are moving through during the day. Counts included 240 Sanderling, continuing the good spring for this species, 79 Dunlin, 74 Ringed Plover, four Grey Plover and a Turnstone. Elsewhere a first summer Mediterranean Gull was offshore with just three Sandwich Tern and two Common Scoter.

Wildlife News: The first Cream-spot Tiger of the year was on the wing and other recent moth news included the first site record of Pammene regiana around the 'Ramalina' tree on the Dune Ridge.

Cream-spot Tiger - Lee Collins

Friday 29th May

A Great Skua was harassing Gannet offshore this evening with a pair of Shelduck with four small chicks on the sea earlier in the day. In the estuary a Knot was a new arrival with counts of 129 Sanderling, 94 Ringed Plover, 88 Dunlin, four Grey Plover and two Whimbrel. Elsewhere a Kestrel was hunting over Langstone Rock and a Wheatear was a late migrant.

Thursday 28th May

Passage waders continue to pass through with 210+ Sanderling, 70+ Dunlin, 65+ Ringed Plover, seven Whimbrel and four Grey Plover. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, three Great Northern Diver were offshore and amongst the resident species the Great-spotted Woodpecker chicks are appearing at the nest hole and are getting ready to fledge.

Wildlife News: A Common Seal was on Bull Hull.

Wednesday 27th May

A very quiet evening visit with 13 Manx Shearwater, seven Sandwich Tern, three Great-crested Grebe and two Common Scoter offshore but no small waders over the low tide. Elsewhere 34 Carrion Crow were on the mudflats and 605 Herring Gull were around the estuary and sandbars with 21 Great and two Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Tuesday 26th May

Whilst everything else seems to have settled in for the summer waders continue to pass through with the first Little Stint of the year; the first spring record since 2009, c260 Sanderling, 42 Ringed Plover, c10 Dunlin and three Grey Plover. There was no sign of the ringed Sanderling though. Elsewhere the only tern seen was a single Common Tern south off the seawall.

Little Stint - Lee Collins

Monday 25th May

Waders continue to pass through with 182 Sanderling, a big increase, 89 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin and six Grey Plover with 294 summering Oystercatcher. Elsewhere two Great Northern Diver were offshore, one in non-breeding plumage, a Garden Warbler by the First Pond was a new migrant and three Red Kite moved through along with a late movement of 71 Swallow, seven House Martin and seven Swift.

Sanderling - Lee Collins

Ringing News: Two colour-ringed Sanderling were picked out amongst the mobile flocks. Both were ringed at Iwik village, Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania in November 2010 & 2011 respectively. Both had been recorded wintering in Mauritania in previous winters but these were the first records away from Africa.

Thanks to Jeroen Reneerkens for this information.

Sunday 24th May

A Spotted Flycatcher in Dead Dolphin Wood was a welcome spring migrant, however two juvenile Mistle Thrush that flew through were arguably the first autumn migrants! Elsewhere two summer plumaged Great Northern Diver were off the seawall, 82 Ringed Plover, 31 Dunlin and 30 Sanderling were in the Bight with 18 Curlew in Shutterton Creek (more autumn migrants?) and off site a Red Kite was over the Haldon Ridge.

Saturday 23rd May

Wader passage continues to keep spring just about ticking over with 70 Sanderling on the beach, in the estuary however there were just nine Dunlin, nine Ringed and three Grey Plover, six Curlew and five Whimbrel. Elsewhere a Wheatear was by the hide, the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, 130 Starling foraging around site indicates a good first brood, with the first fledged Linnet also on the wing. Five Jackdaw were again foraging on site before heading back to nests in the village. This is the first time Jackdaw have been regular on the Warren, previously they have been most frequently recorded overhead as spring and autumn migrants.

Wildlife News: The first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year was on Warren Point. Butterflies on the wing included Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Copper with several Ashy Mining Bee also enjoying the weather. Elsewhere the Common Seal was again on Bull Hill.

Friday 22nd May

The resident Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Thursday 21st May

A drake Gadwall flying around the bay mid evening before heading south was another unseasonal wildfowl sighting, also offshore nine Great-crested Grebe, 45+ Kittiwake and four Common Scoter but no terns. Elsewhere wader counts were limited to 35 Sanderling, 26 Dunlin, seven Whimbrel and a Curlew.

