Dawlish Warren: Latest Bird Sightings

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The Surf Scoter remains offshore distantly from the seawall, with the Black Redstart on the Dune Ridge past the Visitor Centre. Other records included three Stonechat in Greenland Lake and overhead three Buzzard and the first Sparrowhawk since January 1st.

Plenty of activity from the resident species but still little to show in terms of migrants. The only records received were of a Water Rail and 15 Goldfinch around the First Pond, both Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker on site and a site record 21 Moorhen counted early evening.

The Surf and 21 Common Scoter were offshore with a Velvet Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was in the estuary and the Black Redstart was near the Visitor Centre but the only sign of migration were three Jackdaw and a Rook overhead.

The Black Redstart is still on site and two Water Rail were around the First Pond.

The female Surf Scoter was off the estuary mouth with a small group of Common Scoter, also reported offshore at least two Slavonian Grebe, a Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver.

The Surf Scoter and Black Redstart were both still present. In the estuary there were 1115 Dunlin, 206 Brent Geese, 75 Bar and 22 Black-tailed Godwit, six Teal, two Wigeon, two Goldeneye, a Greenshank and an Avocet.

A movement of at least 66 Chaffinch north east along with a few Goldfinch and Starling hinted at spring, but apart from a Golden Plover in off the sea there were few other migrants. The Surf Scoter was off the seawall with 45 Common Scoter, 14 Great-crested Grebe and three Red-throated Diver. Two Great Northern Diver were in the estuary with 1350 Dunlin, 349 Brent Geese, 160 Grey Plover, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, two Teal, two Greenshank and an Avocet. Elsewhere the Black Redstart, two Redwing, two Green and a Great-spotted Woodpecker remain on site.

The highlight was the first Treecreeper since Jan 2008 in the Entrance Bushes, also on site the Black Redstart and both Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker. Counts from the estuary included 2212 Dunlin, 791 Oystercatcher, 366 Brent Geese, 204 Grey Plover, 161 Knot, 161 Curlew, 140 Redshank, 58 Bar and 25 Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Ringed Plover, a Greenshank, a Slavonian Grebe and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter remains offshore.

Offshore eight Red-throated Diver flew south with a single Great Northern Diver heading north, also on the sea a Slavonian Grebe and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

The Surf Scoter was still offshore with the Black Redstart also still present but no other news was received.

Counts from the estuary included 272 Brent Geese, 167 Redshank, 41 Shelduck, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Teal and eight Wigeon. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter was offshore with two Slavonian Grebe, a Firecrest roosted in the Entrance Bushes and an influx of Pheasant saw four males on the Golf Course.

March 2010