Dawlish Warren: January 2012

Report sightings

The only news received was of the Surf Scoter off the seawall. Late news includes a Goosander (sex unknown) on the 18th and three Little Gull on 16th.

The only news received was of the three regulars; the Surf Scoter off the seawall and the drake American Wigeon and the resident Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

Offshore the Surf Scoter was off the seawall with two Black-necked and two Slavonian Grebe, 40+ Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 60+ Wigeon, please view only from the Back Path or hide, there is no access to the Golf Course. Elsewhere a Jack Snipe was on the Main Pond, the male Black Redstart was by the Visitor Centre, the first Lesser Redpoll of the year flew over Dead Dolphin Wood, three Siskin, two Goldcrest and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were in the Entrance Bushes.

Offshore the Surf Scoter was off the seawall, with three Black-necked and two Slavonian Grebe, 20+ Common Scoter, four Eider and two Red-throated Diver. Also offshore a Balearic Shearwater, a Gadwall flew in off and a first winter drake Pochard, which then flew around the site circling the Main Pond several times but failed to land. Elsewhere the first Coal Tit of the year was along the Back Path, a male Black Redstart was by the Visitor Centre and in the estuary there were a drake Goldeneye and the resident Slavonian Grebe.

Marking two years since John Fortey passed away, a commemorative plaque was placed in the hide today (see here) - say hello next time you visit.

Black Redstart 28/01/2012 © Dave Jewell House Sparrow 28/01/2012 © Simon Thurgood

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 192+ Teal, 92 Shelduck, 59+ Wigeon, 216 Grey Plover, 125 Redshank and 92 Knot. Offshore the Surf Scoter was off the seawall, also offshore two Black-necked, two Slavonian and 25+ Great-crested Grebe, five Red-throated Diver, five Common Scoter and three Eider. Elsewhere the female Brambling again was in the Entrance Bushes; Little Grebe, Water Rail and Coot were on the Main Pond and single Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel were on site.

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with the resident Slavonian Grebe, three Goldeneye, 446 Brent Geese and the first Greenshank of the year. Elsewhere a Water Pipit was around the edge of the Bight, and offshore a Long-tailed Duck was off the sea wall with the Surf Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. In the evening a first-winter Iceland Gull was on sandbars offshore, visible from Exmouth.

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with the resident Slavonian Grebe. Offshore the Surf Scoter is still present and a Black-necked Grebe was off John's Watch.

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with the resident Slavonian Grebe. Offshore the Surf Scoter is still present with three Eider, three Red-throated Diver and 27 Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe.

The highlight was a Woodcock flushed from Dead Dolphin Wood, with a Collared Dove also a first for the year. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary and offshore the Surf Scoter was present with three Eider, three Red-throated Diver and two Slavonian Grebe.

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

A Great Skua, two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore early morning.

The drake American Wigeon, resident Slavonian and two Little Grebe were in the estuary, with the Surf Scoter, a Black-necked Grebe reported offshore. Late news includes a Brambling on the 3rd-6th, a Shoveler on the 4th, two Pintail on the 6th, the first Jackdaw, Rook and Sparrowhawk for the year and two Black Redstart at the weekend.

The drake American Wigeon and resident Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary, with the Surf Scoter, a first winter Little Gull and two Slavonian Grebe reported offshore.

The drake American Wigeon was in the estuary with 267 Teal, 223 Wigeon, the Slavonian Grebe, c1700 Dunlin, 232 Grey Plover, 92 Knot, 12 Sanderling and six Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter was offshore and two Siskin were in the Entrance Bushes.

The drake American Wigeon was in the estuary with 185 Wigeon, an adult Little Gull, an early Sandwich Tern, 212 Grey Plover, 84 Teal, 67 Shelduck, 13 Lapwing and the Whimbrel. The Surf Scoter was reported off Langstone Rock. Late news of two Black Redstart a male at the Visitor Centre and a female by the hide.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall and a Great Skua was also offshore but no other news was received. Late news includes a Black Redstart and a reported Red-necked Grebe.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with two Black-necked and a Slavonian Grebe, 330+ Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the American Wigeon was reported although fewer than 20 Wigeon were present early morning, a Water Rail was on the Main Pond and two Grey Wagtail flew over - both firsts for the year.

