Thursday 30th September

Seawatching for two hours from 7.30am saw disappointing numbers compared to those further south at Berry Hd but far better than Seaton to the east. Birds were clearly passing further out in Lyme Bay and this is reflected by the number of birds too distant to identify. 

Totals included 15 Balearic Shearwater, with similar numbers of shearwater sp, an Arctic Skua and four skua sp, with hardly any Gannet or Kittiwake passage. A large flock of gulls were feeding off the seawall, mostly Black-headed and Herring Gull, but also four Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern. Other records included six Common Scoter on the sea, and 12 Swallow and a tight flock of 50 hirundine sp south. 

Wednesday 29th September

Counts from the estuary included 320 Curlew, 150 Teal, 51 Mute Swan, 48 Brent Goose and 20 Wigeon. The high tide did not flood the Bight and this combined with the presence of an adult Peregrine meant there were few small waders present. 

Elsewhere a late Whitethroat was along the Back Path with seven Chiffchaff and two Blackcap on site, five Swallow and three Rook overhead and feeding offshore 170 Gannet and four Sandwich Tern. 

Wildlife News: Amongst the dragonflies were several Common Darter and Migrant Hawker with a single Southern Hawker. 

Southern Hawker - Alan Keatley

A good selection of butterflies included a welcome sighting of a Wall Brown along the Dune Ridge, a Painted Lady fresh in nectaring on the beach, several Red Admiral passing through and elsewhere Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Small Copper and Small White.

Tuesday 28th September

Seawatching numbers from early morning are not available but a Grey Phalarope was reported, few birds passed as the weather cleared, but afternoon watches as the rain returned included 10 Balearic Shearwater, 396 Kittiwake, 200+ Gannet, 13 Arctic and two Pomarine Skua, 12 Sandwich and two Common Tern, five Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull.

Counts from the estuary included 248 Curlew, 236 Dunlin, 150 Teal, 59 Ringed and four Grey Plover, 42 Mute Swan, 40 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Turnstone, 19 Brent Geese, 14 Greenshank and two Sanderling. Migrants were limited in the poor weather with four Chiffchaff, two Blackcap and two Swallow.

Greenshank - Alan Keatley

Sunday 26th September

An hour seawatch early morning saw 20 Balearic Shearwater fly south along with 126 Gannet, four Guillemot and a Razorbill with eight Common Scoter also offshore.

Counts from the estuary included 496 Wigeon, 233 Dunlin, 83 Ringed and three Grey Plover, 10 Greenshank, nine Sandwich Tern, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrel, a Pintail and a juvenile Peregrine.

Peregrine - Alan Keatley

Elsewhere 19 Sanderling were on the beach, with 56 Meadow Pipit, 18 Swallow and a Grey Wagtail overhead and a Coal Tit in the bushes. 

Saturday 25th September

The second Wryneck of the year was on Warren Point briefly but couldn't be refound, a mobile Jay was also the second for the year. Other migrants included a late Hobby, 10 Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and on the Main Pond, a Grey Wagtail. Also on site a calling Tawny Owl at both ends of the day, 150 Goldfinch and 100 Linnet.

Counts from the estuary included 1750 Oystercatcher, 233 Curlew, 203 Dunlin, 143 Teal, 73 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 53 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Wigeon, 15 Turnstone, 13 Knot, eight Greenshank, five Sandwich Tern, two Mediterranean Gull, two Whimbrel and a Brent Goose. Elsewhere 14 Balearic Shearwater south in just 20 minutes and 17 Sanderling on the beach.

Wildlife News: Two Starry Smoothhound Mustelus asterias were in the estuary shallows as the tide receded. The first Ivy Bee Colletes hederae were on the first flowering Ivy.

Starry Smoothhound - Alan Keatley

Ivy Bee - Alan Keatley

Friday 24th September

Counts from the estuary included 250 Dunlin, 70 Ringed and four Grey Plover, 43 Mute Swan, 40 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Knot, eight Greenshank, four Sandwich Tern, three Brent Geese and two Whimbrel.

