Friday 9th October

The only reports today were a number of Rook on the move and a juvenile Little Stint in The Bight, an image of which was shared via Twitter and briefly queried, but with those solid-looking upper scapulars, particularly diminutive size and various other features, was exactly what the finder said it was.  Debate about identification is a policy that regular birders of this site openly encourage and this extends to all things - in a dull moment recently the brand of a milk carton was the topic of lengthy discussion, prompting a foray at low tide to retrieve and confirm.  Nothing's off the table to expand understanding of what occurs here, inanimate or otherwise.

Thursday 8th October

The 3.5 metre high tide (Exmouth Docks gauge) at c.09:00 pushed in lots of waterbirds and 57 Pale-bellied Brent Goose was an unusually high count and outnumbered the 52 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Also likely displaced from the Exmouth side of the estuary, c.1,100 Wigeon and many Teal were in the southwest estuary corner. Some other counts were 170 Dunlin, 25 Common Gull, 21 Mute Swan, 17 Grey Plover, eight Sandwich Tern, seven Turnstone, seven Little Egret, four Pintail, two Shelduck, two Sanderling, two Lesser Black-backed Gull; the drake Eider again roosted on Finger Point and the Slavonian Grebe was in its usual place.

Stiff winds lately, although not from the best direction, improved numbers offshore with 90 Gannet, eight Common Scoter, three Razorbill and a Guillemot; the first auks here for three months.  

On the Main Pond, the drake Shoveler still and a Kingfisher. In the woods, five Chiffchaff, two Blackcap and Bullfinch; and around Greenland Lake only modest numbers of finches with 35 Goldfinch and 12 Greenfinch present. The Yellow-browed Warbler was claimed today. Other species seen were three Cirl Bunting and single Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Raven.

Passage was light, including some grounded birds involved 16 Meadow Pipit, six House Martin, five Siskin, four Swallow and just four Pied Wagtail.

the regular drake Eider roosting on Finger Point - Alan Keatley

Wildlife news: only seen here every few years, a Hornet was the day's highlight, seen near the hide. With temperatures briefly reaching 16°C and in spells of sunshine, a few regular hoverflies included Drone-fly Eristalis tenax and E. nemorum, and a late Gossamer Hoverfly Baccha elongata. As usual, several Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were on the wing; no other species were reliably identified.

Hornet - Alan Keatley

Wednesday 7th October

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still present and it called a couple of times from Dead Dolphin Wood this morning. Also noted in wooded areas, five Lesser Redpoll, four Siskin, a Bullfinch, a Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Around Greenland Lake, 39 Goldfinch, c.30 Meadow Pipit, including those overhead; and some Cirl Bunting. Nine Skylark flew west. Four Mallard and the drake Shoveler was still on the Main Pond.

Tuesday 6th October

Presumably yesterday's Yellow-browed Warbler was still present and seen to forage along the sheltered and sunny side of Dead Dolphin Wood in the morning. A mixed tit feeding flock with at least seven Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and two Goldcrest moved through wooded areas. A Buzzard flew out of a roost near the Education Area; eight Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll flew out of Entrance Bushes. Additional movement overhead was in evidence with c.25 Meadow Pipit, ten House Martin, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and a Swallow noted during what was only a short visit.

The Main Pond supported three Teal, a male Shoveler, a Mallard and a Water Rail squealed from the reedbeds. Single Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were also noted.

Monday 5th October

After a report via Devon Bird News of Yellow-browed Warbler from the viewing area of the Main Pond, a visit in the evening failed to find it and instead only produced a flock of 13 Long-tailed Tit with most of 10 Chiffchaff but only a few tits with them today; two Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and an imm female Sparrowhawk that attempted catch a Woodpigeon stood on an exposed branch.  A murmuration of c.120 Starling collected over the Main Pond where there were also single Water Rail and Mallard.  A small parties of mixed hirundines and two Rook flew over.

