Tuesday 31st January

The Slavonian Grebe was from the hide with counts of 1000+ Dunlin, 200 Brent Geese, 181 Grey Plover, 87 Knot, 63 Shelduck, 23 Turnstone and a Greenshank with 13 Skylark and three Rock Pipit in the Bight. Elsewhere eight Moorhen, three Shoveler and the Gadwall were on the Main Pond and an Eider was reported off John's Watch although visibility was again too poor for a decent scan offshore.

Monday 30th January

Counts from the estuary included 145 Grey Plover, 68 Bar-tailed Godwit, 54 Curlew, 50+ Knot and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the female Gadwall, two pairs of Shoveler, a Little Grebe and a Snipe were on the Main Pond but fog prevented any sightings offshore.

Song Thrush - Dean Hall

Sunday 29th January

The Bonaparte's Gull and two Slavonian Grebe were again off Cockwood mid morning. Other records before the rain arrived included 160 Knot, 153 Grey Plover and just 33 Bar-tailed Godwit.    

Saturday 28th January

The Bonaparte's Gull put in another brief appearance in the estuary early afternoon, along with two Slavonian Grebe, 128 Grey Plover, 60 Turnstone, 28 Sanderling, a Greenshank and the first Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit of 2017.  Elsewhere two Red-throated Diver were offshore, single Raven and Rook were overhead, two Siskin were briefly in Dead Dolphin Wood and a Snipe, two Chiffchaff, two Shoveler and the Gadwall were at the Main Pond.

 Bullfinch - Alan Keatley

Goldcrest - Alan Keatley

Thursday 26th January

A combination of a stiff onshore south easterlies, choppy sea and low tide during the day reduced the species list. The was very little offshore, but the Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary channel between the Bight and Bull Hill mid morning.  It is becoming more regular and reliable feeding in the channel on a receding or low tide. Also in the estuary the two Slavonian Grebe, 244 Brent Goose, 115 Teal, 69 Shelduck and a Greenshank with five Shoveler and the female Gadwall on the Main Pond.

Wednesday 25th January

The Bonaparte's Gull and two Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary off Cockwood Steps late morning and the first reported Kingfisher of the year was in the Main Pond but no other news was received.

Tuesday 24th January

Thick fog failed to lift today but the Black-necked Grebe was visible offshore with a few Great-crested Grebe, four Common Scoter and 10 Guillemot.

Wildlife News: Late news of an Otter captured by Teignbridge on a trail camera at the Main Pond on an unknown date, only the second record for the recording area, the first an old record of a tideline corpse.

Monday 23rd January

In foggy conditions five Red-throated Diver, 41 Great-crested Grebe and five Common Scoter were offshore with 13 Red-breasted Merganser and two Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

Sunday 22nd January

A new Slavonian Grebe offshore was the only noticeable arrival today, also offshore the Black-necked Grebe and eight Red-throated Diver. In the estuary the two regular Slavonian Grebe, the Bonaparte's Gull appeared briefly mid morning before heading towards Exmouth and counts included 458 Teal and 139 Wigeon, the low high tide meant wader counts were very low for WeBS with only Oystercatcher reaching three figures. Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler and five Chiffchaff were mobile around the First and Main Pond, with five Shoveler, a female Gadwall and a female Wigeon on the Main Pond.

 Yellow-browed Warbler - Dave Smallshire

Cirl Bunting (female) - Dave Smallshire

Wildlife News: A Peacock butterfly was in the Back Meadow.

Saturday 21st January

The wintering Yellow-browed Warbler was again by the Main Pond with four Shoveler and the female Gadwall still present on the pond. No other records were received with choppy conditions offshore and a low high tide.

Thursday 19th January

A frosty start with pockets of ice on Main Pond, where the Yellow-browed Warbler and a single Chiffchaff were busily hunting for food as it thawed; also in the bushes the first Jay of the year, a rare January record. Counts from the estuary were reduced due to the low high tide but 820 Dunlin, 158 Grey Plover and 45 Knot were seen from the hide along with 68 Brent Geese. Elsewhere five Red-throated Diver and 38 Great-crested Grebe were offshore and a single Raven overhead was another first for the year.

Tuesday 17th January

Aside from a pair of Shoveler in the estuary the only news came from the seawall where 21 Red-throated Diver flew south between 9.20 & 10am with four Eider, the Black-necked and 52 Great-crested Grebe on the sea.

Wildlife News: At least one Harbour Porpoise was still offshore.

Monday 16th January

The Bonaparte's Gull put in another late afternoon appearance in the estuary from Cockwood Steps, with two Slavonian Grebe and a Goldeneye also there. Counts from the hide included 183 Grey Plover, 138 Curlew, 84 Shelduck and 71 Knot. Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was behind the Main Pond and the Black-necked Grebe was offshore with four Eider, four Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver.

Wildlife News: At least three Harbour Porpoise were still off the seawall.

Sunday 15th January

Seawatching for an hour early morning saw a heavy auk passage south with 1600+ birds, of which the vast majority of those identified were Razorbill, also heading south 10 Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver, 72 Gannet and c40 Kittiwake. Later on the Black-necked Grebe was still off the seawall with 41 Great-crested Grebe and four Eider.  

In the estuary counts included 174 Brent Geese, 103 Bar-tailed Godwit, 76 Shelduck, a winter high of 33 Sanderling, two Greenshank, two Goldeneye and the two Slavonian Grebe. The Bonaparte's Gull was also still present feeding in the estuary channel on the dropping tide from 12.30-15.30 at least before heading offshore.

Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was again behind the Main Pond, where a Gadwall and three Shoveler remain and six Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on offshore sandbars this evening.

