Tuesday 30th September

The Slavonian Grebe was again in the lower estuary on the neap high tide. Counts were limited by a misty start which didn't lift until midday but included 55 Ringed and a Grey Plover, 35 Dunlin, 20 Greenshank and 18 Sandwich Tern.

Bar-tailed Godwit - Dean Hall

Red Admiral - Dean Hall

Monday 29th September

Clear skies again limited recording of passage but a few calling Meadow Pipit and Skylark were high overhead, the same conditions saw a reduction in migrants with just five Chiffchaff on site. 

Elsewhere Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail called from the Main Pond, and at low tide counts from the estuary included 53 Ringed Plover, four Sandwich Tern, three Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Knot.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese  - Alan Keatley

Other Wildlife: The sunshine brought out the insects again with a good selection of butterflies including a few Red Admiral on the move, with a Clouded Yellow and a couple of Painted Lady in Greenland Lake along with reminders of summer in the form of Common Blue and Meadow Brown. Also, on the wing a queen Red-tailed Bumblebee and numerous Common Carder Bee.

Red-tailed Bumblebee - Alan Keatley

Common Carder Bee - Alan Keatley

There was still plenty of Ivy Bee activity, joined by the now regular Hornet with a Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Choreutis nemorana was resting near its food plant by the Go-karts. 

Hornet - Alan Keatley

Fig-leaf Skeletoniser Choreutis nemorana - Alan Keatley

Sunday 28th September

A small arrival of migrants following the overnight rain, seven Wheatear and a Whitethroat were new in with 12 Chiffchaff and four Blackcap also on site. 

Clear skies limited the numbers detected overhead but the occasional Meadow Pipit and Siskin were mostly heard, with 45 Swallow and single Grey Wagtail, Snipe and Sparrowhawk moving through. 

New birds were also in the estuary with a large increase to 640 Wigeon, with other counts including 374 Redshank, 42 Ringed Plover, 26 Dunlin, 16 Greenshank, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, five Mediterranean Gull, five Sanderling, four Sandwich and a Common Tern, two Whimbrel and single Common Scoter, Knot and Turnstone.

Elsewhere an Osprey flew in off north up the estuary, the moulting drake Eider was offshore and at least 13 Cirl Bunting were on site. 

Other Wildlife: The sunny conditions saw plenty of insect activity, especially in areas sheltered from the cooling breeze, where Migrant Hawker were particularly prominent. Flowering Ivy was otherwise the main focus with a couple of Hornet amongst dozens of Ivy Bee.

Ivy Bee - Kevin Rylands

Butterflies included at least six Red Admiral and a Painted Lady, with the same hoverfly species as yesterday recorded plus several Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus and a Pied Plumehorn Volucella pellescens.

Pied Plumehorn Volucella pellescens - Kevin Rylands

Elsewhere a Grey Seal was in the estuary and newly emerged fungi included Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus and Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa. 

Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa - Kevin Rylands

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 27th September

The Slavonian Grebe reappeared in the estuary initially north of the Recording Area towards Starcross, before it drifted south remaining off Cockwood until the tide dropped. 

Over high tide two Little Stint were in The Bight with 44 Ringed Plover, 24 Dunlin, nine Turnstone, five Sanderling, two Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Grey Plover and a Knot. 

Sanderling - both Alan Keatley

Also in the estuary 370 Redshank, 316 Teal, 188 Wigeon, 53 Great Black-backed Gull, 20 Greenshank, 20 Sandwich and two Common Tern, three Mediterranean Gull and a Whimbrel.

Elsewhere a probable 1cy Caspian Gull offshore may have been the bird later seen on Cockle Sands, 12 Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and a Blackcap were on site and a light overhead passage included 15 Meadow Pipit, two Rook and single Grey Wagtail, Siskin and Swallow.

Other Wildlife: On a day not conducive for insects there were just a few butterflies and hoverflies on the wing. Namely single Large White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral, with several Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae, Humming Syrphus S. ribesii and Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus and single Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea and Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax. 

Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae - Alan Keatley

Also of note a Bur-marigold fly Dioxyna bidentis, the Elaeagnus pysllid Cacopsylla fulguralis, a L-album Wainscot in the railway tunnel and, in the estuary, a Common Seal.

