Sunday 11th October

The first two Avocet of the autumn flew east along the beach mid-morning, pausing briefly to consider landing near groyne 13 before continuing towards the estuary mouth. The first two juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese, amongst 106 birds, were also new arrivals.

In the estuary the regular Spotted Redshank was present along with 670 Wigeon, 70 Shelduck, 53 Ringed Plover, 51 Dunlin, 36 Turnstone, 34 Knot, 33 Greenshank, six Mediterranean Gull, four Black-tailed Godwit, the two Whimbrel and a Sandwich Tern. 

Elsewhere another 1,200 Woodpigeon few west early morning and, offshore, an Arctic Skua flew south.

Saturday 10th October

New arrivals in the estuary included a family group of five Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a moulting adult Spotted Redshank, with a few black feathers still on the breast and an eclipse male Shoveler.

Counts from the estuary included 520 Teal, 330 Curlew, 241 Canada Goose, 96 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 53 Shelduck, 49 Dunlin, 39 Ringed Plover, 35 Turnstone, 28 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Knot, 17 Sanderling, three Mediterranean Gull, two Sandwich Tern, two Whimbrel and the regular Spotted Redshank. 

Other migrants included 1,200 Woodpigeon high west in several flocks, an early start to their autumn movements and an immature Dartford Warbler on the Golf Course. also on site eight Chiffchaff and single Blackcap and Goldcrest. 

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver and two Common Scoter were offshore, a Kingfisher was at the Main Pond and a Buzzard in the Entrance Bushes attracted the unwanted attention of at least 20 Carrion Crow and five Magpie. 

Other Wildlife: A largely overcast day saw few insects on the wing although a Migrant Hawker was active during a brighter spell. Attention instead was diverted groundwards with a tiny leafhopper Megophthalmus scabripennis, and even smaller at 2mm a minute scavenger beetle Cartodere bifasciata, both new for the year.

Cartodere bifasciata - Alan Keatley

 Megophthalmus scabripennis - Alan Keatley

Friday 9th October

A 1CY Caspian Gull dropped onto Finger Point late evening joining at least 55 Great Black-backed Gull with 14 Common and nine Mediterranean Gull roosting in the estuary. 

Caspian Gull - Lee Collins

Counts over the high tide included 91 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 60 Dunlin, 46 Mute Swan, 45 Ringed and 31 Grey Plover, 34 Knot, 20 Greenshank and two Sandwich Tern. Also present juvenile Osprey and Curlew Sandpiper with single Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel.

Elsewhere 12 Common Scoter and an Arctic Skua were offshore, a Kingfisher was off the seawall, a Buzzard was in the Entrance Bushes and a Snipe was at the Main Pond. 

Snipe - James Marshall

Ringing News: A colour-ringed Icelandic Oystercatcher, the sixth Iceland ringed individual recorded Warren. Four Exe ringed Oystercatcher have also been recorded in Iceland, one of which 8K was also recorded today. 

Since July a total of 174 Exe-ringed Oystercatcher have been recorded back for another winter on the estuary, including two new birds today.

Thursday 8th October

The Spotted Redshank remains in the estuary with 75 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 26 Greenshank, 20 Grey Plover, 12 Sanderling, three Sandwich Tern, two Pintail, a Kingfisher and a Whimbrel.

Elsewhere 11 Swallow flew over, a flock of nine east late morning and two north early evening, counts of seven Chiffchaff and three Great Spotted Woodpecker, both included one on Warren Point and the Red-legged Partridge was on the Golf Course.

Other Wildlife: The sunny morning increased insect activity with at least twenty Common Darter on the wing with several pairs ovipositing around the Main Pond, plus a couple of Migrant Hawker around the Entrance Bushes. Butterflies moving through including a few Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral and Small White.

Common Darter - Alan Keatley

Clouded Yellow - Alan Keatley

Also recorded a Grey Seal off Warren Point and in Greenland Lake, the Rhophalid bug Liorhyssus hyalinus.

Liorhyssus hyalinus - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 7th October

A Ruff was a new arrival in the estuary, with the Little Stint and Spotted Redshank still present. Counts included 420 Teal, 68 Ringed Plover, 57 Shelduck, 55 Dunlin, 34 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 34 Turnstone, 31 Grey Plover, 25 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Greenshank, 14 Sanderling, six Pintail, two Mediterranean Gull, two Whimbrel and a Kingfisher.

