Monday 29th September

At sea, a Red-necked Grebe was viewed from the seawall, also a Great Crested Grebe, a Great Northern Diver and the four Eider remained.  In the estuary, the resident Slavonian Grebe, some Little Egret, 460 Wigeon, some Teal, 45 Brent Goose and the Bar-headed Goose remained in with the Canada Goose flock.  High tide roost counts in The Bight included a Grey Plover, 49 Ringed Plover, two Turnstone, 5 Knot, 348 Dunlin and two Little Stint.  Standard fayre in the bushes - ten Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap, a Goldcrest and a Whitethroat and two Reed Bunting, with the exception of the first Lesser Whitethroat.  Overhead, just 25 Meadow Pipit and 3 Swallow.   The impressive run continues with two Whinchat; two Wheatear also present today.

Sunday 28th September

The tide produced 3 Little Stint, 340+ Dunlin, 30 Sanderling, 3 Knot, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Sandwich Tern. Four Raven passed overhead; couple of Goldcrest and a few Chiffchaff and Blackcap in the bushes.  Birding was almost as challenging as the Dawlish Triathlon, which the site hosted today. 

Friday 26th September

Counts over the morning tide included 265 Dunlin, 180 Wigeon, 36 Ringed Plover, 34 Sanderling, 20 Teal, 10 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, five Knot, two Sandwich Tern and two Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere four Eider and a Great-crested Grebe were offshore with  12 Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and two Kingfisher.

Thursday 25th September

Two juvenile Little Stint were present in the Bight over the evening tide with 182 Dunlin and 72 Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 532 Curlew, 58 Brent Geese, 41 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, eight Knot, two Tufted Duck, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Redstart remained vocal around the Entrance Bushes.

Wednesday 24th September

The Rose-coloured Starling remains on Warren Point and the Redstart was still behind the Crocus compound but other migrants were limited to a dozen Chiffchaff and eight Blackcap. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, 72 Brent Geese were in the Bight and four Eider were new in offshore.

Tuesday 23rd September

The juvenile Rose-coloured Starling remained on Warren Point but a mobile Wryneck was a new discovery today around the Dune Pond, other new migrants included a Whinchat on Warren Point with a Redstart and a Coal Tit in the Entrance Bushes amongst continuing good numbers of Chiffchaff. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and 26 Brent Geese were in the estuary with 41 Sanderling on the beach.

Monday 22nd September

The Rose-coloured Starling was on Warren Point early morning and evening, but seems to be spending the day offsite. Migrants continue to move through with another good site count of 34 Chiffchaff but no sign of any Wheatear, also on site at least 10 Blackcap, three Whitethroat and two Reed Warbler whilst three Grey and a Yellow Wagtail flew over. Elsewhere three Curlew Sandpiper remained with 350+ Dunlin, a Golden Plover flew over early morning with it or another in the Bight late evening, 20 Brent Geese were in Shutterton Creek and the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood.

Sunday 21st September

The continuing easterlies have brought the wintering wildfowl back early with a good site count of 1649 Wigeon in Shutterton Creek this evening with 52 Brent Geese over Bull Hill earlier in the day. Disturbance over the evening tide from kite-surfers in the Bight, meant wader counts couldn't be completed but there were eight Knot and three Curlew Sandpiper in with the Dunlin and Ringed Plover with 28 Black and 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank also on the estuary. New migrants included 10 Wheatear with single Willow and Sedge Warbler, whilst the Redstart remained on Warren Point and the Rose-coloured Starling made a surprise reappearance with the Starling roost at the Golf Course pond. Elsewhere the Osprey caught a fish in the estuary mid morning, and overhead 440 House Martin headed NW with 64 Meadow Pipit, three Yellow and two Grey Wagtail going east along with a flock of 13 Jackdaw.

Curlew Sandpiper - Lee Collins

Saturday 20th September

An overnight fall saw a good site count of 35 Chiffchaff with 17 Blackcap, three Goldcrest and single Redstart, Wheatear and Whitethroat the only other grounded migrants. Overhead 270 House Martin, 125+ Meadow Pipit, eight Chaffinch, five Grey Wagtail and two Skylark. In the estuary wildfowl continued to arrive with 1014+ Wigeon, 134 Teal, 14 Brent Geese and a Gadwall in Shutterton Creek, wader numbers however remained stable with 408 Dunlin, 125 Ringed Plover, 14 Black and seven Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper. Also in the estuary an Osprey mid evening, 13 Common Tern, four Mediterranean Gull, two Kingfisher and the Slavonian Grebe.

Kingfisher - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: Six species of butterfly were on the wing with Common Blue and Wall Brown both on third broods.

