Tuesday 30th January

A flock of 42 Golden Plover in the Bight was unexpected, large flocks are rarely seen on site. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck, two Great Northern Diver and an Eider were off John's Watch.

Sunday 28th January

A Ruff in the Bight was unseasonal, the first winter record since 2002, other waders over high tide included the Avocet, 2210 Dunlin, 113 Grey Plover, 99 Knot, 70 Turnstone, 36 Sanderling, five Greenshank and five Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 50 Shelduck, 136 Brent Geese, 89 Common and four adult Mediterranean Gull, a Great Northern Diver and a Kingfisher.

Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck remained off John's Watch with 104 Great-crested Grebe, two Eider, eight Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver also offshore, c90 Linnet were around the hide and the first two Rook of the year were overhead.

Wildlife News: The first Peacock of the year was along the Dune Ridge and the warm weather also brought out several queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Saturday 27th January

The Avocet remained in Shutterton Creek with other records from the estuary including 165 Brent Geese, 92 Wigeon, 90 Curlew, 45 Teal, three Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck, 101 Great-crested Grebe, seven Common Scoter and six Great Northern Diver were offshore and a Firecrest was in bushes behind the hide.

Friday 26th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary again mid afternoon, foraging between Warren Point and Shelly Beach, Exmouth. Also visible from Cockwood Steps, the Slavonian Grebe, 45 Shelduck, 30+ Turnstone, 19+ Sanderling, two Greenshank and a Mediterranean Gull.

Thursday 25th January

An Avocet in the Railway Saltmarsh was the first of the year on site, with a drake Tufted Duck off Cockwood also new for the year, increased counts of 630 Black-headed and 141 Common Gull also indicated movement. Other counts from the estuary included 1320 Dunlin, 153 Grey Plover, 86 Curlew, 75 Knot, 44 Sanderling, 43 Turnstone, five Mediterranean Gull, two Great Northern Diver, the first Ringed Plover of the year and the Slavonian Grebe.

Dunlin - Dave Jewell

The Long-tailed Duck and four Great Northern Diver were off John's Watch with three Eider and two Red-throated Diver also offshore. Elsewhere the Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes and a bit of sunshine and a rise in temperature seems to have perked up the birds with Skylark displaying on Warren Point, Blackbird and Song Thrush in song and a drumming Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Skylark - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 23rd January

The Bonaparte's Gull was off Cockwood with 100+ Black-headed Gull late afternoon but no other news was received.

Monday 22nd January

The Slavonian Grebe was reported off Cockwood and the Bonaparte's Gull was seen distantly off Exmouth before flying offshore past Warren Point late afternoon, its first visit to the Recording Area since November.

Sunday 21st January

The highlight was found late in the day, a first winter Glaucous Gull roosting with 31 Great Black-backed Gull on Bull Hill until dark; although no one saw the Bonaparte's Gull which must have flown past early afternoon as it moved between Teignmouth and Shelly Beach Exmouth.  Also in the estuary 1320 Dunlin, 134 Grey Plover, 124 Brent Geese, 117 Knot, 28 Sanderling, three Goldeneye, two Razorbill, a Great Northern Diver and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck, two Eider, five Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver were offshore, a Firecrest was again Dead Dolphin Wood and 16 Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.

Saturday 20th January

A brief second winter Iceland Gull was the day's highlight, it flew west over John's Watch late morning keeping to the estuary side of the Warren before heading south. Offshore the Long-tailed Duck and four Great Northern Diver were still near the estuary mouth with 105 Great-crested Grebe and two Red-throated Diver off the seawall.

Elsewhere a Firecrest was in Dead Dolphin Wood and counts from the estuary included 138 Grey Plover, 105 Knot, 49 Shelduck, 22 Sanderling, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit and the Slavonian Grebe.

Shelduck - Alan Keatley

Friday 19th January

The Long-tailed Duck remains off Warren Point with 120 Great-crested Grebe, four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver also offshore. Counts from the estuary included 180 Wigeon, 88 Teal, 69 Redshank, 57 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Common Gull, 47 Turnstone, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Firecrest and six Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes and two Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Thursday 18th January

The Long-tailed Duck was offshore with 230 Gannet, 63 Great-crested Grebe, six Red-throated and five Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes.

Wednesday 17th January

A first winter Caspian Gull briefly on Finger Point was an unexpected highlight this morning, especially considering the lack of large gulls present and the fact it was wearing a German ring; details awaited. It was the fourth record for the Warren, all first winters. Also from the hide 121 Knot and 40 Sanderling; a welcome increase this winter.

 Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck, five Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver was offshore, a Shoveler was on the Main Pond and a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes.

Sunday 14th January

Counts from the estuary included 196 Wigeon, 182 Teal, 176 Brent Geese, 18 Sanderling, four Greenshank, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck was again off John's Watch today with four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver also offshore and the Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes.

