Dawlish Warren: December 2011

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2011 was another excellent birding year on the Warren with the year list reaching 197 species, the joint second best tally following the record 201 set in 2010, however the year ended on a quiet note with no new birds through December.

There was only one new species for the recording area in 2011, but it was also a second for Britain the flyover Short-toed Eagle in mid October. Other highlights included the return for the fifth winter of the female Surf Scoter, the second and third records of American Wigeon, third and fourth record of Bonaparte's Gull, fourth record of Mandarin, Richards Pipit seventh Yellow-browed Warbler, eighth record of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, eighth Barred Warbler, ninth Aquatic Warbler, ninth Black Guillemot and tenth Lapland Bunting.

There were also seven new peak counts during the year, including internationally important number of Balearic Shearwater. Four species arrived earlier than ever before Sand Martin, Whitethroat, Redstart and Black Tern with only one latest ever date, Wheatear.

Low points include the continuing decline in wintering wildfowl and wader numbers, the reduction in some migrants such as Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher, with again only one Turtle Dove reported. Notable absentees were Little Auk, Leach's Petrel, Marsh Harrier and Pied Flycatcher.

The Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with at least one Red-throated Diver but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with the Velvet Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe, 12 Red-throated and three Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere a Wren was foraging in the hide and the American Wigeon was in the estuary with a Great Northern Diver and a drake Goldeneye.

The American Wigeon was in the estuary with 254 Wigeon, 126 Brent Geese, 31 Shelduck, two Great-crested and a Little Grebe. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter remained offshore with the Velvet Scoter, 40+ Razorbill, three Eider, four Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver and a female Shoveler was on the Main Pond.

The Surf Scoter remained offshore with the Velvet Scoter and three Eider, heading south there were four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver, the first Fulmar for months and 131 auk sp before 9.00am, again of ones seen to ID all were Razorbill. The American Wigeon was in the estuary with 290+ Wigeon, 24 Teal and a female Shoveler, also present a Black-necked Grebe and two Peregrine.

The Surf Scoter and adult Little Gull were off the seawall and the American Wigeon was in the estuary but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter was off the seawall with at least one Velvet Scoter, an adult Little Gull, 40+ Razorbill, 30+ Kittiwake, three Eider, six Red-throated and three Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the American Wigeon was in the estuary with 330 Wigeon and a drake Gadwall. Other counts included 400+ Black-headed, 65 Common and two Mediterranean Gull, 205+ Grey Plover, 109+ Knot, 20 Sanderling, 17 Lapwing, 11 Ringed Plover, seven Bar-tailed Godwit and three Greenshank.

The Surf Scoter was off the seawall with a Black-necked and 16+ Great-crested Grebe, the male Eider, two Red-throated, a Great Northern and a distant Black-throated Diver. Elsewhere a female Shoveler was on the Main Pond.

Large numbers of birds continued to feed offshore with 230+ Kittiwake, 200+ auk sp, of those identified all bar one Guillemot were Razorbill, 50+ Gannet and a Great Skua, heading south there were six Red-throated Diver, two Little Gull (ad & fw) and a Red-necked Grebe. The female Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with a Great Northern Diver and 10+ Great-crested Grebe.

The Surf Scoter and drake Eider were off the seawall with a Slavonian Grebe, 100+ Gannet, a Great Skua and a Balearic Shearwater part of a large feeding group far out in the bay. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon in the estuary.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with a Great Northern Diver, the drake Eider, seven Razorbill and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon in the estuary and a Green Woodpecker and two Bullfinch were in the Entrance Bushes.

The female Surf Scoter was offshore with the drake American Wigeon and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

The female Surf Scoter was offshore again with the Eider, a Slavonian Grebe, three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 416 Wigeon, the Slavonian Grebe, a Whimbrel and a female Shoveler.

The female Surf Scoter was close in off Langstone Rock late afternoon with two Goldeneye, the first returning birds, the drake Eider and a Great Northern Diver. Earlier two Velvet Scoter and a Black-throated Diver were reported.

A Kingfisher was in the estuary, the first of the autumn, also present six Lapwing on the Railway Saltmarsh.

The drake American Wigeon was in the estuary but no other news was received.

The drake American Wigeon and Slavonian Grebe were still present in the estuary.

The drake American Wigeon was in the estuary and offshore 11 Great Northern Diver flew south early morning.

The drake American Wigeon was in the estuary but no other news was received.

The drake American Wigeon and Slavonian Grebe were still present in the estuary.

The highlight was the return of the female Surf Scoter off John's Watch for a fifth winter. Also offshore five Great Northern and three Red-throated Diver, the drake Eider, 15 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon was still present in the estuary.

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was offshore but no other news was received.

The American Wigeon remains in the estuary and the drake Eider also remains offshore.

Three Red-throated Diver were offshore with two Eider, four Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the American Wigeon remains in the estuary, a first winter Yellow-legged Gull flew over and 25 Siskin were in the entrance bushes.

The American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 130 Teal and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere two Great Northern Diver and the drake Eider were offshore and a Golden Plover flew in-off.

A Great Northern Diver was offshore with two Great-crested Grebe and a drake Eider. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and eight Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.

Two Great Northern Diver were offshore with a Slavonian Grebe, elsewhere the drake American Wigeon and resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary, a Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course and 14 Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.