Dawlish Warren: Latest Bird Sightings

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The Surf Scoter was offshore with 15 Common Scoter, four Sandwich Tern and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere nine Raven and a Buzzard were overhead and four Chiffchaff were the only migrants.

The Surf Scoter was off the seawall with 10 Common Scoter, eight Sandwich Tern, four Great-crested Grebe and the immature drake Eider. Records from the estuary included an Avocet, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 172 Curlew, 50+ Redshank, 48 Shelduck, 38 Red-breasted Merganser, 17 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and three Teal. Elsewhere at least four Chiffchaff were on site with 40+ Linnet, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, 23 Canada and a Bar-headed Goose with single Swallow and Raven overhead and three Grey Heron high south.

The first Willow Warbler of the year was by the Main Pond with the first migrant Blackcap in the Entrance Bushes, but four Chiffchaff were the only other passerine migrants. The Surf Scoter remains offshore with five Sandwich Tern, five Great-crested Grebe, three Common Scoter and the immature drake Eider. In the estuary there were three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Red-breasted Merganser, 17 Turnstone, 15 Knot and nine Ringed Plover.

The Surf Scoter was off Warren Point with a Great Northern Diver in the estuary.

The Surf Scoter was offshore with migrants including two Jackdaw north, two Wheatear on site and two Chiffchaff singing around the Main Pond.

The adult female Surf Scoter and immature male Eider were off the seawall with c30 Common Scoter, three Red-throated Diver, 22 Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe. Migrants were limited to three Swallow through and two each of Chiffchaff and Wheatear. In the estuary 148 Brent Geese remain with 630+ Dunlin, 144 Curlew, 85 Knot, 54 Redshank, two Greenshank, two Great Northern Diver, a Goldeneye, a Pale-bellied Brent and the Avocet. Elsewhere 10 Buzzard were overhead, local rather than migrants, and a Redwing and a Coal Tit were in the Entrance Bushes.

The first three Sandwich Tern of the year were offshore with the Surf Scoter, an Eider, seven Great-crested and three Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a pair of Gadwall flew in off the sea, a Wheatear and a Snipe were in Greenland Lake, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, six Teal, a Goldeneye and a Black-tailed Godwit were in the estuary and a Firecrest was in the Entrance Bushes.

Offshore two Eider were reported with the Surf Scoter still present along with seven Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. In the estuary the Avocet was in front of the hide with 450+ Dunlin, 155 Knot, 32 Grey and nine Ringed Plover, 27 Turnstone and 14 Sanderling, also in the estuary a Great Northern Diver. The only migrants reported were three Chiffchaff around the Entrance Bushes.

The first Swallow of the year, flew past the hide, with a Wheatear there and a second in the Wryneck Plain, overhead a Grey Wagtail flew north west, a singing Chiffchaff by the Main Pond was also a migrant, the first on site since early January. Offshore an immature drake Eider was a new arrival with the Surf and 70 Common Scoter still present. Elsewhere an Avocet was in the Railway Saltmarsh, with 680 Dunlin, 590 Oystercatcher, 189 Brent Geese, 187 Knot, 120 Curlew, 85 Grey Plover, 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, 37+ Redshank, seven Sanderling and single Snipe, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit also in the estuary.

The Surf Scoter remains offshore with a Slavonian Grebe, c70 Common Scoter and 69 Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere the Black Redstart was still around the Visitor Centre, a pair of Gadwall were on the main Pond and a Redwing was over the Entrance Bushes late evening.

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