August 2006

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Report sightings

 

 

Thursday 31st:

 

The freshening south westerly wing provided more interest offshore today with 146 Common Scoter and three Fulmar south, also offshore 52 Sandwich, seven Common and a Black Tern, an Arctic Skua and a Little Gull whilst a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver showed well, the first of the autumn. In the estuary 194 Great Black-backed Gull were in the Bight, 346 Curlew and 12 Little Egret were on the Railway Saltmarsh and 13 Canada Geese showed in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere the Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond, the beach high tide roost held 145 Dunlin and 70 Ringed Plover, a White Wagtail was on the Golf Course and two Wheatear were in front of the hide.

 

 

Wednesday 30th:

 

The Spotted Crake continued to show well on the Main Pond today. Migrants included a good count of 21 Blackcap along with 11 Whitethroat, 11 Willow Warbler, nine Chiffchaff, three Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher.  The first two Tree Pipit of the autumn passed overhead with 65 Starling, five Collared Dove and single Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Yellow and Grey Wagtail. In the estuary 357 Curlew were on the Railway Saltmarsh along with 12 Little Egret and five Grey Heron, 55 Redshank and 10 Sandwich and eight Common Tern occupied Shutterton Creek, 126 Great and a Lesser-backed Gull were in the Bight with a Knot and small numbers of Ringed Plover. Elsewhere a Coal Tit was present, four Bar-tailed Godwit flew south, a White Wagtail showed well in front of the hide as did a Wheatear and two Reed Bunting were on Warren Point.  

 


Spotted Crake 30/8/06 © Dave Stone

 

 

Tuesday 29th:

 

The Spotted Crake remains on the Main Pond showing well on occasion. A small fall of migrants included the first Pied Flycatcher of the year briefly by the Back Meadow, with six Blackcap, four Whitethroat, four Willow Warbler, three Reed Warbler and single Garden and Sedge Warbler in the Greenland Lake area. Wader counts included 205 Dunlin, 151 Redshank and 127 Ringed Plover with a Greenshank and nine Common Tern also in the estuary. Small numbers of waders, mostly Ringed Plover, were also leaving south during the evening.

 


Spotted Crake 29/8/06 © John Lee
 

 

 

 

Monday 28th:

 

The Spotted Crake was again present on the Main Pond showing well early morning, but it became more elusive as the day went on, disappearing for long periods. There were fewer migrants in the bushes with six Whitethroat but only two or three Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff recorded, although yesterday's Redstart was seen briefly near the Main Pond and three Wheatear were in Greenland Lake.  Elsewhere an Osprey again flew over the reserve early morning heading south, presumably the same bird was seen on three other occasions during the day, an adult winter Mediterranean Gull was along the beach, a Grey Wagtail flew over, a Greenshank was again in the Bight where there were only c150 Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the rising tide, also in the estuary 100+ Sandwich Tern and 16 Little Egret.

 

 

Sunday 27th:

 

A juvenile Spotted Crake on the Main Pond was an unexpected highlight. Only the second reserve record, following a bird in Jan 1977, it could be seen feeding on open muddy fringes created during today's Teignbridge Conservation Volunteer's work party - an instant reward for their work! Passerine migrants included single Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Sedge Warbler along the back path with 13 Blackcap, eight Whitethroat, five Willow Warbler, four Reed Warbler, three Chiffchaff, three Garden Warbler, three Wheatear, including at least one Greenland race, and a Goldcrest also on site. Elsewhere a single Great Skua flew south and 12 Eider were offshore, an Osprey was again seen for the fourth day in a row just before 9am, a Greenshank was in the Bight, a Collared Dove flew sw, two Grey Heron flew high north and a presumed Red Bishop was seen briefly in Greenland Lake.


Spotted Crake 27/8/06 © Ivan Lakin
 

 

Saturday 26th:

 

An Osprey was seen again just before 9am, it flew in from the direction of Orcombe Point before heading up river. Wader numbers remain high with 252 Dunlin, 250+ Ringed Plover, 25+ Sanderling and four Knot in the Bight on the falling tide. Also in the estuary 140 Sandwich and seven Common Tern. Elsewhere 52 Common Scoter flew south offshore, but passerine migrants were in short supply.
 

 

Friday 25th:

 

An Osprey again put in an appearance flying south over the reserve and continuing down the coast towards Torbay. There had been a fall overnight with good numbers of Sylvia warblers in particular, minimum counts were 28 Whitethroat, the highest ever autumn count, 12 Blackcap, nine Willow Warbler, five Chiffchaff, four Reed and four Garden Warbler. Other migrants included a Wheatear on the beach, two early Grey Wagtail and three Yellow Wagtail east with 39 Sand Martin, 34 Swallow and two House Martin going sw along the Dune Ridge.  Wader counts included 200+ Ringed Plover, 195 Dunlin, 179 Redshank, 17 Sanderling, four Turnstone and four Greenshank. There was no movement offshore but 101 Shag, 18 Common Scoter and two Great-crested Grebe were present with c40 Sandwich and six Common Tern. Elsewhere Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker, on the Golf Course and by the Main Pond respectively, a juvenile Peregrine was again on the beach, at least three Sparrowhawk were on site, six Common Gull flew south and three Teal were briefly in the Bight.
 


