April 2007

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Report sightings

Monday 30th:

At least 120 Sandwich Tern were around the reserve in the evening with at least five Common Tern offshore. Also offshore there were three Great-crested Grebe and a Razorbill. Over the evening high tide there were 23 Whimbrel, eight Bar-tailed Godwit and a Grey Plover. Elsewhere 350+ Black-headed Gull were feeding in the estuary, a Yellow Wagtail flew over, a Wheatear was on the Golf course, a Whimbrel was in Greenland Lake and a Reed Warbler was at the Main Pond.

Sunday 29th:

The first two Roseate and Arctic Tern of the year were offshore late evening with two Arctic Skua.

Whitethroat 29/04/07 © Lee Collins

Saturday 28th:

The first two Arctic Skua of the year were offshore and a Greenland Wheatear was on the beach.

Greenland Wheatear 28/04/07 © Lee Collins

Friday 27th:

No news was received.

Thursday 26th:

The first Cuckoo of the year flew through Greenland Lake.

Wednesday 25th:

No news was received.

Tuesday 24th:

The highlight in a small fall today was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Greenland Lake early morning, also on site at least 6 Whitethroat, three Blackcap, two Wheatear, two Reed Warbler, one at the First Pond and another singing from the Main Pond and a Sedge Warbler was in brambles on the Dune Ridge. Overhead 38 Swallow and two Sand Martin flew west. A Little Gull on Bull Hill was the first of the year, it was sat with 26 Sandwich, seven Little and a Common Tern. Also in the estuary 27 Sanderling and 13 Whimbrel.

Monday 23rd:

A record of 11 Whimbrel was the only news received for today.

Sunday 22nd:

The first Reed Warbler of the year was singing at the Main Pond this morning. An evening visit revealed good numbers of terns both offshore and in the estuary. There were 100+ Sandwich and five 'commic' tern. Also offshore there were three drake Common Scoter, three Razorbill, two Fulmar and two Common Gull. Elsewhere five Whimbrel flew in off and landed on the beach and migrants on site included six Swallow, four Chiffchaff, two Willow Warbler, two Whitethroat and a Blackcap.

Whimbrel 22/04/07 © Darren Maynard

Saturday 21st:

The overnight fog dropped in a few more migrants including two new birds for the year, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling briefly in Greenland Lake and a Lesser Whitethroat along the Back Path near dead Dolphin Wood. Also on site a single Sedge Warbler, four Whitethroat and three Wheatear. Overhead 20+ Swallow, a House and a Sand Martin flew east with a single Rook west. High tide counts included just 23 Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, 19 Whimbrel, two Bar-tailed Godwit and a Sanderling. At least 20 Sandwich and two Little Tern were around estuary mouth mid morning, with three Great-crested Grebe, two Fulmar, a Red-breasted Merganser and a Razorbill offshore. Elsewhere 16 Black-headed Gull flew in off and north up the estuary and a pair of Sparrowhawk were on site.

Friday 20th:

Movement seems to have slowed again with just 30 Curlew, 24 Dunlin, 21 Ringed Plover, nine Sandwich Tern and four Sanderling present over the high tide. Migrants included six Swallow, three House and a Sand Martin flying through with three Wheatear, three Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaff and a Blackcap around the reserve.

Sanderling 20/04/07 © Darren Maynard

Thursday 19th:

A single Brent Goose in the Bight was a candidate for a Black Brant hybrid, but flew off north with a flock of 45 Pale-bellied Brent Geese which came in off the sea and headed up the estuary. The lone Dark-bellied Brent remained on Finger Point. Wader numbers were much reduced with just 36 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin, six Sanderling and six Whimbrel present over high tide. A Lapwing briefly feeding in Greenland Lake was a surprise, only the third April record in the last 20 years. It flew off north, presumably back to Exminster Marshes where the dry weather has caused very low water levels. Elsewhere the first Garden Warbler of the year was singing in the Entrance Bushes, at least eight Wheatear, four Blackcap, and a Whitethroat were on site, single Rook and Stock Dove flew west, five Sandwich Tern and a Great-crested Grebe were offshore and a White Wagtail was on the beach.

Wednesday 18th:

Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese and six Common Tern came in off the sea during the morning with 145 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover 15 Whimbrel, six Sanderling, four Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach over high tide. Elsewhere two White Wagtail were on the beach, six Wheatear were on site and a Whitethroat was holding territory in Greenland Lake.

