Thursday 17th September

Apart from the lack of terns it was largely 'as you were' in the estuary over high tide, although the presence of an immature male Peregrine, as well as the recent Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel, meant the flocks were too mobile and dispersed to record accurate numbers. An Osprey upriver did not venture onto site to add to the commotion.

The Little Ringed Plover was still present with counts of 51 Shelduck, 37 Mute and the Black Swan, 19 Greenshank, 15 Sanderling, two Kingfisher, two Wigeon and single Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel.

 Elsewhere the Red-legged Partridge and a Yellow Wagtail were on the Golf Course.

Wednesday 16th September

Records from the estuary largely reveal a pause in migration with the exception of two small flocks of 13 Black-tailed Godwit arriving and a noticeable drop in tern numbers with just 13 Sandwich and two Common Tern over high tide. 

Other counts included 315 Redshank, 306 Dunlin, 169 Ringed Plover, 33 Knot, 30 Shelduck, 17 Greenshank, 16 Wigeon, 12 Sanderling, 11 Teal, five Mediterranean Gull and single Kingfisher, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel.

Little Ringed Plover - Lee Collins

Elsewhere 30 House Martin, 12 Meadow Pipit, two Grey and a Yellow Wagtail were overhead with three Wheatear and two Willow Warbler also on site. 

Rock Pipit - Lee Collins

Sparrowhawk - Kevin Rylands

Other Wildlife: With most Ivy not yet in flower, a couple of Ivy Bee Colletes hederae were nectaring on Water Mint. On the Michaelmas Daisy were a few hoverflies including Plain-faced Dronefly Eristalis arbustorum, Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus and Common Globetail Sphaerophoria scripta. 

Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing few fold-wing cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata with the mirid bugs Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus in vegetation and a Lygus maritimus nymph on the Dune Ridge. 

Ptychoptera contaminata - Alan Keatley

Lygus maritimus nymph - Alan Keatley

Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 15th September

The first Wryneck of the year was a welcome early morning surprise in the Buffer Zone, unfortunately it soon moved on or hid successfully in the surrounding scrub. It was not a herald of any migrant arrival with just two Willow Warbler and a Wheatear on site, an exception being 200 Linnet, a notable increase. Overhead 80 Swallow, 70 House Martin, two Rook and a few Meadow Pipit. 

Also overhead, another brief staying highlight, a flock of nine Glossy Ibis which flew in and over the dunes, presumably landing or circling the estuary, before heading east over Exmouth a few minutes later. They arrived on the Otter Estuary 15 minutes later. 

Waders in the estuary included 304 Dunlin, 165 Ringed Plover, 32 Knot, 17 Greenshank, three Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrel and the Little Ringed Plover. Also present 55 Sandwich, two Common and single Arctic and Little Tern, three Mediterranean Gull, a Kingfisher and an Osprey which circled Shutterton Creek and flew S mid morning. 

Year List additions:
171. Glossy Ibis
170. Wryneck

Ringing News: With an additional two new birds today, an incredible total of 101 different ringed Sandwich Tern have now been recorded at the Warren this autumn. 

Other Wildlife: Despite the breezy conditions, the sunshine saw increased numbers of Common Darter and Migrant Hawker on the wing. Still numerous, Rush Veneer were frequently disturbed along the paths along with a couple of Vestal. In what is probably the best ever year for Clouded Yellow, at least 15 again today, some moving through west along the Dune Ridge or over the estuary. 

Rush Veneer - Alan Keatley

Vestal - Kevin Rylands

Common Darter - Alan Keatley

Two new species for the Recording Area were also found, both common and widespread, the rove beetle Megalinus glabratus, found under a log on Warren Point and Fleabane Aphid Ovatus inulae found under Common Fleabane leaves.

Megalinus glabratus - Alan Keatley

Blackening Waxcap - Kevin Rylands

Monday 14th September

There was no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs today, all three records therefore having been one tide birds. 

