Dawlish Warren: Latest Bird Sightings

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The first Willow Warbler of the year made landfall with six on site along with three Wheatear and two Blackcap, overhead two Siskin and a single Sand Martin flew through. Offshore a Red-throated Diver,17 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe were present with 39 Common Scoter, four Eider, two drake Shoveler and 34+ Sandwich Tern. In the estuary there were five Bar-tailed Godwit, four Sanderling and a late female Wigeon.

Another quiet spring day with three Chiffchaff, a Wheatear and a Blackcap in song on site, single Swallow and Sand Martin overhead, 14 Knot, 13 Grey Plover, five Teal, a Redshank and 16 Dark and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in the estuary and eight Sandwich Tern offshore.

A drake Tufted Duck offshore with a flock of 24 Common Scoter was the first of the year, also offshore 21 Sandwich Tern, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 16 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Whimbrel was in the estuary, 33 Turnstone were on Langstone Rock and Kestrel headed very high north.

A Blackcap was still holding territory by the First Pond and a Sandwich Tern was offshore on a quiet early spring day.

A few more migrants today but still in short supply with remain scarce with three Wheatear, a Blackcap, at least five Chiffchaff, a Swallow and a Sand Martin. Elsewhere wader numbers are dropping by the day with 19 Grey Plover, 13 Knot, 13 Sanderling and a Dunlin, also in the estuary nine Sandwich Tern.

Migrants remain scarce although the first Blackcap of the year was around the First Pond, also on site a Black Redstart around John's Watch, a Wheatear on the Wryneck Plain and overhead c50 Meadow Pipit, two Grey Heron, two Rook and a Buzzard. Elsewhere the rubicola-type Stonechat was seemingly paired up behind the hide, a Pale-bellied Brent was with 213 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and offshore a Slavonian Grebe and a Sandwich Tern.

In foggy conditions early morning migrants included the first Sand Martin and Swallow of the year, both singles, nine Chiffchaff and a good candidate for a continental rubicola Stonechat. Counts from the estuary included 141 Curlew, 53 Brent Geese, 24 Grey Plover,18 Sanderling, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Knot and 11 Shelduck. Elsewhere five Shoveler flew north and offshore there were at least 48 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe.

A second winter Iceland Gull, presumably the bird from last weekend, was offshore mid evening following a couple of fishing boats before heading into the estuary. Also offshore at least nine Sandwich Tern, four Eider, 24 Great-crested, a Slavonian and the Black-necked Grebe. Elsewhere a Jack Snipe and the wintering Whimbrel were in the estuary, at least four Chiffchaff were on site and eight Buzzard were seen overhead.

The first two Wheatear of the year finally made landfall, with a female Black Redstart, 10+ Chiffchaff and good numbers of Meadow Pipit the other migrant arrivals. Offshore there were at least 19 Sandwich Tern, two Slavonian and the Black-necked Grebe, 12 Common Scoter, four Eider and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Counts from offshore included 211 Shag, 17 Great crested, two Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe, four Eider and 14 Common Scoter. Elsewhere 40 Brent Geese were in the estuary with 25 Knot, three Sandwich Tern, 17 Red-breasted Merganser and the resident Slavonian Grebe. Seven Chiffchaff were on site with a Snipe on the Main Pond and overhead single Rook and Raven.

In the continuing foggy conditions at least five Chiffchaff and two Goldcrest were around the Main Pond with three Teal, a Grey Heron, a Snipe and eight pairs of Canada Geese!

The Black-necked and two Slavonian Grebe were offshore with 30+ Teal in the estuary.

The Red-necked Grebe was still offshore with single Black-necked and 10 Great-crested Grebe, also offshore a Red-throated Diver and 18 Common Scoter. Elsewhere a Chiffchaff and Stonechat were in Greenland Lake.

The Red-necked and Black-necked Grebe was reported offshore but no other news was received.

The Red-necked Grebe was still offshore with single Slavonian, Black-necked and 20 Great-crested Grebe, also offshore two Red-throated Diver, a pair of Gadwall and a second summer Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a Sandwich Tern, 40+ Common Gull and 36 Teal were in the estuary, a Snipe was at the Main Pond and 61 Linnet roosted on the Golf Course.

The first Red-necked Grebe of the year was offshore with six Slavonian, the Black-necked and 14 Great-crested Grebe, with the Little Grebe on the Main Pond a rare five grebe day on the Warren. Also offshore a second winter Iceland Gull, two second summer Mediterranean Gull and 16 Common Scoter. Counts from the estuary included 520 Dunlin, 440 Oystercatcher, 247 Brent Geese, 198 Curlew, 80 Common Gull, 52 Knot and 20 Sanderling and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere migrants included at least five Stonechat, 15+ Meadow Pipit, 10+ Pied Wagtail, eight Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Rook in off the sea and a Sparrowhawk and a Siskin east along the Dune Ridge.

Offshore there were three Slavonian, a Black-necked and six Great-crested Grebe, 16 Red-breasted Merganser and a Red-throated Diver. The estuary held 220 Brent Geese, 162 Curlew, 60 Common Gull, 49 Grey Plover, 16 Turnstone, 13 Shelduck and seven Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the first Cirl Bunting of the year was behind the hide and two Mute Swan were on the Main Pond.

Counts from the estuary included 340 Dunlin, 276 Brent Geese, 115 Redshank, 110 Curlew, 49 Common Gull, 47 Red-breasted Merganser, 47 Knot, 35 Grey Plover, three Little Egret and two Teal. Elsewhere two Shoveler and a Water Rail were on the Main Pond, a Rook was overhead and a Slavonian and nine Great-crested Grebe were offshore with eight Common Scoter.

Counts from the estuary included 256 Brent Geese, 82 Grey Plover and 48 Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere a Little Egret was on the Main Pond.

A Sandwich Tern was offshore early morning, presumably the bird from earlier this year rather than a new migrant, also offshore 16 Common Scoter, four Eider, 10 Great-crested, four Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe.

Six Pale-bellied Brent Geese were present briefly late afternoon with 51 Common and two adult Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, 16 Teal, four Wigeon and two Pintail also in the estuary. Elsewhere four Slavonian Grebe were offshore.

March 2012