Wildlife News: Four Harbour Porpoise were off the seawall.

Saturday 14th January

Despite the recent cold weather little change with both wintering rarities still present. The Yellow-browed Warbler behind the Main Pond and the Bonaparte's Gull, which showed well in the estuary channel on the dropping tide. Elsewhere the Black-necked Grebe was still offshore with four Eider, 48 Great-crested Grebe, nine Red-throated Diver and a drake Gadwall; the two Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary with 145 Brent Geese and 55 Shelduck; and the female Gadwall remains on the Main Pond.

 Bullfinch - Simon Thurgood

Long-tailed Tit - Simon Thurgood

Friday 13th January

No news from the site today but the Bonaparte's Gull was feeding offshore with Black-headed Gull late afternoon, viewed from Exmouth. Outside the recording area Eastdon produced another rarity with a Yellow-browed Warbler reported feeding in the ditch alongside the cycle path.

Thursday 12th January

A Black-necked Grebe was off the seawall early morning with three Red-throated Diver and two Eider whilst 55 Gannet and 25 Kittiwake headed south. Elsewhere two Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary, the female Gadwall and two Shoveler were on the Main Pond and the Yellow-browed Warbler showed well near there before the rain arrived.

Wednesday 11th January

No news from the recording area since the weekend, but 12 Waxwing were found today just offsite. They were feeding on rosehips and privet berries near Eastdon Farm just south of Cockwood and were easily visible from the cycle path. One of the birds was colour-ringed just two days ago at Builth Wells in mid Wales. It was in a flock of 13 birds then, so one has been lost in the intervening couple of days.

Sunday 8th January

Flat calm conditions offshore revealed a new site record of 92 Great-crested Grebe; also offshore 13 Red-throated Diver, just 13 Common Scoter, three Eider and the Bonaparte's Gull. Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was still around the Main Pond and counts from the estuary included 1244 Oystercatcher and 1035 Dunlin but other species were in short supply on the low high tide with just nine Curlew, seven Bar-tailed Godwit and three Knot.

Saturday 7th January

Offshore there were 13 Red-throated Diver, 42 Great-crested Grebe and four Eider with five Long-tailed Duck flying south towards Dawlish. Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was by the Main Pond, a Slavonian Grebe and an adult Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary and a Gadwall and five Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Wildlife News: A Peacock butterfly along the Back Path was surprising considering the dull weather.

Friday 6th January

The Yellow-browed Warbler was by the Main Pond this morning but no other news was received.

Thursday 5th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary off Warren Point mid morning, with other records from the estuary including 117 Brent Geese, 117 Grey Plover and a Goldeneye. Elsewhere three Red-throated Diver and 25 Great-crested Grebe were offshore and three Shoveler and a Snipe were on the Main Pond.

Wednesday 4th January

No sign of the Bonaparte's Gull or Yellow-browed Warbler today but five Eider, six Red-throated Diver and 18 Common Scoter were offshore, four Shoveler were on the Main Pond and the two Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary with 72 Grey Plover and 41 Shelduck.

Tuesday 3rd January

A frosty start to the day with little change on the bird front. The Bonaparte's Gull was in front of the hide briefly on the dropping tide mid morning with a new Polish ringed Dunlin, 163 Grey Plover and 67+ Bar-tailed Godwit also in the estuary. Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was again in the Entrance Bushes with 32 Great-crested Grebe, four Red-throated Diver and an Eider offshore.

Bonaparte's Gull - Lee Collins

Monday 2nd January

Despite the cold northerly wind the sunny conditions were enough to add several overlooked species to the year list but an unexpected addition was a new Yellow-browed Warbler. First seen between the Man Pond and Dead Dolphin Wood, it was later relocated around the Entrance bushes. In the estuary the Bonaparte's Gull was present from early afternoon feeding in the main channel off Warren Point; also in the river the two Slavonian Grebe and counts of 1286 Oystercatcher, 1150 Dunlin, 130 Brent Geese, 122 Redshank, 52 Shelduck and four Greenshank. Elsewhere five Shoveler and a Snipe were on the Main Pond and just three Red-throated Diver were offshore.

Wildlife News: The annual BSBI New Year Plant Hunt saw a total of 25 species in flower across the recording area, on a par with the 23 in 2015 but well down on the 42 recorded in 2016. The full list was as follows: Annual Meadow-grass, Autumn Hawkbit, Bramble, Common Cat's-ear, Common Chickweed, Daisy, Dandelion, European Gorse, Fragrant Evening Primrose, Guernsey Fleabane, Large-flowered Evening Primrose, Mexican Fleabane, Perennial Sow-thistle, Petty Spurge, Portland Spurge, Ragwort, Red Deadnettle, Sea Mayweed, Sea Radish, Sea Rocket, Shepherd's Purse, Sweet Violet, Thrift, Wall Barley & Yarrow.

Sunday 1st January

A grey and frequently wet start to the new year saw a total of 66 species recorded during the day. The highlights were offshore with a brief Long-tailed Duck, two Great and an Arctic Skua heading south, four Eider, 17 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, 35 Great-crested Grebe and just 16 Common Scoter. The Bonaparte's Gull was off Warren Point again late afternoon before heading into the estuary. From the shelter of the hide counts from the estuary included 158 Grey Plover, 153 Curlew, 133 Knot, 109 Bar-tailed Godwit, 86 Wigeon, 53 Teal, 22 Ringed Plover, 14 Sanderling, four Greenshank and the two Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Shoveler and a Gadwall were on the Main Pond and a couple of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest could be found sheltering in the Entrance Bushes.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was off the seawall mid morning.