Saturday 21st February

Counts from the estuary included 1,300 Dunlin, 223 Common Gull, 126 Curlew, 92 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 83 Knot, 82 Grey and 20 Ringed Plover, 57 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Sanderling, seven Teal, five Shelduck, four Greenshank and two Red-breasted Merganser.

Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plover - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere 16 Great Crested Grebe, eight Great Northern Diver and seven Common Scoter were offshore, 34 Magpie left the roost and the Cetti's Warbler was still present. 

Ringing News: A successful DCWRG cannon-netting saw 93 Oystercatcher and two Curlew released with new colour-rings. Away from the ringing a total of 53 previously ringed Dunlin were recorded along with the wintering Welsh ringed Knot and Hampshire Ringed Plover. 

Other Wildlife: The first two Peacock butterfly of the year were on the wing along with a probable Painted Lady. Other species were also active in the warmer conditions with beetles prominent including 24-spot Ladybird and Pointed-keeled Rhyzobius R. litura, the rove beetles Cafius xantholoma and Xantholinus linearis and several Hypocaccus crassipes clown beetles.

Cafius xantholoma - Alan Keatley

Xantholinus linearis - Alan Keatley

The first Turtle Shieldbug Podops inuncta and Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus were also enjoying the conditions with a female Grey Seal in the estuary.

Turtle Shieldbug Podops inuncta - Alan Keatley

Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus - Alan Keatley

Friday 20th February

A Curlew Sandpiper was a surprise find when searching the Dunlin flocks for ringed birds, only the second winter record for the Warren after one on 1st January 1987. Also in the estuary 169 Common Gull, 92 Knot, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull and single Avocet, Greenshank, Peregrine and the 4CY Yellow-legged Gull.

Curlew Sandpiper & Dunlin - Lee Collins

Elsewhere 73 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were feeding in the Golf Course with a separate flock of c100 that flew high east from estuary late afternoon, 18 Common Scoter, two Great Northern Diver and a Fulmar were offshore, 45 Linnet and a Snipe were on Warren Point and the Cetti's Warbler was by the Car Park.

Year List addition:
109. Curlew Sandpiper

Thursday 19th February

A low tide visit, so no meaningful estuary counts, the Cetti's Warbler remains around the car park, 16 Common Scoter were off the seawall and a pair of Mute Swan were by the Main Pond was a welcome sighting; the previous breeding male disappeared in November 2024 with the female remaining single throughout 2025, even incubating an unfertilised clutch. 

Mute Swan - Alan Keatley

Other Wildlife: Despite a sunny start the wind and temperature was keeping insects under cover including two black ground beetles; Mitten Blackclock Pterostichus nigrita and Great Blackclock Pterostichus niger on the edge of Dead Dolphin Wood.

Mitten Blackclock Pterostichus nigrita - Alan Keatley

Great Blackclock Pterostichus niger - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 17th February

Two 2CY Little Gull were feeding offshore mid afternoon with 34 Great Crested Grebe, seven Common Scoter, five Great Northern and four Red-throated Diver. 

Continuing signs of spring passage with 310 Black-headed, 85 Common, 16 Lesser Black-backed and two adult Mediterranean Gull, with 25 Shelduck, 23 Teal, 12 Greenshank, three Red-breasted Merganser, two Avocet, two Wigeon and a hunting Peregrine also in the estuary.

Oystercatcher - Jim Summers

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was around the Buffer Zone and car park, 12 Siskin, four Chiffchaff and two Goldcrest were in the bushes and, on the Main Pond single Cormorant, Little Grebe, Shoveler and Water Rail. 

Year List addition:
108. Feral Pigeon

Other Wildlife: A dry day but the drop in temperature limited insect activity with most finds sheltering under logs or driftwood, including the coastal specialist ground beetle Calathus cinctus and the darkling beetle Nalassus laevioctostriatus. 

Calathus cinctus - Alan Keatley

Nalassus laevioctostriatus - Alan Keatley

Monday 16th February

Counts from the evening high tide included 310 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 140 Common Gull, 22 Teal, 20 Snipe which left the saltmarsh at dusk, 10 Greenshank, seven Black-tailed Godwit, four Wigeon, three Avocet and two Red-breasted Merganser. 

Sunday 15th February

Counts from the estuary high tide included 270 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 130 Common Gull, 100 Bar-tailed Godwit, 29 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover, 14 Teal, 12 Greenshank, five Red-breasted Merganser and four Avocet.

Elsewhere eight Great Northern Diver were offshore with at least 45 Magpie to roost and the Cetti's Warbler was still in good voice around the car park. 

Saturday 14th February

A welcome springlike day saw increased activity around the bushes, the Cetti's Warbler was singing in the carpark, seemingly unfazed by the increase in visitors, with the Dartford Warbler near the Visitor Centre and at least five Chiffchaff and three Goldcrest on site. Many resident species were also in song including the Little Grebe on the Main Pond with two Chaffinch and a Siskin flying north.