L-album Wainscot - Kevin Rylands

Cacopsylla fulguralis - Alan Keatley

Dioxyna bidentis - Alan Keatley

Friday 26th September

An evening visit saw over 500 mixed Wigeon and Teal in the estuary, with 300+ Redshank, 12 Greenshank, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Common Scoter.

Elsewhere at least 10 Chiffchaff were on site.

Late news of a Great White Egret south at some point in the day.

Thursday 25th September

An early morning highlight with a flock of 24 Glossy Ibis west over Entrance Bushes just before 8am the pick of the new arrivals, with the first two Goldcrest of the autumn, 15 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap in the scrub. 

Counts from the estuary included 352 Redshank, 288 Teal, 235 Wigeon, 35 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 25 Sandwich Tern, 16 Greenshank, four Bar-tailed Godwit, four Sanderling, two Turnstone and single Curlew Sandpiper, Knot and Whimbrel.

Wednesday 24th September

The first Cetti's Warbler of the autumn was singing at the Main Pond, once a rarity this is the ninth consecutive autumn they have been recorded on site and the earliest arrival in that time. Also around the pond, single Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher and Water Rail with 14 Chiffchaff, two Blackcap and a Buzzard on site and two Siskin overhead.

Wildfowl counts from the estuary included 210 Wigeon, five Dark-bellied Brent Geese, three Shelduck, two Pintail and a Common Scoter but there was no sign of the Slavonian Grebe.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese - Dean Hall

Also in the estuary 312 Redshank, 45 Ringed Plover, 34 Dunlin, 33 Sandwich Tern, 16 Greenshank, seven Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, three Whimbrel, two Sanderling and a Common Sandpiper, with 70 Linnet around The Bight.

Common Sandpiper - Dean Hall

Other Wildlife: The good weather continues to encourage insects with a couple of Clouded Yellow and a Red Admiral in Greenland Lake, several Migrant Hawker and Common Darter on the wing. Hoverflies include a Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata, the migrant White-clubbed Glasswing Scaeva pyrastri and good numbers of Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax and Humming Syrphus S. ribesii.

Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata - Alan Keatley

At Langstone Rock, a new Chrysomelidae leaf beetle for the Recording Area. the bedstraw feeding Sermylassa halensis and the darkling beetle Opatrum sabulosum. 

Sermylassa halensis - Alan Keatley

Opatrum sabulosum - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 23d September

A Slavonian Grebe in the estuary was a surprise first for the year. The Warren previously held over 5% of the UK wintering population, but, aside from Herbert, an injured bird that was resident for 14 years until February 2021, this was only the third record since March 2017.  It is also the earliest ever and just the fourth September arrival.

Also in the estuary 200 Curlew, 30 Sandwich Tern, 16 Wigeon, 10 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Ringed Plover, eight Dunlin and two Whimbrel. 

Elsewhere 30 Swallow flew NE, with six Chiffchaff, four Blackcap and single Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kestrel on site.

Year list addition: 
172. Slavonian Grebe

Migrant Hawker - Dean Hall

Monday 22nd September

A fresh north wind encouraged an amazing constant movement of hirundines north east along Dune Ridge, beach and across the estuary. Counts in two hours between 9 and 11 saw 2550 Swallow, 680 House and 170 Sand Martin, all minimum numbers, with others no doubt missed earlier and offshore.

Also, on the move at least 40 Goldfinch, eight Siskin, a few Meadow and the year's first, and no doubt last, Tree Pipit. The first three Avocet of the autumn flew north in off the sea. 

The first Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the winter arrived with a single on the morning tide and five with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in The Bight early evening. Other wildfowl also increased with 100 Teal, 96 Wigeon and a Shoveler in Shutterton Creek. Also in the estuary just eight Sandwich Tern, six Mediterranean and the 1cy Little Gull.

Wader counts included 277 Curlew, 240+ Redshank, 22 Dunlin, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Greenshank, eight Ringed and a Grey Plover, five Knot, four Sanderling, four Turnstone, two Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere 12 Chiffchaff, four Wheatear and a Blackcap were on site. 