Peregrine (juv) 25/8/06 © Darren Maynard

 

Thursday 24th:

 

An Osprey flew in off the sea at 8.30am and was presumably one of the two present at Bowling Green Marsh at 9am. Wader counts included 295 Dunlin, 265 Ringed Plover, 24 Sanderling, 10 Whimbrel, 10 Bar-tailed and a Black-tailed Godwit. Also present on site a juvenile Peregrine, 10 Little Egret, 120 Sandwich and two Common Tern.


 

Wednesday 23rd:

 

Migrants included another early Goldcrest, nine Blackcap, seven Whitethroat, four Reed and three Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaff and a Wheatear. Offshore there was a small skua sp briefly with a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Guillemot and two Common Tern. Counts over high tide included 250+ Ringed Plover, 120+ Dunlin and 30+ Sanderling on the beach, constant harassment from a young Peregrine made accurate counting difficult, also on the beach at Warren Point 403 Great Black-backed Gull.  In the estuary there were 176 Redshank, two Greenshank and two Common Sandpiper with 38 Canada Geese, 27 Mute Swan, 10 Little Egret and four Shelduck. A high count of seven Stock Dove were in the Railway Saltmarsh early morning and 87 Swallow and two House Martin were feeding over Shutterton Creek.

 

 

Tuesday 22nd:

 

More migrants were round today with six Willow Warbler, three Blackcap, two Reed Warbler and a Green Woodpecker around the First Pond area. Warren Point held three Whitethroat, two more Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Reed Bunting with small numbers of Swallow heading northeast. A Sedge Warbler was in the Dune Pond. The Osprey put in an appearance flying southeast over the reserve and then heading back up the estuary. In the estuary just seven Ringed Plover and five Dunlin were in the Bight with three Snipe, two overhead. The Railway Saltmarsh held 640 Curlew, 125 Redshank and four Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary 29 Mute Swan, five Little Egret, 70 Sandwich and two Common Tern. A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was in the Bight in the evening.

 

 

Monday 21st:

 

No news was received for today.

 

 

Sunday 20th:

 

Fewer migrants around today but a Whinchat was in Greenland Lake and five Wheatear were on site. In the estuary there were c800 Curlew on the Railway Saltmarsh with c200 Ringed Plover and 100+ Dunlin on the rising tide, other waders included 13 Turnstone and two Common Sandpiper. At high tide the Bight was flooded and because of constant disturbance on the beach there were very few waders present. Also in the estuary 27 Mute Swan, c70 Sandwich and a single Common Tern.

 

 

Saturday 19th:

 

An increase in the number of migrants on site today included the first Goldcrest of the autumn, a very early record, with 14 Whitethroat, eight Blackcap, four Reed Warbler, three Willow Warbler, at least three Wheatear, two Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler. The latter was on Warren Point but most of the others were concentrated in the area near the First Pond. High tide counts in the estuary included 511 Ringed Plover, 320+ Dunlin, 121 Redshank, 67 Sanderling, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Turnstone, seven Whimbrel, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper. Also there six Common and a juvenile Arctic Tern, 205 Great Black-backed Gull, 17 Mute Swan, a Peregrine and earlier in the day two Knot. Offshore 250+ Shag were feeding in a tight group but there was little else to be seen.

 

 

Friday 18th:

 

The Bight held most of the interest with the Yellow legged Gull and six Lesser Black-backed Gull, including the intermedius, on Finger Point, also there 132 Sandwich and 10 Common Tern along with 203 Ringed Plover, 10 Sanderling, four Knot, four Turnstone, a Greenshank and 1730 Oystercatcher. In Shutterton Creek there were 361 Curlew,19 Redshank and four Little Egret whilst the Osprey was seen up river. Elsewhere three Blackcap were in Greenland Lake with eight Whitethroat and a pale phase Arctic Skua was offshore with small numbers of Common Scoter.

 

 

Thursday 17th:

 

Seawatching from the seawall between 7.15 and 9.15am produced 34 Gannet, 27 Manx Shearwater, 14 Kittiwake, 11 Fulmar, six Common Scoter and two Common Tern all going south. A change of viewpoint to Langstone Rock produced another 38 Manx Shearwater, seven Common Tern, a Great Skua and two Balearic Shearwater south prior to 10am with five Eider on the sea. Elsewhere there was little to report although wader numbers were similar to recent days over the high tide.

