Thursday 31st December

Two Slavonian Grebe remain in the estuary with 163 Grey Plover, 94 Shelduck, 50+ Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank and a Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore and a Firecrest was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was in the estuary.

Tuesday 29th December

The only news received suggests an early April date not late winter. A single Swallow was, not unexpectedly, the latest ever site record and just outside the Recording Area a Painted Lady was in the village.

 Goldcrest - Simon Thurgood

Redshank - Dave Jewell

Monday 28th December

Counts from the estuary included 163 Grey Plover, 80 Shelduck, 76 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Common Gull, 50 Knot and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes and four Red-throated Diver were offshore.

Sunday 27th December

Seawatching early morning saw four Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver head south with 72 Gannet, 27 Kittiwake and a Fulmar. In the estuary counts included 135 Grey Plover, 56 Knot and 26 Sanderling with the resident Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood. Elsewhere the Firecrest, Treecreeper and Coal Tit were in the Entrance Bushes with three Chiffchaff.

Great Northern Diver - Dave Jewell

Saturday 26th December

A Purple Sandpiper on the seawall was the day's highlight with single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver offshore. In the estuary two Slavonian Grebe were present along with six Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 70+ Shag, 70+ Common and a Mediterranean Gull, 21 Red-breasted Merganser and a Goldeneye with the Water Pipit was in front of the hide.

Wildlife News: A Common Darter reported in a sheltered area of Greenland Lake is by far the latest dragonfly record for the Recording area.

Friday 25th December

A wet and windy Christmas saw Firecrest and Treecreeper sheltering in the Entrance Bushes, a couple of Red-throated Diver offshore and an adult Mediterranean Gull in the estuary.

Wildlife News: A total of 33 plant species were recorded in flower today, as well as expected species such as Gorse and Winter Heliotrope, unseasonal surprises included Bush Vetch and Sea Bindweed.

Thursday 24th December

A seawatch as the rain passed through saw five Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver south with 50 Gannet and four Kittiwake in the bay, with two more Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver on the sea. Elsewhere a Coal Tit and a Treecreeper were around the Entrance Bushes and two Slavonian Grebe and an eighth Great Northern Diver were in the estuary.

Wednesday 23rd December

The dry weather encouraged the Yellow-browed Warbler to make another appearance by the First Pond mid morning. Elsewhere a quick look offshore gave single Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver heading south, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and at least 64 Pied Wagtail were in a pre-roost gathering on the Golf Course.

Ringing News: A metal ringed Brent Goose on the Golf Course was a Russian ringed individual returning for at least it's third winter on the Warren. More info can be found here http://dawlishwarren.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/thursday-7th-february-2013.html

Wildlife News: A Painted Lady was still on the wing today.

Monday 21st December

In poor weather an adult Little Gull was in the estuary this morning, also from the hide the Water Pipit and a good count of 89 Shelduck and a good number of ring recoveries including a Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull.

Brent Goose - Simon Thurgood

Sunday 20th December

A Black-throated Diver and a Great Skua flew south early morning but no other news was received.

 Redshank - Dave Jewell

Shag - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: A Painted Lady was in Greenland Lake and a dead Bottle-nosed Dolphin was washed ashore on the beach near groyne 6.

Saturday 19th December

Counts from the estuary included 421 Brent Geese, 160 Grey Plover, 98 Great Black-backed and 65 Common Gull, 59 Bar-tailed Godwit, 49 Knot, 29 Sanderling, 24 Ringed Plover, four Greenshank and a Kingfisher, also from the hide the wintering Water Pipit, a Sandwich Tern, the third different individual this week, and a flyover Golden Plover. Elsewhere the wet and windy weather meant there was little showing in the bushes but it was also quiet offshore with nine Pintail arriving from the south and three Red-throated Diver passing the only sightings of note.

Sandwich Tern - Lee Collins

Friday 18th December

The Water Pipit was back in front of the hide today with other counts from the estuary including 326 Wigeon, 108 Grey Plover, 85 Teal, 80 Bar-tailed Godwit, 64 Shelduck, 50 Knot, 21 Sanderling, five Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 15 Long-tailed Tit, 11 Goldcrest, seven Chiffchaff and a Coal Tit were in the bushes.

Wildlife News: A young Grey Seal pup was washed up on the beach this morning, origin unknown as there are no known breeding sites on the south coast.

Wednesday 16th December

The Yellow-browed Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff remained around the Entrance Bushes with two other non calling tristis-types new arrivals. Also around the bushes 20 Goldfinch, nine Goldcrest, seven Chiffchaff and two Cirl Bunting. Counts from the estuary included 235 Wigeon, 145 Brent Geese, 123 Grey Plover, 62 Shelduck, 31 Turnstone and the resident Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver were offshore and a Mistle Thrush flew over.

