Dawlish Warren: July 2008

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A Roseate Tern was offshore early morning along with a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver, an Arctic Skua and a Manx Shearwater. In the estuary there were 320 Sandwich, 60+ Common, two Arctic and a Little Tern with two Mediterranean Gull (ad + juv), the Slavonian Grebe, 25 Ringed Plover, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Whimbrel, four Dunlin and two Sanderling. A Raven and four Swift passed overhead.

Seawatching produced art least one large Shearwater south, probably a Cory's, but not confirmed. This species has still be to seen from the recording area. Also heading south, nine Balearic and a Manx Shearwater, 15 Common Scoter and two Arctic Skua. The Red-breasted Merganser was again in the estuary with 40 Common Tern, two adult Mediterranean Gull, two Sanderling, a Grey Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit. Two Common Sandpiper flew over at night.

Seawatching produced seven Balearic and two Manx Shearwater south along with 30 Common Scoter, an Arctic Skua and a Garganey, which landed offshore. A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was in the estuary with a Red-breasted Merganser, four juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 267 Sandwich, 40+ Common and two Roseate Tern. Waders over high tide included 35 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 15+ Whimbrel and a Greenshank.

Two Common Sandpiper were in the estuary with two Mediterranean Gull (ad + juv), 32 Ringed Plover and 26 Common Tern. A Buzzard over the reserve was the only other news.

Wader counts over high tide included 840 Oystercatcher, 25 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, seven Whimbrel, five Sanderling and three Turnstone. Also in the estuary a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and 36 Common Tern with 60+ Common Scoter and three Great-crested Grebe offshore.

A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was in the Bight this morning with 36 Dunlin, 24 Sanderling, 11 Ringed Plover and three Turnstone. Also in the estuary 22 Common and two Arctic Tern. A Red-throated Diver was offshore with 60+ Common Scoter and a Great-crested Grebe. Elsewhere a Willow Warbler was the first on site for several weeks and overhead 90 Swallow flew east.

A Little Tern appeared amongst the 200 Sandwich and 20 Common Tern, also in the estuary a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank. Elsewhere 50 Common Scoter were offshore.

No sign of any Roseates today but there were still 200 Sandwich and 29 Common Tern, along with a juvenile Yellow-legged and five Mediterranean Gull (juvenile, 1st summer and three 2nd summer). Other records from the hide included a Little Ringed and 19 Ringed Plover, the Slavonian Grebe, 24 Dunlin, two Turnstone, a Common Sandpiper, two Black-tailed and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Three Roseate Tern were present today, at least two of which were new, however there were only four Arctic Tern with 250 Sandwich and 30 Common Tern. Waders included 52 Dunlin, 22 Whimbrel, three Ringed Plover and two Bar-tailed Godwit. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere three adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew over the Visitor Centre, the Green Woodpecker was again in Greenland Lake and 60+ Swift were feasting on flying ants over the reserve.

A noticeable influx of terns today with two Roseate amongst 40+ Common and a record high autumn count of 35+ Arctic Tern. Two Arctic Skua offshore were no doubt attracted in by these increased numbers. Wader numbers remained low with 27 Dunlin, 22 Whimbrel, five Ringed Plover and three Greenshank. A Little Egret was a rare sight on the Main Pond with 20 more in the Railway Saltmarsh. Elsewhere a Green Woodpecker was in Greenland Lake and a Red-throated Diver was reported offshore.

The first Osprey of the autumn flew over Warren Point at midday before heading up river where it caught a fish and took it into Powderham Park. In front of the hide an Arctic Tern was on the posts with 16 Common Tern, with 500 Curlew, 130 Sandwich Tern, 25 Dunlin, 10 Whimbrel and the Slavonian Grebe also in the estuary. Elsewhere two juvenile Stonechat were again in Greenland Lake.

All of the news came from the estuary where there were 150 Sandwich Tern, six Common Gull, three Mediterranean Gull, two adults and a first summer, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, two Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank.

A Balearic Shearwater flew south with two Manx Shearwater heading east, a Great-crested Grebe and 65 Common Scoter also offshore. Three Mediterranean Gull, two adults and a first summer, were in the estuary with 31 Dunlin, 16 Little Egret, 14 Sanderling, 13 Whimbrel, 11 Grey Plover and a Knot. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 194 Sandwich and four Common Tern. Elsewhere a Garden Warbler around the First Pond was an early migrant along with half a dozen Chiffchaff, 120+ Swift, 13 Sand and two House Martin flew east and a Stock Dove was in the Railway Saltmarsh.

A Balearic Shearwater and 50 Common Scoter were again offshore. Elsewhere waders counts were limited to 25 Dunlin and 15 Whimbrel with just eight Common Tern in the estuary and an adult Mediterranean Gull over the Visitor Centre.

An Arctic Tern was fishing in the estuary with Common Tern, also there the first two Lapwing of autumn in the Railway Saltmarsh. Other waders included 35 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling and six Whimbrel. At sea four Balearic Shearwater flew south together, with 50 Common Scoter and a few Common Tern also offshore. Elsewhere a Cuckoo was again on Warren Point.