 

 

Wednesday 16th:

 

There was little activity, compared to other south Devon sites, today with four Arctic Skua, 37 Common Scoter, eight Manx Shearwater and 10 Common Tern offshore. Ringed Plover numbers seem to be on the increase with 242 in the Bight also there 143 Great Black-backed Gull, five Lesser Black-backed Gull including an intermedius, a first year Yellow-legged Gull, one Whimbrel and 24 Sanderling, 10 Little Egret were on the Railway Saltmarsh.

 

 

Tuesday 15th:

 

More migrant passerines were around the site today with 15 Willow Warbler, four Reed Warbler, four Whitethroat, three Blackcap and two Sedge Warbler around Greenland Lake. Overhead there were 27 Swallow, 10 House Martin and two Swift.  The Bight held 200+ Dunlin, 150+ Ringed Plover, 100 Sanderling, 63 Great Black-backed Gull, 18 Common Tern and single Grey Plover and Knot. Elsewhere 500+ Curlew, 11 Little Egret, eight Mute Swan and four Grey Heron were on the Railway Saltmarsh, 16 Common Scoter and a Arctic Skua were offshore and a Peregrine was in the estuary. Of increasing concern is the continued predation of juvenile Sandwich Tern by a family Carrion Crow in front of the hide. Including the two taken today a minimum of 24 Sandwich and two juvenile Common Tern have been predated in the last month.

 

 

Monday 14th:

 

No news was received for today.

 

Common and Sandwich Tern 14/08/06 © Darren Maynard

 

 

Sunday 13th:

 

The juvenile Whinchat remained on site but with the exception of one Wheatear there were few other migrants present. Wader numbers were similar to yesterday but a Little Ringed Plover in the Bight was the first of the autumn and other arrivals included four Knot and four Black-tailed Godwit.  Tern numbers also remained stable with 11 Common Tern in with the Sandwich. Elsewhere seven Teal flew around the estuary, four Eider were offshore and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach.

 

Little Ringed Plover 13/08/06 © Lee Collins

 

 

Saturday 12th:

 

A juvenile Whinchat in Greenland Lake was an early migrant, there have only been two previous records in the first half of August, but few other migrants were noted in the strong northerly wind, with only eight Whitethroat, eight Willow Warbler and two Blackcap recorded. Two Ruff were the wader highlight, high tide counts included 265 Dunlin, 156 Ringed Plover, 120 Redshank, 30 Sanderling, 25 Whimbrel, 19 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Grey Plover. Also in the estuary 180+ Sandwich and 10 Common Tern and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

 


Whinchat 12/08/06 © John Fortey

 © Lee Collins

 © Lee Collins

 

 

Friday 11th:

 

The juvenile Osprey that has been around the estuary for a few days was finally recorded on site today, the first of the autumn. It was seen to head out to sea before returning later and catching a fish in the Bight. Over the high tide there were fewer waders with 154 Ringed Plover, 129 Dunlin, 34 Sanderling, two Grey Plover and a Knot in the Bight with 990 Curlew, 98 Redshank, 30 Whimbrel, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank in Shutterton Creek. Also in the estuary a female Shoveler was briefly present around the Bight early morning before flying up river and a Common Sandpiper was in front of the hide. A single Manx Shearwater flew south offshore, where 17 Common Tern were feeding with c70 Sandwich Tern, 30 Kittiwake and 20+ Gannet, two Great-crested Grebe were also present. Elsewhere there were at least 12 Whitethroat, eight Blackcap, seven Willow and a Garden Warbler on site with a Sparrowhawk on Warren Point and 50 House Martin feeding around the Buffer Zone.

 

 

Thursday 10th:

 

A female Merlin was a surprise year tick, this unseasonal record was present around Warren Neck and Greenland Lake early morning and is the earliest autumn record for the recording area. At least seven Blackcap and similar numbers of Whitethroat were also recorded around Greenland Lake despite the windy conditions. At the high tide there were 212 Dunlin, 111+ Ringed Plover and 69 Sanderling roosting on the beach with 145 Redshank, 500+ Curlew, a few Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit on the Railway Saltmarsh. At least 70 Sandwich Tern were also still present, feeding offshore with 25 Kittiwake, three Manx Shearwater passed south.

 

 

Wednesday 9th:

 

There was a further increase in waders with 250+ Dunlin, 150+ Ringed Plover and 120 Sanderling in front of the hide. Also there seven Common Tern in with the Sandwich Tern, 10 Redshank, a Greenshank and a Teal. A juvenile Kingfisher at the Main Pond was the first of the autumn.
 

