Monday 1st April

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.

An Osprey heading up river early morning, two Little Ringed Plover dropping briefly into the Bight late afternoon and a Whimbrel in the Railway Saltmarsh were the pick of the day's  sightings with passerine migrants in short supply. Also in the estuary eight Ringed Plover, four Bar-tailed Godwit, three Eider, three Dunlin, two Sanderling, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe.

 

Elsewhere a Red-throated Diver and nine Sandwich Tern were offshore.

 

Sunday 31st 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 smart male Redstart in the Entrance Bushes was the pick of the migrants with at least three Wheatear and a couple of Willow Warbler also on site. Overhead five Swallow and four Sand Martin and the year's first Osprey, which flew over the spit and up the estuary late afternoon, being seen off Exminster 20 minutes later.

Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and counts from the estuary included 16 Turnstone, eight Ringed Plover, two Dunlin, two Greenshank and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

Wildlife News: The Sand Crocus flowered briefly during a sunny period early afternoon with four Peacock and a Comma also enjoying the rays.

Saturday 30th 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 first two Willow Warbler of the year were welcome migrants with three Blackcap and a Wheatear on site, with two Sand Martin and two Siskin overhead. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond, six Sandwich Tern were offshore and counts from the estuary included 136 Oystercatcher, eight Ringed Plover, four Bar-tailed Godwit, two Sanderling and single Dunlin and Greenshank.

Blackcap - Alan Keatley

 Wildlife News: The Grey Seal was again on a pontoon in the estuary and the Sand Crocus flowers opened from 10.30. Butterflies included a Red Admiral, two Orange-tip and two Comma with a Green Longhorn moth also on the wing.

Friday 29th 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.

Another foggy morning followed by clear blue skies and the same mix of birds. Four Sandwich Tern was the highest count so far this year with 52 Oystercatcher the peak on a low high tide. Elsewhere 12 Great-crested Grebe were offshore with two Shoveler on the Main Pond and a Green Woodpecker in Greenland Lake. The latter species have been audible offsite for most of the year but have rarely made it into the recording area.

Ringing News: This Turnstone on Warren Point on Wednesday had been ringed on the island of Jomfruland, Norway on 23/8/18, 1238 km NE of the Warren. 

Turnstone - Lee Collins

 

Thursday 28th 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 fog didn't lift until 10am but failed to drop in any influx of migrants, an early Yellow Wagtail was overhead with three Rook and a Siskin but again no hirundines. Elsewhere a low high tide saw 22 Turnstone, nine Ringed Plover, four Red-breasted Merganser, three Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Dunlin in the estuary, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and two Blackcap were on site.

Teal - Alan Keatley

Wildlife News: Once it warmed up insects were again out in numbers with singles of Orange-tip and Comma on the wing with at least eight Peacock and four Speckled Wood. The first Painted Nomad Bee Nomada furcata of the year was at a large colony of Yellow-legged Bee Andrena flavipes on the Car Park roundabout, sadly the verge was cut today removing many of their nectar sources. Elsewhere a large bull Grey Seal in the estuary and at least 20 Barrel Jellyfish were washed up on the tideline.

Comma - Luke Harman

 Sand Crocus - Alan Keatley

Painted Nomad Bee - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 27th 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.

Another quiet day with clear blue skies, almost June like except for the chilling northerly wind. Counts from the estuary were disappointing but birds were regularly disturbed by visitor traffic to a second boat moored in the Saltmarsh all ignoring the voluntary exclusion zone. Totals included 48 Curlew, 28 Turnstone, 24 Redshank, 12 Ringed Plover, five Greenshank, three Bar-tailed Godwit, a Knot and an Eider.

Elsewhere two Sandwich Tern were offshore, the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond and migrants were limited to six Wheatear on site and single figures of Chaffinch and Meadow Pipit overhead.

Chiffchaff - Lee Collins

Wildlife News: Another great day for the Sand Crocus and spring invertebrates, the highlight being the first Black Oil Beetle for the Recording Area. Other records included three Dark-edged Beefly, a Comma, a steady eastwards passage of dispersing queen bumblebees along the Dune Ridge and a Tree Bumblebee investigating a new nestbox.

Dark-edged Beefly - Lee Collins

Tuesday 26th 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 Barnacle Goose remained in the saltmarsh with 16 Dark-bellied Brent Geese with 280 Oystercatcher, 24 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plover, five Sanderling and three Eider also in the estuary. Elsewhere three Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew in off with a Wheatear and Goldcrest on site.

 

Wildlife News: The sunny weather saw five butterfly species on the wing; Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and the first Comma and Orange-tip of the year. Also on the wing four bumblebee species including the first Common Carder of the year. In Greenland Lake two Snake's-head Fritillary were in flower with Sand Crocus continuing to bloom. 

 

Snake's-head Fritillary

 

Monday 25th 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 Barnacle Goose made a surprise reappearance in the Bight early morning with a small flock of Brent Geese, also in the estuary 185 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 26 Turnstone, six Greenshank, three Eider, two Sanderling and a Ringed Plover.

Overhead a Red Kite flew east at 11.30 with 120 Chaffinch and the first Grey Wagtail of the year heading the same way earlier in the day. Elsewhere a Sandwich Tern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore and four Wheatear were on site.

 Shoveler - Lee Collins

 Barnacle Goose - Martin Rooney

Wildlife News: The Sand Crocus put on a good show once the sun came out early afternoon with a new population of c200 flowering plants discovered in the Wryneck Plain. The sun also brought out the first Dark-edged Beefly and Small Tortoiseshell of the year, both in the Entrance Bushes. Elsewhere a Grey Seal was off the seawall and a Fox was by the hide.

Sunday 24th 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 few migrants arrived overnight but it was a quiet day overall with nine Chiffchaff, seven Wheatear and two Blackcap on site with 30+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, a dozen Chaffinch, five Rook and a Siskin overhead and a Kestrel in off the sea. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond, three Great Northern Diver were offshore and 308 Oystercatcher, 163 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 26 Dark-bellied and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, the latter arriving from the south, three Eider, two Greenshank  and a Sandwich Tern were in the estuary.

Wildlife News: The sunshine brought out the Sand Crocus for only the second time this year, it appeared in record numbers with over 1,200 in flower in the Crocus Compound and Greenland Lake; amongst these was a rare eight petalled variant.

 Sand Crocus

 over 100 in this photo

The same weather saw the first Speckled Wood of the year along with a Peacock and a Brimstone, a scarce but increasing visitor.

Saturday 23rd 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 first Blackcap of the year was singing in the Entrance Bushes, part of the first notable arrival of summer migrants with 11 Chiffchaff and at least 10 Wheatear on site and three Sand Martin north. Also overhead 328 Chaffinch, 14 Meadow Pipit and a Siskin.

Wheatear - Lee Collins

Counts from the estuary included 214 Oystercatcher, 93 Curlew, 49 Common Gull, 31 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 24 Grey Plover, 17 Knot, 15 Sanderling, 14 Ringed Plover, six Greenshank, three Eider and two Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere a pair of Tufted Duck and three Great Northern Diver were offshore and the Cetti's Warbler was at the Main Pond.