Tuesday 29th October

A low tide visit and probably a little too late in the morning to note if there was any purposeful vigmig, with the notable exception of a pair of Whooper Swan N over Warren Point and heading up the estuary just before midday. The 16th Warren record.

Elsewhere a Cetti's Warbler was at the Dune Pond, two Water Rail at the Main Pond and five Chiffchaff and three Goldcrest were on site. 

Year list addition:

180. Whooper Swan

Other Wildlife: A few late insects still active included two Red Admiral, a Common Darter and, on Warren Point, a Field Grasshopper.

Field Grasshopper - Alan Keatley

Sunday 27th October

Another morning of vismig dominated by 15,050 Woodpigeon and 1026 Jackdaw, with a varied supporting cast including 225 Starling, 101 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 77 Chaffinch, 17 Meadow Pipit, 11 Skylark, five Buzzard, five Siskin, a site record four Egyptian Geese, two Sparrowhawk and single Great White Egret, Lesser Redpoll, Redwing and a Red Kite.

Elsewhere counts from The Bight included 215 Dunlin, 57 Turnstone, 47 Ringed and three Grey Plover, nine Sanderling and a Whimbrel, a female Marsh Harrier flew north late afternoon, the Cetti's Warbler, two Water Rail, a Grey Wagtail and a Reed Bunting were at the Main Pond, and two Bullfinch, two Goldcrest, a Coal Tit and a Jay were in the bushes.

Other Wildlife: A Weasel ran across the path in front of the Visitor Centre.

Saturday 26th October

Huge numbers of Woodpigeon on the move in the first two hours, an estimated 31,230 birds, with flocks in the thousands in the first hour, with flocks of several hundred later. Their line was mostly W offshore whereas 347 Jackdaw, largest flock 80, and 17 Rook took a more inland route.

Also against the clear blue sky, two flocks of 22 and five Redwing headed west with a lone Mistle Thrush east. at least 40 Skylark passed W, many too high to see, along with smaller numbers of Chaffinch and Linnet, seven Lesser Black-backed Gull, seven Siskin, two Reed Bunting and the first Lesser Redpoll of the year. 

Elsewhere an adult Spoonbill headed offshore, but shortly returned to the estuary, five Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest, single Coal Tit, Jay and a female Sparrowhawk were in the bushes with a vocal Cetti's Warbler and a Kingfisher at the Main Pond.

Year list addition:

179. Redpoll

Other Wildlife: With day long sunshine insects were obvious  including presumed migrants such as a late Southern Hawker, two Red Admiral, a Silver Y and a few Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus. 

Southern Hawker - Alan Keatley

Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing a Speckled Wood, three Common Darter and the hoverflies; Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax, Humming Syrphus S. ribesii, Gossamer Hoverfly Baccha elongata and Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus.

The Grey Squirrel was in the Entrance Bushes. 

Silver Y - Alan Keatley

Friday 25th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler was by the Main Pond but no other news was reported. 

Other Wildlife: Late news of a new Warren species, a braconid wasp found on a gull carcass on Warren Point. An Alysia species, likely Alysia manducator, a parasitoid of blowflies and houseflies, but unfortunately confirmation requires examination of a specimen. 

Alysia sp. - both Alan Keatley

Thursday 24th October

Counts from the Bight at high tide included 110 Dunlin, 83 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 43 Turnstone, 30 Ringed and a Grey Plover, 14 Sanderling, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Sandwich Tern.

Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler remained around the Main Pond with five Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and a Firecrest also in the bushes with single Great Northern Diver and Pomarine Skua offshore.

Other Wildlife: Dull and overcast, so not a day for insects with just a late Migrant Hawker on the wing in the Entrance Bushes.

Wednesday 23rd October

A Yellow-browed Warbler, the third of the autumn, was by the Main Pond but no other news was reported. 

Tuesday 22nd October

There was a noticeable Woodpigeon passage in the first couple of hours, with at least 1300 noted, despite little time spent watching the sky, also overhead 40 Jackdaw and a few Stock Dove.

Elsewhere 260 Curlew, 197 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit and two Sandwich Tern were around the Bight with three Chiffchaff on site.

Other Wildlife: Fewer insects on the wing despite the warm conditions, but one was a new cranefly for the Recording Area by the Main Pond, Achyrolimonia decemmaculata, a widespread species of wetter areas.

Achyrolimonia decemmaculata - Alan Keatley

Out on Warren Point insects included the darkling beetle Nalassus laeviotostriatus and the ground beetle Calathus melanocephalus, with interesting fungi including Hairy Parachute Crinipellis scabella. 