Friday 19th September

A juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, the second of the autumn,  was feeding around the Go Karts briefly early morning beofre headed offsite towards the village. Other migrants were in lower numbers than yesterday but a Redstart was on the Point, a Sedge Warber was in Skipper Meadow and a Wheatear was in the Buffer Zone. In the estuary a Curlew Sandpiper was with 400+ Dunlin, 120 Ringed Plover, 31 Sanderling, four Knot and a Grey Plover with nine Black-tailed Godwit flying through. Over head there wre three Yellow Wagtail, 35+ Meadow Pipit and a Chaffinch.

Redstart - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A Water Vole showed well on the Main Pond mid evening, collecting and feeding on Mare's-tail.

Thursday 18th September

A couple of hours early morning revealed a small fall with 17+ Blackcap, 15+ Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest, two Whitbethroat and a Wheatear around site with the Treecreeper in the Entrance Bushes. Overhead there were a couple of Grey Wagtail, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 40+ House Martin and a Chaffinch.

Wednesday 17th September

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary from Cockwood Steps with 178 Great Black-backed Gull, nine Bar-tailed Godwit, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and a Kingfisher.

Tuesday 16th September

Overhead in the first hour there were 75 House Martin, 25 Swallow, four Grey and two Yellow Wagtail and a single Chaffinch. Around the Entrance Bushes and Main Pond there were 13 Chiffchaff, nine Blackcap, two Reed Warbler and single Whitethroat and Willow Warbler.

Monday15th September

The Wryneck was still on Warren Point this morning with a couple of Whinchat and a Wheatear. Overhead another Hobby passed through with 90 House Martin and 60 Swallow. In the estuary counts included 293 Dunlin, 120 Ringed Plover, 31 Sanderling, 21 Teal, just 10 Sandwich Tern, nine Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, seven Knot and three Greenshank with two Kingfisher and the Slavonian Grebe around the wreck. Elsewhere the Treecreeper was still in the Entrance Bushes.

Sunday 14th September

The Wryneck remained on Warren Point continuing to frustrate and entertain in equal measure, also on the Point three Wheatear, two Yellow Wagtail and a Whinchat. Overhead an adult Osprey flew in off the sea and there was the first decent hirundine passage of the autumn with 150 House Martin, 120 Swallow and three Sand Martin east, these in turn attracted the attention of two migrant Hobby. In the estuary there were 546 Wigeon, 221 Dunlin, 128 Great Black-backed Gull, 75 Ringed Plover, 27 Sanderling and singles of Slavonian Grebe, Pintail, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint.

 Wryneck - Lee Collins

Sanderling - Lee Collins

 

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was in the estuary and and good numbers of the third brood of Small Copper were on the wing.

Saturday 13th September

The Wryneck remained on Warren Point but was elusive, other migrants included three Whinchat, five Wheatear, a Garden Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff, 12 Blackcap and five Whitethroat with an Osprey, a Hobby, six Grey Wagtail and a couple of Sand Martin overhead. Elsewhere a Little Stint and four Curlew Sandpiper roosted on the beach with 217 Dunlin, 102 Ringed Plover and 21 Sanderling. In the estuary the counts included a site record 731 Canada Goose roosting late evening, 600 Wigeon, 530 Curlew, 340+ Redshank, 11 Bar and five Black-tailed Godwit, three Common Sandpiper, a Gadwall, a Brent Goose, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

Little Stint - Lee Collins

Friday 12th September

Counts from the estuary included 387 Redshank, 360+ Wigeon, 170+ Dunlin, 80+ Ringed Plover and 43 Sandwich Tern, also present a Little Stint, three Knot and a Black-tailed Godwit.  Elsewhere the Wryneck remained on Warren Point all day but was always elusive.

Thursday 11th September

The Wryneck remains on Warren Point but other migrants were thin on the ground, although six heron sp. flew high NW late evening. A juvenile Osprey was hunting over the Bight, with single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper with 170+ Dunlin and 97 Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 298 Wigeon, 270+ Redshank, 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Knot, three Shelduck and two Pintail.

Osprey - Bob Reeves

Wednesday 10th September

Another changeover of migrants today with only a single Wheatear and totals of 21 Chiffchaff , 13 Blackcap, seven Whitethroat, three Willow and a Garden Warbler. Overhead 40 House Martin went high east early morning with 19 Meadow Pipit heading the other way. Elsewhere a Little Stint was on the beach on the evening tide with 200+ Dunlin, 75 Ringed Plover, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit and 12 Sanderling.

