Saturday 31st August 2013

A quieter day although a Spotted Flycatcher was a new arrival, also in the bushes c15 Chiffchaff, five Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler. Offshore at least six Balearic Shearwater were seen heading south far into the bay, a Black Tern flew in off during the afternoon and the Red-throated Diver was still present.

Wildlife News: A helice Clouded Yellow was along the Back Path with another Clouded Yellow on the Point.

Friday 30th August 2013

Quieter in the bushes with 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat and single Willow and Garden Warbler with local interest in a Jay briefly and a large mixed tit and warbler flock containing a Coal Tit.  A single Wheatear perched along on a fence-line and one Yellow Wagtail on the Golf Course continued an unusual run here of this species being on the ground.  Three Sedge Warbler skulked in and around the Dune Pond.  Just a Peregrine, c.35 Swallow and 8 House Martin passed overhead. 

Thursday 29th August 2013

The bushes had 17 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 12 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail on the golf course.  2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Snipe and 1 Common Sandpiper flew over.

Wednesday 28th August 2013

The 12th Warren record of Pectoral Sandpiper was an unexpected highlight. It flew in from the west calling, landed briefly in the Bight before taking off and gaining height once again calling all the way. Waders that did remain on site included a Curlew Sandpiper and 78 Dunlin, also in the estuary 90 Sandwich Tern, two Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Migrants numbers remain broadly similar but suggested some turn around in individuals with 17 Chiffchaff, 14 Blackcap, nine Whitethroat, five Wheatear, five Willow and a Garden Warbler. The first Tree Pipit of autumn passed overhead with three Yellow and a Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater flew south and the Red-throated Diver was offshore with 78 Shag, a Kingfisher was at the Main Pond and a good count of 86 House Sparrow were around the Carpark.

Wildlife News: Another arrival of whites with half a dozen Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Red Admiral and a couple of Clouded Yellow.

Autumn Ladies Tresses 26/08/13 © John Lee

Tuesday 27th August 2013

The third Green Sandpiper of the month was in Shutterton Creek early morning with 194 Redshank and three Greenshank, also in the estuary a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper with 139 Ringed Plover, c100 Dunlin, 97+ Sandwich Tern, a Knot, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. The overdue first Whinchat of the year was on Warren Point with other grounded migrants including 19 Chiffchaff, five Whitethroat, four Wheatear, two Willow, a Garden and a Sedge Warbler. Elsewhere three Grey and three Yellow Wagtail were overhead and two Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver were offshore.

Monday 26th August 2013

The first Pied Flycatcher of the year on Warren Point was the highlight with other minimum counts of grounded migrants consisting of 18 Chiffchaff, 13 Blackcap, eight Wheatear, eight Whitethroat, four Yellow Wagtail, three Willow, two Reed and a Garden Warbler. Waders included the first two Curlew Sandpiper of the autumn briefly on Finger Point with 171 Ringed Plover, 152 Redshank, 100 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling and a Greenshank. Also in the estuary 42+ Wigeon, the first significant arrival with small groups flying in off through the morning, three Mediterraean Gull, 70+ Sandwich and 18 Common Tern. Elsewhere two Arctic Skua were offshore mid evening.

Wildlife News: Two Clouded Yellow were on Warren Point with good numbers of Small White and Silver Y also seemingly new arrivals. Southern and Migrant Hawker and Common Darter are now out around the Main Pond.

 Common Darter 21/08/13 © Simon Thurgood

Southern Hawker 21/08/13 © Simon Thurgood

Sunday 25th August 2013

The highlight were two Wood Sandpiper that flew high calling over the Bight mid afternoon, a typical record for this rare Warren visitor. Also present over the high tide the first three Little Stint of the year, 110+ Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 10 Bar and eight Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper with 70+ Sandwich Tern, nine Teal, seven Wigeon, four Mediterranean and a Yellow-legged Gull. Offshore the first two Black Tern of the year were present with 15+ Common and two Arctic Tern, four Arctic Skua, the Red-throated Diver and 92 Shag. Elsewhere 15+ Chiffchaff, three Garden Warbler, three Yellow Wagtail and three Wheatear were on site.

