Friday 30th June

The only news received was of four Mediterranean Gull in the Railway Saltmarsh, including the first juvenile of the year; and the Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood.

Thursday 29th June

The overnight rain dropped in some returning waders the highlight of which were three adult Little Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary included 179 Curlew, 41 Turnstone, 28 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank, 12 Grey Plover, eight Sandwich Tern, seven Dunlin, three Knot and a Ringed Plover.

Little Ringed Plover - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: The overcast weather limited insect activity but a brief period of sunshine saw several of the migrant Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus on the wing.

Marmalade Hoverfly - Alan Keatley 

Tuesday 27th June

No news was received today but the 2016 ring reading report is now available here.

Monday 26th June

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 208 Oystercatcher, 21 Sandwich Tern, 11 Redshank, nine Grey Plover, four Mediterranean Gull, four Common Tern and a Sanderling.

Wildlife News: Late news concerning the recent discovery of Mossy Stonecrop Crassula tillaea in the Buffer Zone. Only the second record for Devon and filling in a noticeable gap in the UK distribution of this nationally scarce plant. It should be looked for in other similar habitats locally such as the Maer, and car parks on the Haldon and East Devon Commons.

Sunday 25th June

Three Common Sandpiper were along the beach this morning but there were few other new arrivals. Counts from the estuary included 144 Curlew, 41 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Grey Plover, 11 Whimbrel, eight Redshank, a Greenshank and a Dunlin. Also from the hide the Slavonian Grebe, 11 Sandwich Tern and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere the immature Great Northern Diver was again offshore and a recently fledged Bullfinch was around the Entrance Bushes.

Wildlife News: The first Ringlet and Volucella zonaria hoverfly of the year were near the Crocus Compound with large numbers of Small Skipper and Meadow Brown on the wing.

Saturday 24th June

Counts from the estuary continue to increase with 131 Curlew, 106 Black-headed Gull, 46 Bar-tailed Godwit, 27 Shelduck, 16 Sandwich Tern, 12 Whimbrel, 12 Grey Plover, six Dunlin, two Turnstone and a Greenshank. Also in the estuary the summering Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: Good numbers of hoverflies and solitary bees were on the wing including the migrant Pied Hoverfly and a second migrant Red-veined Darter of the year was reported.

 Large Pied Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) - Alan Keatley

Pied Hoverfly (Scavea pyrastri) - Alan Keatley

Friday 23rd June

Wader numbers show autumn moving on at pace with 258 Oystercatcher, 84 Curlew, 24 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Grey Plover, five Redshank, three Greenshank, a Sanderling and a Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 106 Black-headed Gull and 12 Sandwich Tern whilst 77 Swift flew through and a Great Northern Diver was offshore.

Thursday 22nd June

Returning waders included 91 Curlew, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit, five Redshank, three Dunlin and two Greenshank. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 11 Sandwich Tern, 61 Black-headed and a Mediterranean Gull.

Wildlife News: Tree Bumblebee are now well established on site with individuals in several locations including Warren Point. Garden and Buff-tailed Bumblebee were also recorded. The Black & Yellow Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata) can now be found nectaring on flowering Bramble.

Black & Yellow Longhorn Rutpela maculata - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 20th June

Wader numbers continue to increase as the days shorten. Over the high tide there were 103 Curlew in the Railway Saltmarsh with 12 Redshank, five Bar-tailed Godwit and two Whimbrel. Around the Bight there were 226 Oystercatcher, four Turnstone and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere six Manx Shearwater and 53 Common Scoter were offshore.

Monday 19th June

A hot still summer day with just 41 species seen in a six hour visit, this included 65 Curlew, six Shelduck, five Sandwich Tern and two Cirl Bunting.

Wildlife News: In the conditions even invertebrates were thin on the ground but Small Skipper and Meadow Brown were on the wing along with several Red Admiral and a few worn Common Blue and Brown Argus. Three Emperor Dragonfly were patrolling the Main Pond.

