Wednesday 31st May

Counts from the estuary included 39 Bar-tailed Godwit and 15 Dunlin on Finger Point with 15 Sandwich Tern, eight Grey Plover and six Whimbrel also present.

Bee Orchid - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 30th May

Counts from the estuary included 38 Bar-tailed Godwit, 32 Sanderling, 20 Curlew, 15 Dunlin, 13 Whimbrel and eight Grey Plover.

Monday 29th May

Counts over the high tide included 41 Bar-tailed Godwit, 34 Sanderling, 33 Dunlin, 17 Whimbrel, eight Grey and four Ringed Plover with the Slavonian Grebe and an unseasonal Redshank again also on the estuary. Elsewhere four Sandwich Tern, 11 Manx Shearwater and 11 Common Scoter were offshore.

Wildlife News: Five Bottle-nosed Dolphin were again offshore but left mid evening when continually harried, chased and surfed over by a group of Kite-surfers.

Sunday 28th May

Three Red Kite passed through today along with 15 Swift and a couple of Sand Martin but there were no other migrants. The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with counts including 31 Sanderling, 21 Curlew, 15 Whimbrel, eight Grey Plover, six Dunlin, four Turnstone and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver, 32 Manx Shearwater and 30 Common Scoter were offshore and the Great-spotted Woodpecker have fledged.

Wildlife News: A pod of 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphin, including calves were offshore early morning. Both Painted Lady and Marmalade Hoverfly were seen arriving off the sea. Elsewhere at least four Tree Bumblebee workers were by the Crocus Compound, only the second record, and presumably the first nest for the Recording area. In Greenland Lake 15 Small Adder's-tongue were counted with four Bee Orchid spikes and numerous patches of Blue-eyed Grass.

Tree Bumblebee - Alan Keatley

Saturday 27th May

The highlights were what will presumably be the only Turtle Dove of the year around Warren Neck late afternoon and a site record 34 Red Kite (largest flock three) heading NE between 9am and 3.45pm with at least another four offsite, presumably birds reorientating after the movement earlier in the week. The previous site record was six in 2012 and this is the second highest Devon count. Counts from the estuary included 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 29 Sanderling, 13 Turnstone, 13 Whimbrel, 10 Dunlin, eight Grey and a Ringed Plover with the Slavonian Grebe of Cockwood and a Common Sandpiper in the Bight.

Elsewhere a blue Budgerigar was around the Dune Pond and offshore there was an immature male Eider with a pair of Gadwall, three Great Northern Diver, a first summer Mediterranean Gull and 95 Manx Shearwater heading south.

 Eider - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: The first Meadow Brown of the year was on the wing, the earliest ever and first May record on the Warren; and at least three Painted Lady and a Red Admiral passed through. Two of the Bee Orchid spikes are now in flower.

 

Meadow Brown - Alan Keatley

Friday 26th May

An evening visit saw counts of 190 Oystercatcher, 10 Dunlin, eight Grey Plover, seven Sanderling, five Bar-tailed Godwit and two Knot over the high tide with eight Manx Shearwater offshore.

Wildlife News: The first Small White of the year were on the wing.

Thursday 25th May

The increasing SE wind brought a Pomarine Skua and 30+ Manx Shearwater offshore this evening but the Warren missed out on the Red Kite movement over Exmouth with birds heading north up the estuary. Elsewhere counts over the high tide included 105 Dunlin, 15 Curlew, 12 Sanderling, six Whimbrel, six Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and an unseasonal Redshank.

Wildlife News: The sunny conditions brought out at least eight species of butterfly including Wall and Brown Argus. A Golden-ringed Dragonfly along the Dune Ridge was a scarce visitor with both Hairy Dragonfly and Azure Damselfly were also on the wing.

Wednesday 24th May

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood this evening but no other news was received. A quick 15 minute watch this evening drew a blank on the Red Kite movement noted further east.

Tuesday 23rd May

Another quiet midsummer type day with eight Ringed Plover and a Dunlin the highlight over the high tide with a count of 568 Herring Gull. Breeding species included three singing Reed Warbler at the Main Pond, a singing Cirl Bunting along the Back Path and a Rock Pipit along the seawall.

 Stonechat - Dave Jewell

 

Jackdaw - Dave Jewell

One of the birds from the colony at Langstone Cliff hotel, in a recent development these birds now regularly use the Warren for foraging.