Hairy Parachute Crinipellis scabella - Alan Keatley

Nalassus laeviotostriatus - Alan Keatley

Sunday 20th October

A two hour seawatch early morning showed kittle sign of much moving although highlights included at least three Arctic Skua, two Arctic and two Common Tern and a Storm Petrel. 

Around The Bight at high tide were 104 Dunlin, 74 Shelduck, 63 Turnstone, 17 Ringed and 11 Grey Plover, 10 Sanderling, six Sandwich Tern and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, with six Avocet swimming mid channel. Elsewhere a Kingfisher and two Water Rail were at the Main Pond. 

Saturday 19th October

A Cetti's Warbler and half a dozen Chiffchaff were around the Main Pond but no other news was received.

Other Wildlife: The autumn sunshine saw five species of butterfly on the wing with a few Red Admiral and Large White moving through, several Speckled Wood still defending sheltered glades, two fresh Meadow Brown and a Wall. At least 25 Common Darter and six Migrant Hawker were also on the wing, with many unfortunately choosing to egg lay in recently flooded areas.

Wall - Kevin Rylands

The wet conditions have benefitted fungi with Butter Hygrocybe ceracea and Golden Waxcap H. chlorophana emerging on the golf course, Greyshank Bolete Leccinum cyaneobasileucum, new for the Recording Area, and Bearded Milkcap Lactarius pubescens by the Dune Pond and Yellow Stainer Agaricus xanthodermus, Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea and the parachute Marasmius anomalus in the dunes.

Butter Hygrocybe ceracea and Golden Waxcap H. chlorophana (top) - Kevin Rylands

Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea - Kevin Rylands

Elsewhere a few Ivy Bee were still flying, a/the Grey Squirrel was along the Back Path and single Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer were flushed in Greenland Lake.

Ivy Bee - Kevin Rylands

Friday 18th October

Early morning vismig saw large numbers of pigeons and corvids, many gathering as large swirling flocks over Exmouth before continuing high W over the estuary. At least 1870 Woodpigeon and 760 Jackdaw were joined by 85 Starling, 14 Rook and seven Stock Dove. Low numbers of small passerines overhead included 32 Skylark, 25 Meadow Pipit, five Chaffinch and a Siskin. 

Herons were also moving with a Great White Egret E along the back of the golf course, briefly circling Finger Point before continuing over Exmouth at 8.45; four Cattle Egret downriver, with two other high S with a Little Egret; and a Grey Heron flew high SW.

Counts from the estuary included 306 Redshank, 71 Dunlin, 52 Shelduck, 17 Greenshank, 11 Sandwich Tern, six Pintail, five Pale-bellied Brent Geese, five Sanderling, three Grey Plover, two Mediterranean Gull, a Knot and a Spotted Redshank. The Long-billed Dowitcher was last reported on Monday.

Elsewhere three Coal Tit moved through Dead Dolphin Wood with at least 75 Goldfinch, 25 Greenfinch and four Reed Bunting around Greenland Lake. 

Thursday 17th October

A visit to the evening tide saw a Spotted Redshank amongst the Redshank around The Bight, with counts including 970 Wigeon, 378 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 14 Greenshank, six Sanderling, five Great Crested Grebe, three Grey Plover, three Knot, three Sandwich Tern, two Mediterranean Gull and a Kingfisher.

Other Wildlife: Despite the warm sunny weather there has been a noticeable drop in insect numbers with just a few Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax, Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus and Humming Syrphus S. ribesii amongst the wasps on the flowering Ivy. Also attracted to this late season food source was the first Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana of the year and a late Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis. 

 Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana - Alan Keatley

Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis - Alan Keatley

Still on the wing five Speckled Wood, three Red Admiral, a Peacock, at least ten Common Darter and a couple of Migrant Hawker.

Two beetles were added to the annual audit, Bronze Leaf Beetle Chrysolina banksii and the first record of Catops grandicollis since 2017.  Thelatter is a carrion feeding beetle associated with bird carcasses, this one was found under a dead gull on Warren Point. 

Bronze Leaf Beetle Chrysolina banksii - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 16th October

The immature Merlin was again around Bight early morning, unsuccessfully chasing a Kingfisher which evaded capture by repeatedly dropping into the water and flying amongst swimming wildfowl. 

Counts from the morning high tide included 357 Curlew, 28 Bar-tailed Godwit, 87 Dunlin, 74 Great Black-backed and three Mediterranean Gull, the seven Eider, four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, four Sanderling, threes of Grey Plover, Knot and Sandwich Tern and a female Pintail.

