Friday 25th May

A Little Ringed Plover that flew over early morning was an unexpected highlight, other migrant waders included 86 Dunlin, 27 Ringed Plover, five Bar-tailed Godwit, three Knot and just two Sanderling. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe and six Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere the two Eider were offshore with a Common Tern and 10 Great-crested Grebe, the Sedge Warbler remains at the Golf Course pond and new fledgers included Great Tit and Magpie.

Wildlife News: Southern Marsh Orchid is now coming into flower across Greenland Lake with many of them having missed the recent mowing, large swathes of Meadowsweet, Cuckoo Flower and other species were not so fortunate. A single Red Admiral was perhaps a fresh migrant.

Southern Marsh Orchid - Simon Thurgood

Thursday 24th May

Offshore a flock of 24 Common Scoter, eight Great-crested Grebe and two Eider were present this evening with 20+ Manx Shearwater milling about in the bay. Elsewhere six Sanderling were on the beach and five Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were in the estuary at low tide.

Wildlife News: Despite the overcast conditions insects were out in force with the first Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Cinnabar of the year with a couple of Buff-tip and a Pebble Hooktip also on the wing. In the Buffer Zone several Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida were noted, another new species for the Recording Area.

 Buff-tip - Alan Keatley

 

 Pebble Hooktip - Alan Keatley

Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida) - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 22nd May

A single Wheatear and a couple of House Martin revealed some continuing passage, but the arrival of a pair of Shoveler on the Main Pond was a better indicator of the season. These are presumably failed breeders from an unknown site nearby.  Elsewhere the summer plumaged resident Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, and seven Great-crested Grebe and the two Eider were offshore.

Sunday 20th May

Coastal fog didn't lift until mid morning but revealed little change on site. The summer plumaged Knot remained in the estuary along with 10 Sanderling, seven Dunlin, two Grey and a Ringed Plover, a Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit, whilst offshore there were two Eider and five Sandwich Tern. Overhead 22 Swallow, five Swift and three House Martin showed some continuing movement.

Saturday 19th May

A Greenshank was the pick of the waders over the high tide with other counts including 33 Dunlin, 16 Sanderling, !0 Ringed Plover, four Whimbrel, three Grey Plover and the summer plumaged Knot. Elsewhere a lone Wheatear was on site and the two Eider remain offshore with a single Great Northern Diver.

Stonechat - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: The first Brown Argus and Common Blue of the year were on the wing and a Silver Y was in the Back Meadow.

 Common Blue - Alan Keatley

Xanthogramma pedissequum (a hoverfly) - Alan Keatley

Friday 18th May

A splash of colour was added to proceedings today with the arrival of a summer plumaged Knot on Finger Point over high tide. Also present two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 33 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, eight Ringed and three Grey Plover. Offshore two Eider, 10 Common Scoter and seven Great-crested Grebe.

 Dunnock - Simon Thurgood

Whitethroat - Simon Thurgood

 

Wildlife News: Good numbers of the introduced Sand Lizard are to be found on the original sections of the Dune Ridge.

Sand Lizard - Simon Thurgood

Thursday 17th May

A continuing midsummer feel to proceedings. A Little Tern was offshore with 10 Sandwich Tern and a single Fulmar. In the estuary wader numbers were down with 190 Oystercatcher, 12 Dunlin, 12 Sanderling, nine Curlew, five Ringed and two Grey Plover, a Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

 Skylark - Dave Jewell

Wednesday 16th May

Seawatching first thing was relatively quiet with three Great Northern Diver south along with 16 Kittiwake, five Manx Shearwater and two Common Tern. Also offshore the two moulting Eider and a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver.  Elsewhere a single Wheatear was on site and on the falling tide there were 42 Dunlin, 15 Sanderling, nine Ringed Plover, eight Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Grey Plover were feeding avidly in the Bight.

Wildlife News: A female Beautiful Demoiselle was near the Crocus compound early morning. There have been less than ten records of this species at the Warren and this was the first since 2010. Also on the wing the first Blue-tailed Damselfly of the year and increasing numbers of Azure Damselfly.

 Beautiful Demoiselle - Alan Keatley

 Blue-tailed Damselfly - Alan Keatley

Azure Damselfly - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 15th May

A Scandinavian Rock Pipit around the shore of the Bight was a surprise migrant on another quiet morning. Also in the estuary 25 Dunlin, 12 Sanderling, five Whimbrel, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey and two Ringed Plover.

Monday 14th May

The highlight of an evening visit was the weather with little new in the way of birdlife. Offshore the two Eider were still present but Sandwich Tern were outnumbered by paragliders (7 to 6). Elsewhere 21 Dunlin, seven Whimbrel and six Sanderling were in the estuary and offsite a Red Kite over Powderham was the closest the record Devon influx got to the Warren.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was offshore, a Fox caused consternation amongst the Oystercatcher on Finger Point and butterflies included further sightings of Holly Blue.

 Holly Blue - Simon Thurgood

Green-veined White - Simon Thurgood

Small Copper - Simon Thurgood