Wildlife News: Autumn Ladies Tresses are now in flower through Greenland Lake and the Grey Seal was on Bull Hill.

Saturday 24th August 2013

The first Kingfisher of the autumn was in the estuary where wader counts included 470 Curlew, 150+ Dunlin, c130 Ringed Plover, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Knot and a Lapwing. Also from the hide 140+ Sandwich Tern, four Teal, three Mediterranean Gull, a Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe. Grounded migrants included four White and two Yellow Wagtail, 10+ Blackcap, six Whitethroat, three Willow Warbler and a Wheatear. Elsewhere six Balearic Shearwater flew south early morning, the Red-throated Diver was on the sea, a Hobby flew north with 120+ House Martin, 90+ Swallow and 10+ Sand Martin also flying through.

Wildlife News: The first Wasp Spider of the year was found in Greenland Lake.

Friday 23rd August 2013

Waders were the order of the day with the second Green Sandpiper of the year and a Little Ringed Plover in the estuary early morning. The Plover was still present over the evening tide with a Ruff and four Common Sandpiper also present. More regular Warren waders included 183 Dunlin, 176 Ringed Plover, 110 Redshank, 15+ Whimbrel, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone, two Knot and a summer plumaged Grey Plover. Also in the estuary 106+ Sandwich Tern, 14 Little Egret, four Teal, three Wigeon and three Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater was offshore, three Yellow Wagtail and three Sedge Warbler were on site with eight Whitethroat, three Wheatear and a Garden Warbler.

Thursday 22nd August 2013

A Turtle Dove feeding around the Visitor Centre early morning was the first autumn bird here since 2008. Other migrants included 10+ Blackcap, two Whitethroat, two Garden Warbler and on the Point two Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear.  Over the evening tide 200+ Dunlin, 140+ Ringed Plover and c40 Sanderling were on the beach with 16 Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwit, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

Wildlife News: Two Silver-washed Fritillary were feeding on Buddleia near the Dodgems.

Wednesday 21st August 2013

The first three Wigeon on the autumn were in the estuary with 451 Curlew, 154 Ringed Plover, 121 Dunlin, 118 Redshank, 22 Whimbrel, 12 Sanderling, five Teal, three Mediterranean Gull, a Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank. Elsewhere the Red-throated Diver and 60+ Kittiwake were offshore.

Whimbrel 21/08/13 © Simon Thurgood

Wildlife News: The first Bloxworth Snout (an RDB3 moth) for the Warren was flushed along the Dune Ridge. This is probably an overlooked resident but migrants seen today included 15 Painted Lady, 10 Red Admiral and three Clouded Yellow with many of the whites and Small Tortoiseshell no doubt also migrants. The first Common Darter of the year was also on the wing.

 

Painted Lady 21/08/13 © Simon Thurgood

 

Clouded Yellow 21/08/13 © Simon Thurgood

 

Tuesday 20th August 2013

Again too much disturbance on the unwardened beach to get an accurate count of waders but 170+ Dunlin, 120+ Ringed Plover and c30 Sanderling were trying to roost this evening with 200+ Black-headed Gull and an adult Mediterraean Gull. Elsewhere the Slavonain Grebe was in the estuary and a Fulmar was prospecting around Langstone Rock.

Monday 19th August 2013

The first Lapwing of the autumn was in the estuary with a good site count of 14 Common Sandpiper, 206+ Ringed Plover, 113 Great Black-backed Gull (including two ringed birds from France and one from the Channel Islands), 100+ Dunlin, 32 Sanderling, 11 Whimbrel, a Mediterranean Gull and a Grey Plover. Elsewhere two Arctic Skua and a Red-throated Diver were offshore and a Yellow Wagtail was on the Golf Course.