Wildlife News: At least six Bottle-nosed Dolphin were close in offshore mid evening.

Wednesday 20th May

A pair of Wigeon offshore before flying south were the most unexpected record of the day, also offshore a Great Northern Diver and just a single Sandwich Tern. Counts from the estuary included 140 Sanderling, 51 Dunlin, 15 Whimbrel, nine Ringed Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere a Hobby flew through offshore and a single Wheatear remains by the hide. 

Tuesday 19th May

Wader counts included 138 Dunlin, 111 Sanderling, 19 Ringed and three Grey Plover, 13 Turnstone, five Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere a Roseate Tern was offshore and a single Wheatear was by the hide.

Monday 18th May

Six Great Northern Diver flew south early morning with 140 Kittiwake, 90 auk sp, a distant Skua sp, 60 Gannet and 32 Manx Shearwater. In the estuary wader counts included 130 Dunlin, 126 Sanderling, 39 Turnstone, 34 Ringed Plover, eight Whimbrel and two Grey Plover. Elsewhere two Wheatear were on site and five Jackdaw and two Swift were overhead.

Sunday 17th May

Another quiet day, matching many this spring, with a single Wheatear the only passerine migrant. Waders however are moving through with 194 Dunlin and 102 Sanderling on the evening tide, both higher counts than on the morning tide. Other counts included 10 Whimbrel, nine Ringed and four Grey Plover, three Curlew and two Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary and just nine Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Wildlife News: A Common Seal was on Bull Hill this morning and plants coming into flower in Greenland Lake include Brookweed, Southern Marsh Orchid and Adder's-tongue.

Saturday 16th May

Offshore single Arctic and Little Tern were off John's Watch with two Great Northern Diver on the sea. Wader counts over the high tide included 230 Dunlin, 54 Sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, nine Whimbrel and six Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere three Red Kite flew through during the morning with 30 Swallow, five House Martin and single Rook and Jackdaw flew through with a Wheatear in front of the hide.

 Pied Wagtail - Lee Collins

Turnstone - Lee Collins

 

Wildlife News: The first Brown Argus and Common Blue of the year were on the wing along with Red Admiral and good numbers of other invertebrates making the most of the weather.

 

 

Friday 15th May

A single Roseate Tern was offshore this afternoon with a distant Great Skua. Elsewhere two Red Kite flew west over the estuary.

Thursday 14th May

Wader numbers over the high tide included 162 Dunlin, 133 Sanderling, 26 Whimbrel, five Grey and four Ringed Plover. Elsewhere four Great Northern Diver were off the seawall and 310+ Manx Shearwater flew south early evening.

Wednesday 13th May

The afternoon tide saw a substantial increase in waders with 318 Dunlin and 140+ Sanderling present along with 18 Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Turnstone and three Curlew. Elsewhere 38 Manx Shearwater, 29 Sandwich Tern, six Common Scoter and four Great-crested Grebe were offshore and three Wheatear were in front of the hide.

Tuesday 12th May

A quiet day on site with six Great Northern Diver south offshore and waders numbers continuing to pass through with 69 Sanderling up in number but species on the wane included eight Turnstone, six Dunlin and five Ringed Plover. 

Sunday 10th May

Seawatching early morning saw four Pomarine Skua (three pale and a dark phase) lingering offshore for a couple of hours with six Great Northern Diver, 17 Manx Shearwater and 250+ auk sp south, the highlight though was a single Puffin, the first since September 2011. Also passing offshore the first Merlin of the year and 100+ Swallow. Elsewhere a Spotted Flycatcher was in the bushes, 40 Sandwich, two Common and a Little Tern were feeding in the estuary mouth and counts from the estuary included 63 Dunlin, 30 Sanderling, 26 Ringed Plover, three Bar-tailed Godwit and two late Greenshank.

