Monday 29th April

Seawatching for 1 hr 45 min early morning saw c200 Guillemot, 120+ Manx Shearwater, 104 Gannet and 85+ Kittiwake flew SW with 16 Common Scoter, nine Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver. Also offshore a pale phase Arctic Skua flew into the bay, 10 Sandwich and a Little Tern were foraging and a ♀ Eider was off the seawall.

Counts from the estuary included 46 Whimbrel, 25 Dunlin, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, five Eider, four Knot, two Sanderling and single Greenshank and Redshank. Elsewhere other migrants were limited to eight Wheatear on site and two Rook and a Sand Martin overhead.

Other Wildlife: Too windy for most flying insects with just a few hoverflies keeping low to the ground, including the first Common Snout Rhingia campestris of the year. Also keeping out of the wind was a Cricket Bat Spider Mangora acalypha tucked away in a Nettle leaf.

Common Snout Hoverfly - Alan Keatley

Cricket Bat Spider - Alan Keatley

Two beetles no doubt dislodged from higher branches were the longhorn Common Grammoptera G. ruficornis and an Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni. A third species, the ground dwelling pill beetle Cytilus sericeus was new for the Recording Area.

Common Grammoptera - Alan Keatley

Alder Leaf Beetle - Alan Keatley

Cytilus sericeus - Kevin Rylands

Sunday 28th April

Seawatching early morning was a case of quality over quantity, with the year's first Hobby in off at 6.50am, eight Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, a dark phase Arctic Skua and just four Sandwich Tern.

Counts from the estuary included 64 Whimbrel, 59 Dunlin, 34 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Ringed Plover, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, five Eider, five Sanderling, two Knot and a Greenshank.

Elsewhere a late Snipe was in Greenland Lake, a third Lesser Whitethroat of the spring was competing with Cirl Bunting song near the Dune Pond, two Siskin, three Sand and two House Martin flew NE and a pair of Jackdaw were prospecting Langstone Rock.

Year list addition:

146. Hobby

Other Wildlife: Another cold, overcast start but  insect activity picked up as it brightened later in the day. A Green-veined White and four Orange-tip were on the wing along with Orange-belted Hoverfly Xylota segnis, Common Carpet and Sandpit Mining Bee. 

Orange-tip (on the larval foodplant Cuckoo-flower) - Kevin Rylands

A fifth Green-winged Orchid, a third stunted specimen, was discovered flowering, this one on Warren Point close to an existing plant. Four other species were in flower including the first Marsh Helleborine in Greenland Lake, also there ahead of translocation, Petalwort Petalophylum ralfsii. This nationally rare liverwort is being moved ahead of the expected imminent and planned breach in the Dune Ridge.

Petalwort Petalophylum ralfsii - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 27th April

A small fall of migrants after the overnight rain were largely sylvias, with 14 Blackcap predominating, the third highest April count. With them at least six Whitethroat, the first two Garden Warbler of the year and a Lesser Whitethroat. Other arrivals included eight Wheatear and the third Grasshopper Warbler of the month, with seven Swift, 19 Swallow, 16 House and 15 Sand Martin heading NE. 

Counts from the estuary included 80+ Whimbrel, 30+ Dunlin, 28 Ringed Plover, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Sanderling, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, eight Turnstone, seven Knot, five Eider and a Greenshank.

Sanderling - Dave Jewell

Offshore eight Sandwich and a Common Tern were foraging early morning with totals of 62 Common Scoter, five Great Northern and four Red-throated Diver either on sea or flying SW. Also moving a flock of seven Tufted Duck (and a duck sp.) flew east and heading north, seven Lesser Black-backed, six Common and six Black-headed Gull.

Year list additions:

144. Swift
145. Garden Warbler

Ringing News: A Norwegian Bar-tailed Godwit yellow Flag PTE is visiting the Warren for a second time, and has now been present for a week. It was ringed as a juvenile in Rogaland, SW Norway on 30 August 2021, first being seen here on 19 September 2021. 