Small Skipper - Alan Keatley

Sunday 18th June

Today's WeBS count consisted entirely of 193 Oystercatcher and a Sandwich Tern, it's quiet out there...

Saturday 17th June

Counts from the estuary on a low high tide included 68 Curlew, 33 Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Shelduck and just two Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere 29 Common Scoter were offshore.

Wildlife News: Three Golden-ringed Dragonfly were on Warren Point.

Thursday 15th June

A typical midsummer day with 65 Curlew, 44 Black-headed Gull and three Redshank in the estuary presumably including some returning breeders with the summering group of 38 Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere 40 Common Scoter were offshore and a pair of Cirl Bunting were collecting food along the Back Path.

 Cirl Bunting - Alan Keatley

 

Wildlife News: The warm afternoon brought out the first Common Darter of the year with Emperor Dragonfly also on the wing.

Common Darter - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 13th June

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

Wildlife News: This Ornate Brigadier Soldierfly was recorded nectaring on Hemlock Water-dropwort around the Entrance Bushes today, the first Warren record.
 

Odontomyia ornata (Ornate Brigadier) - Steve Fuller

 

Saturday 10th June

Seawatching early morning saw a Balearic Shearwater go south with six Arctic Skua, four Storm Petrel, 70 Common Scoter, 23 Manx Shearwater and two Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere 39 Bar-tailed Godwit, 37 Sanderling, 14 Grey Plover and three Dunlin were in the estuary.

Wildlife News: A total of 29 Jet-skis offshore was an new high and this may well have caused the regular Grey Seal to appear further down the site off the seawall. There are now 16 flowering spikes of Bee Orchid near the Dune Pond - an impressive increase after three were found for the first time last year.

Thursday 8th June

Several short bouts of seawatching through the day saw a total of four Storm Petrel, 74 Manx Shearwater, 17 Kittiwake and 11 Gannet head south but many birds were missed. Also offshore a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver, 32 Sandwich and a Little Tern. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 26 Sanderling, 17 Turnstone, 14 Dunlin, eight Grey Plover and three Black-tailed Godwit.

Tuesday 6th June

A look offshore in the evening showed that any seabirds were long gone with 15 Manx Shearwater and a Guillemot the highlights.

Monday 5th June

The first Storm Petrel of the year flew south mid morning with 290 Manx Shearwater, 12 Common Scoter, five Guillemot, two Sandwich Tern and an Arctic Skua in three hours. Another three hour watch in the evening was hampered by poor visibility with two Arctic Skua and two Common Tern the highlights.

Sunday 4th June

An Arctic Skua was a new arrival but wader counts were much reduced with 19 Curlew, 13 Dunlin, eight Whimbrel and five Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe remains in the estuary.

Saturday 3rd June

Wader numbers are on the increase with some still heading north and others already undertaking post (failed) breeding movement. Counts included 51 Bar-tailed Godwit, 48 Sanderling, 35 Curlew, 25 Dunlin, seven Grey Plover and two Whimbrel. Other records included 1735 Herring Gull offshore, many taking advantage of the sand coming ashore as part of the beach recharge, the Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood and a first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Wildlife News: A new population of 14 Pyramidal Orchid were discovered on Warren Point, with eight spikes of Bee Orchid still flowering near the Dune Pond. The first Emperor dragonfly of the year was on the wing along with two Painted Lady and a Red Admiral.

Pyramidal Orchid - both Alan Keatley

Friday 2nd June

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with two Grey Heron, including the first juvenile fishing around the Wreck.

Thursday 1st June

Another quiet summer day with counts over high tide including 48 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Sanderling, nine Dunlin, nine Grey Plover, a Whimbrel and a Sandwich Tern.

Wildlife News: A Red-veined Darter on Warren Point was the highlight with the first Cinnabar moths of the year also on the wing.

Red-veined Darter - Alan Keatley