Year list addition: 
171. Tree Pipit

Other Wildlife: By midday a few insects were on the wing in the autumn equinox sunshine, mainly centred around flowering Ivy with Ivy Bee, Red Admiral and Pale-knobbed Lucent Didea fasciata. Two Hornet were favouring fallen apples. 

Red Admiral - Alan Keatley

Hornet - Alan Keatley

Two new flies for the year were also recorded, Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii near the station and the cranefly Achyrolimonia decemmaculata in the Education Area.

Achyrolimonia decemmaculata - Alan Keatley

Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii - Alan Keatley

Sunday 21st September

Another 1cy Caspian Gull was on Finger Point over the morning tide, the sixth record this month. Also in the estuary 51 Sandwich Tern, nine Bar and four Black-tailed Godwit, eight Greenshank, the Spotted Redshank, a Shoveler and a Whimbrel. 

Small wader numbers were much reduced perhaps due the presence of a Peregrine and Sparrowhawk over the morning tide and an Osprey early evening.

Sparrowhawk - Dave Jewell

A Great Northern Diver and a juvenile Little Gull were offshore with the first Water Rail of the autumn and a Grey Wagtail at the Main Pond. At least 22 Chiffchaff the most obvious grounded migrants, with two Blackcap, a Coal Tit and a Wheatear also on site.

A couple of Siskin and a few Meadow Pipit were overhead with a slow easterly movement of Swallow through the day, until early evening when 220+ passed in 40 minutes on a broad front along with 10 House and a Sand Martin. Later 140+ Swallow gathered over the Golf Course preroost. 

Saturday 20th September

No sign of the Rosefinch in murky conditions early morning with seven Chiffchaff and two Blackcap in the bushes, a Grey Wagtail at the Main Pond and 50 Swallow heading south. 

Elsewhere three Little Stint were in The Bight with 69 Ringed Plover and 36 Dunlin, a Spotted Redshank was in the estuary corner and an Arctic Tern, three Arctic and a Great Skua were offshore.

Friday 19th September

A excellent day headlined by the just second Warren record of Common Rosefinch, an elusive bird in Greenland Lake, the first was back in October 1997.

Common Rosefinch - all Andy Warr

Also new for the year were four Goosander, all redheads, a female and three immatures, that flew in off the sea and settled in the estuary for a short while. 

Wader counts from the estuary included 113 Ringed Plover, 24 Dunlin, 21 Knot, 16 Sanderling, nine Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, three Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Stint, a Common Sandpiper and a Ruff. Also present 104 Sandwich Tern, 84 Great Black-backed Gull, 36 Common and single juvenile Arctic, Black and Roseate Tern.

Elsewhere single Balearic Shearwater and Arctic Skua were offshore, with two Wheatear and a Spotted Flycatcher on site.

Year list addition: 
170. Common Rosefinch
169. Goosander

Other Wildlife: The nationally scarce tachinid, Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria was discovered on the Back Path, also the first record for over 25 years.  It was watched running around on the ground, presumably looking for caterpillars as it is a parasitoid of Archer's Dart, and other moth larvae.

Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria - Alan Keatley

A good day for Clouded Yellow with at least five around Greenland Lake, with four Red Admiral and a Wall Brown. Hornet were also noticeable with at least six sightings around the reserve.

Thursday 18th September

Seawatching this morning saw a steady stream of c300 Gannet south in 90 minutes along with 25 Common Scoter, the first four Red-throated Diver of the autumn, all in breeding plumage, and two Great Northern Diver.  

In the estuary a 1cy Little Gull, 65+ Sandwich and 25+ Common Tern were on Bull Hill. 

Late news of a Wryneck somewhere on site today, apparently one of several suppressed this autumn by the same observer. 

Year list addition: 
168. Wryneck

Wednesday 17th September

Seawatching for two hours 20 minutes from first light saw 23 Balearic Shearwater head south with 758 Gannet, including just two 1cy birds in contrast to further east off Seaton, eight Common Scoter, four Storm Petrel, four Dunlin, two Arctic Skua, two Great Northern Diver and a Sanderling. 

In the estuary the highlight was the first multiple record of Caspian Gull with three different 1cy birds on Bull Hill and in the Bight. Also on Bull Hill c170 Common, 58 Sandwich and a juvenile Arctic Tern. 