Elsewhere 16 Sanderling were on the beach, including the Norwegian ringed bird, and passerine migrants were limited to seven Chiffchaff, five Blackcap and two Wheatear.

Wildlife News: A single Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis was around the Crocus Compound, the third site record, and a Clouded Yellow was on Warren Point. 

Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly - Alan Keatley

Several Garden Petunia Petunia x hybrida were flowering near the Go-Karts, a presumed further escape from planting adjacent to the SAC. 

Garden Petunia - Alan Keatley

Thursday 23rd September

There was no sign of the Dotterel today and, aside from a Wheatear, no other news was received. 

Wednesday 22nd September

Dawlish Warren Rare Birds day by day shows the 22nd September as one of the quietest days in autumn. Once again there were no notable arrivals, however the continuing presence of the Dotterel and five Spoonbill meant there was no lack of quality this year. Both were seen over the foggy morning tide with the adult Spoonbill present in the evening but no news on the Dotterel. 

Other records received today included 58 Wigeon, 55 Dark-bellied Brent Geese (with a further 163 off site on Cockle Sands), 37 Mute Swan, 11 Mediterranean Gull and seven Greenshank.

Tuesday 21st September

Five Spoonbill, considered to be an adult and four immatures (1st & 2nd yrs), flew south late morning before dropping to feed in Shutterton Creek. They were flushed mid afternoon and flew to Exmouth before returning at high tide to roost on Finger Point. 

Also in the estuary the Dotterel was still present along with 53 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 33 Sanderling, four Pintail, two Common Tern and a Shoveler.

Dotterel - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A Myotis bat species, probably Whiskered, was flying around the Golf Couse this evening, the first record for several years.

Monday 20th September

The Dotterel remained for it's third day, returning to roost in the Bight over both high tides alongside 234 Dunlin, 27 Black and 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, nine Knot, eight Greenshank, three Grey Plover and a Whimbrel. 

Dotterel - Lee Collins

Also in the estuary 78 Teal, 19 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 16 Shelduck, nine Sandwich and a Common Tern. Elsewhere 28 Sanderling were along the beach, c165 Linnet were feeding around the Bight and migrants included 10 Wheatear, seven Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. A good count of 11 Stonechat also included some new arrivals.

Wildlife News: The year's first Clouded Yellow was in Greenland Lake and good numbers of Migrant Hawker were on the wing.

Migrant Hawker - Lee Collins

Sunday 19th September

The Dotterel was still present, almost as unexpected as its arrival on site. It adopted tidal movements like the majority of other waders, roosting around the shoreline of the Bight at high tide and feeding on the mudflats at low tide. Also in the estuary the Curlew Sandpiper, 158 Wigeon, 134 Teal, 51 Bar-tailed Godwit, mostly juveniles, 11 Knot, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Whimbrel.

Dotterel - Alan Keatley 

Dotterel - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a Spotted Flycatcher was by the Main Pond, 28 Sanderling were on the beach and 54 Goldfinch and at least five Wheatear were onsite, including a couple of presumed Greenland birds.

Wildlife News: An unexpected highlight was a Grey Squirrel on the Golf Course. Less than annual, this species has a strong autumn occurrence pattern as young seek out their own territories. 

Grey Squirrel - Lee Collins

Saturday 18th September

The highlight, and probably bird of the year, was a juvenile Dotterel in the Bight over the evening tide. The last Warren record was seen briefly in Sep 1961 and before that one was seen in Jun 1867 with three other undated Victorian records. It was found on the mudflats with Ringed Plover and Dunlin before roosting with them around the shore of the Bight. 

Dotterel - Lee Collins

Also in the estuary the first five Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the winter and a Curlew Sandpiper with minimum counts of 348 Dunlin and 112 Ringed Plover, others left throughout the morning, 344 Redshank, 134 Teal, including one with distinctive white primaries, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Greenshank, seven Knot, seven Sandwich and a Common Tern, four Grey Plover, seven Wigeon, three Mediterranean Gull and a Pintail.

