Sunday 14th April

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

The first Merlin of the year, a small male, was close offshore early afternoon heading towards Exmouth before doubling back past John's Watch seemingly in pursuit of unseen prey; this was closely followed by the first 2019 Hobby heading east over the Bight.

 

Also offshore seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, single Red-throated and Great Northern Diver and an Arctic, 10 Sandwich and a Common Tern. Elsewhere the low high tide limited wader counts with just 96 Curlew, 32 Oystercatcher, 13 Turnstone and a Sanderling.

 

Wildlife News: The first St Mark's Fly of the year was by the First Pond; an early emergence the species is named after St Mark's day on 25th April.