Wednesday 30th Septermber

The Ridgway's Cackling Goose was again off Mudbank Lane, Exmouth today and not with the 150+ Brent Geese within the recording area. Also in the estuary, 440+ Wigeon, 9 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 41 Cormorant, a Sandwich Tern, 5 Grey Plover, 332 Curlew, four Sanderling 100+ Dunlin, 184 Redshank and an exceptional count of 148 Turnstone, the largest count here since 5th January 1989.  These were most likely birds displaced from their usual roost on the wall at Starcross and instead took up temporary residence on various boats and buoys. A Kingfisher flew past the front of the hide.

Overhead, 72 Goldfinch flew NE, also 9 Swallow and a few Meadow Pipit; but an Osprey over Exmouth took centre stage.  Elsewhere, 8 Siskin near the VC, a few Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and finches in the bushes with 50+ Linnet commuting between the saltmarsh and Warren Point.

Tuesday 29th September

The only news today was of the Ridgway's Cackling Goose with Brent Geese at Dawlish Warren (noted at 09:53). This bird, of unknown origin, first appeared on the Exe Estuary with Brent Geese on Sunday 27th September, and has since accompanied this flock, which has usually favoured an area outside the recording boundary, off Exmouth. 

Sunday 27th September

On the dawn and dusk tides, 20 Mute Swan, the Slavonian Grebe, two Brent Goose, 744 Wigeon, 45 Teal, a Golden Plover circled around a while, two Grey Plover, no Ringed Plover, 481 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, two Knot, three Turnstone, five Sanderling, 83 Dunlin, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 231 Redshank, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 124 Great Black-backed Gull.  Glaring morning sunshine precluded seawatching, so only 18 Gannet and two Sandwich Tern were noted offshore.  Searches throughout scrubby and built-up areas failed to re-find the Rose-coloured Starling and efforts were only rewarded with single imm Green Woodpecker, three Coal Tit, ten Long-tailed Tit, four Stonechat, nine Chiffchaff, 14 Blackcap, five Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, c.40 Linnet, two Reed Bunting and 31 Starling.  Quiet overhead wth four Rook, a Mistle Thrush, five Lesser Redpoll, five Siskin, c.10 Meadow Pipit, three Grey Wagtail and 30 Goldfinch.

The Cackling Goose (minima-type) with 140 Dark-bellied and a Pale-bellied Brent were visible up estuary in the evening, but were way off outside the site's recording boundary.

Saturday 26th September

Good coverage today, though the best finds didn't linger in clear sunny conditions. Overhead passed by a Spoonbill before 09:00, presumably the bird from Bowling Green Marsh where it first appeared on 10th; and an Osprey flew through.  Other passage was light with five Jackdaw, c.30 Skylark, c.20 Swallow, 3 Mistle Thrush,  a Grey Wagtail, two Chaffinch, a Lesser Redpoll and c.50 Goldfinch

In the bushes, a juv Rose-coloured Starling was present for only a short time early afternoon in brambles and mobile around north side of Greenland Lake area, with Starlings.  More typical finds were single Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, 15 Chiffchaff, 16 Blackcap, a Wheatear and two Bullfinch.  However, 16 Coal Tit, most passed along the dune ridge, were exceptional and only the fourth two-figure count on site. 

In the estuary, a Brent Goose, seven Grey Plover, eight Ringed Plover, one Black-tailed Godwit, three Bar-tailed Godwit, c.25 Turnstone, a Sanderling, 74+ Dunlin, 3 Greenshank,  
(Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew roosts not counted today); 74 Great Black-backed Gull and a Mediterranean Gull  

At sea, five Red-throated Diver, an equal record September count, last achieved in 1985; also seven Common Scoter, 38+ Sandwich Tern and three large auk sp.  During low tide, offshore sandbars supported 838 Herring Gull and five Lesser Black-backed Gull.
  

Friday 25th September

The first news for several days saw nine Wheatear, a couple Coal Tit and a Jay on site along with 13 Swallow, four Grey Wagtail and a Lesser Redpoll overhead. In the estuary 354 Curlew and 21 Ringed Plover were present on a low tide.

 Blackcap - Dave Jewell

Wheatear - Dave Jewell

Tuesday 22nd September

Today lived up to its billing as the quietest day of the autumn http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/September.html with just four Blackcap and four Chiffchaff in the bushes and a Coal Tit that moved through the site. Overhead Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Swallow and House Martin struggled into single figures. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and 20 Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Monday 21st September

A grey and windy start to the day didn't deliver much in the way of sightings, although 25+ Robin were vocal around site sharing the bushes with 12+ Blackcap, eight Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat. Elsewhere 50+ Swallow went through early morning, the Slavonian Grebe, three Greenshank and at least two Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary and c40 Sandwich Tern, 16 Common Scoter and two Razorbill were offshore.

Robin - Alan Keatley. This bird defended its chosen Elder bush from all comers.

Sunday 20th September

Thick fog hampered viewing until around 10.30 and the autumnal feel was enhanced by the first Water Rail of the winter in the Main Pond and a Lesser Redpoll in the Entrance Bushes. Overhead 70+ Swallow, 30+ House Martin, a Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail were reminders of summer with 15+ Meadow Pipit, four Siskin and three Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere three Mute Swan flew in off from a long way offshore and counts from the estuary included two Curlew Sandpiper, 1690 Oystercatcher, 27 Turnstone, 18 Knot, 16 Dunlin, 12 Dark and six Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Ringed Plover and a Sanderling.

Sparrowhawk - Martin Overy

Saturday 19th September

The Bonaparte's Gull remained along the beach but other species remain on the move with wader numbers starting to decline before the wintering flocks arrive. Counts from the estuary included 127 Dunlin, 63 Ringed Plover, 23 Sanderling and 18 Knot. Also in the estuary 530+ Wigeon, 60 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Elsewhere 40 Goldfinch, 10 Siskin, eight Jackdaw and a Tree Pipit were overhead with 20 Chiffchaff on site with nine Blackcap, three Whitethroat, two Wheatear, two Jay and singles of Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Reed and Willow Warbler.

Friday 18th September

A Barred Warbler near the Cuckoo's Nest early morning was the highlight but unfortunately it was even less co-operative than yesterday's Wryneck and was not seen later in the day. Other migrants included three Jay, three Whitethroat and single Goldcrest, Garden Warbler, Wheatear and Whinchat.  Counts from the estuary included 252 Dunlin, 86 Ringed Plover, 70 Dark-bellied and six Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 24 Sanderling, 23 Knot and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere the Bonaparte's Gull was again along the beach and a Roseate Tern showed well off John's Watch with 69+ Sandwich Tern.