Pintail - Kevin Rylands

Elsewhere a Wheatear and the Red-legged Partridge were on the Golf Course, just three Chiffchaff in the blown out bushes and a Great Northern Diver offshore.

Other Wildlife: Showery and breezy until mid-afternoon; the damp weather suited a Common Toad however, but not flying insects with just a few Speckled Wood and a couple of Common Darter on the wing.

Common Toad - Alan Keatley

A bull Grey Seal was hunting the sheltered waters close off the beach late afternoon and a male Lesser Cockroach Capraiellus panzeri briefly ventured from cover, a national scarce species, but common within the Recording Area.

Lesser Cockroach - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 6th October

The highlight from the estuary was a site record count of 40 Greenshank, the previous being 37 in September 1960. This follows on from the previous second highest count of 34 on 12 October last year. Also present the juvenile Little Stint and a 1CY Caspian Gull, likely the same as on Orcombe Point on 2 October, and presumably the same as yesterday.

Caspian Gull 1CY - all Lee Collins

Counts included 264 Canada and a Bar-headed Goose, 52 Ringed Plover, 45 Great Black-backed and three Mediterranean Gull, 45 Mute Swan, 35 Knot, 32 Turnstone, 29 Dunlin, 19 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Sanderling, nine Sandwich Tern, four Pintail and single Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel.

Elsewhere overhead an immature Marsh Harrier flew W late morning, with a Great White Egret high NE a few hours later and on site a Short-eared Owl, 12 Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and a Blackcap.

Other Wildlife: At least two Common Dolphin were distantly offshore. 

Monday 5th October

The pick of the highlights was a juvenile Hen Harrier that flew west across the estuary early afternoon, with four Spoonbill briefly before returning north, two (1&3CY) Caspian Gull, a Little Stint, presumably also from upriver, and a Lapwing.

Spoonbill - Kevin Rylands

Spoonbill - Lee Collins

Caspian Gull 3CY - Lee Collins

Counts from the estuary included 910 Wigeon, 340 Teal, 61 Great Black-backed and three Mediterranean Gull, 33 Turnstone, 32 Dunlin, 32 Greenshank 27 Knot, 23 Bar and six Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Sanderling, 12 Grey Plover, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, six Sandwich Tern and single Kingfisher, Pintail, Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel.

Elsewhere at least 19 Chiffchaff were onsite, with three Goldcrest, a Blackcap and a Wheatear, the Cetti's Warbler was still at the Main Pond and small numbers of Skylark continue to move overhead. 

Other Wildlife: At least eight Clouded Yellow and five Red Admiral flew west and three Grey Seal were on Bull Hill. On the Dune Ridge several Ragwort feeding flea beetle Longitarsus flavicornis and a tiny barkfly Cerobasis guestfalica.

Longitarsus flavicornis - Alan Keatley

Cerobasis guestfalica - Alan Keatley

Sunday 4th October

The Spotted Redshank and two Pintail remained in the estuary with Redshank and Wigeon respectively. Counts included 302 Curlew, 64 Shelduck, 55 Ringed Plover, 32 Dunlin, 25 Knot, 21 Greenshank, 17 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Sanderling, 10 Sandwich Tern, eight Grey Plover, three Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Whimbrel. 

Elsewhere a Firecrest and the Coal Tit were in the Entrance Bushes, six Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe were offshore, a Kingfisher was at the Main Pond and six Swallow were overhead. 

Other Wildlife: At least 25 Clouded Yellow and 15 Red Admiral flew west during the afternoon, with some pausing to feed. The warm weather and sunshine saw plenty of activity around the remaining nectar sources, including three Twist-winged Parasite Fly Ectophasia crassipennis, half a dozen hoverfly species including Marsh Stripe-back Helophilus hybridus and Plain-faced Dronefly Eristalis arbustorum. 

Clouded Yellow - James Marshall

Twist-winged Parasite Fly Ectophasia crassipennis - Kevin Rylands

At least three Common Dolphin were feeding offshore.

Saturday 3rd October

Migrants included at least 50 Skylark heading south in small flocks, 30 grounded Meadow Pipit, 10 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear, with a Coal Tit, and at the Main Pond, the first Cetti's Warbler of the autumn, presumably more locally sourced arrivals.

Counts from The Bight over high tide included 72 Ringed Plover, 36 Knot, 33 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling, 18 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, four Grey Plover and two Whimbrel. Also in the estuary, two Osprey north of the Recording Area, 320 Black-headed Gull, 25 Greenshank, 15 Bar and 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Sandwich Tern, two Pintail and the Spotted Redshank.

