Tuesday 2nd 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 highlight was the fourth Red-rumped Swallow for the Warren, the first since May 2012. Unlike the previous fly through records this bird lingered and fed around the Main Pond for nearly six hours before moving on ahead of a heavy squall around 3pm. Other migrants included a male Redstart in Dead Dolphin Wood, seven Sand and the first two House Martin of the year, at least four Willow Warbler, three Swallow and a Wheatear.

 Red-rumped Swallow - Lee Collins

Red-rumped Swallow - Simon Thurgood

An Osprey caught a fish in the estuary early afternoon, with it or a second, over the Bight early evening; both headed north upriver. Wader counts included 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, five Grey Plover and a Whimbrel on the morning tide with 29 Ringed Plover, 29 Redshank, 10 Dunlin and two Sanderling in the evening. Other records included the Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood, 12 Sandwich Tern and a female Eider were offshore and the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond.

Kestrel - James Learmouth

 Red-rumped Swallow - Lee Collins