Other records included 10 Meadow Pipit and a Chaffinch in the dunes, a flock of 11 Cattle Egret that flew in from the north before foraging for a while on the Golf Course and a Spoonbill was on Bull Hill, a 2cy/ad so different to yesterday's bird. 

Other Wildlife: A Vestal, two Rush Veneer and a Rusty-dot Pearl were flushed from the wet vegetation.

Vestal - Kevin Rylands

Rusty-dot Pearl - Kevin Rylands

Tuesday 15th October

Another good start to the day with another early morning flyover Great White Egret, this time heading north over the seawall into the estuary, yesterday's bird returning? Also offshore two Balearic Shearwater, 20 Common Scoter and seven Eider.

The elusive Yellow-browed Warbler was in Dead Dolphin Wood with 12 Long-tailed Tit, eight Chiffchaff and single Coal Tit and Jay, with 95 Goldfinch and two Blackcap in Greenland Lake, two Grey Wagtail at the Main Pond and an immature Merlin was on Warren Point.

Merlin - both Jim Summers

Records from the estuary included five Cattle Egret, a juvenile Spoonbill and, on Finger Point, a 1cy Caspian Gull, all a sign of the times. Counts included 318 Dark and five Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 125 Turnstone, 106 Dunlin, 60 Ringed and three Grey Plover, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Greenshank, nine Sanderling, eight Mediterranean Gull, three Knot, two Sandwich Tern and a Whimbrel.

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Other Wildlife: Hardly any flying insects apart from foraging Common Vespula vulgaris and Tree Wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris, with fungi on the woods included Frosty Bonnet Mycena tenerrima and several Spectacular Rustgill Gymnopilus junonius.

Frosty Bonnet Mycena tenerrima - Alan Keatley

Spectacular Rustgill Gymnopilus junonius - Alan Keatley

Valenzuela flavidus, a barkfly - Alan Keatley

Two Brown Rat were enjoying breakfast at the service road bird table.

Monday 14th October

A vocal Pectoral Sandpiper paused briefly in The Bight on the evening tide, the fourth occasion two North American waders have been on site this autumn, as the Long-billed Dowitcher remains in an area with no general access. 

Elsewhere the Yellow-browed Warbler was in Dead Dolphin Wood and a Great White Egret flew S early morning.

Year list addition:

178. Pectoral Sandpiper

Sunday 13th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in Dead Dolphin Wood, with two Jay and half a dozen Chiffchaff around the Main Pond. 

The monthly WeBS counts recorded 1078 Wigeon, 626 Teal, 305 Curlew, 283 Redshank, 22 Snipe, 14 Greenshank, four Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, three Great Crested Grebe, a Pintail and the Long-billed Dowitcher in the estuary corner. 

Overall tallies of those species predominately around The Bight included 1139 Oystercatcher, 175 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 53 Dunlin, 49 Ringed Plover, 31 Turnstone, 10 Knot, seven Eider, two Sanderling and a Whimbrel.

Other Wildlife: A distinctive leafmine on a small Blackthorn in the Buffer Zone revealed a new moth for the Recording Area, Striped Bent-wing/Blackthorn Blister Moth Lyonetia prunifoliella, previously extinct in the UK this species has increased rapidly since returning in 2007.

Lyonetia prunifoliella - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 12th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler remained around Dead Dolphin Wood, with a Firecrest also amongst the Chiffchaff and tit flocks.

Another 1400 Woodpigeon flew SW, on more inland route than yesterday, with a Great Northern Diver heading high upriver and also overhead three Swallow, two Golden Plover, two Snipe and a Song Thrush.

Friday 11th October

The second Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn, an elusive and largely silent bird, was mobile around Dead Dolphin Wood, with a late Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, four Blackcap and a Coal Tit also in the bushes.

Yellow-browed Warbler - Kim Summers

Blackcap - Jim Summers

The Long-billed Dowitcher remains in an area with no general access with counts from the estuary including 260 Teal, 151 Redshank, 80 Dark and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 77 Dunlin, 29 Turnstone, 28 Ringed Plover, eight Sandwich Tern and single Black-tailed Godwit, Pintail and an immature Spoonbill.  

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver and seven Eider were offshore and overhead an early pulse of 3570 Woodpigeon headed high SW, along with 12 Skylark, two Stock Dove and a Rook. 

Thursday 10th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher remained in the estuary corner (no general access) with 87 Dunlin, 62 Ringed Plover, eight Sanderling and six Sandwich Tern around The Bight.

Elsewhere the first Jay of the year noisily moved through the bushes around the Main Pond and Dead Dolphin Wood, seven Eider and a Red-throated Diver were offshore with 11 Chiffchaff and single Blackcap and Goldcrest on site.