The Little Ringed Plover was still present in the estuary along with 280 Redshank, 110 Sandwich and 12 Common Tern, 80 Ringed Plover, 30 Knot, 12 Greenshank, eight Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, five Mediterranean Gull, four Sanderling, two Whimbrel, a Kingfisher and, offsite near Lympstone, an Osprey

Elsewhere migrants were limited to two Wheatear, a Willow Warbler and a Goldcrest.

Wheatear - Dean Hall

Willow Warbler  - Dean Hall

Sunday 13th September

The highlight of another busy day came at last light when the Warren's third Lesser Yellowlegs dropped in to briefly join a group of 15 Greenshank in The Bight, before they flew off towards Finger Point. The first since 9th September 2013, with the first record on 23rd May 2003.  

Other waders in the estuary included 280 Redshank, 220 Dunlin, 110 Ringed Plover, 25 Knot, 15 Greenshank, nine Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, six Sanderling, three Whimbrel and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. 

Also in the estuary 165 Sandwich, 26 Common, a Black and a Little Tern, 35 Mute and the Black Swan, five Mediterranean and a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull, four Wigeon and a Kingfisher. 

Elsewhere the first Water Rail of the autumn, two Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail were on the Golf Course, single Goldcrest and Willow Warbler were in the bushes and five Meadow Pipit and two Grey Wagtail. 

Year List addition:
169. Lesser Yellowlegs

Other Wildlife: Clouded Yellow remains the most numerous butterfly with seven in Greenland Lake and similar numbers heading SW, along with a few Red Admiral and a Painted Lady. 

Clouded Yellow - James Marshall

Saturday 12th September

Another varied day in the estuary with two Cattle Egret SW mid morning, an adult Osprey, 51 Wigeon, the first significant flock of autumn, and a 1CY Caspian Gull on Finger Point mid evening.

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Counts from the estuary included 303 Redshank, 240 Dunlin, 148 Curlew, 139 Sandwich, seven Common and a Little Tern, 82 Ringed Plover, 24 Knot, 16 Greenshank, nine Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit, six Mediterranean Gull, three Whimbrel and a Kingfisher. 

Knot - Lee Collins

Some variety in the bushes as well with an increase in migrants including the first Goldcrest of autumn, 16 Chiffchaff, seven Blackcap and single Garden, Sedge and Willow Warbler. with 55 Swallow, 30 House and a Sand Martin overhead.

Elsewhere four Wheatear, a Coal Tit and a mobile Grey Wagtail on site, a Kingfisher at the Main Pond and 18 Shag on the Langstone Rock breakwater at high tide.

Ringing News: A metal ringed Sandwich Tern that has been present a couple of days was ringed as in nestling at Terschelling in the Netherlands on 31st May 1996, just over 30 years ago. The is one of the oldest Sandwich Tern ever recorded, it was previously seen here in July 2020 and July/August 2021.

Other Wildlife: Fewer flying insects, although at least six Clouded Yellow and a Wall Brown were on the wing along with a Vestal and continuing high numbers of Rush Veneer. Of a more terrestrial nature, the ground beetle Calathus fuscipes, a clover root weevil Sitona hispidulus and the rove beetle Tasgius atra. 

Calathus fuscipes - Alan Keatley

Sitona hispidulus - Alan Keately

More noticeable three Grey Seal on Bull Hill and a Grey Squirrel behind the Crocus Compound.

Friday 11th September

A good range of scarcities included the first Short-eared Owl of the year, an early arrival, over the Main Pond, later roosting in the saltmarsh. Other migrants on site included six Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail.

Wheatear - Lee Collins

A good variety in the estuary included a Spoonbill on Finger Point early morning before being flushed by an Osprey, with two Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover in The Bight. None of these were present on the evening tide although seven Ruff were in Shutterton Creek. 

Counts across both tides included 320 Dunlin, 310 Redshank, 105 Sandwich, 30 Common and two Little Tern, 23 Greenshank, 15 Knot, nine Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Mediterranean Gull, eight Teal, five Grey Plover, three Whimbrel, a Kingfisher and a Spotted Redshank.