Sunday 18th August 2013

The highlight was the first Green Sandpiper of the year in the saltmarsh early morning with other wader counts including 937 Oystercatcher, 588 Curlew, 287 Ringed Plover, 169 Dunlin, 118 Redshank, 29 Sanderling, five Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, five Whimbrel, five Turnstone, two Teal and a Common Sandpiper. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, four Mediterraean Gull, 160+ Sandwich, 12 Common and two Arctic Tern. Elsewhere three Balearic Shearwater, an Arctic Skua and the Red-throated Diver were offshore and migrants included two Wheatear and two Sedge Warbler.

Wildlife News: The Grey and Common Seal were on Bull Hill early morning with the presumed same Grey Seal off the beach in the afternoon. Elsewhere a couple of Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady flew through the site and an ex-Slowworm was found flattened in the Entrance Tunnel.

Saturday 17th August 2013

Six Balearic Shearwater and two Great Skua passed south before the rain arrived, with a Great Northern Diver off the seawall. In the estuary there were 198 Sandwich Tern, 112 Great Black-backed Gull, 50+ Redshank, 10 Common Tern, a Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Sedge Warbler were on Warren Point with a Garden Warbler and a Wheatear in Greenland Lake.

 

Oystercatcher 13/08/13 ©  Colin Scott

Wildlife News: A male Red-eyed Damselfly was by the Back Meadow, the first site record. Other migrants included a couple of Rush Veneer and Silver Y. 

Friday 16th August 2013

Only the one record today, but a second for the Warren. This Zebra Finch was showing well along the Dune Ridge.

Zebra Finch 16/08/13 ©  Dave Hutton

Thursday 15th August 2013

The Slavonian Grebe remains in the estuary off Cockwood with a Great-crested Grebe, also there 72 Great Black-backed Gull, seven Common Tern, three Mediterraean Gull and a Common Sandpiper.

Wednesday 14th August 2013

Another evening watch from Cockwood Steps showed 270+ Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 40+ Redshank, 39 Mute Swan, seven Bar-tailed Godwit, four Mediterranean Gull, two Common Sandpiper and the Slavonian Grebe.

 

Bar-tailed Godwit 12/08/13 © Colin Scott

Tuesday 13th August 2013

Evening counts from Cockwood Steps included 244+ Ringed Plover, 129+ Dunlin, 39 Mute Swan, 30+ Redshank, five Common Tern, a Common Sandpiper and the Slavonian Grebe.

Monday 12th August 2013

Records from the estuary early evening included 184 Ringed Plover, 160+ Sandwich Tern, 101 Dunlin, 15 Common Tern, four Bar-tailed Godwit, two Turnstone, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. Migrants on site included 16 Blackcap, eight Chiffchaff, seven Willow Warbler and six Whitethroat.

Sunday 11th August 2013

Unfortunately there was too much disturbance over the high tide to undertake wader counts, but 26 Sanderling were continually pushed along the beach. Tern numbers had increased with 220 Sandwich, 17 Common and a juvenile Arctic Tern present. Elsewhere the Red-throated Diver was offshore and migrants included two Wheatear, two Sedge and a Garden Warbler.

Saturday 10th August 2013

An unexpected but welcome early autumn fall occurred overnight with minimum counts of 38 Willow Warbler, 20 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, seven Whitethroat and two Wheatear. Scarcer migrants included single Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart, three Sedge and two Garden Warbler. Records from the estuary included 100+ Sandwich and 13 Common Tern, 87 Ringed Plover, 53 Dunlin, 30 Sanderling, three Knot, a Greenshank, a Turnstone and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere at least nine Balearic Shearwater flew south offshore, a Red-throated Diver and two Great-crested Grebe were on the sea and 60+ Swallow, a dozen House and three Sand Martin flew through.

Wildlife News: A total of 16 butterfly species were on the wing today with two or three Clouded Yellow the first of the year. Other migrants  included a Painted Lady, several Red Admiral and hundreds of cabbage whites, mostly Small White. The first Golden-ringed Dragonfly of the year was a more local migrant as was the Grey Squirrel in the Entrance Bushes.