Other Wildlife: Two moths were the highlight, the first Blair's Mocha for the Recording Area under a security light, and a Shore Marble Lobesia littoralis found near its Thrift food plant at Langstone Rock, the first since 2022. 

Shore Marble Lobesia littoralis - Alan Keatley

A few butterflies still on the move including at least five Clouded Yellow, a couple of Red Admiral and a Painted Lady. Also on the wing, several Migrant Broadtail Eupeodes corollae hoverfly.

Elsewhere four Grey Seal were on Bull Hill.

Friday 2nd October

The juvenile Osprey was hunting the estuary at high tide with counts including 808 Wigeon, 390 Teal, 378 Redshank, 32 Knot, 25 Greenshank, 13 Black and seven Bar-tailed Godwit, three Pintail, three Sandwich Tern and single Kingfisher, Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel.

Osprey - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes, two Grey Wagtail were around the ponds and a juvenile Hobby flew west over Greenland Lake mid afternoon, before pausing to hawk for dragonflies briefly over the Crocus Compound.

Other Wildlife: Two Grey Seal were on Bull Hill. 

Thursday 1st October

The juvenile Osprey and Curlew Sandpiper were still in the estuary along with 115 Shelduck, 38 Ringed Plover, 21 Sanderling, 18 Greenshank, five Sandwich Tern, three Pintail and a Whimbrel. 

Elsewhere a late Spotted Flycatcher was on the edge of Greenland Lake, just the sixth record for the month, with six Chiffchaff, four Goldcrest and a Blackcap in the bushes, seven Swallow overhead, the first for a couple of days, a Grey Wagtail at the First Pond and a Kingfisher at the Main Pond. 

Other Wildlife: The sunshine saw eight species of butterfly on the wing including a few Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, a Painted Lady and a Wall.

Wednesday 30th September

The Great White Egret was present in the estuary for a second day, as was the juvenile Osprey. Also present single Black and Little Tern with 20 Sandwich and five Common Tern, 650 Wigeon, 114 Shelduck, 52 Great Black-backed and seven Mediterranean Gull.

Great White Egret - Dean Hall

Wader counts included 112 Dunlin, 64 Ringed Plover, 17 Bar and nine Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Greenshank, 15 Sanderling, three Curlew Sandpiper, two Golden and two Grey Plover, a Ruff and a Whimbrel.

Greenshank - Dean Hall

Dunlin & Sanderling - Dean Hall

The overnight winds had died down before first light with at least 80 Gannet, mostly distant, heading south along with 17 Common Scoter, two Balearic Shearwater and a 1CY Little Gull. Elsewhere a Sparrowhawk was hunting Linnet in The Bight, two Wheatear were on the Golf Course and migrants included six Chiffchaff and two Blackcap.

Other Wildlife: A brisk southwesterly across the flower meadows reduced the number of butterflies to a single Clouded Yellow and few Common Blue, with a couple of Specked Wood in more sheltered areas. 

Also affected by windy conditions, several Dune Scarab Aegialia arenarius blown onto the beach. On the Dune Ridge, a tiny Restharrow stiltbug Gampsocoris punctipes, almost unnoticed is the moving sand, together with a Field Damselbug Nabis feris.

Gampsocoris punctipes - Alan Keatley

 Field Damselbug Nabis feris - Alan Keatley

Dune Scarab Aegialia arenarius - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 29th September

A Great White Egret in the estuary was the pick of the new arrivals, feeding on the mudflats and moving with the dropping tide towards Cockwood, before being flushed by an Osprey. It was again present in Shutterton Creek early evening. Still a scarce visitor, this is the longest onsite stay yet!

Great White Egret - Jim Summers

Great White Egret - Kevin Rylands

Three Pintail and two Shoveler were fresh in with the Wigeon and Teal, with 103 Shelduck and 24 Dark-bellied Brent Geese in The Bight. Waders included single Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel, with counts of 92 Dunlin, 85 Ringed Plover, 39 Knot, 27 Turnstone, 18 Bar and eight Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Greenshank, 17 Sanderling and four Grey Plover.

Ringed Plover - Jim Summers

Dunlin - Jim Summers

Sanderling - Jim Summers

Also in the estuary, 44 Great Black-backed and five Mediterranean Gull, 21 Sandwich and three Common Tern, 19 Little Egret and two Kingfisher. 

Elsewhere 20 Common Scoter were offshore, the b was on the Golf Course and migrants included at least five Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest in the blown out bushes and a Wheatear in the saltmarsh. 