Sunday 4th October

Persistent rain all morning and a continuation of yesterday's deluge pushed the morning tide nearly 20 cm above its predicted level at the Exmouth Docks gauge. Wildfowl in the refuge area of the estuary corner were joined by flocks that arrived from the east all morning, and totals were 1,426 Wigeon, 94 Teal, 77 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 24 Mute Swan, 20 Pintail, 19 Pale-bellied Brent Goose in family groups; and 8 Mallard. Other counts in the estuary and The Bight were 981 Oystercatcher, 234 Dunlin, c50 Great Black-backed Gull, 23 Grey Plover, 16 Ringed Plover, 13 Turnstone, six Little Egret, two Sandwich Tern, two Grey Heron, the Slavonian Grebe; also single Great Crested Grebe, Sanderling, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher and today's highlight, a juv Little Stint.

It was all 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' overhead with nothing like yesterday's phenomenon, witnessed at a number of locations, and today only produced 18 House Martin, six Swallow and four Siskin. Grounded migrants were 33 Goldfinch, 23 Meadow Pipit, six Wheatear and a Reed Bunting; and in the bushes six Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

Offshore, 30+ Gannet and 18 Common Scoter. A Water Rail squealed from the Main Pond. Singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Raven were also noted.

Saturday 3rd October

To the delight of the four 'patch-birders' that braved the wind and rain, a spectacular and unprecedented passage of 4,806+ House Martin flew in mostly northeast direction from about 09:00 and continued into lunchtime. Pulses numbered hundreds at a time, these passed by offshore and along the spit, all at very low altitude and were all around us.  Such counts maybe familiar at other sites but here four-figures has only been achieved twice previously, in early-Sep 1083 (1,000+) and late-Sep 2002 (1,500+).  Put into context, considerably more House Martin were seen in five hours today than in all of the past five years here combined.

in contrast, only 101 Swallow (c.2% of hirundines) and no confirmed sightings of Sand Martin.  Also overhead and some ground migrants were 30 Goldfinch, 23+ Siskin, c.15 Meadow Pipit, six Wheatear and a Chaffinch.

Storm Alex, presented by a particularly gnarly-looking synoptic chart, was responsible for today's phenomenon. 

synoptic chart at 00:00 03 Oct 2020 - acknowledgement to Met Office

Described before, Dawlish Warren can perform in the rain and today was no exception with many other birds on the move, mostly notably an Osprey low to the waves that flew in off west and made the coastline somewhere south of Dawlish. Two Goosander and a Shoveler flew straight through WSW.  A Merlin (a site year-tick) stayed a while and from vantage points on fence posts chased hirundines and a Wheatear around, without success. 

A variety of waterbirds arrived all morning in off the sea and combined with counts in the estuary corner and The Bight that include those during an evening visit were 939 Wigeon, 660+ Oystercatcher, 166 Curlew, 124 Teal, 65+ Dunlin, c.50 Great Black-backed Gull, 49 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, plus a family of six Pale-bellied Brent Goose; 44 Knot, 30+ Ringed Plover, 29 Bar-tailed Godwit, 28 Pintail, 27 Cormorant, 26 Turnstone, 18 Mute Swan, 15 Grey Plover, a dozen Little Egret, eight Greenshank, six Sandwich Tern, four Sanderling, two Common Snipe, two Grey Heron, two Kingfisher, a Golden Plover, a Great Crested Grebe, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and unusual in October, a Common Sandpiper dropped on the beach. Three Lapwing were new for the year, the latest ever first year-tick date here for this declining, 'red-listed' (BOCC4) species. The site year-list is now 167, about nine species less than the 20-year average for this time. 

The strong north north-easterly was not conducive to seawatching and offshore there were only single-figures of Shag, Common Scoter, Gannet and the long-staying pair of Eider.

Miscellaneously notable species and counts were 260 Starling on 15th fairway; two Raven and two Kestrel. The bushes were blown out and during a short respite, a massive mixed flock of c.25 Blue Tit (year max count so far), c.20 Long-tailed Tit, seven Chiffchaff and five Great Tit moved along brambles bordering the main car park; a Blackcap also.

Friday 2nd October

As Storm Alex nudged north from France the barometer plunged to 980mb, the lowest reading so far this year.  Worst of the rain passed through early afternoon and in a fresh north-northeasterly, a number of observers ventured out to see what had been brought in on the evening tide.

Highlights were at least two Golden Plover, a male Ruff, a late Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit.  An impressive count of 46 Pintail was the third highest count here in 40 years and likely involved birds displaced from other parts of the estuary during the storm. 