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Wader counts included 202 Ringed and a Grey Plover, 24 Dunlin, 17 Greenshank, three Curlew Sandpiper, a Little Stint and the Spotted Redshank.

Elsewhere the first Siskin of the autumn was overhead and a Garden Warbler was in the car park. 

Ringing News: The Hampshire colour-ringed Ringed Plover reappeared in the Bight with the increased numbers, having been seen on the Otter over the spring tides. Amongst the terns were a Polish and Dutch ringed Sandwich Terns and a Polish ringed Common Tern.

Other Wildlife: Fewer flying insects in the condition but still an interesting mix to be found, including the first Archer's Dart of the year, a scarce Devon species. 

Archer's Dart - Alan Keatley

Other records included the muscid fly Black-patched Limnophora L. tigrina in Greenland Lake, a lacebug Cixius nervosa by the station and a couple of Calathus mollis ground beetles in The Bight. 

Cixius nervosa - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 16th September

A 1cy Caspian Gull off Cockwood was the only news received. 

Monday 15th September

Seawatching for the first two hours of light saw at least 20 Balearic Shearwater head south with many more distant Manx/Balearic Shearwater, 17 Storm Petrel, c60 Common and 26 Sandwich Tern, eight Sand Martin, five Arctic and a Pomarine Skua, two Sanderling, a Great Northern Diver and a Whimbrel.

Elsewhere counts from The Bight at high tide included 69 Sandwich and five Common Tern, 59 Great Black-backed Gull seeking shelter on Finger Point, 58 Ringed Plover, eight Dunlin and two Sanderling.

Other Wildlife: The wind also blew beetles on to the beach including several Dune Scarab Aegialia arenarius and a saltmarsh mud beetle Heterocerus fossor.

Dune Scarab Aegialia arenarius - Alan Keatley

Heterocerus fossor - Alan Keatley

Migrants butterflies continue to appear with single Clouded Yellow and four Painted Lady in Greenland Lake, along with a Southern Hawker and the green leafhopper Cicidella viridis.

Southern Hawker - Alan Keatley

Cicidella viridis - Alan Keatley

Sunday 14th September

The Spotted Redshank was again present in Shutterton Creek on the dropping tide with 299 Redshank, 16 Greenshank and three Ruff. 

Also in the estuary 130 Curlew, 71 Ringed Plover, 65 Sandwich and 16 Common Tern, 48 Teal, 38 Turnstone, 21 Wigeon, 20 Knot, 20 Sanderling, 13 Dunlin, nine Black and two Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Mediterranean Gull, two Whimbrel and a Kingfisher.

Elsewhere five Wheatear were on the Golf Course and at least seven Chiffchaff were in the scrub. 

Other Wildlife: Late news from yesterday of a first for Britain, the nudibranch (sea slug) Corambe testudinaria found in the rockpools at Langstone Rock. 

Corambe testudinaria - Guy Freeman

Saturday 13th September

Counts from the estuary included 249 Redshank, 73 Sandwich Tern, 30 Ringed Plover, 28 Teal, 10 Greenshank, six Dunlin, four Bar-tailed Godwit, four Knot and a Kingfisher.

Knot - Dave Jewell

Ringed Plover - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere the immature male Eider was off Langstone Rock with 17 Swallow through with eight Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and single Buzzard and Great Spotted Woodpecker on site.

Other Wildlife: Avoiding the showers were ten species of butterfly including Peacock, Wall Brown, four Painted Lady and a Clouded Yellow. Other migrants included several dozen Rush Veneer and at least five Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata.

Also on the wing the shieldbug tachinid Ectophasia crassipennis, the spider hunting wasp Anoplius infuscatus, Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis and numerous hoverflies including Plain-faced Dronefly Eristalis arbustorum and Two-banded Spearhorn Chrysotoxum bicinctum.

Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis - Alan Keatley

A variety of other records included Nut-tree Tussock caterpillar, the introduced harvestman Opilio canestrinii and increasing numbers of Ivy Bee and Hornet. 

Opilio canestrinii - Kevin Rylands

Nut-tree Tussock - Alan Keatley