A large feeding flock was again offshore moving around the bay with c830 Razorbill, 200+ Kittiwake, 80+ Gannet and 24+ Guillemot, also present 17 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe, three Eider, an adult Mediterranean Gull, the Surf, a Velvet and 20 Common Scoter. Elsewhere the Dartford Warbler made its first appearance of the year, 140 Grey Plover, 108 Knot and 23 Shelduck were in the Bight and 12 Lapwing, nine Grey Heron and three Little Egret resided in the Railway Saltmarsh.

The Surf Scoter was off Langstone Rock, also offshore 24 Great-crested, a Black-necked Grebe and a Slavonian Grebe, 41 Common Scoter, three Red-throated Diver, three Eider and nine Razorbill. Elsewhere a Coot, two Moorhen and three Little Grebe were on the Main Pond. The American Wigeon was in the estuary along with 194 Wigeon, 2500+ Dunlin, 168 Brent Geese, 86 Teal, 58 Grey Plover, 32 Shelduck, two Goldeneye and the Slavonian Grebe. Five Long-tailed Tit, 20 Greenfinch and a Chiffchaff were along the Back Path.

Offshore the Surf Scoter was from the seawall with 16 Common Scoter, three Eider, a Slavonian Grebe, three Red-throated Diver and a large feeding flock of 330 Kittiwake, 300+ Razorbill and 65+ Gannet.

The drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary with 256 Wigeon,128 Teal, 32 Bar and five Black-tailed Godwit, 21+ Red-breasted Merganser, the Slavonian Grebe and the regular wintering Whimbrel. Offshore the Surf Scoter was from the seawall with two Gadwall, two Black-necked Grebe, three Eider, a Slavonian Grebe, two Great Northern and three Red-throated Diver.

The female Surf Scoter remains off the seawall with the immature Velvet Scoter, 71+ Great-crested, a Slavonian and two Black-necked Grebe, three Eider, three Great Northern and 13 Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the Black Redstart was along the sea wall.

The female Surf Scoter remains off the seawall with a distant Black-necked Grebe, two Eider, single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, 21 Red-throated Diver also flew south. The Velvet Scoter and male Black Redstart were also reported. Elsewhere the American Wigeon and a first winter Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary, three Raven were on Langstone Rock and three Little Grebe were on the Main Pond.

The female Surf Scoter remained offshore but was distant, also on the sea three Eider, two Great Northern Diver, 30+ Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the male Black Redstart was on the seawall and three Bullfinch, three Siskin and a Goldcrest were in the Entrance Bushes.

The female Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with the Velvet Scoter and was later reported in the estuary. Elsewhere the male Black Redstart was on the Go-cart track and on the rising tide there were 300+ Dunlin, 104 Curlew, 39 Grey Plover and 25 Shelduck in the Bight.

The female Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with the Velvet Scoter, a female Long-tailed Duck, a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon remains in the estuary and a Black Redstart was along the seawall.

Seawatching for two hours early morning recorded a single Balearic Shearwater south, along with 237 Kittiwake, c160 Gannet, 16 Fulmar and two Great Northern Diver. On the sea there were three Eider but no sign of the Surf Scoter in very choppy conditions.

The female Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with the Velvet Scoter, at least six Red-throated Diver and a Great Skua. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon was in the estuary with 12 Ringed Plover.

An excellent start to the new year but with quality rather than quantity with just 66 species were recorded. The female Surf Scoter remained off the seawall with the Velvet Scoter, two Eider, at least six Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the drake American Wigeon was in the estuary with two Goldeneye, two Black-necked, two Great-crested and the Slavonian Grebe. The American Wigeon is best viewed from the Back Path or hide, do not attempt to access the Saltmarsh from either the Golf Course or along the railway line.