Monday 14th December

A Slavonian Grebe in Shutterton Creek was the first winter arrival joining up with the resident bird, other records from the estuary included 317 Brent Geese, 178 Teal, 164 Wigeon, 45 Shelduck and a Greenshank. Elsewhere three Velvet Scoter and a Great Northern Diver flew offshore, the two Firecrest, two Coal Tit and five Chiffchaff were in the Bushes and a Purple Sandpiper was reported from the seawall.

Sunday 13th December

A Black-throated Diver was close in offshore early morning before drifting out on the dropping tide, also on the sea at least three Great Northern and three Red-throated Diver, with another 12 Red-throated and three Great Northern Diver heading south. The calmer conditions saw six Chiffchaff around site, Cirl Bunting again singing in the Buffer Zone, the Yellow-browed Warbler, two Firecrest and the Siberian Chiffchaff all still present around the Entrance Bushes and single Brambling, Blackcap and Lesser Redpoll all new arrivals. Elsewhere two Sandwich Tern were in the estuary before heading offshore and the Bonaparte's Gull was feeding around sandbars at low tide.

Wildlife News: A pod of at least eight Bottle-nosed Dolphin were offshore mid-morning. With the continuing mild temperatures many plants are still in flower, despite this it was still surprising to see one of the willows coming into leaf alongside this year's leaves that had yet to fall.

Saturday 12th December

A grey overcast day with little news to report but two Firecrest remained in the Entrance Bushes, a Great Northern Diver was offshore and the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 102 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Wildlife News: A Devon Bryophyte Group meeting on site recorded 40+ species including the rare liverworts Petalwort and Weedy Frillwort along with other great named species such as Greasewort, Frizzled Pincushion, Knieff's Hook-moss and Lesser Bird's-claw Beard-moss. Some more species and images from Paul Bowyer can be found on this link http://ukbirds.net/Dawlish-Warren-12-12-15.html

Thursday 10th December

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

Wednesday 9th December

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still around the First Pond this morning in the spring-like conditions. Also making the most of the mild weather the Siberian Chiffchaff, a Coal Tit and six Chiffchaff in the Entrance Bushes and at least two Cirl Bunting were around site.

Tuesday 8th December

A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported around the Entrance Bushes but there was no sign mid-afternoon, however the Siberian Chiffchaff was still present with two Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and the Treecreeper. Elsewhere a Grey Wagtail was around the car park and six Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore.

Monday 7th December

There was little movement offshore this morning with 30+ Kittiwake, 12 Gannet and a Great Northern Diver heading south whilst single Great Northern Diver, Razorbill and Guillemot were on the sea. Elsewhere two Firecrest were around the Entrance Bushes, a Cirl Bunting was singing in the Buffer Zone and a Chiffchaff was feeding in the gardens around the seawall.

Sunday 6th December

Three Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver were offshore this morning with another Red-throated Diver and 48 Shelduck in the estuary but no other news was reported.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was in the estuary off Cockwood.

Saturday 5th December

A strong southwest wind increased through the day to exceed 50 mph and during about three hours of seawatching a total of 38 Great Northern Diver was the second highest count ever here; also three diver sp and two Red-throated Diver.  Other counts were 180 Gannet, four Fulmar, eight Common Scoter, a drake Velvet Scoter, which had earlier passed Sidmouth, 52 Kittiwake and 20 auk sp.

In the estuary on a neap high tide, 345 Brent Goose, 43 Shelduck, 379 Wigeon, 134 Teal, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, two Little Egret, four Grey Heron and the Slavonian Grebe.  Of the waders, 15 Ringed Plover, 45 Turnstone and 27 Sanderling were noted; also c.95 Great Black-backed Gull including a few south at sea.

Two Redwing flew over; c.40 Starling in off and a Grey Wagtail again on the seawall.

Mostly blown out, interest in the bushes was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, four Goldcrest, two Chiffchaff, plus what was thought to be last weekend's Siberian Chiffchaff again; and single-figures of Chaffinch, Bullfinch and Goldfinch.

Friday 4th December

A short early seawatch saw 9 Great Northern Diver, a Common Scoter, 8 Gannet, 10 Kittiwake and 7 Razorbill fly south.  A Grey Wagtail was again on the seawall. In the bushes, 3 Chiffchaff, 24 Long-tailed Tit, six Goldcrest, 4 Bullfinch and 32 Goldfinch feeding high in the Alders.

Tuesday 1st December

On the dropping tide there were counts of 1540 Dunlin, 179 Brent Geese, 51 Grey Plover and 15 Shelduck with 820 Oystercatcher, 22 Cormorant and 18 Turnstone roosting on Finger Point and the regular Water Pipit made a brief appearance in front of the hide. Elsewhere two Great Northern Diver and four Great-crested Grebe were offshore, three Shoveler were on the Main Pond, a Cirl Bunting was around the bushes and a Short-eared Owl was sadly found dead.