Thursday 19th September

The Long-billed Dowitcher was again in the estuary corner with Redshank around the high tides. Present for around an hour on the dropping morning and rising evening tide. Later tides mean evening sightings now unlikely. Only visible from an area with no general access, next viewing will be arranged, if the bird is still present, at the weekend.

Also in the estuary a Spoonbill and an Osprey with counts including 261 Redshank, 222 Curlew, 170 Wigeon, 117 Teal, 12 Greenshank, five Knot, four Sandwich Tern, three Bar-tailed Godwit and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Elsewhere 12 Swallow and single Sand Martin, Grey and Yellow Wagtail were overhead.

Other Wildlife: Several Red Admiral joined the increasing numbers of Ivy Bee on the wing with the range of other species recorded.

Red Admiral - Kevin Rylands

Tachypeza nubila - Alan Keatley

Ant Damselbug Himacerus mirmicoides - Alan Keatley

Pear Slug Sawfly Caliroa cerasi - Alan Keatley

Poplar Bent-wing Phyllocnistis unipunctella leafmine - Kevin Rylands

Wednesday 18th September

The Long-billed Dowitcher was again in the estuary corner with Redshank around the high tides. Visible for around an hour on the dropping morning and rising evening tide. Only visible from an area with no general access, next viewing will be arranged, if the bird is still present, at the weekend.

Also in the estuary the first Cattle Egret of the year in the saltmarsh with 14 Little Egret, two adult Spoonbill, new birds, on Finger Point on the morning tide, one leaving north with a flock of four immatures that flew upriver, a site record count.

Cattle Egret - Lee Collins

Other records included 290 Redshank, 130+ Teal, 80+ Wigeon, 45 Dunlin, 31 Ringed Plover, 30 Knot, 21 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Sanderling, 14 Greenshank, 14 Pintail, six Eider, four Whimbrel, four Mediterranean Gull at least three Kingfisher, three Sandwich and two Common Tern, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, an Osprey and a 1cy Little Gull flew out to sea mid morning.

Kingfisher - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a Sooty Shearwater flew east early morning, with a Hobby, five Sand Martin and a Yellow Wagtail were overhead.

Year list addition:

172. Cattle Egret

Tuesday 17th September

The Long-billed Dowitcher was again in the estuary corner with Redshank around the high tides. Visible for around an hour before heading upriver on the dropping morning and roosting unseen on the rising evening tide. Only visible from an area with no general access, viewing will be arranged if possible and there is positive news tomorrow.

Also in the estuary two immature Spoonbill were on Finger Point during the morning high tide before flying flew E over Exmouth just after 8.30 with an Osprey over Warren Point towards Cockle Sands shortly after.

Increasing wildfowl counts in the estuary included 189 Teal, 128 Wigeon, nine Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, the six Eider, four Shoveler, a Pintail and a Little Grebe.

Wader counts included 314 Redshank, 89 Dunlin, 79 Ringed Plover, 16 Greenshank, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Knot, six Whimbrel, two Turnstone and two Spotted Redshank, with 15 Sandwich and two Common Tern, six Mediterranean Gull and a Kingfisher also present

Elsewhere an adult Hobby, 15 Meadow Pipit, three Grey and a Yellow Wagtail were overhead with a Whitethroat on site, 48 Sanderling on the beach and offshore, two Balearic Shearwater, three Pintail and an Arctic Skua.

Sanderling - the Greenland ringed juvenile present for a third day - Lee Collins

Other Wildlife: Insects along the beach and dunes included the darkling beetle Phaleria cadaverina, the solitary wasp Trypoxylon attenuatum, and on Sea Rocket, the flea beetle Phyllotreta nigripes and the tiny bug Orius niger, a predator of thrips often released for biological pest control.

Phaleria cadaverina - Alan Keatley

Trypoxylon attenuatum - Alan Keatley

Phyllotreta nigripes - Alan Keatley

Orius niger - Alan Keatley

Monday 16th September

After visits to Mudbank, Exmouth and Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham the Long-billed Dowitcher was back in the estuary corner with Redshank on the rising evening tide. It presumably roosted unseen in the Railway Saltmarsh. Only visible from an area with no general access, viewing will be arranged if possible and there is positive news tomorrow. 

High tide counts from the estuary included 353 Redshank, 222 Curlew, 153 Dunlin, 117 Teal, 114 Ringed Plover, 55 Sandwich and five Common Tern, 16 Greenshank, 14 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, six Eider, four Whimbrel, three Turnstone, two Knot, a Spotted Redshank and a Sanderling, with a further 51 on the beach. 

