Saturday 18th May

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.

Four Cattle Egret flew east offshore early morning, only the fourth site record, also offshore two Great Northern Diver and a Great-crested Grebe. It was otherwise quiet though with wader numbers almost identical to counts last night with 64 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin and seven Whimbrel, also in the estuary three Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Elsewhere 80 House Martin, 17 Swallow, six Swift flew through and Cirl Bunting were feeding young in the nest in the Buffer Zone.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: Another two new species for the Warren were found today, Median Wasp Dolichovespula media and the hoverfly Cheilosia impressa, the 600th fly for the Recording Area. Also recorded today Striped-legged and Dune Robberflies, the first Blue-eyed Grass of the year and a confiding Fox on Warren Point.

 Median Wasp - Alan Keatley

Stripe-legged Robberfly Dioctria baumhaueri - Alan Keatley