Tuesday 17th:

Wader numbers again picked up with 147 Dunlin, 71 Ringed Plover, 40+ Whimbrel and 10 Sanderling roosting on Warren Point over the morning high tide, there was however no sign of yesterday's Kentish Plover. Some recompense was available in the form of a resplendent male Redstart showing well in Greenland Lake, the first of the year, other migrants included the first Swift of the year east over with a House Martin, six Wheatear, six Chiffchaff, two White Wagtail, a single Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat. Offshore one Manx Shearwater flew south and 20 Black headed Gull flew west, also offshore two Little Tern, 10 Razorbill, nine Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere 50+ Sandwich Tern and two Common Tern were in the estuary.

Monday 16th:

The evening high tide produced a welcome quality bird in the form of a male Kentish Plover on the beach at Warren Point. Earlier in the day an overnight influx of waders had included 45+ Ringed Plover, 39 Dunlin and four Sanderling. The Kentish presumably arrived during the day as did several Whimbrel with an evening peak of 37 birds. Elsewhere a group of 20+ Manx Shearwater were offshore, the first of the year, two Sandwich Tern were also offshore with eight Common Scoter and two Razorbill, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Mute Swan were in the estuary, 10 Swallow and four Goldfinch flew east in the evening and a Wheatear was on the beach.

Sunday 15th:

The first Little and two Common Tern of the year were offshore early evening, they were feeding with 20+ Kittiwake, 20+ Sandwich Tern and five Gannet. Also on the sea single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, eight Razorbill and six Great-crested Grebe. Counts from the estuary included 71 Curlew, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Ringed Plover, 12 Shelduck, 11 Whimbrel, six Dunlin, a Sanderling and a Knot. Elsewhere a female Bullfinch on Warren Point was the highlight, this is only the second site record this year! Two Stock Dove flew east with 25 Wood Pigeon, but was another quiet day for migrants with just 11 Swallow, five Willow Warbler, two Blackcap, a Wheatear and a Whitethroat on site.

Saturday 14th:

Improving weather brought a reduction in the number of migrants on site but 17 Willow Warbler and at least two Blackcap were still present. Overhead the first Yellow Wagtail of the year headed east along with 25 Swallow, 19 Goldfinch, six Chaffinch, two House and a Sand Martin, also overhead six Whimbrel. Single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver were offshore with five Great-crested Grebe, a Razorbill, a Guillemot and a Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere a pair of Sparrowhawk were again around the reserve, 25+ Linnet were on Warren Point and five Canada Geese flew in off the sea.

Friday 13th:

The weather finally broke and brought with it a reasonable fall of migrants to the reserve. The main species was Willow Warbler with 30+ birds around site along with at least five Chiffchaff, but seven Wheatear were on the beach and at least two Blackcap were in Dead Dolphin Wood. The first Whitethroat of the year was singing in brambles just before the First Pond. Overhead 50+ Swallow moved through along with six House and four Sand Martin. Elsewhere two Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Willow Warbler 13/04/07 © Lee Collins

Thursday 12th:

The first Sedge Warbler of the year was reported in Greenland Lake along with two Blackcap, a further Blackcap was in Dead Dolphin Wood along with a single Willow Warbler, other migrants included 20 Swallow, eight Chiffchaff, a Wheatear and a single House Martin. Two Great Northern Diver were off the sea wall with six Guillemot, five Great-crested Grebe and a Gannet. Elsewhere 14 Goldfinch and three Rook flew east during the morning, 30+ Linnet were in Greenland Lake and the Grey Heron was again around the Main Pond.

Wednesday 11th:

An evening visit revealed at least six Willow Warbler around the Main Pond Pond with two Swallow feeding overhead. In mirror conditions offshore there were 17 Red-breasted Merganser, nine Common Scoter, four Great-crested Grebe and a Guillemot. Elsewhere two summer plumaged Dunlin and a Sanderling were on the beach, a Rook flew east, a Sparrowhawk was around the Back Meadow and Greenland Lake and at least six Pheasant were on site.

Tuesday 10th:

Today's migrant tally totalled just four Willow Warbler and three Wheatear, although seven Sandwich Tern in the estuary was an increase. Also in the estuary there were eight Turnstone, three Dunlin, two Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel and a Sanderling. Anything offshore was distant but nine Common Scoter, five Great-crested Grebe, two Red-throated Diver and Fulmar were noted. Overhead a Rook, two Chaffinch and a Goldfinch flew east.