Elsewhere three Great Northern Diver were offshore and the usual waders and wildfowl were in the estuary including 137 Curlew, 28 Shelduck, 12 Greenshank, 11 Teal, four Wigeon and a Great Northern Diver. 

Other Wildlife: The sunny conditions saw enough warmth for the first hoverflies of year, a couple of Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax on the Alexanders along with at least half a dozen fly species, including the first Orange-bearded Bluebottle Calliphora vomitoria of the year. 

Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax - Alan Keatley

Also emerging in the sunshine, a few Gorse Shieldbug, and with the sand drying out, the nationally scarce Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi and the not so rare money spider Stemonyphantes lineatus amongst the Marram and a Cucumber Spider Araniella cucurbitina lurking in Holly.

Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi - Alan Keatley

Gorse Shieldbug - Alan Keatley

Friday 13th January

Counts from the estuary over the afternoon high tide included 1,740 Dunlin, 75 Bar and 42 Black-tailed Godwit, 42 Grey and 28 Ringed Plover, 30 Sanderling, 14 Greenshank, five Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver. 

Elsewhere 12 Great Northern and four Red-throated Diver were offshore with 18 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Wigeon and 10 Common Scoter. 

Ringing News: A total of 59 birds of seven species were recorded this afternoon; 33 Dunlin, 18 Oystercatcher and four Grey Plover from DCWRG projects, and single wintering Brent Goose from the Netherlands, Great Black-backed Gull from Looe, Cornwall, Knot from Wales, and Ringed Plover from Hampshire.

Elsewhere Oystercatcher 2C was recorded on Tiree, Argyll today for the third spring in a row, although it has not been recorded on the Exe since April 2020. 

Oystercatcher 2C back from Dawlish Warren, Devon today at Kirkapol, Tiree for the third spring running - in amongst hundreds of Oystercatchers now back to breed on the island #BirdingScotland

[image or embed]

— John Bowler (@tireebirder.bsky.social) 13 February 2026 at 14:54

Thursday 12th February

A minimum of 153 Common Gull were in the estuary on the rising tide, a welcome sign of spring passage. Also present 236 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 107 Knot, 20 Greenshank, 11 Teal, nine Avocet, four Red-breasted Merganser, two Wigeon, an adult Mediterranean Gull and the wintering Merlin. 

Elsewhere a 2CY Little Gull was offshore with 10 Common Scoter, eight Red-throated and six Great Northern Diver, and the Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course. 

Wednesday 11th February

The Merlin was hunting waders around The Bight over the low high tide, with counts from the estuary including 144 Redshank, 118+ Common Gull, 57 Turnstone, 55 Bar and 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Ringed Plover, 22 Greenshank, 21 Avocet, 16 Teal, five Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was in fine song today, maybe this year will see the first bird breeding territory, the first two Stock Dove of the year dropped into the saltmarsh with six Common Scoter and two Great Northern Diver offshore.

Greenland Lake - both Dean Hall
Probably the most extensive flooding since the area was tidal. With the erosion from recent storms if we get another winter like this one it may be tidal again by next year. 

Year List addition:
107. Stock Dove

Other Wildlife: An increasing variety of invertebrates in the drier conditions including a Lesne's Earwig in the dunes, along with the ground spider Micaria micans and a Hedgehog Slug Arion intermedius, and more flies on the Alexanders. 

Lesne's Earwig - Alan Keatley

Micaria micans - Alan Keatley

Hedgehog Slug Arion intermedius - Alan Keatley

Phaonia tuguriorum - Alan Keatley

Suillia variegata - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 10th February

The first Cattle Egret of the year flew S from Cockwood early morning with a Greylag Goose doing the same a couple of hours later, briefly landing in Shutterton Creek. Also in the estuary 329 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 31 Ringed Plover, 16 Avocet, 11 Teal, six Greenshank, two Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver.

An adult Little Gull was offshore along with 10 Great Crested Grebe, eight Common Scoter and eight Great Northern Diver with two Mute Swan in off the sea. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was singing from the car park, two Cirl Bunting were in Greenland Lake, the species has been very scarce this winter, and 10 Long-tailed Tit, two Chiffchaff and two Goldcrest were in the bushes. 

Cirl Bunting - Dean Hall

Year List additions:
106. Greylag Goose
105. Cattle Egret

Sunday 8th February

The first three Egyptian Goose of the year flew across the bay before heading south down the coast c9.10am, passing Teignmouth at 9.22am. Also offshore 11 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter and seven Great Crested Grebe. 

Great Northern Diver - Lee Collins

Counts from the estuary, incorporating the WeBS, included 2,061 Dunlin, 649 Black and 105 Bar-tailed Godwit, 515 Oystercatcher, 288 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 175 Redshank, 114 Knot, 101 Grey and 25 Ringed Plover, 27 Sanderling, 20 Curlew, 18 Turnstone, 16 Greenshank, 13 Avocet and 11 Teal.

Elsewhere a Firecrest was on the Golf Course with two Chiffchaff and single Coal Tit and Goldcrest. 