Other Wildlife: Invertebrate activity picked up during sunny periods in the afternoon with the first of several Black Mining Bee Andrena pilipes on the wing. Other bees included Early and Red-tailed Bumblebee, Chocolate, Short-fringed and Yellow-legged Mining Bee and Hairy-footed Flower Bee.

Day-flying micro-moths included good numbers of Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana as well as two new species for the Recording Area, Common Oak Leafminer Phyllonorycter quercifoliella and Feathered Cutter Incurvaria masculella.

Nettle-tap - Kevin Rylands

Phyllonorycter quercifoliella - Kevin Rylands

Incurvaria masculella - Kevin Rylands

Also found today a second Early-purple Orchid in Greenland Lake, a nest of Neodiprion sertifer, a pine sawfly larvae and Uromyces anthyllidis, a rust on Kidney Vetch, the 800th fungi for the Recording Area.

Neodiprion sertifer - Kevin Rylands

Uromyces anthyllidis - Kevin Rylands

Friday 26th April

Spring wader passage continues with varying numbers and species moving through on a daily basis, today's counts included 76 Whimbrel, 40 Ringed Plover, 36 Dunlin, 24 Bar-tailed Godwit, nine Sanderling and seven Common Sandpiper.

Whimbrel - Alan Keatley

Sandwich Tern are also varying in numbers daily at the moment, at least 62 were in the Recording Area with another 28 and two Common Tern further up the estuary. Also present 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, five Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser.

Elsewhere a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver and a raft of 27 Common Scoter were offshore, with single Wheatear and Willow Warbler on site and House Martin overhead.

Other Wildlife: Spring appears to be on hold for flying insects with activity restricted to sheltered spots. On nettles were the spring sawflies - Aglaostigma fulvipes, Aglaostigma aucupariae and the Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus.

Aglaostigma aucupariae - Alan Keatley

Liocoris tripustulatus - Alan Keatley

Thursday 25th April

The first Yellow Wagtail of the year passed overhead along with a couple of Rook, whilst grounded migrants included two Common Sandpiper, a new Reed Warbler and singles of Wheatear and Willow Warbler.

Year list addition:

143. Yellow Wagtail

Wednesday 24th April

A reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the Entrance Bushes early morning was the highlight along with 15 Whimbrel and a female Wheatear in Greenland Lake, at least eight Cirl Bunting on site and three Sand Martin overhead. 

One or 8 Cirl Buntings on site so far @WarrenBirding pic.twitter.com/Bjq1fdZYqO

— James Marshall (@JamesMa34702179) April 24, 2024

Tuesday 23rd April

Migrant warblers were in full voice with two Reed and a Willow Warbler at the Main Pond, with five Whitethroat and several Blackcap and Chiffchaff spread throughout the reserve. Also at the Main Pond a posse of thirteen young Mallard ducklings staying close to mum as she was hassled by a couple of males. A typically silent male Bullfinch was deep in the Entrance Bushes. 

Mallard - Alan Keatley

Bullfinch - Dean Hall

Many of the waders from the last couple of days have moved on but a dozen Whimbrel were passing through and a mixed flock of 29 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin and a Sanderling were in The Bight. Other records from the estuary included 18 Dark and seven Pale-bellied Brent Goose, eight Sandwich Tern and a lone Eider.

Other Wildlife: Despite the seemingly ideal conditions no butterflies were recorded today, a Xylota segnis sheltering in the bushes, was one of just one of a few hoverflies as well. 

Xylota segnis - Alan Keatley

Species that were on the wing included a few Green Longhorn Adela reaumurella moths and a queen Median Wasp Dolichovespula media.

Median Wasp - Alan Keatley

Green Longhorn - Alan Keatley

Monday 22nd April

Waders continue to move through with maximum counts across the two high tides including 64 Dunlin, 56 Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Ringed Plover, 36 Whimbrel, 10 Knot, seven Sanderling, two Redshank and a Greenshank. Also in the estuary 24 Sandwich Tern, 13 Dark and the family of seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, seven Eider, two Red-breasted Merganser and a 2cy Mediterranean Gull.