Tuesday 9th September

There was no sign of the Woodchat today but the Wryneck remained on Warren Point although was always elusive. Other grounded migrants included a Whinchat in Greenland Lake, 22 Blackcap. 13 Chiffchaff, nine Whitethroat, seven Willow and three Reed Warbler with the first Chaffinch of the autumn, five Grey and a Yellow Wagtail overhead. A Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpiper were on the beach with 292 Dunlin, 52 Ringed and two Grey Plover. Elsewhere a Gadwall was in Shutterton creek with 238 Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe and three Arctic Skua were offshore.

Wildlife News: Late news from Saturday. The first confirmed Water Vole for the recording area was seen well on the Main Pond. This follows an unconfirmed report there last year. There is apparently a successful reintroduced population as close as Cockwood Marsh which is presumably the source of these records, an excellent and unexpected addition to the Warren's fauna.

Monday 8th September

The Wryneck remained on Warren Point but a juvenile Woodchat Shrike found late morning in Greenland Lake was the unexpected highlight. The fifth record for the Warren and the first in autumn. Both birds remained until late afternoon at least but became increasingly mobile and elusive. Other migrants were in lower numbers than recent days but included two Whinchat, 10+ Wheatear and a Garden Warbler. Over the high tide the first Little Stint of the year was on the beach late evening with a Curlew Sandpiper, two Knot and a smart summer plumaged Grey Plover with counts of 278 Dunlin, 75 Ringed Plover, 15 Bar and seven Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and a Kingfisher were in the estuary and a couple of Grey Wagtail were overhead.

 Woodchat Shrike - Lee Collins

 Wryneck - Lee Collins

 

Whinchat - Lee Collins

 

Wildlife News: The first Wasp Spider of the year was along the Dune Ridge. http://davesbirdingdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/wasp-spider-argiope-bruennichi-dawlish.html

Sunday 7th September

A Wryneck found early evening on Warren Point was the highlight of another full day in the field. Other migrants included c30 Wheatear, 10 Whitethroat, a record six Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher with 43 Meadow Pipit, 11 Grey Wagtail, three Tree Pipit and three Yellow Wagtail overhead. Over high tide a Ruff and two Curlew Sandpiper were in the Bight with counts of 450+ Curlew, 254 Dunlin, 198 Wigeon, 85 Ringed Plover, 60 Teal, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Knot, eight Whimbrel, eight Shelduck; the first for several weeks, two Golden Plover and single Common Sandpiper and Greenshank. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater flew south, single juvenile Black and Arctic Tern were offshore with 85+ Common Tern, a Great Northern Diver and a Shoveler were on the sea and the Slavonian Grebe was in Shutterton Creek.

 Wryneck - Lee Collins

 Redshank - Simon Thurgood

Bar-tailed Godwit - Simon Thurgood



Saturday 6th September

Another full day on patch with six Willow, three Sedge and a Garden Warbler, two Goldcrest, two Whinchat, a Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher amongst commoner migrants with 19 Grey Wagtail, five Reed Bunting, two Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit overhead. Wildfowl were also on the move with 207 Wigeon, 21 Teal and a Pintail in Shutterton Creek with the Slavonian Grebe. On  World Shorebird Day wader counts included 1622 Oystercatcher, 301 Redshank, 238 Dunlin, 123 Ringed Plover, 21 Knot, 19 Bar and four Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Sanderling and two Curlew Sandpiper. Elsewhere two Treecreeper were in the Entrance Bushes and two Arctic Skua were offshore

Friday 5th September

A small arrival of migrants included the first Goldcrest of the autumn, three Wheatear, a Whinchat, a couple of Willow and a Garden Warbler and overhead a Swift, 150+ Swallow, 10+ Meadow Pipit, five Grey and a Yellow Wagtail. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with 130+ Common Tern still present on Bull Hill. Other counts included 295+ Redshank, 140+ Dunlin, 12 Wigeon, five Teal, two Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.

Wednesday 3rd September

A Whinchat on Warren Point was the pick of the few migrants with a single Wheatear in the Buffer Zone and a Yellow Wagtail overhead. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary along with 15 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank whilst 50+ Common Scoter were offshore.

Wildlife News: The Common Seal was on Bull Hill this afternoon.

Tuesday 2nd September

Two juvenile Curlew Sandpiper were present over high tide with 50+ Common and a single Arctic Tern offshore. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 256+ Redshank, 170+ Great Black-backed Gull, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Wigeon and a Greenshank. Elsewhere the Treecreeper and a Kingfisher were around the Main Pond.

Wildlife News: A young Stoat was at the eastern end of Greenland Lake.

Monday 1st September

Offshore there were at least three Arctic with 116+ Common Tern mid morning with a Balearic Shearwater south. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, there were over 600 Common and Sandwich Tern upriver, the Treecreeper was behind the Crocus Compound and a Tree Pipit flew over.