Sunday 19th August

The highlight was a flock of seven Cattle Egret, that flew north over the Warren early morning - seen from Exmouth. Only the second for the Recording Area, following two in February 2008. Other new arrivals were thin on the ground with counts from the estuary including the Black, 85 Sandwich and 40 Common Tern, 111 Ringed Plover, 89 Dunlin, 53 Mute Swan, 14 Sanderling, eight Mediterranean and at least two Yellow-legged Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Elsewhere two Eider were off Langstone Rock, the Treecreeper was in the Entrance Bushes with single Garden and Reed Warbler, a Swift was overhead and a Kingfisher was again on the Main Pond.

Wildlife News: There was no sign of the Heath Potter Wasp in the Desert but several Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi were located. In Greenland Lake Autumn Ladies-tresses could be seen flowering alongside Marsh Helleborine and a Clouded Yellow was also present.

Saturday 18th August

The Black Tern was again briefly in the estuary where counts included 276 Curlew, 138 Dunlin, 112 Ringed Plover, three Mediterranean Gull, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 14 Common Scoter were offshore, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond, the Treecreeper was still present and migrants included 40 Swallow, 30 House Martin, a Swift, five Willow and a Reed Warbler.

Wildlife News: A Heath Potter Wasp Eumenes coarctatus in the Desert beyond Warren Point rivals the June Long-horned Bee as find of the year. 

Heath Potter Wasp - Alan Keatley

Friday 17th August

The Black Tern remains in the estuary with 120+ Sandwich and 20+ Common Tern with 170 Dunlin, just 60 Ringed Plover, 21 Sanderling, a Common Sandpiper an Osprey, and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Wheatear were on site with 200+ House Martin through.

Thursday 16th August

Two Little Tern, an adult and juvenile, were new arrivals in front of the hide with the long-staying Black Tern still offshore. Counts from the estuary included 182 Dunlin, 102 Ringed Plover and 17 Sanderling. Elsewhere a single Willow Warbler in the Entrance Bushes and a Sedge Warbler at the Dune Pond were the only noticeable passerine migrants.

Little Tern - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: After the rain the temperature saw an increase in invertebrate activity with several Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes in Greenland Lake, at least eight Migrant Hawker were on the wing but only three Common Darter, in what has been a poor year for the species so far.

Pantaloon Bee - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 15th August

The Little Stint was in the Bight on the rising tide with 270 Dunlin, 221 Ringed Plover, 42 Sanderling and a Snipe. Also in the estuary 169 Sandwich, 41 Common and a brief Black Tern, 20+ Mediterranean and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, six Greenshank, the first Kingfisher of the autumn and the Slavonian Grebe.

Mediterranean Gull (juv/first winter) - Lee Collins

Ringing News: At least six of the Mediterranean Gull seen today were colour-ringed. The bird above is from Langstone Harbour, Hampshire. This the ninth from this scheme recorded onsite this autumn, a great return from the 120 they ringed this year. Also on site today a Mauritanian ringed Sanderling for it's fourth day.

Tuesday 14th August

The Little Stint made a reappearance over the morning tide with 245 Dunlin, 150+ Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling and a couple of Knot. Also in the estuary 230+ Redshank, 143+ Sandwich and 59+ Common Tern, 29 Whimbrel, 12+ Mediterranean Gull, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, an immature Yellow-legged Gull and late morning an Osprey.

 Greenshank - Dave Jewell

Bar-tailed Godwit - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere the first Whinchat of the autumn and a Sedge Warbler were on Warren Point and four Swift were overhead.

Wildlife News: The Sea Daffodil is flowering on Warren Point, one of only three UK locations. The extreme summer seems to have suited this Mediterranean species.

Monday 13th August

A visit over the evening tide showed the Black Tern and Little Ringed Plover were still present in the Bight with 210 Ringed Plover, c200 Dunlin, 26 Sanderling, three Bar-tailed Godwit and two Knot. Also in the estuary 227 Redshank, 60+ Sandwich and 42 Common Tern, 22 Whimbrel, four Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and the Slavonian Grebe.

Sunday 12th August

As the remnants of Storm Debbie passed through early morning seawatching produced a single Sooty and at least 19 Balearic Shearwater south with four large shearwater sp, 30+ Fulmar, three Arctic and two Great Skua all heading south.

Elsewhere the first Curlew Sandpiper of the year, a moulting adult, was in the Bight on the evening tide with the Little Stint making a return visit. Other counts from the estuary included 290 Dunlin, 223 Ringed Plover, 65+ Sandwich, 20+ Common and the Black Tern, 40 Mute Swan, seven Bar-tailed Godwit, three Grey Plover, two Greenshank, two Common Sandpiper, two Knot, a Little Ringed Plover and the Slavonian Grebe.

Saturday 11th August

The change in weather saw little change in numbers but an increased variety with 78 species recorded on site today. Seawatching during the day saw three Balearic Shearwater south early evening with two Little Tern, a Pomarine and two Arctic Skua feeding offshore, three Teal in off and two early Red-breasted Merganser south.

Counts from the estuary included 260 Dunlin, 246 Ringed Plover, 10 Sanderling, five Greenshank, three Grey and two Golden Plover, two Knot, two Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, the Black Tern and the Little Ringed Plover. Elsewhere four Mediterranean Gull were around the site, a Common Sandpiper on the seawall, the Treecreeper was in the Entrance Bushes and migrants included a Swift, six Willow and a Garden Warbler, a Meadow Pipit and a Wheatear.

Wildlife News: A Basking Shark, only the second Warren record, was offshore with a small pod of dolphin sp. A Grey Seal was in the estuary.

Friday 10th August

The first Little Stint of the year was in the Bight this morning but relocated to the north end of the estuary on the evening tide. Other waders included 294 Dunlin, 271 Ringed Plover, 25+ Sanderling, eight Turnstone, five Whimbrel, three Grey Plover, two Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Knot and a Little Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 50 Sandwich and 20 Common Tern, five Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Elsewhere three Pomarine and two Arctic Skua flew south early morning and migrants included single Sedge and Garden Warbler.