Dawlish Warren: February 2011

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The female Surf Scoter remains offshore with two Slavonian and one Black-necked Grebe.

The female Surf Scoter remains offshore with nine Eider, a Red-throated Diver, 42+ Great-crested, one Slavonian and one Black-necked Grebe. Elsewhere the male Black Redstart was still on site and 120 Knot were at Langstone Rock.

A Black-throated Diver was offshore with three Red-throated Diver, 31 Eider, 13 Teal, two Velvet and the Surf Scoter. Elsewhere the Long-tailed Duck and resident Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary and the male Black Redstart was still present.

The Surf Scoter was reported offshore with the Velvet Scoter, two Black-necked, a Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe. In the estuary the Long-tailed Duck and resident Slavonian Grebe were also still present.

Counts from the estuary included 288 Brent Geese (the escaped Red-breasted Goose has relocated to Hampshire) and 15 Teal along with the Long-tailed Duck and the Slavonian Grebe in Shutterton Creek. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter was still present offshore with 20 Eider and three Slavonian Grebe and the female Cirl Bunting was by the First Pond.

Counts from the estuary included 1400 Dunlin, 1350 Oystercatcher, 350 Knot, 226 Grey Plover, 168 Bar-tailed Godwit, 156 Brent Geese, 72 Common Gull, 70 Redshank, 39 Sanderling, 27 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstone and a Greenshank. Theses counts show some birds are already on the move, the Knot count is the highest on site since February 1989. Also in the estuary two adult Mediterranean Gull and the Long-tailed Duck. Offshore the Surf Scoter was present, a drake Scaup and three Red-throated Diver flew south with 20 Eider and two Slavonian Grebe on the sea. Elsewhere both Black Redstart were still present, 45 Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes and many of the resident species were singing and displaying, including a pair of Goldcrest - this species has never nested on the Warren, two Little Grebe and a Reed Bunting at the Main Pond and 21 Dunnock, five Wren and just two Robin. Unless numbers improve as spring arrives these are respective declines of 33%, 50% and 85% over the last 10 years - presumably linked to the effects of scrub removal and cold weather.

A female Cirl Bunting was in the Buffer Zone, the first of the year, also on site the male Black Redstart and a female Stonechat on Warren Point. Offshore the Surf Scoter was with a distant flock of 22 Eider, a Black-necked Grebe was with 19+ Great-crested and three Slavonian Grebe. The resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary along wit the Long-tailed Duck.

The first winter Iceland Gull was again on Warren Point mid morning but has still only been seen from the Exmouth side of the river. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter was offshore with 10+ Eider, 30+ Common and the Velvet Scoter, two Red-throated Diver and two Slavonian Grebe, five displaying Goldeneye and a Greenshank were in the estuary, the male Black Redstart was still present and the first two Stonechat of the year, a pair, were on Warren Point along with the Short-eared Owl.

A first winter Iceland Gull was on Warren Point over the morning high tide, but not subsequently despite over 900 Herring Gull roosting on Bull Hill this evening. Offshore the female Surf and Velvet Scoter remain together with at least two other Velvet Scoter, three Eider and a Red-throated Diver also present. Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl was on Warren Point, the Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe and a Greenshank were in the estuary, both Black Redstart were on the Wryneck Plain, c100 Knot were on Langstone Rock, two Peregrine were on Bull Hill, a Treecreeper was by the First Pond and over 100 Linnet roosted by the Main Pond.

The female Surf and Velvet Scoter remain offshore with four Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe, seven Red-throated Diver and three Eider flew south. Elsewhere two Coal Tit were by the First Pond, both Black Redstart were still present, the Long-tailed Duck was in the estuary with 102 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Sanderling, five Shoveler and the Slavonian Grebe, a Kingfisher was on the Wreck, two Fulmar flew inland over the Golf Course and a group of nine Reed Bunting hinted at some early passage.

The Bight held 800 Dunlin, 229 Brent Geese and 95 Curlew. The Surf Scoter was offshore with five Eider, five Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Peregrine flew over head raising alarm with the wader flock, the male Black Redstart remains loyal to the pony paddock area and at least eight Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.

The Surf Scoter remains off of John's watch with three Slavonian Grebe and the Brambling was with a small Greenfinch flock in Greenland Lake.

A Slavonian Grebe was offshore, with two Little Grebe and a male Goldeneye in the estuary but no other news was received.

The Surf and Velvet Scoter were offshore with 36 Eider, two Red-throated Diver, seven Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe. Elsewhere the resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary giving the largest site count for four years, also there 234 Brent Geese and the escaped Red-breasted Goose, perhaps similarly plastic the first Egyptian Goose since May 2006 was with Canada Geese on the golf course and the male Black Redstart remains around the Visitor centre.

Seawatching for two hours from 9am produced five Red-throated Diver south along with another distant 19 diver sp, 230 auks sp, 61 Kittiwake, 33 Fulmar, 26 Gannet and five Eider.

Seawatching early morning produced the first Pomarine Skua of the year south at 8.45. also passing a Black-throated and at least seven Red-throated Diver. Also offshore the female Surf Scoter put in an appearance along with the Velvet Scoter, 20 Eider, 31 Great-crested, three Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe. Elsewhere both Black Redstart were still present, the Brambling was in Dead Dolphin Wood, the first Sparrowhawk of the year was over the First Pond and in the estuary the Long-tailed Duck, 80+ Knot, 300+ Brent Geese and the escaped Red-breasted Goose.

The male Black Redstart was still present along with the Brambling and a Mistle Thrush.

The group of Eider were still offshore with at least one Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Brambling, six Redwing and a Buzzard remain on site.

Five Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe were offshore and both Black Redstart were by the Visitor Centre.

The Velvet Scoter remained off the seawall with 17 Eider, seven Common Scoter, two Slavonian Grebe, a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the resident Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary.

The Red-necked Grebe was reported again off the seawall, also offshore the Velvet Scoter, 24 Eider, three Slavonian Grebe and 84 Kittiwake. Counts from the estuary included 1710 Oystercatcher, 1100 Dunlin, 270 Knot, 240 Bar-tailed Godwit, 162 Grey Plover, 138 Brent Geese and the Red-breasted Goose, 69 Common Gull, 40 Shelduck, two Slavonian Grebe and two Mediterranean Gull, an adult and a second winter. Elsewhere the male Black Redstart and a Brambling were still present by the corral and Crocus compound respectively.

One of the escaped Red-breasted Geese was with the Brent Geese this morning but no other news was received.

Counts from the estuary included 378 Brent Geese, 249 Curlew, 145 Bar-tailed Godwit, 59 Shelduck, 20+ Teal and three Wigeon. Elsewhere the two Black Redstart remain on site along with the Brambling, a Jay and six Redwing and 14 Eider were offshore.