Elsewhere 25 Sanderling were on the beach, 11 Common Scoter were offshore, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond and 100+ Linnet and at least three Wheatear on site.

Friday 17th September

Two Yellow Wagtail overhead were the pick of the few migrants with five Chiffchaff, two Blackcap and a Willow Warbler. Also onsite 110 Linnet and 80 Goldfinch.

There were no reports from the high tide but 12 Sanderling were on the beach with 55 Great Black-backed Gull, 10 Turnstone and two Sandwich Tern in the estuary.

Wildlife News: Not much change on the insect front  with a couple of Comma the pick of the butterflies, and several Migrant Hawker in and around the edges of the meadows.

Comma - Alan Keatley

Migrant Hawker - Alan Keatley

Phytocoris varipes - Alan Keatley

Thursday 16th September

The Spotted Redshank was again in the estuary on an evening visit on the dropping tide, with 331 Redshank, 74 Teal, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Knot, six Greenshank, just five Sandwich Tern, three Whimbrel and two Wigeon. Also on site at least two Wheatear and over 100 Linnet.

Wednesday 15th September

Two Spotted Flycatcher on Warren Point were making the most of the supply of insects around the Sycamores, constantly feeding for at least two hours. Other migrants included 13 Chiffchaff, nine Willow Warbler, five Blackcap and single Wheatear, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler. 

Spotted Flycatcher - both Alan Keatley

Counts from the estuary included 403 Curlew, 256 Dunlin, 49 Ringed Plover, 37 Great Black-backed Gull, 35 Sanderling, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Sandwich Tern, three Mediterranean Gull, two Knot and a Snipe.

Wildlife News: The Japanese Knotweed by the crazy golf, continues to provide an unexpectedly valuable nectar source. Today several individuals of three species of solitary bee present; Common Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis, Green Lasioglossum morio and Common Furrow Bee Lasioglossum calceatum (both black and red forms). 

Common Furrow Bee - both Alan Keatley

Apart from the bees, drone flies and Helophilus hoverflies are still present in large numbers but other species are now fewer in numbers such as Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea, Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria, White-footed Hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus and Migrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae.

Tuesday 14th September

Records today included a Wheatear and 300+ mixed Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling in the Bight, with 40+ Mute Swan and just five Sandwich Tern in the estuary. Elsewhere a Kingfisher showed well on the Main Pond.

Wheatear - Dean Hall

Sunday 12th September

WeBS count tallies included 1100 Oystercatcher, 290 Curlew, 290 Redshank, 276 Dunlin, 149 Ringed Plover, 38 Sanderling, 32 Mute Swan, 25 Common and 16 Sandwich Tern, 16 Knot, 12 Bar and single Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Greenshank, eight Mediterranean Gull, three Whimbrel and a Snipe. The Spotted Redshank was also present before the count hour. 

Elsewhere nine Swallow and eight House Martin were present pre-roost and migrants included 13 Blackcap, eight Wheatear, single Whinchat, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and the autumn's first Goldcrest. Overhead 18 Meadow Pipit and seven Grey Wagtail, with a Great Northern Diver offshore.

Wildlife News: A Vestal was flushed on Warren Point. 

Saturday 11th September

The Spotted Redshank was still in the estuary with the second winter Little Gull, a Curlew Sandpiper, 125 Common, 60 Sandwich and four Little Tern. Other counts included 252 Dunlin, 194 Ringed and four Grey Plover, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Knot and 10 Greenshank. 

Spotted Redshank with Greenshank - Lee Collins

Offshore four Balearic Shearwater and a Red-throated Diver. The Wryneck made a couple of appearances mid afternoon along the Back Path above Greenland Lake but was generally very elusive. Other migrants included 11 Wheatear, including a couple of Greenland, and a Reed Warbler, with a Tree Pipit, five Grey Wagtail and 62 House Martin overhead.