Elsewhere a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was offshore with three Reed Warbler and a Wheatear on site. 

Sunday 21st April

The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year, a vocal ♂ ranging along Back Path, was aside from five Wheatear, the only obvious grounded migrant. It was a bit busier overhead with three Red Kite the highlight, along with 18 Swallow, 15 Goldfinch, seven Rook, six House and three Sand Martin and two Grey Heron.

Whitethroat - Dave Jewell

Offsite a further three Red Kite drifted N along Cofton Ridge, with nine Swift.

Counts from the estuary included 44 Whimbrel, 44 Dunlin, 36 Ringed and a Grey Plover, 33 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 Pale and 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, eight Knot, seven Sanderling, the seven Eider, four Teal, two Redshank, a Greenshank and a ♂ Red-breasted Merganser.

Elsewhere 19 Sandwich Tern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore, with two Red-throated Diver heading high S out of estuary. 

Year List addition:

142. Lesser Whitethroat

Other Wildlife: A fourth Green-winged Orchid was found in flower, a plant that last flowered in 2020. The Early-purple Orchid continues to unfurl.

Early-purple Orchid - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 20th April

An adult Spoonbill was on Bull Hill early morning before flying up estuary on the dropping tide, with other arrivals in the estuary including 94 Dunlin, 69 Ringed Plover, 32 Whimbrel, 23+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 23 Black-headed and 14 Common Gull, 17 Sanderling and a Moorhen circling The Bight!

17 Sanderling on the beach at Dawlish Warren, they are always a joy to watch. We also saw our first Common Whitethroat for the year too.@DevonBirds @WarrenBirding pic.twitter.com/mmIYwWGaz3

— Rob Murphy (@rob_murphy66) April 20, 2024

Also in the estuary 23 Sandwich Tern, 15 Pale and 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, seven Eider, five Redshank and four Grey Plover. Offsite 60+ Pale-bellied were flushed off Cockle Sands joining other flocks further north. 

The first Reed Warbler of the year was at the Main Pond with other migrants including four Wheatear, three Whitethroat and two Willow Warbler with three Rook, two Siskin, a Jackdaw and a Sand Martin overhead.

Wheatear - Dave Jewell

An hour 15 min seawatch early morning saw 42 Gannet head SW with four Fulmar, four Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver.

Year list addition:

141. Reed Warbler

Other Wildlife: The first Green-veined White of the year was on the wing with at least three Orange-tip and two Peacock. A third Green-winged Orchid is now in flower, again one seen last year.

A new one for the list, Andrena barbilabris, Sandpit Mining Bee, along the sandy paths around #DawlishWarren Never easy to photograph bees when you have a birding lens on. @Buzz_dont_tweet @solitarybeesUK pic.twitter.com/QUiRVWdRVK

— Steph Murphy (@StephMurphy66) April 20, 2024

Friday 19th April

The first notable wader movement of spring with 54 Ringed Plover, 50 Whimbrel and 47 Dunlin, the latter all in summer plumage, in The Bight. Also in the estuary, 12 Dark and nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese, eight Sanderling, four Eider (two ♀ and two imm ♂) on Pole Sands and singles of Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper and a Redshank.

Other migrants included at least nine Wheatear, two new Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and overhead, two Meadow Pipit and two Rook. The pair of Tufted Duck remain on the Main Pond.

Wheatear - Alan Keatley

Tufted Duck - Alan Keatley

Elsewhere four Great Northern Diver, three Great Crested Grebe and 17 Sandwich Tern foraged offshore, with totals SW from an hour seawatch early morning including c50 Gannet, 16 Common Scoter, 12 Kittiwake, two Fulmar and two Red-throated Diver.

Other Wildlife: Four Orange-tip and a Speckled Wood were on the wing along with several species of hoverfly including Platycheirus scutatus and Gossamer Hoverfly Baccha elongata both new for the year.

Gossamer Hoverfly - Alan Keatley

Orange-tip - Alan Keatley

Great Green Bush-cricket nymph - Alan Keatley

Thursday 18th April

With the notable exception of a pair of Tufted Duck on the Main Pond, the site was virtually clear of migrants, with the two Whitethroat still holding territory and four Swallow around the Main Pond also likely to be local birds. Elsewhere 12 Sandwich Tern moved between the estuary and offshore.

