Friday 3rd May

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.

A Cuckoo on Warren Point was a surprise on a day of few migrants with three House Martin and two Wheatear the only other arrivals noted. There was more movement in the estuary with c90 Whimbrel, 62 Dunlin, 17 Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and 12 Sanderling. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver and 11 Sandwich Tern were offshore.

 Sanderling & Dunlin - Lee Collins

Whitethroat - Lee Collins

Ringing News: Two-colour ringed Whimbrel were noted today both ringed on passage in Wales. One of these birds, D63, was also on the Warren in April 2016, April 2017 & Aug 2017. It was also seen in Exmouth in April 2017 but hasn't been recorded anywhere else outside the Exe, a great account of migratory site fidelity. It was ringed at Llansantffraed, Cardigan Bay in May 2015.

Whimbrel D63 - Lee Collins