Thursday 14th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

A very windy day with bushes blown out and a low high tide producing very little in the way of waders. Counts from the estuary included 245 Oystercatcher, 85 Brent Geese and 63 Common Gull. Elsewhere two migrant Chiffchaff were by the Main Pond where two Shoveler remain, a Raven was overhead and an Eider was offshore.

Gannet - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: In the more sheltered areas a few hoverflies including Eristalis pertinax and Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus were on the wing with a queen Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris and the first solitary bee of the year, a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.

Chocolate Mining Bee - Alan Keatley