Year list addition:

177. Jay

Other Wildlife: Into October and insects are still on the move with a "new in" Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on Sea Rocket along the beach with at least five Red Admiral passing through with a few Small White. A Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata on Michaelmas Daisy in Greenland Lake added to the migrants.

Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing two Ectophasia crassipennis tachinid flies; a recent addition to the British fauna, now a site regular with several sightings this year, a few Green Furrow Bee Lasioglossum morio were still active near Langstone Rock with at least ten Common Darter and a few Migrant Hawker.

Ectophasia crassipennis - Alan Keatley

Lined Froghopper Neophilaenus lineatus - Alan Keatley

Green Furrow Bee Lasioglossum morio - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 9th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher again made a brief foray to the Bight, with the seven Eider on Finger Point with other records including 224 Curlew, 154 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, all adults, 70 Shelduck, 42 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 29 Dunlin, 13 Sandwich Tern, six Sanderling, four Bar-tailed Godwit and single Kingfisher and Mediterranean Gull.

Long-billed Dowitcher 07/10/24 - Lee Collins

Elsewhere seven Swallow flew through, there was a noticeable arrival of eight Blackcap, and 50 Goldfinch and 30 Linnet in Greenland Lake.

Tuesday 8th October

The Long-billed Dowitcher remains in the estuary, flying to the Bight with Redshank when disturbed by strong winds and heavy showers. They all returned to the saltmarsh (no general access) when the weather cleared. Closer views revealing the extent of moult since its arrival on 13 September. 

Long-billed Dowitcher - Alan Keatley

Also in the estuary 83 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 82 Shelduck, 64 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 46 Turnstone, 18 Greenshank, 12 Sandwich Tern, four Sanderling and a Whimbrel. 

The female Eider was again on Finger Point with six birds offshore, an eclipse male and presumed returning the three male and two females. Elsewhere nine Swallow flew through and four Chiffchaff were on site.

Other Wildlife: The weather also affected the few insects that were about, including a Hairy-backed Boxhead Wasp Crossocerus megacephalus in a torpid state on an evening primrose. The flight period is normally to September, so this record is particularly late.

Hairy-backed Boxhead Wasp Crossocerus megacephalus - Alan Keatley

Monday 7th October

A White-rumped Sandpiper was an all too brief visitor to The Bight on the dropping tide, the fourth for the Warren after birds in May & July 1998 and November 2013.  An incredible third North American wader in the last three weeks, the Long-billed Dowitcher, in an area with no general access, again getting second billing.

White-rumped Sandpiper - Lee Collins

Also in the estuary 74 Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 21 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 19 Greenshank, 10 Sandwich and a Common Tern, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Kingfisher.

Elsewhere four Arctic Skua and a Balearic Shearwater flew S early morning and a Cetti's Warbler was on the Golf Course, occurring for the eighth successive autumn.

Year list addition:

176. White-rumped Sandpiper

Other Wildlife: The recent weather continues to encourage fungi, including a new species for the Recording Area, Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa along with Steely Bonnet Mycena pseudocorticola and Purple Jellydisc Ascocoryne sarcoides.

Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa - Alan Keatley

Steely Bonnet Mycena pseudocorticola - Alan Keatley

Insects included at least eight Common Darter, three Migrant Hawker, ten Speckled Wood, five Small White and two Peacock.

Hoverflies are also beginning to reduce in number, but did include Gossamer Baccha elongata and Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus, Spotted Meliscaeva M. auricollis and Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.

Sunday 6th October

The Long-Billed Dowitcher was in the estuary with on the dropping tide, with 236 Dark and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 83 Dunlin, 66 Ringed Plover, 63 Shelduck and 11 Sandwich Tern. With no reports in recent days the five Eider may have relocated to Poole Harbour. 

Elsewhere a Common Sandpiper was on the beach around groyne 15, an Arctic Skua flew low over the car park pursued by a Carrion Crow, eight Chiffchaff and two Goldcrest were on site and offshore just 35 Gannet in 1 hr 45 minutes in poor visibility early morning with even fewer during the afternoon's weather.

Saturday 5th October

Highlights from today on site. A Cory's Shearwater S at 08:43, about an hour and a half into a 2.5 hr sea watch with other highlights being 221 Gannet and eight Common Scoter.

In the estuary, a juvenile Caspian Gull, the Long-Billed Dowitcher in Shutterton Creek, 487 Wigeon, 401 Teal, 118 Dark Bellied Brent Geese, 41 Shelduck, single Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit in the estuary corner, and the usual suspects.

Caspian Gull - both David Flack

Best from the bushes, single Goldcrest and three Chiffchaff.