Other Wildlife: The clear sunny weather that limited migrant arrivals was however good for insects, and for drying out the site. The first Small Copper of the year was one of four butterfly species on the wing, also at least eight Orange-tip, three Peacock and a Comma. The long awaited first Dark-edged Beefly of the year also made an appearance and a Water Vole was at the Main Pond.

Small Copper - Alan Keatley

Dark-edged Beefly - Alan Keatley

Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus - Kevin Rylands

Green-winged Orchid - Kevin Rylands

Wednesday 17th April

An early morning visit saw a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver and two Sandwich Tern offshore, single Siskin and Swallow overhead and two Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff and five Blackcap on site.

Tuesday 16th April

Yesterday's Whitethroat was in full song near the Dune Pond, with a second arrival in the Entrance Bushes. The only other migrants was a high flying flock of 16 Woodpigeon heading W.

Whitethroat - Alan Keatley

Over the low high tide The Bight was empty of waders but 12 Dark and seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese and eight Sandwich Tern were present. 

Other Wildlife: A range of insects in the spring sunshine, the majority however sheltering from the chilly northerly wind. Several beetle species were trapped near the geotubes, the pick being the nationally rare Horned Rove Beetle Bledius frisius (previously B. spectabilis) with the colourful leaf beetle Gastrophysa polygoni and the water scavenger beetle Sphaeridium bipustulatum also adrift on the beach.

Horned Rove Beetle Bledius frisius (a horned male) - Alan Keatley

Gastrophysa polygoni - Alan Keatley

Sphaeridium bipustulatum - Alan Keatley

First emergences for the year included the hoverflies, Smudge-veined Clubtail Neoascia podagrica, Striped-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum and Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea, and around the Entrance Bushes, a Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava.

Monday 15th April

A two hour seawatch early morning recorded 58 Gannet, eight Kittiwake, seven Fulmar, three Whimbrel and three Red-throated Diver heading SW with three Manx Shearwater E. During a squall line a foraging flock of 50 Sandwich Tern gathered by the seawall with single Little and Common Tern also present.

Elsewhere the first Whitethroat of the year was sub-singing near the Dune Pond, a Willow Warbler was in Dead Dolphin Wood, three Great Northern Diver were on the sea and in the estuary, 10 Dark and the family party of seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, three Eider and a Dunlin.

Year List addition

140. Whitethroat

Sunday 14th April

Few seabirds moving offshore early morning but a ♀ Garganey flying E with six Common Scoter just after 7am was a welcome surprise, also from the seawall at least five Great Northern and five Red-throated Diver on the sea with 18 Sandwich and a Little Tern feeding off the estuary mouth. 

A moulting ♂ Ruff that joined the mixed wader roost on Finger Point over high tide was the second new species for the year. Also in the estuary counts of 207 Oystercatcher, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Whimbrel, 10 Dark and seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, seven Eider, six Grey & three Ringed Plover, five Redshank, and threes of Dunlin, Knot and Sanderling 

Elsewhere at least 16 Wheatear and a Willow Warbler were on site, with migrants overhead including four Swallow, four Rook and singles of Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk and Siskin.

Wheatear - Martin Overy

Year list additions:

138. Garganey
139. Ruff

Other Wildlife: Single Orange-tip and Peacock were on the wing and the first Early Purple Orchid for the Recording Area was discovered in flower. The ninth orchid species recorded on site, a few days after one species disappeared, the Pyramidal Orchid colony on Warren Point was lost to the sea.

Early Purple Orchid - David Flack

Saturday 13th April

Counts from the estuary included 45 Sandwich and a Common Tern, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Pale and 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, six Eider, six Whimbrel, five Grey Plover, two Redshank, a Sanderling and a Dunlin.

