Dawlish Warren: Latest Bird Sightings

Click here for 2009 Year List

Report sightings

Counts from the estuary included 380 Curlew, 58 Ringed Plover, 43 Redshank, 42 Dunlin, 38 Sanderling, 20 Whimbrel and seven Turnstone. Also in the estuary 159 Sandwich and two Common Tern, three adult Mediterranean Gull, 29 Mute Swan, 15 Little Egret, three Common Sandpiper, a Red-breasted Merganser and the Slavonian Grebe. Just off site two juvenile Mediterranean Gull were in Cockwood Harbour.

The Slavonian Grebe and an adult Mediterranean Gull were still off Cockwood, but no other news was received.

The Slavonian Grebe was still off Cockwood, also from the Railway crossing this evening, eight Common Sandpiper on the Wreck, two Mediterranean Gull, an adult and a juvenile, 112 Great Black-backed Gull, 85+ Sandwich Tern, 40+ Redshank, 31 Mallard, 11 Whimbrel, five Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.

More signs of return migration today with eight Common Sandpiper on the reserve, a good site count, six flew around the Bight at high tide with two on the seawall. Other wader numbers remained fairly static with 70 Dunlin, 48 Sanderling, 42 Ringed Plover and four Turnstone. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere a Sedge Warbler on Warren Point was the first of autumn, but 14 Whitethroat, six Blackcap and three Chiffchaff were probably local birds.

Further details have been received of the colour ringed adult Mediterranean Gull seen earlier this month. It was ringed as a adult at Przykona Reservoir, Radyczyny, Turek, Poland on 14/05/07. The subsequent sightings have all been in south Devon, at Budleigh Salterton on 28/11/07, Exmouth on 14/07/08 and now the Warren. Many thanks to Monika Zielinska for this information.

Seawatching before 9.30 produced a Sooty Shearwater, the earliest ever on site, along with three Balearic and 25 Manx Shearwater, a Great Skua, two first summer Mediterranean Gull, 69 Gannet, 63 Kittiwake, 57 Common Scoter, eight Fulmar, four Lesser Black-backed Gull, 26 Sanderling, three Dunlin, one 'commic' Tern and a auk sp. Later in the morning three Arctic and a Pomarine Skua also went south. Elsewhere nine Common Tern, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Red-breasted Merganser were in the estuary.

Tern numbers increased overnight but there were no scarcer species found within the 240+ Sandwich and seven Common Tern. Wader counts however remained fairly static with 820+ Curlew, 70 Dunlin, 48 Sanderling, 29 Ringed Plover, 15 Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore there were just three Manx Shearwater, 12 Common Scoter and 74 Shag, although a Storm Petrel passed south off Dawlish mid afternoon. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser were in the estuary, at least 50 Swift passed through and migrants included a Wheatear by the hide and two Willow Warbler.

A Balearic Shearwater flew south along the beach late afternoon, and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was in the Bight. Wader counts over the evening high tide including 78 Redshank, 58 Sanderling, 43 Dunlin, 38 Ringed Plover, 24 Whimbrel, a Knot and a Turnstone. Five Swift flew through mid evening.

A Ruff in front of the hide in the morning was the first record of the year. Wader counts over the evening high tide included 124 Dunlin, 61 Sanderling, the colour ringed bird was not present indicating some turn over despite the static counts, and 21 Whimbrel, also on the beach four adult Mediterranean Gull, including the ringed bird. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary, 14 Common Scoter were offshore and a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.

Wader counts over the evening high tide included 111 Dunlin, 60 Sanderling, 11 Whimbrel and seven Turnstone, also on the beach the Polish ringed adult and a first summer Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe, four Common Tern, two Knot and two Bar-headed Geese were in the estuary, a dark phase Arctic Skua was offshore mid morning, 13 Swift flew through and 30+ Swallow and 10+ House Martin were feeding over the reserve mid evening. At least one House Martin was watched feeding on the beach running after sandhoppers.

Wader counts over the evening high tide included 114 Dunlin, 53 Sanderling, 10 Whimbrel, seven Ringed Plover, three Turnstone, two Knot and two Greenshank. Also in the estuary a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, at least two sinensis Cormorant, 100+ Sandwich and four Common Tern. Elsewhere two Balearic and two shearwater sp flew south early morning with 60 Common Scoter, a Shoveler flew in off the sea mid evening, a colour ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach 20 Swift flew through and the first Willow Warbler of the autumn was by the Cuckoo's Nest.

Offshore a single Balearic Shearwater and a first summer Mediterranean Gull flew south, with single Roseate, Arctic, Little Tern and nine Common Tern. The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary off Cockwood with three Mediterranean Gull, an adult, a first summer and a juvenile. At least 12 Mediterranean Gull, including eight juveniles, were also on Exmouth Beach

A day of passage with groups of terns passing south offshore and lingering in the estuary later. Minimum counts of birds present include five Roseate Tern, at least 10 Arctic Tern, 16 'commics', 40+ Common and a single Little Tern. Also passing 60+ Manx and two Balearic Shearwater, single Pomarine and Arctic Skua, a small skua sp, and a first summer Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and wader counts included 45 Sanderling including the colour-ringed bird, 30+ Dunlin, eight Whimbrel, seven Ringed Plover, four Knot, four Bar-tailed Godwit and two Turnstone.

At least two Roseate Tern were on site, including the first summer, also in the estuary at least 13 Common Tern and the Slavonian Grebe, with wader counts including 510 Curlew, 45+ Sanderling, 45 Dunlin, 10+ Whimbrel, five Ringed Plover including the first migrant juvenile, two Redshank (one also a juv), two Turnstone and a single Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore two Balearic Shearwater and an adult Mediterranean Gull flew south with 50+ Common Scoter on the sea. Elsewhere a Sand Martin was over the Bight, and at least one juvenile Little Grebe remains on the Main Pond.