The Slavonian Grebe remains in the estuary where there were also 21 Dunlin, 80 Sandwich and 10+ Common Tern. A Red-throated Diver was reported off Langstone Rock with 50 Common Scoter and 50 Kittiwake.

A female Red-breasted Merganser on Bull Hill and 35 Dunlin was the only news received for today.

Surprisingly there were two firsts for the year today, a Nuthatch reported early morning near the First Pond and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover in the Bight late afternoon. Also in the estuary 14 Dunlin (including the first juvenile), eight Little Egret, five Whimbrel and five Ringed Plover. The Slavonian Grebe and a Common Sandpiper were just north of the recording area. Elsewhere both Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker were in the Cuckoo's Nest, the former only the second record for the year. A Balearic Shearwater was again offshore with 16 Common Tern, 20 Guillemot and 120 Common Scoter.

A second summer Arctic Tern was in front of the hide with 18 Common and 75 Sandwich Tern. Also in the estuary two Mediterranean Gull, an adult and a first summer, 500+ Curlew, five Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrel, a Dunlin and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 10 Guillemot were offshore and a Cuckoo was on Warren Point.

A Balearic Shearwater fed close in shore during the afternoon with the first juvenile Yellow-legged Gull of the year also offshore along with two adult Mediterranean Gull, 33 Common Scoter, a Great-crested Grebe and a Guillemot. From the hide there where 80 Sandwich and six Common Tern, four adult Mediterranean Gull (at least five on site today), 19 Dunlin and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Little Grebe were still feeding two young on the Main Pond.

Seawatching off the seawall continued to produce regular sightings of Storm Petrel, including some at close range, 48 flew south between 11:25 to 12:15 with another six from 14:50 to 15:05. The only other notable sighting was a single Manx Shearwater south although a Balearic Shearwater passed Rockstone, just south of the recording area. In the estuary six Black-tailed Godwit roosted in front of hide with 15 Dunlin, 10 Grey Plover, two Whimbrel and a Sanderling. The Slavonian Grebe was still off the railway and 60 Sandwich and one Common Tern were in the saltmarsh.

Little to report in very wet weather but two Crossbill low over the Tractor Compound around 10am, the first record since autumn 2005, but perhaps to be expected with the numbers appearing nationally. The only other news came from offshore where 11+ Storm Petrel flew south between 11.30 and 12.30 and two brief looks at the sea at 9.30 and 17.00 both revealed a single Storm Petrel, so many more may well have passed through today.

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose in the estuary continued the unseasonal theme, also in the estuary the summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, an adult Mediterranean Gull, c20 Sandwich and four Common Tern. Offshore during the morning there were 20 Common Scoter and just a few Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull and Sandwich Tern. However 160 Storm Petrel flew south off Rockstone, just south of the recording area, between 13.30 and 14.45. This movement continued with at least 43 Storm Petrel flying south between 18.30 and 19.30 from the seawall. Also offshore this evening 10+ Manx Shearwater and a yellow-billed juvenile Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was again singing along the Back Path.

A drake Tufted Duck offshore with 22 Common Scoter was unexpected, more conventional July fare was provided by a single Balearic and three Manx Shearwater south. The summering Slavonian Grebe remains in the estuary where there were also 50 Sandwich and two Common Tern, a Common Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin and 10 Grey Plover. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was again singing along the Back Path after a week's absence.

Seawatching produced at least four Storm Petrel and two Arctic Skua south with a third Arctic Skua lingering offshore, but no shearwaters. Elsewhere five Common Sandpiper were in the estuary with two adult Mediterranean Gull and three Common Tern.

Heavy spells of rain and strong SW winds were a feature of the day. Seawatching produced three Balearic and 64 Manx Shearwater along with two Storm Petrel, 160 Kittiwake, 120+ Gannet, 30 Common Scoter, 10+ Fulmar, eight Whimbrel and a shearwater sp. An adult Yellow-legged Gull that paused briefly in front of the hide was the first record for the year. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, three adult Mediterranean Gull, 58 Sandwich Tern, 15 Redshank, 10 Whimbrel, 10 Grey Plover, five Dunlin, four Ringed Plover, three Turnstone, three Common Tern and a Knot. Elsewhere a Stock Dove was in the Railway Saltmarsh and at least one juvenile Stonechat was in Greenland Lake.

The Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary with two adult Mediterranean Gull, 110 Black-headed Gull, 10 Grey Plover, two Dunlin, a Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit. Offshore there were 150 Kittiwake feeding along with 16 Common Tern and three Mediterranean Gull, two adults and a first summer. Elsewhere 22 Sandwich and nine Common Tern were roosting in front of the hide and three juvenile Stonechat were around the Wryneck Path. No adults have been seen for months so these were presumably local migrants.

The summering Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary, now also the first July record for the reserve, also there four adult Mediterranean Gull with 95 Black-headed Gull, 390 Curlew, 10 Grey Plover, a Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

A Kingfisher in the Railway Saltmarsh was the second earliest autumn record for the reserve. Also there today a Stock Dove, only the second record of the year. Elsewhere a single female Common Scoter and three Common Tern were offshore and an adult Mediterranean Gull flew over the car park.

The first juvenile Sandwich Tern were in the estuary along with 250 Curlew, two Whimbrel and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere 60 Kittiwake were feeding offshore.