Offshore, a Balearic Shearwater flew east early evening, with the Black-throated Diver also making a reappearance. Foraging birds included 61 Gannet, 42 Common Scoter, at least three Arctic Skua and three Great Northern Diver.

Overhead the overdue first Tree Pipit of the year,  37 Linnet, 15 Meadow Pipit, 13 House Martin, five Grey and two Yellow Wagtail, three Rook, a Jackdaw and a Grey Heron.

Elsewhere at least two Kingfisher were mobile around site, 148 Linnet were 0n Warren Point, 91 Goldfinch were around Greenland Lake and other migrants included 11 Chiffchaff, two Sedge Warbler and single Wheatear and Whitethroat.

Year list addition:

171. Tree Pipit

Ringing News: A juvenile Sanderbling ringed in Greenland was on the beach for its second day, further details awaited.

Other Wildlife: A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was a an excellent daytime find, part of a nationwide influx.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth - Mike Symes

Ten Common Dolphin and a Harbour Porpoise were feeding offshore beneath the Gannet throughout the day. Two Comma were the pick of the butterflies and the first Parasol Mushroom are emerging.

Alder Leaf Beetle - Mike Symes. After being seemingly absent for several years prior to 2023, this species is having another very good year.

Sunday 15th September

Three newly arrived Avocet were the pick of the waders over the evening tide with other counts from the estuary including 322 Redshank, 144 Teal, 126 Dunlin, 123 Ringed Plover, 58 Sandwich and four Common Tern, 52 Sanderling, 14 Greenshank, six Eider, six Whimbrel, five Bar-tailed Godwit and single Knot, Snipe, Spotted Redshank and Turnstone.

Avocet - Kevin Rylands

Large numbers of gulls continue to forage offshore and in the estuary, with 2260 Herring and 640 Black-headed Gull attracting seven Mediterranean Gull, a likely 2cy, although hybrid again not excluded and a reported possible 1cy Caspian Gull and a presumed hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gull. 

Two Balearic Shearwater circled the bay and flew south early morning, also offshore 174 Gannet, 34 Common Scoter, 30 Kittiwake, three Arctic Skua, three Great Northern Diver and a Shoveler which flew in to land on Pole Sands were it slept until lunchtime.

Elsewhere two Kingfisher were again between Langstone Rock and the Main Pond, 129 Linnet were on Warren Point, 13 Chiffchaff, five Blackcap, three Whitethroat and a Wheatear were on site, and five Grey Wagtail and three Rook were overhead.

Other Wildlife: At six Red Admiral and two Painted Lady were on the wing.

Saturday 14th September

As expected there was no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher, less expected was its rediscovery at Exmouth early afternoon. Counts of 326 Redshank and 241 Teal were both significant increases, with other counts including 62 Ringed Plover, 53 Sandwich and two Common Tern, 41 Dunlin, 18 Greenshank, 13 Knot, 10 Shelduck, eight Wigeon, eight Sanderling, six Whimbrel, five Eider, four Bar-tailed Godwit, four Mediterranean Gull, the regular Spotted Redshank and, on Bull Hill, a presumed 1cy Caspian Gull, although a hybrid could not be ruled out.

Elsewhere a Nuthatch flew over the Crocus Compound and continued up site; a dispersed feeding flock of 74 Gannet, five Common Scoter, two Arctic Skua and a Great Northern Diver were offshore; two Kingfisher and a Water Rail were at the Main Pond; migrants on site included 14 Chiffchaff and single Reed and Willow Warbler, Wheatear and Whitethroat; with four Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit overhead. 

Other Wildlife: A Grey Squirrel was on the ground at end of Dead Dolphin Wood, with presumably the same later in Marram and up an isolated small tree on Warren Point. Another migrant mammal was a young Common Seal in the estuary, just the second of the year. 

Insects on the wing in the sunny weather included two Locust Blowfly, several Ivy Bee and single Brown Argus and Painted Lady.

Locust Blowfly - Alan Keatley

Pine Ladybird - Alan Keatley

Friday 13th September

The highlight was a moulting adult Long-billed Dowitcher in estuary corner, the second site record of this transatlantic vagrant after one in Oct 2019. Found on the rising tide it remained until 17.30 before flying off high south. Many thanks to Warren Golf Club for allowing access to local birders.

Long-billed Dowitcher - Lee Collins

Long-billed Dowitcher - Kevin Rylands

Also in the estuary corner two Spotted Redshank, with a new moulting juvenile, 261 Redshank, 98 Teal, 76 Curlew, 14 Greenshank, five Whimbrel, four Mediterranean Gull, two Bar-tailed Godwit and a Kingfisher. Around The Bight, 63 Ringed Plover, 41 Dunlin, 37 Sandwich and three Common Tern, two Sanderling and two Turnstone.

