Friday 31st August

A bright and sunny morning after a clear night didn’t bode well for grounded migrants, however from the start there were plenty of warblers in the bushes, nothing unusual but enough to keep looking. Totals include seven Whitethroat, four Reed and three Sedge Warbler. Overhead 20 Swallow, a Kestrel in off, four Yellow and the first Grey Wagtail of the autumn.

 

Elsewhere the Osprey made two appearances from up estuary were counts included 182 Dunlin, 138 Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling, three Whimbrel and a Knot.

 

Wildlife News: Red Admiral and Painted Lady were on the move with Large and Small White. Other butterfly species included Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small Copper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood. At least a dozen Migrant Hawker, and a few Common Darter were on the wing with a Fox on Warren Point and a Common Lizard near Tractor Compound.

Thursday 30th August

A male Ring Ouzel was reported in the Back Meadow, this would be the first August and earliest autumn record by at least five weeks.

Wednesday 29th August

The first seven Wigeon of the autumn were in the estuary this morning with an arrival of 130+ Sandwich Tern, several of which were Dutch ringed. Other counts included 356 Redshank, 330 Dunlin, 179 Ringed Plover, including a Norwegian ringed individual, eight Common and a juvenile Little Tern, seven Greenshank, seven Sanderling, three Knot, three Whimbrel, a Snipe and the Slavonian Grebe. Several flocks of Ringed Plover and Dunlin were heading south on the evening tide. Other records included an Osprey in the estuary mid morning and single Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear.

Tuesday 28th August

An evening visit saw 230 Redshank, 160 Ringed Plover, 115 Dunlin, 27 Sanderling, five Whimbrel, four Greenshank, four Mediterranean Gull and a Grey Plover in the estuary. Elsewhere five Great-crested Grebe and two Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Monday 27th August

Counts from the estuary included 1168 Oystercatcher, 390 Dunlin, 277 Redshank, 266 Curlew, 258 Ringed Plover, 27 Sanderling, nine Mediterranean Gull, just eight Sandwich and a Common Tern, five Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwit, three Knot and two Whimbrel.

Elsewhere 170 House and eight Sand Martin, 80 Swallow and a Tree Pipit passed overhead and two Eider were off Langstone Rock.

Sunday 26th August

Seawatching before 9am, and the main rain arrival, saw a single Balearic Shearwater, three Little, two Black and an Arctic Tern, two Great and an Arctic Skua, c185 Kittiwake, 80+ Gannet and 15 Fulmar head south along with a drake Velvet Scoter, the earliest autumn record since 1999.

Counts from the estuary included two moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper, 260 Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover, an Arctic, 40 Common and 35 Sandwich Tern, 20 Turnstone, five Whimbrel, three Greenshank, three Knot, a Grey Plover and the Slavonian Grebe.

Saturday 25th August

Counts from the estuary included 1045 Oystercatcher, 449 Curlew,  451 Dunlin, 236 Redshank, 199 Ringed Plover, 30 Common and 22 Sandwich Tern, six Greenshank, six Mediterranean Gull, five Whimbrel, the Slavonian Grebe and single Knot, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper.

 Greenshank - Lee Collins

Grey Plover - Lee Collins

Elsewhere 10 Yellow Wagtail and five Wheatear were around the Bight, a Whinchat and two Sedge Warbler in Greenland Lake and two Swift and a Tree Pipit were overhead.

Friday 24th August

The evening tide saw a roost movement of 255 Common and at least three Arctic Tern over the spit and into the estuary with a new juvenile Black Tern feeding in close front of the hide until dark. also in the estuary 228 Dunlin, 188 Ringed Plover, 21 Sanderling, including two juveniles, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, nine Mediterranean and an adult Yellow-legged Gull, seven Greenshank, two Knot and the Slavonian Grebe.

Sparrowhawk - Lee Collins

Elsewhere at least four Yellow Wagtail and four Wheatear were on site, with single Redstart, Whinchat and Sedge Warbler in Greenland Lake. A juvenile Buzzard was a scarce visitor to Dead Dolphin Wood, the Treecreeper was in the Entrance Bushes and offsite two Osprey were over Mudbank mid morning. A great days birding but no sign of yesterday's wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: Black Bindweed and Tomato are growing along the Dune Ridge, the seeds presumably pumped ashore by last years sea defence work. Black Bindweed is a first for the reserve with only one previous recording area record and Tomato is a scarce, often tideline, occurrence.

Thursday 23rd August

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 240 Curlew, 214 Dunlin, 174 Ringed Plover, 47 Sanderling, 18 Sandwich and two Common Tern, two Greenshank and a Little Ringed Plover. Elsewhere 13 Yellow Wagtail were on the Golf Course, with a potential first for the recording area a juvenile Citrine Wagtail buzzing around the Bight late evening, at least seven Willow Warbler and five Whitethroat were on site, a Hobby was hunting Linnet, three Wheatear were in front of the hide an a Red-breasted Merganser flew in off the sea. 

Wheatear - Simon Thurgood

Wildlife News: Two Clouded Yellow were on site and this striking Field Grasshopper was in Greenland Lake.