Year List addition:
168. Short-eared Owl

Thursday 10th September

Two different juvenile Osprey were in the estuary late morning with wader counts over the high tides including 320 Redshank, 110 Ringed Plover, 86 Dunlin, 20 Knot, 15 Greenshank, 12 Turnstone, 11 Bar and five Black-tailed Godwit, six Grey Plover, four Whimbrel and single Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Spotted Redshank. 

Common Sandpiper - Dean Hall

Also present single juvenile Black and Little Tern, 105 Sandwich and five Common Tern, 11 Shelduck, seven Mediterranean and a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull. 

Elsewhere 16 Common Scoter, four Common and an Arctic Tern were offshore, four Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail were on site and half a dozen Meadow Pipit, five Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail were overhead. 

Other Wildlife: Three Grey Seal were on Bull Hill and a dead Conger Eel was on the beach. 

Wednesday 9th September

The juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was again in The Bight over high tide, with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 310 Dunlin and 160 Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 60 Sandwich, 12 Common and two juvenile Little Tern, 19 Teal, nine Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, eight Shelduck, two Spotted Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and an Osprey.

Elsewhere a Purple Sandpiper flew from Langstone Rock into the estuary, 15 Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver were offshore, two Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher were at the Main Pond, 170 House Martin, 80 Swallow and a few Sand Martin were overhead and the Red-legged Partridge and two Wheatear were on the Golf Course.

Other Wildlife: A dry day after yesterday's rain and insects responded with a variety of species on the wing. Diptera included Grey Knapweed Picturewing Acanthiophilus helianthi, Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii and Twin-spot Stiletto Thereva bipunctata, plus several hoverflies, Long-winged Duskyface Melanostoma scalare, Bolette Blacklet Cheilosia scutellata and Gossamer Hoverfly Baccha elongata. 

Twin-spot Stiletto Thereva bipunctata - Alan Keatley

Grey Knapweed Picturewing Acanthiophilus helianthi - Alan Keatley

Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii - Alan Keatley

Clouded Yellow is still the prominent butterfly with a Wall Brown on the Dune Ridge. Migrant moths included a Small Marbled, a Vestal and a Silver Y amongst the numerous Rush Veneer with several Mint Moth also flying.

Small Marbled - Alan Keatley

Several wasps were active searching for prey, on the Dune Ridge, Red-banded Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa and Leaden Spider Wasp Pompilus cinereus; and on Sycamore leaves Slender Wood-borer Trypoxylon attenuatum and Ring-legged Crossocerus C. annulipes.

Red-banded Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa - Alan Keatley

Five Grey Seal were on Bull Hill early afternoon with a Common Seal offshore later on. 

Tuesday 8th September

The overnight rain seemed to do little to drop in any migrants with just a few Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler noted around the bushes, however a flock of at least 110 Linnet, seven White Wagtail and a couple of Wheatear were feeding in The Bight.

Wader numbers did increase with a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper amongst 305 Dunlin and 180 Ringed Plover over the evening high tide, with other counts including 260 Curlew, 14 Greenshank, 14 Knot, 12 Bar and five Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone, nine Sanderling and three Whimbrel. 

Dunlin & Ringed Plover - Kevin Rylands

Also over high tide, a 1CY Caspian Gull on Finger Point, a day earlier than the first of last year's record influx, 65 Sandwich and six Common Tern, eight Mediterranean Gull and seven Shelduck. 

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Ringing News: A busy high tide with over 60 Exe-ringed Oystercatcher recorded, plus birds from Hampshire and Yorkshire. In addition the Hampshire Ringed Plover and five Sandwich Tern, from Poland, Belgium, Netherlands and Hampshire (two). 

Other Wildlife: A better afternoon with rain clearing by midday and warm sunshine later on. In sheltered areas a couple of Heather Colletes C. succinctus on its foodplant by the Visitor Centre. Hiding in the heather a Common Groundhopper and close by the cranefly Tipula paludosa. 

Heather Colletes C. succinctus - Alan Keatley

Tipula paludosa - Alan Keatley

A drop in butterfly numbers, but a few Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady still on the wing along with a few late hoverflies including a Lesser Roundface Eumerus funeralis by the station and a couple of Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly Xanthogramma pedissequum.

Lesser Roundface Eumerus funeralis - Alan Keatley