Sparrowhawk - Lee Collins

Saturday 9th May

A Roseate Tern was offshore with c30 Sandwich Tern and a dark phase Arctic Skua, 13 Great Northern Diver flew south with two on the sea with a Red-throated Diver. In the estuary there were 72 Dunlin, c20 Whimbrel, 18 Ringed and two Grey Plover, four Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere what will probably be the year's only Turtle Dove flew through with 100+ Swallow, six Swift and a Hobby.

Wildlife News: Wall Brown are on the wing along the Dune Ridge and the first Painted Lady of the year was in the Buffer Zone.

Friday 8th May

Seawatching produced the bulk of the day's sightings with six Pomarine and two Arctic Skua, 800+ auk sp, three Great Northern Diver, 51 Sandwich, two Roseate, two Common and two Little Tern. The highlight however was a migrating Nightjar that flew in over Exmouth mid morning, the site's 16th record. Also passing through today 150 Swallow, singles of House and Sand Martin, 25 Swift and a Hobby. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 46 Sanderling, 35 Dunlin, 25 Whimbrel, 20 Ringed and seven Grey Plover, five Bar-tailed Godwit and a Turnstone.

Thursday 7th May

Whimbrel still continue to move through with a minimum of 96 present over the evening tide, also present 14 Turnstone, 11 Ringed and four Grey Plover, 11 Dunlin, two Sanderling and single Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere a distant skua sp was offshore harassing Kittiwake.

Wednesday 6th May

Seawatching from 8.30am saw 52+ Manx Shearwater, 40+ Sandwich and six Common Tern, the first Arctic Skua of the year and 14 Great Northern Diver. Earlier 18 Great Northern Diver had flown south past Orcombe Point, Exmouth so a good passage in Lyme Bay this morning. Elsewhere 22 Dunlin, eight Sanderling, six Ringed and four Grey Plover were in the estuary and a pair of Shoveler were an unseasonal sight on Finger Point.

Tuesday 5th May

An evening visit saw a single Roseate Tern head south along with 105+ Manx Shearwater, 15 Kittiwake, six Sandwich Tern and three Fulmar with seven Great-crested Grebe on the sea. Elsewhere 142+ Whimbrel were on site over the high tide with 41 Dunlin, six Grey Plover, a Sanderling and a first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Monday 4th May

Counts from the estuary include 48 Dunlin, 40 Whimbrel, 11 Ringed and seven Grey Plover, four Sanderling, two Bar-tailed Godwit and two Knot. Elsewhere single Sedge and Garden Warbler remained on site along with two Wheatear and just the eight Sandwich Tern offshore today along with nine Common Scoter, three Great Northern Diver and a lone Manx Shearwater.

Wildlife News: A Stoat was watched hunting around the car park.

Stoat - Kevin Pearson

Sunday 3rd May

The first two Roseate Tern of the year were offshore mid evening with 50 Sandwich and a Common Tern, also offshore c120 Manx Shearwater, 40+ Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull and a Red-throated Diver. The overnight rain dropped in a few migrants the pick of which was the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year in Dead Dolphin Wood along with four Garden, two Sedge and a Willow Warbler. In the estuary there were 44 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 37 Dunlin, 17 Sanderling, 13 Turnstone, 10 Grey and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere 70 Whimbrel were on the Golf Course and two Wheatear on site included a Greenland race bird. 

Wildlife News: Butterflies on the wing included Small Copper, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Peacock and Speckled Wood with Common Carder Bumblebee also hunting for nectar sources.

Saturday 2nd May

Six Great Northern Diver flew south early morning with 10 Manx Shearwater and 36+ Sandwich Tern also offshore. Elsewhere wader counts during the day peaked at 52+ Whimbrel, 19 Dunlin, 11 Grey and five Ringed Plover with four Swift overhead and two Wheatear on site. 

Dunlin - Dave Jewell

Friday 1st May

Counts over the high tide included 60+ Whimbrel, 23 Dunlin, 13 Turnstone, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Grey Plover and single Curlew and Ringed Plover. Elsewhere 41 Sandwich Tern and 20 Common Scoter were offshore and two Wheatear and a Willow Warbler were on site.

Bar-tailed Godwit - Lee Collins

Whimbrel - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A Fox showed well by the Main Pond and numbers of Barrel Jellyfish continue to wash up along the shoreline.