Wildlife News: A Beautiful Demoiselle was in Dead Dolphin Wood, only the second record since 2010. Elsewhere a Water Vole showed well on the Main Pond, at least a dozen Common Lizard including several juveniles were noted and a Red Underwing was found at roost. Late news however concerns an underwing of a different colour with the site's first Clifden Nonpareil caught during the week, the 705th moth species for the Recording Area.

Red Underwing - Alan Keatley

Friday 10th September

The elusive Wryneck reappeared briefly behind the hide, there remains no general access to this area. Other migrants included over 130 Linnet, 17 Wheatear, two Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler with 22 Swallow and two Swift overhead.

Wryneck - Luke Harman

The two Spoonbill (adult and juvenile) that have been on the Exe since the 19th August flew north up river before returning to Bowling Green. In the estuary the Spotted Redshank remained with counts of 406 Curlew, 300 Dunlin, 93 Ringed Plover, 86 Sandwich, four Little, an Arctic and a Black Tern, 51 Sanderling, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, seven Greenshank, seven Knot, three Mediterranean and the second winter Little Gull.

Spoonbill - Luke Harman

Offshore 286 Common Tern flew south in just 20 minutes early morning with over 500 Common Tern still on site, and these flocks attracted two Arctic Skua.

Sanderling - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: Two Vestal were flushed from the Golf Course. 

Vestal - Luke Harman

Thursday 9th September

The Spotted Redshank remained in the estuary seen on both tides along with a single Ruff and 292 Redshank. Also in the estuary 50 Teal, 47 Great Black-backed Gull, 41 Bar-tailed Godwit, 29 Knot, 11 Greenshank, seven Turnstone and a Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere at least 200 Common, a juvenile Little and 98 Sandwich Tern were offshore with a single Balearic Shearwater, the second winter Little Gull, four Mediterranean Gull and a Great Northern Diver.

Wildlife News: At least 20 Silver Y and a Rush Veneer were seen during the day. Moth-trapping was curtailed before midnight due to persistent drizzle with just 34 species recorded. This however included no less than three new species for the Recording Area; Pale Eggar, Centre-barred Sallow and Dusky Thorn. Also recorded a battered Old Lady, a late Jersey Tiger, Archer's Dart, eight Silver Y and, also new for the Warren, the Shore Sexton Beetle Necrodes littoralis.

Centre-barred Sallow - Luke Harman

Pale Eggar - Luke Harman

Dusky Thorn - Luke Harman

Tuesday 7th September

In the estuary the juvenile Spotted Redshank was still present over the high tide in the Railway Saltmarsh with 320 Redshank, 236 Curlew, 23 Wigeon, 20 Teal, nine Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper, with the Snow Goose again present with 263 Canada Goose. 

Greenshank - Lee Collins

In the Bight a second winter Little Gull was present on the morning tide only, with the juvenile Little Stint still present with 407 Dunlin, 154 Ringed Plover, 23 Knot, 19 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, two Mediterranean Gull and two Whimbrel.

Little Gull - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a Wryneck seen in flight around the Bight and onto the Golf Course was a surprise arrival with the only other migrants noted two White Wagtail and Wheatear, seven Balearic Shearwater were offshore, six Sanderling and a Turnstone were along the beach and the evening tern spectacle continues with 445 Common and 27 Sandwich Tern arriving from presumed feeding grounds out in Lyme Bay to roost in the estuary.

Bar-tailed Godwit - Lee Collins

Monday 6th September

The Little Stint remained over the evening tide with 360+ Dunlin, 230 Redshank, 189 Ringed Plover, 40+ Sanderling, 28 Knot, 17 Wigeon, 16 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Greenshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull. 

Also this evening two Arctic Skua were harrying upwards of 120 Common Tern offshore with three Wheatear and single Sedge and Willow Warbler noted. 

Sunday 5th September

An adult Spoonbill was a brief visitor from Exminster Marshes on the morning tide with the first 11 Avocet of the autumn pausing before they settle at the top of the estuary. A Spotted Redshank was however the highlight, only the second site record since 2014, and also 'borrowed' from the north end. 