Friday 9th August 2013

A new Roseate Tern was with 13+ Common Tern in front of the hide, also in the estuary three Mediterraean Gull, two summer plumaged Knot, the Slavonian Grebe, single Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. Elsewhere 55 Sanderling were on the beach.

Thursday 8th August 2013

A Balearic Shearwater and 104 Gannet flew south mid morning with the Red-throated Diver still offshore. Waders counts included 314 Curlew, 105 Dunlin, 96 Ringed Plover, 67 Redshank, 52 Sanderling, seven Turnstone, two Knot and a Greenshank with the Slavonian Grebe, a juvenile Mediterraean Gull, 58+ Sandwich and 17 Common Tern also in the estuary.

View Ringed Plover Ring number: 893219 in a larger map

A Ringed Plover seen here on 2nd and 3rd August was ringed as a chick on 17th June 2005 at Holtsoddi in Iceland. It was then retrapped breeding at the same site in 2011 when colour rings were added.  It bred there again in 2012.  This is the first sighting this year.

Wednesday 7th August 2013

Wader counts included 800+ Oystercatcher, 110 Dunlin, 86 Ringed Plover and 54 Sanderling with single Snipe, Turnstone and Black-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary the Slavonian and juvenile Great-crested Grebe, 86 Sandwich and 15 Common Tern, five juvenile Shelduck and two Mediterraean Gull. Elsewhere a Wheatear was in Greenland Lake, with 170 Shag, 55 Kittiwake and a Red-throated Diver offshore.

Tuesday 6th August 2013

A flock of 38 Common Tern offshore were the most notable arrivals. Elsewhere a Buzzard roosted on Warren Point and the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with a Great-crested Grebe and 22 Mute Swan.

Monday 5th August 2013

A Balearic Shearwater headed south close offshore late evening with a dozen distant shearwater sp, some of which were probably also this species. High tide counts included 62 Dunlin, 53 Sanderling, 47 Ringed Plover, 24 Whimbrel, five Common Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere two Wheatear were in Greenland Lake with a Willow Warbler in the Entrance Bushes.

Sunday 4th August 2013

Two Balearic and 76 Manx Shearwater flew south with four Great, two Arctic and a Pomarine Skua, also offshore a Red-throated Diver. In the estuary there were 119 Ringed Plover, 110 Dunlin, 48 Great Black-backed Gull, 45 Redshank, 26 Sanderling, 13 Common Tern, a Mediterranean Gull and single Slavonian and Great-crested Grebe.

Saturday 3rd August 2013

The first Little Ringed Plover of the year, a juvenile, was in the Bight over both high tides, also in the estuary a female Goosander, with counts from the evening tide of 688 Oystercatcher, 548 Curlew, 111 Dunlin, 94+ Ringed Plover, 45 Sanderling, 39 Redshank, seven Bar-tailed Godwit, three Turnstone and a Knot. Small wader numbers were higher over the morning tide with flocks seen and heard leaving high south throughout the day. Offshore two Balearic Shearwater, single Red and Black-throated Diver, 150+ Sandwich,11 Common, two Arctic and two Roseate Tern. Elsewhere 40+ Swift and the first Crossbill of the year flew over whilst grounded migrants included eight Willow Warbler and a Wheatear.

Wildlife News: The first Migrant Hawker of the year was on the wing and a Grey Seal was offshore.

Migrant Hawker 03/08/13 © Lee Collins

Friday 2nd August 2013

A single Balearic and six Manx Shearwater flew south offshore with 520 Dunlin, 174+ Ringed Plover, 60 Sanderling, three Turnstone, two Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit in the estuary.

Thursday 1st August 2013

Wildlife News: A few moth sightings from today all found during a walk in the afternoon. Migrants included one Vestal, along with two Rush Veneer, a Diamondback Moth and many Silver Y. Interesting residents, largely in Greenland Lake, included Platytes alpinella (RDB3), Gymnancyla canella (Na), Jersey Tiger (Nb), Anerastia lotella (Nb), Pediasia contaminella (Nb), Synaphe punctalis (Nb) and Archer's Dart.

The Vestal 01/08/13 © Guy Freeman