 

Tuesday 8th:

 

A Garden Warbler was in the Greenland Lake area with small numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. 16+ Whitethroat were between Greenland Lake and Warren Point with a Lesser Whitethroat at Warren Point. 20 Common Tern, two juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Tern and 175 Greater Black-backed Gull were in front of the hide with 200+ Sandwich Tern. 700+ Curlew were on the Railway Saltmarsh along with 35 Redshank, 60 Black-headed Gull, 10 Little Egret, five Grey Heron and three Black-tailed Godwit. 231 Dunlin, 71 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone were around Finger Point.  There was an unconfirmed report of 13 Roseate Tern on the sandbanks opposite groyne 13, this afternoon.
 

 

Monday 7th:

 

At high tide this morning there were 50+ Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 10+ Redshank, two Black-tailed Godwit, two Turnstone, two Knot, seven Sanderling and an adult Mediterranean Gull at Shutterton Creek.  Offshore there were 100+ Shag, 30+ Common Scoter, one Razorbill and two Guillemot .   Elsewhere there were few migrants with three Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, one juvenile Reed Warbler and one Blackcap around the Main Pond.  Large numbers of Swallow were feeding over the sea early on.

 

 

Sunday 6th:

 

A return to normal after yesterday's highlights. Over the high tide there were 172+ Sandwich, 16 Common and a single Arctic Tern around the Bight with 126 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, four Whimbrel, three Sanderling and two Greenshank. Elsewhere two adult Mediterranean Gull were seen, two Buzzard and a Kestrel flew high over the reserve and 100+ Swallow passed through during the day.

 

 

Saturday 5th:

 

The highlight was discovered late on to round off a very good day on the Warren, a first-summer LAUGHING GULL was found in Shutterton Creek. This first for the recording area remained on the mudflats for 20 minutes before flying north to Cockwood where it remained until at least 7pm hawking ants with Black-headed and an adult Mediterranean Gull, before heading off inland towards Haldon. Earlier in the day the first Black Tern of the year, a juvenile, was feeding offshore before roosting in the estuary, also feeding offshore a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, two juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 51 Common Scoter, two each of Razorbill and Guillemot and a large count of 373 Shag. In the estuary there were 320+ Sandwich, 25 Common and an Arctic Tern with a third juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Waders included the first Ruff of the year in the Bight with 81 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, 29 Sanderling and seven Snipe, the first of the autumn. In Shutterton Creek there were 96 Redshank, 16+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Whimbrel and a Greenshank with 52 Canada Geese.  The bushes held few migrants with just three Blackcap, three Willow Warbler and two Chiffchaff recorded, whilst 30+ Swallow, 25+ House Martin, four Swift and three Meadow Pipit passed through overhead. Elsewhere a Common Sandpiper was on the beach and a Wheatear was by the hide. Just off site three juvenile Yellow-legged Gull roosted on the sea at Rockstone in the evening.

 


Laughing Gull (first summer) 05/08/06
© Lee Collins

 

   

 

 

Friday 4th:

 

The first two Wheatear of the autumn made an overdue appearance, one on the seawall, the other on the Golf Course, other migrants were thin on the ground however with just three Willow Warbler and two Chiffchaff around the Main Pond. A count over high tide revealed 241 Sandwich, 16 Common and two Arctic Tern in the estuary with 803 Oystercatcher, 465 Curlew, 81 Redshank, 72 Dunlin, four Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a second year Mediterranean Gull.

 

 

Thursday 3rd:

 

Over the high tide 180+ Sandwich Tern were in the estuary, with three Common and an Arctic Tern in front of the hide.  303 Curlew were strung out along the Railway Saltmarsh with 14 Whimbrel, seven Little Egret and five Grey Heron. Nearby 40+ Redshank, seven Bar-tailed and a Black-tailed Godwit and two Mallard were in Shutterton Creek. 49 Sanderling, 45 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover and a Knot were in the Bight. Late news concerns a Wheatear on the Golf Course.

 

 

Wednesday 2nd:

 

Two Sedge and a Garden Warbler were still present. Waders recorded included 23 Ringed Plover, six Dunlin, four Sanderling and two Bar-tailed Godwit.

 

 

Tuesday 1st:

 

Autumn arrived with another noticeable fall of migrants, 18+ Willow Warbler, 12+ Chiffchaff and at least seven Blackcap were in the bushes and along the Back Path, with two Garden and two Sedge Warbler. Numbers of Whitethroat and Reed Warbler were also up suggesting an arrival of non local birds, but other migrants were restricted to 10 Swift passing overhead. Offshore two Arctic Skua were chasing the feeding flock of Kittiwake and 200+ Sandwich Tern. In the estuary wader numbers remained low with small numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling all present along with three Common Tern, a single Black-tailed Godwit and eight Little Egret. Elsewhere the Green Woodpecker was again on the Golf course.

 

 

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