Wildlife News: A Cream-spot Tiger was along the Dune Ridge.

Monday 22nd May

The Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood with c20 Manx Shearwater offshore, a Whimbrel in the Bight and the first fledged Linnet were the highlights of an evening visit.

Sunday 21st May

With the exception of a Spotted Flycatcher by the Main Pond it would appear summer is already here with few non resident species present. In the estuary counts included 197 Oystercatcher, six Whimbrel, five Sandwich Tern, four Curlew, four Sanderling, three Whimbrel and three Dunlin.

Saturday 20th May

Counts from the estuary were limited to 24 Sanderling, six Sandwich Tern, three Turnstone and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere a Wheatear was on Warren Point and three Great Northern Diver were offshore.

Friday 19th May

A decent sized flock of 125 Sanderling were along the beach at high tide but no other waders came in to join them with just 23 Dunlin, five Turnstone and a Knot in the Bight.

Thursday 18th May

Counts over high tide included 92 Sanderling, 82 Dunlin, 14 Turnstone, four Ringed Plover and two Whimbrel. It remains quiet elsewhere with just three Sandwich Tern offshore and a lone Wheatear the only migrant.

Reed Warbler - Alan Keatley

 

Wildlife News: Large numbers of Southern Marsh Orchid are now in flower in Greenland Lake, with Brown Argus increasing in numbers as well. Migrant insects included Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Silver Y. In the estuary two Grey Seal were on Bull Hill.

 Brown Argus - Alan Keatley

 Southern Marsh Orchid - Alan Keatley

Red-tailed Bumblebee - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 17th May

The heavy rain that passed through during the morning didn't drop any passerine migrants but in the estuary Dunlin numbers increased to 174 with 17 Whimbrel, 12 Ringed Plover, six Grey Plover and four Sanderling also present. Offshore there were only two Sandwich Tern, continuing the poor spring for terns.

Tuesday 16th May

A Spotted Flycatcher in the Entrance Bushes was today's lone migrant with counts over the high tide remaining very low; 15 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, nine Whimbrel, six Ringed Plover and just four Sandwich Tern.

Monday 15th May

Seawatching early morning saw 84 Manx Shearwater, 12 Great Northern Diver, two first-summer Mediterranean Gull and an Arctic Skua heading south. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 219 Oystercatcher, 18 Ringed Plover, 15 Sanderling, nine Curlew, five Turnstone, two Dunlin, two Whimbrel and single Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Sunday 14th May

The undoubted highlight was a singing male Eastern Subalpine Warbler that spent all day along the Back Path, though could be elusive at times. This is the first record for the Warren and the first Subalpine Warbler in mainland Devon since 2001 so was welcomed by large numbers of observers. Other migrants were however noticeable by their absence. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and an unseasonal Kingfisher were off Cockwood, a Common Tern was offshore, counts from the estuary included 53 Sanderling, 19 Whimbrel , just nine Dunlin, four Ringed Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

 

Eastern Subalpine Warbler - all Steph Murphy

Saturday 13th May

The first Yellow-legged Gull of the year, a third calendar year bird, was on Finger Point with a drake Wigeon also in the estuary. Counts over the high tide included 51 Dunlin, 33 Sandwich Tern, 26 Sanderling, 12 Grey Plover and 10 Whimbrel. Elsewhere 14 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver flew south offshore and a Red Kite flew east over Warren Point.

Wildlife News: A number of migrant insects were present including two Painted Lady and several Red Admiral, along with the migrant hoverflies Episyrphus balteatus and Eupeodes corollae. However despite these the presence of a Vagrant Emperor on Warren Neck late morning was still unexpected. This is the first confirmed Recording Area record for this North African dragonfly.

Friday 12th May

A Red Kite that flew low over the Bight mid morning before heading east over Exmouth was the highlight. Counts over the high tide included 40 Sandwich Tern, the highest count of the year; 38 Sanderling, 30 Turnstone, 16 Dunlin, 15 Whimbrel, five Ringed and five Grey Plover, three Curlew a Bar-tailed Godwit and a summer plumaged Knot.