In the estuary a Little Tern was roosting with 150+ Sandwich and six Common Tern, with 64 Dunlin, six Whimbrel, two Knot and two Sanderling over the high tide. Elsewhere c20 Swift, two House and a Sand Martin were feeding over reserve.

Two Roseate Tern were again in the Bight with 172 Sandwich and 10 Common Tern. Wader numbers have picked up with 324 Curlew, 34 Redshank, 29 Dunlin, 12 Whimbrel, six Bar-tailed Godwit, two Ringed Plover, two Turnstone, two Sanderling and a summer plumaged Knot over high tide. Also in the estuary the first two Teal of autumn, only the second ever July record, the Slavonian Grebe, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, two adult Mediterranean Gull, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 10+ Common Gull, 98 Great Black-backed Gull, 19 Canada Goose with two Bar-headed Geese and the and the Greylag Goose. Seven Grey Heron and Little Egret were loafing on the Railway Saltmarsh and a Peregrine flew northeast.

At least two Roseate Tern, an adult and the first summer were on site with 200 Sandwich and six Common Tern, also in the estuary, the Slavonian Grebe, eight Whimbrel and a Turnstone. Seawatching was not possible due to the amount of wind blown sand but south of the recording area nine Manx Shearwater and a Roseate Tern headed south past Rockstone. Investigations have shown that the Warren Roseate Terns were most probably ringed on Coquet Island off the Northumberland coast. The BTO ring is placed on the left leg with another metal ring on the right leg. This ring has a four figure code which can be read at close range if anyone gets the chance...

At least four Roseate Tern remained onsite, three adults and the first summer, along with 200+ Sandwich and at least five Common Tern, either feeding offshore or roosting on the mudflats. In the estuary there 10+ Whimbrel, two Dunlin, two Bar-tailed Godwit, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 720 Herring and 55 Great Black-backed Gull, the resident Greylag Goose. Elsewhere two Manx Shearwater and three Great-crested Grebe flew south.

The seven Roseate Tern remained onsite, six adults and a first summer, often close in front of the hide. They were with 230+ Sandwich and at least eight Common Tern, two of which were also first summers. Also in the estuary 10+ Whimbrel, just two Dunlin and an adult Mediterranean Gull and the resident Greylag Goose and Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a second summer Mediterranean Gull was on the beach, 80+ Common Scoter were offshore and four Shoveler flew south.

Roseate Tern 11/07/09 © Lee Collins Common Tern (first summer) 11/07/09 © Lee Collins

The only one with a single metal ring, all six other birds have two metal rings - origin unknown...

Seven Roseate Tern were onsite today with at least six Common, 120 Sandwich, one Little and an Arctic Tern, also in the estuary 20 Dunlin, including the first juvenile, seven Whimbrel, the Greylag Goose and the Slavonian Grebe. At least five Mediterranean Gull were still around the reserve.

Roseate Tern numbers built up to at least six today, roosting in front of the hide with eight Common and 125 Sandwich Tern, also in the estuary 14 Dunlin and the Slavonian Grebe. On the beach Mediterranean Gull numbers were also up with seven birds, two adult, a second summer, two first summer and two juveniles. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater flew east offshore.

A virtual repeat of yesterday with two Roseate Tern roosting in the estuary with eight Common and 100+ Sandwich Tern. The Slavonian Grebe was also in the estuary. Elsewhere 50 Kittiwake were offshore and four Mediterranean Gull were on the beach, an adult, a second summer, a first summer and a juvenile.

Today saw the first returning Roseate Tern of the autumn with at least two offshore with six Common and 140 Sandwich Tern roosting in the estuary at low tide. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 22 Redshank, a few Whimbrel. a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere a Buzzard was overhead with 20 Swift, four juvenile Stonechat were in Greenland Lake, a Green Woodpecker and a family of Reed Bunting were near Dead Dolphin Wood and 40+ Kittiwake and five Common Scoter were offshore.

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with an adult Mediterranean Gull and five Manx Shearwater offshore.

The Slavonian Grebe remains off Cockwood, with 320+ Curlew, 24 Redshank, 20+ Whimbrel, four Bar-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin were in the estuary along with an adult Mediterranean Gull and a sinensis Cormorant. Offshore there were 16 Manx Shearwater and a Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere 40+ Starling roosted at the Golf Course pond.

Seawatching produced the first two Balearic Shearwater of the year, lingering distantly offshore, also two Manx Shearwater, two Arctic Skua, 140 Sandwich and six Common Tern. The Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, with five Dunlin, a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a Red-breasted Merganser also in the estuary and a Shoveler in the Bight. Elsewhere at least four Mediterranean Gull were on site, a juvenile in off the sea, two adults and a second summer.

The Slavonian Grebe was still off Cockwood. Following the discovery that it is a ringed bird, some further research, courtesy of James Packer, has revealed some more history of this longstayer. It seems highly probable that this bird is the one that was admitted to RSPCA West Hatch having been found washed up and covered in blood on the Warren on 18 February 2007. The RSPCA ringed and released this individual back at the Warren on 23rd February 2007. As a Slavonian Grebe has been resident on the Exe since early 2007, it is surely the same bird. Also on the estuary today at least 60 Sandwich Tern, three Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrel and on the Wreck, the Greylag Goose. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua, eight Common Tern and two Common Scoter were offshore, a juvenile Wheatear in front of the hide was an early migrant and two juvenile Stonechat in Greenland Lake.

The highlight was the first Green Sandpiper since August 2007 calling overhead at 1.45am, also in the estuary a Common Sandpiper and 130 Sandwich Tern. Offshore another 20 Sandwich and seven Common Tern.

July 2009