Year List addition:
104. Egyptian Goose

Warren Point 7th February - Kim Summers

View looking east from the seawall 7th February - Kevin Rylands

Dune Ridge looking west by Groyne Nine 4th February - Kevin Rylands

Buffer Zone flooding 6th February - James Marshall

Saturday 7th February

The drake Goldeneye was off Cockwood briefly late afternoon with counts from the estuary including 820 Black and 101 Bar-tailed Godwit, 138 Knot, 85 Grey and 29 Ringed Plover, 21 Sanderling, 18 Avocet, six Greenshank and two Red-breasted Merganser.

Elsewhere the Little Grebe was trilling from the Main Pond, with four Common Scoter, two Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver offshore.

Ringing News: Today turned out to be a big recovery day. Ongoing labour intensive monitoring allows evaluation of both short and long term survivability rates for species like Dunlin, the 64 identified today adding to a burgeoning dataset. Oystercatcher numbers have begun to dwindle, signalling migratory movement, with birds already arriving back on breeding grounds in Scotland. Keeping an eye on those that remain holds added value, one seen and noted today may potentially be found several hundred miles away a few days later, or even the next day as happened in February 2019. Today 27 wintering individuals were noted, one ringed way back in 2004. Adding a bit of glamour and variety, one of the Netherlands ringed Avocet brought sparkle and culminated in a hugely rewarding bout of intensely watching our wintering wader residents.

Other Wildlife: A few more active insects despite the continuing showers. Alexanders continued to attract a few flies including Geomyza tripunctata, Tephritis vespertina and new for the Recording Area, the common Suillia affinis.

Suillia affinis - Alan Keatley

Beetles included Trechus quadristriatus, the weevil Hypera conmaculata and Rosemary Beetle with Buff-tailed Bumblebee and the moth Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana on the wing.

Trechus quadristriatus - Alan Keatley

Hypera conmaculata - Alan Keatley

Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana - Alan Keatley

Friday 6th February

An adult Little Gull, eight Great Northern and four Red-throated Diver were offshore, with single 1CY Caspian Gull and the 4CY Yellow-legged Gull amongst the large feeding flocks of Herring Gull along the beach and sandbars.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Dave Jewell

Grey Plover - Lee Collins

Great Northern Diver - Jim Summers

Thursday 5th February

A 4CY Yellow-legged Gull was on Finger Point with at least 45 Great Black-backed Gull, with 290 Black-tailed Godwit and seven Avocet in the estuary corner. 

Yellow-legged Gull - Lee Collins

Wednesday 4th February

Counts from the high tide included 1,100 Dunlin, 840 Black and 120 Bar-tailed Godwit, 139 Grey and eight Ringed Plover, 118 Knot, 67 Common Gull, 27 Turnstone, 20 Greenshank and 10 Avocet.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was singing in the Entrance Bushes.

Other Wildlife: The promise of dry weather didn't materialise, with the water level on the Main Pond still rising over topping the floor of viewing platform. Avoiding the floods, the ground beetle Bluish Plate-jaw Leistus fulvibarbis in the Entrance Bushes and on the emerging Alexanders, the fruit fly Tephritis vespertina; although very invasive, this plant is an important nectar source for a range of insects now emerging earlier in late winter/early spring.

Bluish Plate-jaw Leistus fulvibarbis - Alan Keatley

Tephritis vespertina - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 3rd February

A late afternoon visit saw 385 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 10 Greenshank and six Avocet were in the estuary with the usual mix of waders.

Elsewhere the Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course, a Firecrest was in Dead Dolphin Wood and 730+ Herring Gull, two Great Northern Diver and a Common Scoter were offshore.

Monday 2nd February

Counts from the estuary on the rising evening tide included 88 Redshank, 70+ Common Gull, 28 Shelduck, 27 Greenshank, the highest ever winter count, 22 Teal, five Avocet and four Wigeon.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was on the Golf Course and an adult Little Gull was offshore with 11 Common Scoter, three Red-throated and three Great Northern Diver. 

Sunday 1st February

A total of 510 Black-tailed Godwit, 34 Sanderling, 17 Greenshank and nine Avocet were in the estuary on the dropping morning tide with the 2CY Little Gull still in main channel and a 2CY Yellow-legged Gull on Bull Hill.  

Elsewhere five Great Northern Diver and five Common Scoter were offshore, 60 Linnet were on Warren Point, 37 Magpie roosted in the Entrance Bushes and a Little Grebe has returned to the Main Pond, where a female Shoveler, several Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were present.

Year List additions:
103. Little Grebe
102. Yellow-legged Gull

Other Wildlife: Between showers, the weather wasn't too bad with a few more active invertebrates few including a Gorse Weevil Exapion ulicis on its foodplant with plenty of Gorse Thrips Odontothrips ulicis. On an early flowering Alexanders, a common blowfly Calliphora vicina and a Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria.

Gorse Weevil Exapion ulicis - Alan Keatley

Elsewhere a Bembidion lunulatum amongst Marram and a large sac spider Clubiona corticalis.

Bembidion lunulatum - Alan Keatley