Elsewhere a noticeable fall of 24 Chiffchaff but otherwise just three Blackcap, two Wheatear and a Reed Warbler were on site with four Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit, two Rook and single Buzzard and Snipe. Single Kingfisher were also at Langstone Rock and the Main Pond.

Year list addition:

170. Long-billed Dowitcher

A very nice Long-billed Dowitcher at Dawlish Warren today, Found by Lee Collins. Thanks to @WarrenBirding for arranging access. @DevonBirds pic.twitter.com/EL1NK8EKAI

— Rob Murphy (@rob_murphy66) September 13, 2024

Other Wildlife: At least six Red Admiral flew west. 

Thursday 12th September

A low high tide saw lower numbers of waders around The Bight and estuary with counts including 236 Redshank, 75 Curlew, 71 Teal, 65 Dunlin, 53 Ringed Plover, 14 Greenshank, four Bar-tailed Godwit, four Turnstone, two Whimbrel and a Knot.

Elsewhere migrants included 13 Chiffchaff, including some in song, four Blackcap, two Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear, a Whitethroat and a Grey Wagtail on the Main Pond. A few Meadow Pipit and hirundines were heard overhead, but a heavy belt of rain brought a mixed flock of 50 House Martin and Swallow down low enough to be seen, a Buzzard also flew low east, driven down by the same shower.

Other Wildlife: A good population of Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Choreutis nemorana was discovered on the planted Fig by the go-kart track, the first wild Devon record, following some in Plymouth garden centre, imported on plants from Italy last month. 

Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Choreutis nemorana - Kevin Rylands

Feeding signs of Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Choreutis nemorana - Kevin Rylands

Between the showers good numbers of insects were on the wing including two fresh Comma, four Painted Lady and a Red Admiral along with a Pale-knobbed Didea D. fasciata, one of a dozen species of hoverfly recorded. Ivy Bee numbers continue to increase, with the first Ivy flowers starting to open.

Comma - Alan Keatley

Pale-knobbed Didea D. fasciata - Kevin Rylands

Painted Lady - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 11th September

The third Marsh Harrier of the year, a 1cy, was watched interacting with an Osprey over The Bight, the Osprey was carrying a fish and continued S with the harrier heading along the Warren towards Exmouth. 

Counts from the high tide included 164 Dunlin, 54 Sanderling, 43 Teal, 14 Greenshank, nine Sandwich and seven Common Tern, six Eider, three Mediterranean Gull, three Turnstone and a Knot.

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore with 11 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear on site and a Grasshopper Warbler at the Main Pond.

Other Wildlife: Amongst the dozens of whites migrant butterflies included four Red Admiral and a Painted Lady.

Tuesday 10th September

A Lapwing in the estuary was just the third record of the year, the earliest arrival since 2019. Also present 94 Ringed Plover, 93 Dunlin, 79 Teal, 24 Sanderling, 20 Greenshank, 13 Mediterranean Gull, six Eider, five Turnstone, a Spotted Redshank, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and an adult and juvenile Osprey, with a couple of hours between sightings.

Ringed Plover, darker northern races are now moving through - Lee Collins

Sanderling - Dean Hall

Curlew Sandpiper - Dean Hall

Curlew Sandpiper - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere migrants included single Wheatear and Whinchat and a few grounded Meadow Pipit, with two Great Northern Diver offshore and 11 Common Tern out of the estuary at dawn, five lingering Arctic Skua and a Pomarine Skua heading S.

Other Wildlife: Insect numbers were down compared to yesterday in the overcast conditions with fewer dragonflies and butterflies, although four Red Admiral and two Painted Lady were recorded.

Diptera species included Pied Volucella pellucens and Wasp Plumehorn V. inanis and the hump-backed fly Borophaga incrassata, a parasite of St Mark's Fly.

Borophaga incrassata - both Alan Keatley

Other invertebrates included Dune Wolf Spider Xerolycosa miniata by the flood protection wall, several Wasp Spider in Greenland Lake and a White-zoned Furrow Bee Lasioglossum leucozonium along the Back Path.

White-zoned Furrow Bee Lasioglossum leucozonium - Alan Keatley

Wasp Spider - Dean Hall

Monday 9th September

A day of brighter weather but with an autumnal feel, enhanced by the first three Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the winter, the earliest arrival since 2004. Two Osprey were also in the estuary, an adult and a juvenile both over Shutterton Creek late morning. 

