Monday 11th April

A male Pied Flycatcher around Dead Dolphin Wood and the Main Pond was the highlight, with other migrants including the earliest ever Lesser Whitethroat, the first Whitethroat of the year, 12 Willow Warbler, three Wheatear and two Blackcap. In the estuary there was no sign of the Kentish Plover with just five Dunlin, four Ringed and three Grey Plover present along with the Slavonian Grebe, 20+ Sandwich and two Common Tern. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore, a Whimbrel flew over and a Moorhen chick was on the First Pond.

Sunday 10th April

A storm force ESE that persisted all day with spring tides whipped up a sandstorm, removed areas of beach and made for exceptionally difficult birding conditions, but the indelible memory of today will be the site's 100th Kentish Plover. It was present all day until dusk though did hide for 3 hours. 

Despite all this, most waders again roosted on Warren Point with 205 Oystercatcher, 40+ Curlew, five Whimbrel, three Ringed Plover, two Dunlin and a Grey Plover.  

The estuary became a refuge with a total of 78 Pale-bellied Brent Goose as flocks in off through the morning, also 37 Sandwich Tern, 3 Arctic Tern and a Common Tern. Seabird passage was very light with barely double figures of the regular species, highlights were a sub-adult Pomarine Skua early morning, also a dozen Manx Shearwater, two diver sp and a Great Skua.

A Hobby reported over the Visitor Centre would be the earliest ever record, beating one from 1953 by over a week. A Peregrine stood in The Bight at dusk sported a green colour-ring and a metal ring; details are being sought.

Kentish Plover - Lee Collins

Kentish Plover - Dave Jewell

Saturday 9th April

On the biggest tide of the year 190 Oystercatcher and 82 Curlew were roosting on Warren Point, with other wader counts limited to 76 Turnstone, 28 Redshank, two Sanderling, two Whimbrel and single Greenshank, Grey and Ringed Plover. Also in the estuary 10 Sandwich Tern, the Slavonian Grebe and three Tufted Duck (mmf), the first if the year. Elsewhere 10 Willow Warbler, three Blackcap and two Wheatear were welcome migrants with five Swallow overhead and a Great Northern Diver offshore.

Friday 8th April

Migration seems to have come to a halt with no Willow Warbler or Wheatear today and just two Swallow flying through, a flock of 60 Black-tailed Godwit were new arrivals but had probably only travelled from the top end of the estuary.

Wednesday 6th April

On the dropping morning high tide, the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared, feeding over shallows in the estuary with five Sandwich Tern. An immature Iceland Gull offshore early morning may also have been a returning bird. Also, 429 Oystercatcher, 54 Curlew, 48 Turnstone, six Dark-bellied Brent Goose, three Bar-tailed Godwit, two Grey Plover, single Black-tailed Godwit and Sanderling.  Single Sand Martin and Swallow flew through. The only obvious migrants in the bushes early morning were five Chiffchaff and a single Willow Warbler but seven Willow Warbler were around the Main Pond at dusk.  The presence of several nests including Little Grebe and two Long-tailed Tit indicate some resident birds are well underway with the breeding season.

Tuesday 5th April

The Short-eared Owl was again on the Golf Course early morning, then on Warren Point just after midday and presumably the same one in off the sea at John's Watch half an hour later. Elsewhere migration picked up slightly with at least nine Chiffchaff, four Willow Warbler, three Blackcap and two Wheatear on site and singles of Rook, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Coal Tit ssp. and three Chaffinch overhead. Two Treecreeper remained in the bushes.

Wildlife News: The Sand Crocus was out in numbers today in the good weather and a Common Seal hauled up on Bull Hill also enjoyed the sunshine.

Monday 4th April

No sign of the Mandarin today with the migrant highlight instead being the second Short-eared Owl of the week over Warren Point mid-afternoon before heading high south and it or another over the Golf Course in the evening. Other migrants were limited to eight Chiffchaff and four Willow Warbler, the latter arriving during the day as there were none present early morning. Elsewhere 49 Turnstone, four Sandwich Tern, two Whimbrel and the Slavonian Grebe. were in the estuary with 21 Common Scoter and a Manx Shearwater offshore.

Wildlife News: Two new moth species for the Recording Area have been found recently, both micros - Schreckensteinia festaliella along the Dune Ridge and Psychoides verhuella in the Entrance Bushes.

Sunday 3rd April

An overcast day with a southerly wind saw a small but varied arrival of migrants, the highlight of which was a drake Mandarin on the Main Pond, only the recording area's 7th record. Also new for the year a Blackcap in the Entrance Bushes, at least one Osprey that toured the southern end of the Exe and two Common Tern with 50+ Sandwich Tern over the evening high tide.

Mandarin - Matt Laing

Counts from the estuary included 193 Oystercatcher, 54 Turnstone, 17 Pale-bellied Brent, 13 of which flew off south late morning, 15 Dark-bellied Brent, five Dunlin, five Grey and four Ringed Plover, two Greenshank, two Sanderling, the Slavonian Grebe and the first two migrant Whimbrel of the year. Elsewhere four Willow Warbler, two Swallow and a Wheatear were on site and just three Great-crested Grebe were offshore.

Skylark - Greg Bradbury

Saturday 2nd April

The highlight was the first Short-eared Owl of the year on Warren Point mid afternoon before eventually gaining height and heading south mobbed by crows, also on the point two Wheatear. Elsewhere three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were in the estuary with 25+ Sandwich Tern and the Slavonian Grebe whilst offshore there were 33 Common Scoter, 11 Fulmar and a Red-throated Diver.

Wildlife News: Both Sand Crocus and Sand Lizard were on show in the sunny weather.

Friday 1st April

No hidden surprises today but the first Willow Warbler of the year eventually put in an appearance around the Main Pond with five Sand Martin the only other migrants. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver, 16 Great-crested Grebe and eight Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Stonechat - Greg Bradbury