Sunday 7th 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.

Counts from the estuary included 86 Curlew, 24 Turnstone, 10 Grey Plover, seven Bar-tailed Godwit, a Sanderling and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Seawatching was also quiet but three Manx Shearwater were only the year's second record with 10 Sandwich Tern and two Mediterranean Gull (first and second summer) also offshore. Elsewhere migrants were limited to seven Swallow, six Blackcap and two Willow Warbler.

Wildlife News: The Sand Crocus was open during suring sunny periods early afternoon with insects on the wing including Comma and two Orange-tip, three Dark-edged Beefly and a couple of new hoverflies for the year Fluffy Dronefly Eristalis intricarius and Cheilosia illustrata a bumblebee mimic. 

 Cheilosia illustrata - Lee Collins

Melangyna lasiophthalma - Lee Collins