Spoonbill - Lee Collins

Avocet - Lee Collins

Also in the estuary single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, two Ruff, 556 Dunlin, 339 Curlew, 298 Redshank, 267 Ringed Plover, 28 Knot, 27 Sanderling, 19 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, eight Greenshank, five Grey Plover, five Teal, four Mediterranean Gull, four Turnstone, two Wigeon, two Shelduck and with 80+ Canada Goose, the second site record of Snow Goose, the same bird as last year and an Exe Estuary resident. 

Terns remained in high numbers with 447 Common, two Black and an Arctic Tern in the morning with 980 Common and a singe Black Tern returning to roost in the evening.

Elsewhere migrants included single Grasshopper Warbler and Redstart , three Whitethroat, Reed and Willow Warbler, two Sedge Warbler and two Wheatear. Overhead single Tree Pipit, Yellow and Grey Wagtail, 48 Swallow and eight House Martin. Offshore two Balearic Shearwater in the evening and a Tufted Duck south early morning.

Saturday 4th September

The first Little Stint of the autumn was in the Bight over the evening high tide, with 240+ Dunlin, 217 Ringed Plover, 29 Knot, eight Bar-tailed Godwit and a Turnstone. Also in the estuary six Greenshank, three Whimbrel, two Wigeon, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Kingfisher. 

Seawatching early morning saw five Balearic Shearwater head south with at least 295 Common Tern, a juvenile Black Tern, 30 Gannet, 30 Kittiwake, 26 Sandwich Tern, five Shelduck (two juvs turning back north), and single Arctic Skua and Red-throated Diver.

Elsewhere two Grey Wagtail, two Meadow Pipit, 56 Swallow and 15 House Martin passed overhead, three Wheatear and two Sedge Warbler were on site and 125 Sandwich Tern were roosting on Bull Hull at low tide.

Wildlife News: A Grayling butterfly was on Warren Point, the first record since 2015 and only the second since at least 1960.

Grayling - Guy Freeman

Friday 3rd September

Seven Balearic Shearwater were lingering the bay early morning with 19 Sandwich and four Common Tern also offshore. Elsewhere 21 Sanderling and nine Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach, a Whitethroat on site and a Grey Wagtail overhead.

Wildlife News: A total of 17 hoverfly species were recorded but the dipteran highlight was an Ectophasia crassipennis, a tachinid fly that parasitises shieldbugs. This species was first recorded in the UK in 2019 and this is the first Warren record. 

Ectophasia crassipennis - both Alan Keatley

Thursday 2nd September

Terns were again the main feature of the day with at least 280 Common Tern heading out of the estuary early morning, these were counted from Exmouth, interestingly only two flocks totalling 61 were recorded from the seawall. Also offshore before 8am, 46 Balearic Shearwater and a Great Skua flew east.

An evening watch from the seawall saw 466+ Common Tern return to the estuary to roost between 6.30-8pm. At least 150 Common Tern were in the estuary by 5.30pm so even allowing for the hour uncounted over 600 were again present. Also offshore at least three Arctic Tern were picked out amongst the flocks and nine Balearic Shearwater flew east.

Wednesday 1st September

The highlight was a large movement of Common Tern with a minimum of 645 birds counted into the estuary, with them at least seven Arctic and 17 Sandwich Tern. This is only the 3rd year in 45 that there has a count of >500, and is the highest September count since 1961. Interestingly of a sample of 338 birds, 90% were juveniles. 

Also from the seawall, the first Black Tern since Aug 2019 headed east early afternoon, up to nine Balearic Shearwater, two Arctic Skua, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a Great Northern Diver. 

Elsewhere a juvenile Purple Sandpiper on the beach with 33 Sanderling was a good find and counts from the estuary, on a very low high tide, included 42 Sandwich Tern, 37 Ringed Plover, 21 Knot (20 juveniles) and 19  Black-tailed Godwit all juveniles. 

Purple Sandpiper - both Lee Collins