Sanderling 10/04/07 © Lee Collins Sandwich Tern 10/04/07 © Lee Collins

Monday 9th:

Back to the routine today with just six Chiffchaff and three Willow Warbler onsite. offshore there were six Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, six Common Scoter, five Great-crested Grebe, nine Red-breasted Merganser, three Sandwich Tern and a Fulmar. Counts from the estuary included 430 Oystercatcher, seven Turnstone, four Ringed Plover, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and no Dunlin. Elsewhere two Sparrowhawk were onsite, a Rook flew east and also overhead a pair of Peregrine and a Kestrel.

Sunday 8th:

There was a surprise today with a Serin heard singing briefly in Greenland Lake, mid morning - however it could not be seen and despite searching there was no further sign - the one that got away! Otherwise the holiday weather brought sunseekers out in force but did little to provide migrants. A female Blackcap and three Swallow were the only new birds in, three Wheatear and just one Willow Warbler was all that could be found onsite. Offshore in flat calm conditions there were just nine Razorbill, four Common Scoter, four Sandwich Tern, two Red-throated Diver and a Great-crested Grebe. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler called again from Greenland Lake, overhead four Rook flew east and a Buzzard flew NW, the first brood of 11 Mallard were being lead along the back path, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose flew in off the sea and seven Ringed Plover and two Dunlin were in the Bight.

Saturday 7th:

Migrants today were limited to an increase to seven Wheatear, six or seven Willow Warbler, three Swallow and a Sand Martin. In the estuary there were 111 Curlew, 10 Ringed Plover, four Dark-bellied and a single Pale-bellied Brent, two Dunlin and singles of Grey Plover, Sanderling and more unusually Greenshank. Elsewhere two summer plumaged Red-throated Diver remained offshore, with a third bird flying south, also offshore four Sandwich Tern, c80 Shag and three Great-crested Grebe, a Jackdaw flew over and a Collared Dove landed in sycamores on Langstone Rock.

Friday 6th:

The first two Blackcap of the year were onsite, the sum total of other migrants was seven Willow Warbler and two Wheatear with two Swallow and a Sand Martin flying through was . Elsewhere two Red-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe were offshore, 13 Ringed Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit were in the estuary and a Rook flew over.

Sums up the spring so far...

Thursday 5th:

Once again migrants were thin on the ground a single Willow Warbler was still present along with a Wheatear and a Sand Martin flew through. In the estuary there were 203 Curlew, 25 Brent Geese and a Sandwich Tern with a Slavonian Grebe offshore.

Wednesday 4th:

Fewer migrants today but those that did arrive included two firsts for the year, single House Martin and Willow Warbler along with four Swallow, a Sand Martin and a Wheatear. Elsewhere nine Teal, four Sandwich Tern, two Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin were in the estuary with single Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe offshore.

Tuesday 3rd:

A few more migrants continue to trickle in with ten Wheatear onsite, mostly on Warren Point, up to four Swallow over the Main Pond, three Goldcrest around the First Pond and two Sand Martin passing through. Offshore there were eight Razorbill, four Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, three Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. In the estuary there were 168 Curlew, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Pale bellied Brent, 14 Ringed Plover, 11 Turnstone, three Dunlin, three Little Egret and a Redshank. Elsewhere the littoralis Rock Pipit was on Warren Point, five Mallard, two Coot, two Moorhen , two Canada Geese and a Little Grebe were on the Main Pond and a Sparrowhawk made an unsuccessful attempt at a Blackbird by the First Pond.

Monday 2nd:

A small arrival of migrants was limited to Wheatear, with at least 15 on site, mostly on the Golf Course or Warren Point. The estuary held 174 Oystercatcher, 159 Curlew, 13 Ringed Plover, six Bar- tailed Godwit, three Knot, a Sanderling and a Turnstone. Elsewhere around 12 Meadow Pipit passed overhead and four Rock Pipit were on the beach although there was no sign of the littoralis today.

Sunday 1st:

A pair of Pintail offshore late evening was only the second record of the year, also on the sea eight Great-crested and three Slavonian Grebe, two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, a pair of Teal, an Eider and a Common Scoter. The three Pale-bellied Brent were still in the estuary early before flying north with 24 Dark-bellied Brent, also there two Sandwich Tern, 58 Curlew, 19 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Ringed Plover, seven Little Egret, two Redshank, which had flown in off the sea and single Whimbrel, Dunlin and Sanderling. Elsewhere at least 40 Meadow Pipit came in off during the afternoon, a littoralis Rock Pipit was on the beach, the Cetti's Warbler was by the Dune Pond, a Wheatear was by the hide, a Kestrel flew low east over the estuary, a Rook also flew east and a Raven flew high west.

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