Thursday 14th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

A very windy day with bushes blown out and a low high tide producing very little in the way of waders. Counts from the estuary included 245 Oystercatcher, 85 Brent Geese and 63 Common Gull. Elsewhere two migrant Chiffchaff were by the Main Pond where two Shoveler remain, a Raven was overhead and an Eider was offshore.

Gannet - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: In the more sheltered areas a few hoverflies including Eristalis pertinax and Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus were on the wing with a queen Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris and the first solitary bee of the year, a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.

Chocolate Mining Bee - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 12th March

A Great Northern Diver was offshore but no other news was received.

Sunday 10th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

A very windy day saw two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver head south offshore with 298 Gannet, 80 Kittiwake and 17 Fulmar. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 77 Common Gull, 67 Curlew, 40 Turnstone, 32 Grey Plover, 16 Redshank, 13 Knot, three Eider and a Greenshank.

Saturday 9th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

Two Swallow feeding around the seawall and Amusements early afternoon equalled the previous earliest ever arrival in 1997, with a Sand Martin over the Golf Course the second earliest record. Other migrants included two Chiffchaff, one in song, a Greenshank in off at the seawall and three Raven and two Rook overhead. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler and four Shoveler were at the Main Pond.

Swallow - Alan Keatley

Counts from the estuary included 380 Oystercatcher, including an Icelandic ringed bird, 147 Curlew, 132 Common Gull, 28 Redshank, three Eider, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: A Green Longhorn moth Adela reaumurella had emerged at least a month early with other spring insects such Tree Bumblebee and Green Shieldbug also noted. Elsewhere a Grey Seal was offshore.

Green Shieldbug - Alan Keatley

Aglaostigma aucupariae - Alan Keatley

Friday 8th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood with counts from the estuary including 42 Grey Plover, 14 Knot, three Eider and a Greenshank. Elsewhere a Red-legged Partridge was a surprise on Warren Point, but was apparently first seen last week, the Muscovy Duck in the saltmarsh has probably been 'wild' for longer though.

Red-legged Partridge - Lee Collins

Thursday 7th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

Counts from the estuary included 710 Dunlin, 300 Oystercatcher, 92 Curlew, 70 Turnstone, 45 Grey Plover, 33 Knot, 25 Sanderling, six Greenshank, three Eider and in the saltmarsh a single Muscovy Duck. Elsewhere a Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond and a Great Northern Diver was offshore.

Redshank - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: Another new species for the recording area was found today, the sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariae, a widespread early Spring species. The Grey Seal was again in the estuary.

Aglaostigma aucupariae - Alan Keatley

 

Wednesday 6th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

Records from the estuary included 347 Brent Geese, the highest count this winter, 39 Grey Plover, 22 Knot, 13 Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe.

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was hauled out on a pontoon in the estuary.

Grey Seal - Lee Collins

Tuesday 5th March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide

Two Spoonbill were the highlight, an adult and immature flew in from east passing the hide and circling Shutterton Creek before heading towards Powderham.

Sunday 3rd March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

Seawatching during the day was largely uneventful with c130 Gannet, 75 Kittiwake and c40 Fulmar south along with six Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 440 Oystercatcher, 230 Brent Geese, 47 Grey Plover, 37 Knot, 23 Sanderling, three Eider and the Slavonian Grebe.

Saturday 2nd March

Due to the significant erosion at Dawlish Warren, Teignbridge District Council is advising extreme caution when visiting. The dune path between groyne 10 – 18 is unsafe and a section of this path is completely closed with no access. Access to Warren Point and the bird hide is only possible via the beach with the risk of being cut off for a period either side of each high tide. The only access, up and back down, to these areas is along the beach at lower states of tide.

A pale phase Pomarine Skua moved south early morning but it was otherwise quiet offshore with just three Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond, the remains of a long dead Short-eared Owl were found on the Warren Point, a Redwing was in Dead Dolphin Wood, 197 Brent Geese, 32 Wigeon, 24 Teal, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary and five Raven and two Rook were overhead. 

Stonechat - Dave Jewell

Wildlife News: The first Tree Bumblebee of the year was nectaring with up to a dozen Buff-tailed Bumblebee on a sallow on Warren Point with several Seven-spot Ladybird, a Gorse Shieldbug and a Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug also awakening for Spring. Other records included a Harbour Porpoise off the seawall and two Fox on Warren Point.

Bishop's Mitre - Alan Keatley