Saturday 13th January

Seawatching early morning saw a Great Skua head south along with 236 Gannet, 15 Great Northern and 11 Red-throated Diver; also south just nine Kittiwake, six auk sp and a Fulmar. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was in Shutterton Creek and counts included 290 Wigeon, 202 Brent Geese, 110 Teal, 45 Great Black-backed Gull, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit and three Greenshank. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler and two Shoveler were at the Main Pond.

Thursday 11th January

Three Stonechat included at least one new arrival as it was a ringed bird; details are awaited. Elsewhere three Great Northern Diver remain off the estuary mouth and a Chiffchaff was in the Entrance Bushes.

 Stonechat - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: This Fox was the first sighting of the year, although it looks relatively unimpressed with the accolade.

Fox - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 10th January

The Long-tailed Duck and three Great Northern Diver were offshore from John's Watch with a Red-throated Diver off the seawall. Elsewhere two Snipe and a female Shoveler were on the Main Pond and the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood.

Monday 8th January

The Cetti's Warbler was again vocal around the Main Pond and the Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Sunday 7th January

The strong north easterly wind meant both the sea and the bushes were blown out, as a consequence the majority of records came from the estuary. Counts from the hide included 1750 Dunlin, 183 Wigeon, 142 Grey Plover, 117 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 80 Shelduck, 60 Knot, 40 Great Black-backed Gull, 17 Sanderling, five Greenshank and the year's first Lapwing, an increasingly rare visitor to the Warren. Elsewhere the Mistle Thrush was again around Greenland Lake and offsite a Firecrest was near Mount Pleasant.

Saturday 6th January

Counts from the high tide included c1200 Oystercatcher, 850 Dunlin, 214 Dark-belled Brent Geese, 183 Grey Plover, 155 Wigeon, 153 Curlew, 75 Teal, 73 Bar-tailed Godwit, 57 Knot, two Greenshank, a Kingfisher and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Offshore there were far fewer feeding birds but still a very high count of 130 Great-crested Grebe with three Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver also present. 

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler called again from the Main Pond, a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes, a Kestrel was on Langstone Rock and a Mistle Thrush was in Dead Dolphin Wood. The cold weather presumably lead to an increase in other thrushes with at least 18 Blackbird and eight Song Thrush on site.

 Dunlin S55 - Lee Collins

 

Ringing News: No less than three darvic ringed Dunlin were noted over the high tide, considering how difficult it can be to check Dunlin legs in the dense roosting flocks this is an exceptional return for a single tide. All three were from the  ; details are awaited on one but two have been seen here previously. S55; ringed in July 2011 and here in March 2016 and HCY; ringed in July 2013 and here in Dec 16 & Jan 17. The Warren has now had seven Dunlin from this scheme since the first in March 2015.

 

Dunlin HCY - Lee Collins

Friday 5th January

Early morning 17 Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver flew south with at least four Great Northern Diver and a new record count of 132 Great-crested Grebe on the sea.

Bullfinch - Lee Collins

Ringing News: Recent records have included a new Polish ringed Dunlin and a partial read of a Finnish Curlew.

Thursday 4th January

The continuing windy conditions provided more early morning seawatching with four Great Skua heading south in an hour along with 498 Gannet, 276 Kittiwake, 165 Guillemot, eight Great Northern and seven Red-throated Diver; another four Great Northern Diver were off John's Watch.

 Great Northern Diver - Alan Keatley

 

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler made a surprise reappearance at the Main Pond and counts from the estuary included 1200 Oystercatcher, 240 Brent Geese, 131 Grey Plover, 107 Knot, 45 Turnstone, 40 Sanderling and three Goldeneye.

 

Wildlife News: A queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee was around the Boathouse.

 

Wednesday 3rd January

A quick look off the seawall early morning saw 500+ Guillemot head south with three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver; 74 Great-crested Grebe were on the sea.

Tuesday 2nd January

A Pomarine Skua headed south and the Long-tailed Duck was still offshore this morning with 450 Gannet, 84 Great-crested Grebe and seven Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere a Cirl Bunting was behind the hide and from the hide a flock of 230 Black-tailed Godwit had been displaced from upriver and counts included 150 Grey Plover and 118 Knot.

Monday 1st January

A wet start to the new year delayed proceedings but once the worst had cleared through a look off the seawall was productive. At least 250 Gannet were still present with 108 Great-crested Grebe, 80+ Kittiwake and 50+ Guillemot also feeding offshore, with them single Pomarine and Great Skua, five Great Northern and seven Red-throated Diver, four Eider and the Long-tailed Duck.

With no high tide during daylight there were few counts from the estuary but 220 Brent Geese were present along with 18 Sanderling, a female Goldeneye, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Siskin was with Goldfinch in the Entrance Bushes and a Little Grebe sang from the Main Pond. The day ended with 73 species on the board.

Wildlife News: The annual BSBI New Year Plant Hunt saw a record total of 43 species in flower including Narrow-leaved Ragwort, Sea Rocket, Honeysuckle, two species of Evening Primrose, Ivy, Herb-Robert and Common Stork's-bill. Offshore a distant Common Dolphin and in the estuary a Common Seal.