Elsewhere a one hour 45min seawatch saw 17 Common Scoter, six Red-throated Diver and a Little Egret head SW with a Great Northern Diver offshore; and grounded migrants included six Wheatear and a Willow Warbler with 14 Chiffchaff and seven Blackcap a mix of new arrivals and birds holding territory.

Other Wildlife: A good selection of insects on the wing prompted by the warmest day of the year, including the first Holly Blue of the year, at least ten Orange-tip and four Peacock.

Red Mason Bee - Alan Keatley

Bees included Short-fringed Mining Bee Andrena dorsata, Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis and Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus vestalis, with Marsh Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus hybridus, a few Spring Epistrophe E. eligans, several displaying and mating Celery Fly Euleia heraclei, the ichneumon wasp Ichneumon stramentor and the sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariae all making their first appearances of the year.

Marsh Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus hybridus - Alan Keatley

Celery Fly Euleia heraclei - Alan Keatley

A new species for the Recording Area, Harpactea hombergi, a largely nocturnal woodlouse hunting spider, was found near the station.

Harpactea hombergi - Alan Keatley

Friday 12th April

A smart ♂ Ring Ouzel on Warren Point was the highlight, only the fifth spring record for the Warren. Other migrants included eight Wheatear and four Willow Warbler with three Rook overhead and a Kestrel offshore.

Ring Ouzel - both Lee Collins

In the estuary a day of Brent passage, with large mobile flocks of Pale-bellied present, eventually 139 settled in the Bight along with 15 Dark-bellied birds. Other counts included 42 Sandwich Tern,  21 Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Knot, six Grey and two Ringed Plover, five Sanderling, four Whimbrel, a Dunlin and a Redshank.

Elsewhere a two hour 15 min seawatch saw 23 Red-throated Diver, c50 Kittiwake and 20 Common Scoter head SW with two Little Tern and two Great Northern Diver offshore.

Year list addition:

137. Ring Ouzel

Other Wildlife: The first Orange-tip of the year was on the wing along with single Peacock and Speckled Wood.

Thursday 11th April

Early morning single Arctic and Common Tern were offshore with 26 Sandwich Tern, three Red-throated and Great Northern Diver.

Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 210 Oystercatcher, 21 Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, seven Eider, six Grey Plover, four Knot, two Dunlin and two Sanderling.

Wednesday 10th April

The only news came from an hour seawatch early morning with counts including 24 Kittiwake, 22 Sandwich, two Common and a Little Tern, 21 Gannet, two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver.

Tuesday 9th April

Storm force winds and high spring tides over recent days have caused considerable damage to the Dune Ridge along the length of the spit, with Warren Point particularly badly hit, with tens of metres of fixed dune habitat lost to the sea. A continuing failure of the Beach Management Scheme with gabion baskets last seen over 50 years ago now fully exposed. 

Erosion - both Alan Keatley

Early morning seawatching saw another early Storm Petrel, an Arctic Tern and a Red-throated Diver south with two Little Tern and three Great Northern Diver offshore. 

Few birds were recorded at low tide although 25 Sandwich Tern were roosting on an offshore sandbar and a Great Northern Diver was in the estuary off Cockwood. There was also an unconfirmed report of a Black-throated Diver offshore.

Great Northern Diver just outside Cockwood harbour this morning. pic.twitter.com/3531jA6Zv0

— ClueDodo (@jimsumm96477112) April 9, 2024

Late afternoon there were c40 Sandwich, five Little and an Arctic Tern feeding offshore.

Other Wildlife: Sand Crocus took advantage of the sunny weather to emerge in numbers across the site, along with several early St. Mark's Fly Bibio marci (St Mark's Day is 25th April). 

First of this seasons Sand Crocus at Dawlish Warren. @WarrenBirding @SEDwildlife @Britnatureguide @wildlife_devon @Exeter_Hour #devon #sandcrocus #Flowers #FlowersPhoto #dawlish pic.twitter.com/CPYgN9FBn7

— Tim Ridgeway (@TimTim292) April 9, 2024

St Mark's Fly - Alan Keatley

Also, active for the first time this year, Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana and Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus.

Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana - Alan Keatley

Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus - Alan Keatley