Dawlish Warren: February 2012

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Offshore there were 16 Common Scoter, four Slavonian Grebe and 128 Shag. Elsewhere 101 Brent Geese were in the estuary with a Wigeon and two Pintail, a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff were on site and the Shoveler was on the Main Pond.

Two Velvet Scoter were offshore with 14 Common Scoter, three Eider, three Slavonian Grebe and 129 Shag. Counts from the estuary included 500+ Dunlin, 356 Brent Geese, 182 Grey Plover, 69 Knot, 29 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Sanderling, 12 Teal and two Pintail.

Counts from the estuary showed birds have started to move with wildfowl down to 21 Teal, three Wigeon and a pair of Pintail, waders included 245 Grey Plover, 152 Curlew, 119 Knot, 56 Redshank, 33 Sanderling, the winter peak, 28 Turnstone and 12 Lapwing. Elsewhere two Slavonian Grebe were offshore, the Shoveler was on the Main Pond, and Magpie and Long-tailed Tit were nest-building.

Offshore there were 20+ Great-crested, five Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe, also 11 Common Scoter, a Great Northern and five Red-throated Diver. There have been no confirmed sightings of the Surf Scoter since last Saturday. Elsewhere two Chiffchaff were early migrants, the Brambling was at the feeders, a Black Redstart was along the seawall, 110+ Black-headed Gull headed east in small parties offshore, 29 Ringed Plover and 12 Sanderling were on the beach, and in the estuary there were 140+ Common and an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank.

No news was received. Late news includes a flock of 14 Greylag Geese in the Saltmarsh on 3rd February and a Tawny Owl on the 8th.

The Black Redstart was in Greenland Lake with c40 Meadow Pipit and a Green Woodpecker. Offshore there were four Eider and three Slavonian Grebe and the Surf Scoter was again reported.

The Surf Scoter was reported offshore, also a Great Northern Diver, 30 Common Scoter and four Slavonian Grebe.

Offshore there were 56 Common Scoter, 54 Great-crested, two Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe, four Eider and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the drake Shoveler was on the Main Pond, 93 Teal, 22 Wigeon and a pair of Pintail were in Shutterton Creek, with 500+ Dunlin, 195 Grey Plover, 138 Knot, 102 Redshank, 14 Lapwing, 12 Sanderling, an Avocet, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Jack Snipe also in the estuary.

The Surf Scoter remained offshore but was distant, also a Red-throated Diver and two Slavonian Grebe with the drake Shoveler on the Main Pond.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with a Red-throated Diver, 29 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a drake Shoveler was on the Main Pond and two Great-spotted Woodpecker were on site.

No news was received, but 71 Great-crested and seven Slavonian Grebe roosted just south of the recording area.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with an Avocet in the estuary but no other news was received.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with a Slavonian Grebe but no other news was received.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with 98 Razorbill, 16 Red-throated Diver, three Black-necked and a Slavonian Grebe. Counts from the estuary included 1300 Dunlin, 148 Curlew, 137 Grey Plover, 122 Brent Geese, 81 Shelduck, 18 Ringed Plover and eight Sanderling.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall, a Black Redstart was in the Wryneck Plain and a Woodcock was flushed from Dead Dolphin Wood.

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 60+ Wigeon, two Pintail, 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, 56 Shelduck and the Whimbrel. The other long staying rarity, the female Surf Scoter, was off the seawall with four Slavonian Grebe and nine Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere three Gadwall and a drake Shoveler were on the Main Pond, two Crossbill and a Lesser Redpoll flew over, a Jay was in Dead Dolphin Wood, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull headed north, 20 Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes and the female Brambling was on the feeders with 40+ Greenfinch and a Great-spotted Woodpecker.

The Surf Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe were off the seawall but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter remains off the seawall with three Slavonian Grebe, three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere a Dartford Warbler on the Golf Course was showing well from the Back Path, five Gadwall were on the Main Pond and the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood.

The Surf Scoter remains off the seawall and a Guillemot was in the estuary but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter remains offshore, the American Wigeon and an Avocet were in Shutterton Creek and two Gadwall were present somewhere but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter was offshore with 14 Red-throated Diver, four Eider, 39 Great-crested, three Black-necked and two Slavonian Grebe.

The drake American Wigeon was still in the estuary with two pairs of Pintail, a pair of Gadwall, an Avocet, three Goldeneye and the resident Slavonian Grebe. Offshore the Surf Scoter was off the seawall with at least eight Red-throated Diver, four Eider, three Slavonian and three Black-necked Grebe. Elsewhere a drake Goosander flew high north up the estuary late morning, the Brambling was on the feeders, a male Black Redstart was in the Crocus Compound and two Water Rail were on the Main Pond. Late news for Saturday includes two Black Redstart and the Brambling still present.

The highlight of an excellent day was the site's first record of Glossy Ibis, a single flew west over Shutterton Creek, but didn't land, meaning it was seen by just one fortunate observer. Also in the estuary the drake American Wigeon returned following a brief absence, with 496 Teal, 308 Wigeon, a pair of Pintail, five Avocet, a Jack Snipe, a Greenshank, the wintering Whimbrel and the resident Slavonian Grebe. Offshore the Surf Scoter was off the seawall with a Long-tailed Duck flying south, four Eider, three Slavonian and two Black-necked Grebe, at least three Red-throated Diver and a pair of Gadwall. Elsewhere a Water Pipit was on the Golf Course by the hide, three Water Rail were at the Main Pond and two Lesser Redpoll flew over.

The drake American Wigeon was present in Shutterton Creek until just after 1100, when it and six Wigeon others flew to the main channel off Cockwood. Later it was found at the top end of the estuary at Bowling Green Marsh. Elsewhere the female Surf Scoter was offshore with a Slavonian Grebe also present, a Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming in Dead Dolphin Wood and a flock of 14 Skylark were mobile around the Bight.

The Surf Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe were off the seawall but no other news was received.

The Surf Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe were off the seawall in choppy conditions, however the highlight were two Egyptian Geese briefly in Shutterton Creek before flying north and later being relocated at Bowling Green Marsh.