 Whimbrel - Dean Hall

Whitethroat - Dean Hall

Thursday 11th May

Spring continues to drag its heels with a noticeable lack of terns offshore despite seemingly ideal conditions and few if any fresh migrants. Waders are however on the move with 298 Dunlin on the morning tide but only 19 in the evening. Other counts included 28 Ringed and 27 Grey Plover, 17 Sanderling, eight Turnstone, two Bar-tailed Godwit, two Knot and a Redshank. Elsewhere 50 Common Scoter were offshore, 10 Sandwich Tern were in the estuary and an unseasonal drake Pintail was in the Bight.

Wednesday 10th May

A Sedge Warbler was in Dead Dolphin Wood but no other news was received.

Tuesday 9th May

A drake Garganey was reported offshore briefly mid morning before flying east, also heading east a Red-throated Diver.  Counts from the estuary included 50 Dunlin, 19 Ringed and four Grey Plover and three Sanderling. Elsewhere 19 Swift and 10 Swallow, a Yellow Wagtail, a Willow Warbler and a Wheatear.

Monday 8th May

Migrants overhead include two late Siskin, a Yellow Wagtail, 139 Swallow, seven House Martin and a Swift. Counts from the estuary included 71 Dunlin, 37 Sanderling, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Ringed Plover, 22 Whimbrel, 11 Grey Plover, two Knot and two Sandwich Tern.

Sunday 7th May

Counts from the estuary included 255 Oystercatcher, 136 Dunlin, 52 Ringed Plover, 37 Sanderling, 29 Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Shelduck, including a flock of 15 that flew ESE out to sea in morning, 15 Whimbrel and 13 Grey Plover. Overhead a Red Kite flew east towards Exmouth around 2pm, hirundines remained on the move with 158 Swallow, 48 House and three Sand Martin through along with 27 Goldfinch and two Swift. Elsewhere two Wheatear were the only new grounded migrants and 31 Manx Shearwater, six Great-crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver were offshore.

Saturday 6th May

Wader counts from the estuary included 230 Dunlin, 44 Sanderling, 44 Whimbrel, 27 Ringed Plover, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Curlew, two Knot, two Grey Plover and a Redshank. Elsewhere a Great Skua flew south offshore and overhead migrants included 51 Swallow, 45 Swift, 32 House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.

Bar-tailed Godwit - Dave Jewell

Friday 5th May

The first Pomarine Skua of the year, two pale phase fully spooned adults, flew east close inshore mid morning with a few Manx Shearwater also passing during the day and an Arctic Skua later afternoon. The only other news received was of a Hobby heading north amongst the first noticeable passage of Swift.

Thursday 4th May

A Siskin in off the sea and then around Dead Dolphin Wood was unexpected with seven Swift, a Wheatear and a Willow Warbler other migrants. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood and a couple of Stock Dove were in the Railway Saltmarsh.

Wednesday 3rd May

The resident Slavonian Grebe, now in full summer plumage, was off Cockwood Steps this evening but no other news was received.

Tuesday 2nd May

A small overnight arrival saw three Sedge and a couple of Garden Warbler first thing but few other migrants. Although there were no counts over the high tide at least 80 Dunlin, 56 Ringed Plover and 25 Whimbrel were in the estuary along with the summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: The first Brown Argus of the year was on the wing.

Monday 1st May

A Black Tern that landed briefly in the Bight was the pick of the day with five Little Tern also present over the high tide. Waders numbers also increased with 250 Dunlin, 100+ Whimbrel, 52 Sanderling, 48 Ringed Plover, 32 Grey Plover and 15 Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore a distant Arctic Skua headed east, with 64 Manx Shearwater, 110 Common Scoter, seven Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver going south.

Other migrants included the first Swift of the year through with three Yellow Wagtail, 20 Swallow, eight Sand and a House Martin, five Wheatear, single Sedge and Willow Warbler and a Hobby that flew across the bay and made landfall over Orcombe Point.

 Grey Plover (Oystercatcher & Bar-tailed Godwit) - Simon Thurgood

Whitethroat - Simon Thurgood

 

Wildlife News: The sunny weather this afternoon brought out good numbers of butterflies with a couple of Wall Brown on the Dune Ridge, other species on the wing included Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Small Copper and Peacock. There was no sign of any Speckled Wood, perhaps the cold spell has already curtailed the first generation.

 Wall Brown - Alan Keatley

Holly Blue - Alan Keatley