Counts of more regular waterbirds in the estuary corner and around The Bight were 679 Wigeon, 338 Redshank, 218 Dunlin, 208 Teal, 120 Curlew with a number of locally colour-ringed individuals; 78 Knot, 57 Bar-tailed Godwit, 52 Great Black-backed Gull, 22 Mute Swan, 38 Ringed Plover, 18 Grey Plover, 11 Common Gull, eight Little Egret, seven Greenshank, seven Turnstone, two Grey Heron, two Mallard, a Common Snipe, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Also hundreds of Oystercatcher and mixed gulls were present, as usual.  No Brent Goose of any ssp were present this evening.

Unusual at the late hour, parties that totaled at least 50 Swallow flew northeast before dusk. Also noted two Wheatear and a Goldcrest.  A small tern sp. was offshore.

Thursday 1st October

From a cool start the day warmed and brightened with long periods of sunshine. The source of disturbance off Mudbank and Duckpond, Exmouth was unseen but whatever happened displaced large number of wildfowl to the recording area, which then hosted impressive counts of 918 Wigeon, 256 Dark-bellied Brent Goose with 22 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 107 Shelduck, an extraordinary count and exceeds the previous October max count here of 39 in 2009. In fact, available records suggest this might be the highest October count ever for the entire Exe Estuary.

The single Snow Goose (Cat. E) was again present with 176 Canada Goose; and other wildfowl present were 99 Teal, 18 Mute Swan, six Pintail, three Mallard and the drake Eider.  Other waterbirds counted were 413 Curlew, 179 Redshank, 49 Great Black-backed Gull, 39 Knot, 28 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Turnstone, 12 Common Gull, 11 Sanderling, ten Grey Plover, seven Little Egret, six Sandwich Tern, four Greenshank, three Grey Heron, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and single Great Crested Grebe and the Slavonian Grebe.  An arctica-type Dunlin was amongst the flock in The Bight. 

A Buzzard roosted and departed Dead Dolphin Wood early morning; and also in wooded areas seven Long-tailed Tit, five Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Mixed grounded and overhead migrants were 15 Siskin, a dozen Meadow Pipit, two Wheatear and a Jackdaw. Regular residents noted were some Stonechat, four Rock Pipit, two Cirl Bunting and single Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Raven.

Wildlife news: the site's 4th and 5th record of Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata, previously a rare migrant from Africa and recently has become more frequently recorded in the UK. Common insects attracted out into the sunshine were a few Large White, Speckled Wood and single Common Blue, Small Copper and Red Admiral. And as expected at this time of the year, a few Common Darter and Migrant Darter.

male and female Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 29th September

The favourable conditions and birding effort produced a series of waterbird counts, mostly from the evening tide and these included 887 Oystercatcher, 803 Wigeon, 257 Curlew, 253 Teal, 174 Dunlin, 121 Canada Goose, no oddities in them; 52 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (no hrota today), 22 Mute Swan, 15 Grey Plover, ten Little Egret, nine Greenshank, eight Sandwich Tern, three Turnstone, two Grey Heron, two Mallard, a Pintail and 'Herbert' the Slavonian Grebe re-appeared, in moult.  Also three-figures of Redshank and two-figures of Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot present. Just 28 Common Scoter noted offshore.

Overhead in the morning, some of the 15 Skylark and seven Meadow Pipit, four Swallow, two Jackdaw and two Rook.  Counting common resident species, such as the handful of corvids seen today, is the 'grass-roots' of patch-birding and if that commitment is sustained for years and decades, the wider birding and scientific community can benefit. For example, the seminal Migration Atlas (Wernham et al. 2002) explains that British and Irish Rook are sedentary with only a 4 km median distance of dead recoveries and only exceptionally have ringed birds been recovered abroad.  However, influxes of Rook from the Continent into Britain occur, the majority during Oct to May, with recoveries from the Netherlands and as far as the Baltic states.  So, when decades of records are collated and analysed, even the Rook can reveal something quite amazing; see chart below. 

data courtesy of countless dedicated birds; collation and analysis by Ivan Lakin

In the bushes, 14 Chiffchaff, four Blackcap, a Goldcrest and single-figures of tits.  Popular counted regular species were five Stonechat, two Collared Dove, two Bullfinch, a Kestrel and a Raven.