Thursday 11th September

The Wryneck remains on Warren Point but other migrants were thin on the ground, although six heron sp. flew high NW late evening. A juvenile Osprey was hunting over the Bight, with single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper with 170+ Dunlin and 97 Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 298 Wigeon, 270+ Redshank, 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Knot, three Shelduck and two Pintail.

Osprey - Bob Reeves

Wednesday 10th September

Another changeover of migrants today with only a single Wheatear and totals of 21 Chiffchaff , 13 Blackcap, seven Whitethroat, three Willow and a Garden Warbler. Overhead 40 House Martin went high east early morning with 19 Meadow Pipit heading the other way. Elsewhere a Little Stint was on the beach on the evening tide with 200+ Dunlin, 75 Ringed Plover, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit and 12 Sanderling.

Tuesday 9th September

There was no sign of the Woodchat today but the Wryneck remained on Warren Point although was always elusive. Other grounded migrants included a Whinchat in Greenland Lake, 22 Blackcap. 13 Chiffchaff, nine Whitethroat, seven Willow and three Reed Warbler with the first Chaffinch of the autumn, five Grey and a Yellow Wagtail overhead. A Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpiper were on the beach with 292 Dunlin, 52 Ringed and two Grey Plover. Elsewhere a Gadwall was in Shutterton creek with 238 Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe and three Arctic Skua were offshore.

Wildlife News: Late news from Saturday. The first confirmed Water Vole for the recording area was seen well on the Main Pond. This follows an unconfirmed report there last year. There is apparently a successful reintroduced population as close as Cockwood Marsh which is presumably the source of these records, an excellent and unexpected addition to the Warren's fauna.

Monday 8th September

The Wryneck remained on Warren Point but a juvenile Woodchat Shrike found late morning in Greenland Lake was the unexpected highlight. The fifth record for the Warren and the first in autumn. Both birds remained until late afternoon at least but became increasingly mobile and elusive. Other migrants were in lower numbers than recent days but included two Whinchat, 10+ Wheatear and a Garden Warbler. Over the high tide the first Little Stint of the year was on the beach late evening with a Curlew Sandpiper, two Knot and a smart summer plumaged Grey Plover with counts of 278 Dunlin, 75 Ringed Plover, 15 Bar and seven Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and a Kingfisher were in the estuary and a couple of Grey Wagtail were overhead.

 Woodchat Shrike - Lee Collins

 Wryneck - Lee Collins

 

Whinchat - Lee Collins

 

Wildlife News: The first Wasp Spider of the year was along the Dune Ridge. http://davesbirdingdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/wasp-spider-argiope-bruennichi-dawlish.html

Sunday 7th September

A Wryneck found early evening on Warren Point was the highlight of another full day in the field. Other migrants included c30 Wheatear, 10 Whitethroat, a record six Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher with 43 Meadow Pipit, 11 Grey Wagtail, three Tree Pipit and three Yellow Wagtail overhead. Over high tide a Ruff and two Curlew Sandpiper were in the Bight with counts of 450+ Curlew, 254 Dunlin, 198 Wigeon, 85 Ringed Plover, 60 Teal, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Knot, eight Whimbrel, eight Shelduck; the first for several weeks, two Golden Plover and single Common Sandpiper and Greenshank. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater flew south, single juvenile Black and Arctic Tern were offshore with 85+ Common Tern, a Great Northern Diver and a Shoveler were on the sea and the Slavonian Grebe was in Shutterton Creek.

 Wryneck - Lee Collins

 Redshank - Simon Thurgood

Bar-tailed Godwit - Simon Thurgood



Saturday 6th September

Another full day on patch with six Willow, three Sedge and a Garden Warbler, two Goldcrest, two Whinchat, a Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher amongst commoner migrants with 19 Grey Wagtail, five Reed Bunting, two Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit overhead. Wildfowl were also on the move with 207 Wigeon, 21 Teal and a Pintail in Shutterton Creek with the Slavonian Grebe. On  World Shorebird Day wader counts included 1622 Oystercatcher, 301 Redshank, 238 Dunlin, 123 Ringed Plover, 21 Knot, 19 Bar and four Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Sanderling and two Curlew Sandpiper. Elsewhere two Treecreeper were in the Entrance Bushes and two Arctic Skua were offshore

Friday 5th September

A small arrival of migrants included the first Goldcrest of the autumn, three Wheatear, a Whinchat, a couple of Willow and a Garden Warbler and overhead a Swift, 150+ Swallow, 10+ Meadow Pipit, five Grey and a Yellow Wagtail. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with 130+ Common Tern still present on Bull Hill. Other counts included 295+ Redshank, 140+ Dunlin, 12 Wigeon, five Teal, two Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.

Wednesday 3rd September

A Whinchat on Warren Point was the pick of the few migrants with a single Wheatear in the Buffer Zone and a Yellow Wagtail overhead. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary along with 15 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank whilst 50+ Common Scoter were offshore.

Wildlife News: The Common Seal was on Bull Hill this afternoon.

Tuesday 2nd September

Two juvenile Curlew Sandpiper were present over high tide with 50+ Common and a single Arctic Tern offshore. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 256+ Redshank, 170+ Great Black-backed Gull, 14 Bar-tailed Godwit, three Wigeon and a Greenshank. Elsewhere the Treecreeper and a Kingfisher were around the Main Pond.

Wildlife News: A young Stoat was at the eastern end of Greenland Lake.

Monday 1st September

Offshore there were at least three Arctic with 116+ Common Tern mid morning with a Balearic Shearwater south. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, there were over 600 Common and Sandwich Tern upriver, the Treecreeper was behind the Crocus Compound and a Tree Pipit flew over.