Counts over high tide included 292 Redshank, 75 Dunlin, 55 Ringed Plover, 42 Wigeon, 32 Sanderling, 26 Knot, 22 Greenshank, 19 Sandwich Tern, 12 Mediterranean Gull, seven Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, four Whimbrel and two Eider. 

Offshore 60 Common Tern flew out of estuary at dawn, two Great Northern Diver were on the sea and seven Arctic Skua were drawn to massive mixed feeding flock including at least 135 Gannet and 43 Kittiwake. 

Elsewhere movement overhead included 90 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 10 Meadow Pipit, a Grey Wagtail and a Buzzard, with 13 Chiffchaff, three Wheatear, two Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat on site.

Kingfisher - Alan Keatley

Other Wildlife: A dry sunny day with insects on the wing again after the rain. Good numbers and variety of butterflies with a Small Tortoiseshell making an appearance, only a few are now seen each year on site. This was potentially a migrant along with the 30+ Small White and eight Red Admiral, their huge influx has yet to reach the Warren...

Dragonflies were also out in numbers with Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker and Common Darter basking in the sunshine. Also on the wing the first Ivy Bee of the year, nothing unusual amongst the hoverflies, although a Broad-banded Epistrophe E. grossulariae was the first for the year.

Migrant Hawker - Alan Keatley

A Fox was active around the Entrance Bushes at midday and a Shieldbug Stalker Astata boops on the hunt in Skipper Meadow was an unexpected September record. 

Shieldbug Stalker Astata boops - Alan Keatley

The last of the Autumn Ladies-tresses - Kevin Rylands

Sunday 8th September

An overcast day but drier than forecast, in the morning at least. With a barely a breath of wind, the sea was mirror flat allowing six Great Northern Diver to be picked out on the surface, with four Balearic Shearwater and seven foraging Arctic Skua towards the distant horizon and a Kestrel in off from a long way south.

The wet weather saw a few new arrivals in the estuary, notably single Ruff and Green Sandpiper, with counts including 278 Redshank, 84 Dunlin, 58 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 56 Knot, 36 Sanderling, 24 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 21 Greenshank, seven Whimbrel, three Turnstone and the Spotted Redshank. 

Greenshank - Lee Collins

Grey Plover - Lee Collins

Also present, the adult Spoonbill on the Railway Saltmarsh, minimum counts of 53 Sandwich, 50 Common and two Little Tern, 13 Mediterranean and a 1cy Yellow-legged Gull with wildfowl including 100 Teal, 88 Wigeon, six Eider, five Shoveler and the first Pintail of autumn. 

Elsewhere two juvenile Osprey flew S over The Bight, one at 11.10 carried on out to sea and one at 12.45, circled over the Dune Ridge before gaining height and continuing SW along the coast. Also overhead 55 House and four Sand Martin, 30 Swallow, three Rook, two Meadow Pipit and a Grey Wagtail. On site migrants included six Wheatear, a Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler and feeding flocks of 84 Linnet and 72 Goldfinch.

Other Wildlife: Three Common Dolphin were offshore and the Grey Squirrel was still in the Turkey Oaks on the Golf Course. 

Saturday 7th September

Another wet and varied day, with the highlight the first Caspian Gull of the year and just the second September record, a 1cy offshore late morning before flying into estuary. Also offshore four Great Northern Diver, two Arctic Skua, 23 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe. 

High tide counts were hampered by the continuing presence of two Peregrine, one eventually taking one of 95 Linnet on Warren Point. An Osprey that flew down river and out to sea flushed the remaining birds, it or another doing the same in the estuary less than an hour later.

Waders present included 251 Redshank, 98 Dunlin, 48 Knot, 43 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 37 Sanderling, 17 Greenshank, 10 Whimbrel, five Bar-tailed Godwit, four Turnstone and a Spotted Redshank. Also in the estuary 38 Mallard, 37 Teal, 35 Sandwich and two Common Tern, 25 Wigeon, nine Mediterranean Gull, six Eider and the Spoonbill. 

Bar-tailed Godwit - Lee Collins

Elsewhere the first Water Rail of the autumn and two Kingfisher were on the Main Pond; a late Swift was overhead along with four Grey and two Yellow Wagtail, three Meadow Pipit and a Snipe; with three Whitethroat, two Reed Warbler and a Wheatear on site.

Kingfisher - Lee Collins

Year list addition:

169. Caspian Gull

Other Wildlife: Two Water Vole were seen at the Main Pond, a Grey Seal was off Langstone Rock and a second brood Portland Ribbon Wave was below some security lights.