Field Grasshopper - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 22nd August

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with a juvenile Yellow-legged and eight Mediterranean Gull, three Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Tuesday 21st August

The Black Tern and Slavonian Grebe remain in the estuary with four Greenshank, three adult Mediterranean Gull, 10 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Monday 20th August

The Black Tern and Slavonian Grebe remained in the estuary but no other news was received.

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.

Thursday 9th August

Two Ruff were present on the morning tide with the juvenile Black Tern present briefly over the evening tide with a single Little Ringed Plover. Peak counts from the estuary during the day included 227 Ringed Plover, 194 Dunlin, 51 Common and c50 Sandwich Tern, 20 Whimbrel, 17 Sanderling, 12 Mediterranean Gull, seven Black and seven Bar-tailed Godwit, three Grey Plover, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and the Slavonian Grebe.

Black Tern - Lee Collins

Elsewhere over 100 House Martin were feeding over the site late afternoon, half a dozen Willow Warbler were in the bushes and an Osprey was in the estuary late morning. The potential bird of the day however slipped the net, a probable Great White Egret flew east offshore at 7.30 this morning. It was too distant to clinch but may have been the bird that later dropped onto the Fleet at Abbotsbury, Dorset.

Wildlife News: A new hoverfly for the recording area was found today Eristalinus sepulchralis - the small Spotty-eyed Dronefly. A Wall Brown was on Warren Point and a Painted Lady was watched coming in off the sea early evening.

 Eristalinus sepulchralis - Alan Keatley

Wall Brown - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 8th August

A juvenile Black Tern was present over the evening tide before heading to Mudbank, also from the hide two juvenile Little Ringed Plover and the first two juvenile Black-tailed Godwit of autumn. Counts from the estuary included 153+ Dunlin, 104 Ringed Plover, 28 Common Tern, 14 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Turnstone, seven Sanderling, three Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

Elsewhere two Arctic Skua were offshore, a Wheatear was in front of the hide and 11 Swift were overhead.

 juvenile Common Tern - Lee Collins

juvenile Little Ringed Plover - Lee Collins

Tuesday 7th August

Counts from the estuary included 108 Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 32 Common Tern, 26 Sanderling, 12 Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, single Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Teal were offshore, a juvenile Green Woodpecker was on site and 11 House and a single Sand Martin flew through.

Gull sp - Dave Jewell

 

 Gull sp - Lee Collins

This is thought to be a leucistic Mediterranean Gull, but a hybrid couldn't be ruled out.

Ringing News: This Sandwich Tern KDB has been present since 18th July. It was ringed in mid Wales in September 2015 and has been present here during the last three July/ August periods, showing great site fidelity. A large percentage of ringed Sandwich Terns are recorded here in multiple years, reinforcing the importance of the Warren as a  post breeding stopover site.

Sandwich Tern - Lee Collins

Sunday 5th August

A Pied Flycatcher on the Golf Course was presumably yesterday's bird relocated with the Treecreeper still present by the First Pond. Also in the bushes a Garden and at least five Willow Warbler and a mix of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler. Some of the latter may have been migrants but a few recently fledged birds were also obvious.

Over the high tide a Little Tern was with 140 Sandwich and 22 Common Tern whilst wader numbers picked up considerably with a minimum of 492 Curlew, 372 Redshank, 110+ Dunlin, 107 Ringed Plover, 51+ Sanderling, 15 Mediterranean Gull, nine Whimbrel, four Greenshank, two Turnstone, a summer plumaged Grey Plover and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: The highlight was the finding of at least two Purple Hairstreak, only the second Warren record. There is no data on the first record other than it was before 1980. also present a single Clouded Yellow but no sign of any fritillaries.

Saturday 4th August

A brief Pied Flycatcher by the Main Pond and a juvenile Treecreeper in the Entrance Bushes were the pick of a small fall of migrants with two Garden, a Sedge and five Willow Warbler also present and 62 Swallow, a Sand and six House Martin overhead.

In the estuary counts included 557 Oystercatcher, 416 Curlew, 171 Sandwich and 12 Common Tern, 146 Redshank, 27 Mute and a Black Swan, 23 Ringed Plover, 22 Whimbrel, 16 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, a Little Ringed Plover and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the immature Eider and a Common Scoter were offshore

Wildlife News: Two Silver-washed Fritillary were only the fourth site record with good numbers of other butterflies on the wing including lots of Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Large and Small White with a few Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Holly Blue, two Red Admiral and single Comma and Painted Lady.

Friday 3rd August

The first Marsh Harrier of the year, a juvenile, flew SW early morning but other migrants were limited to the estuary where at least 21 Common Tern were with the Sandwich Tern flock. Also in the estuary 50+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, 13 Mediterranean Gull, two Black-tailed Godwit, two Turnstone, a Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe.

Thursday 2nd August

A Little Ringed Plover was the pick of the records from the estuary with other records including 290 Curlew, 190 Sandwich and 14 Common Tern, 72 Dunlin, 31 Ringed Plover, eight Sanderling, eight Mediterranean Gull, four Whimbrel, four Turnstone and a Greenshank.

Common Tern - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 1st August

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was the in the Bight on the rising tide with 178 Redshank, 100+ Sandwich and three Common Tern, 45 Ringed Plover, including a German ringed juvenile, 45 Dunlin, six Mediterranean Gull, two Sanderling and a Knot also in the estuary.

Wildlife News: A Painted Lady was again recorded and a distant dolphin sp was offshore.