Other Wildlife: Two Grey Seal were on Bull Hill, and despite the conditions, a small increase in Rush Veneer.

Monday 28th September

Wader counts from the estuary included 353 Redshank, 70 Ringed Plover, 63 Dunlin, 42 Knot, 28 Greenshank, 24 Sanderling, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrel and the Spotted Redshank. Also present 225 Teal, 198 Wigeon, three Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern.

Elsewhere a Reed Warbler was at the Main Pond, with seven Chiffchaff, three Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Goldcrest on site, a Buzzard flew low east over The Bight and seven Pheasant were clearing Dead Dolphin Wood of inverts. 

Other Wildlife: The sunshine brought out a good selection of nectaring insects including a few Migrant Broadtail Eupeodes corollae and a Lunuled Broadtail E. luniger with other hoverflies including Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax and Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea. 

Migrant Broadtail Eupeodes corollae - Alan Keatley

Lunuled Broadtail Eupeodes luniger - Alan Keatley

Ivy Bee Colletes hederae are now out en masse, joined by Red Admiral and Painted Lady on Ivy. Still a few Clouded Yellow, although numbers have dropped. A Banded Ragwort Picturewing Sphenella marginata was noted together with an Ectophasia crassipennis in the Back Meadow.

Ivy Bee Colletes hederae - Jim Summers

Banded Ragwort Picturewing Sphenella marginata - Alan Keatley

Nearer the ground the bugs Dicyphus annulatus and Gampsocoris punctipes on Rest-harrow, the groundbugs Trapezonotus arenarius and Peritrechus geniculatus, plus a barkfly Pteroxanium kelloggi.

Trapezonotus arenarius - Alan Keatley

Pteroxanium kelloggi - Alan Keatley

With a large low tide a visit to rockpools below Langstone Rock revealed several large Dotted Sea Hare Aplysia punctata and a Conger Eel amongst the usual mix of anemones, molluscs and crabs. 

Dotted Sea Hare Aplysia punctata - Kevin Rylands

Snakelocks Anemone - Kevin Rylands

Sunday 27th September

Counts from the morning high tide included a September record 98 Shelduck, the autumn arrival for this species recently becoming earlier each year on site. Other wildfowl included 488 Wigeon, 280 Teal, five Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Great Crested Grebe. 

Waders included 68 Dunlin, 63 Ringed and four Grey Plover, 40 Turnstone, 28 Knot, 24 Sanderling, 21 Greenshank, 15 Bar and two Black-tailed Godwit and two Whimbrel.

Also present, an increase of 17 Mediterranean Gull (eight ad, 3CY, eight 1CY) and an Osprey, with 14 Grey Heron, including nine high N in two flocks. 

Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull & Greenshank - Kevin Rylands

Saturday 26th September

Counts from the estuary included 464 Wigeon, 308 Curlew, 280 Teal, 79 Dunlin, 68 Ringed and 13 Grey Plover, 27 Knot, 25 Sanderling, 17 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 17 Greenshank, 16 Bar and eight Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Sandwich Tern, seven Mediterranean and a 1CY Yellow-legged Gull, two Pintail, two Whimbrel, a Kingfisher and a Spotted Redshank.

Little Egret - Kevin Rylands

Elsewhere nine Grey Heron flew high N, six Common Scoter were offshore, a Grey Wagtail was at the Main Pond and a Wheatear was in The Bight. 

Friday 25th September

The first 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the autumn in The Bight early morning headlined a significant arrival of wintering wildfowl with 402 Wigeon, 340 Teal, 64 Shelduck and four Pintail in the estuary.  

Also present an Osprey fishing on the dropping tide, a Great White Egret briefly on the rising tide before heading SW, three juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and a Golden Plover. Counts included 351 Redshank, 65 Dunlin, 53 Ringed and two Grey Plover, 15 Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Knot, 14 Greenshank, 11 Sanderling, seven Sandwich and a Common Tern, two Mediterranean Gull, two Whimbrel and a Kingfisher. 

Great White Egret - Lee Collins

Elsewhere a Spotted Flycatcher was in the Buffer Zone, with five Chiffchaff, four Blackcap, two Goldcrest and a Firecrest in the bushes and the Red-legged Partridge on the Golf Course.

Kestrel - Lee Collins

Other Wildlife: A Fox was foraging on Finger Point mid morning and at least half a dozen Clouded Yellow were on the wing.

Common Blue - James Marshall