Dawlish Warren: November 2007

There was no sign of either scoter today but a Slavonian and 30+ Great-crested Grebe were on the sea along with two Red-throated Diver. Also offshore 80+ Gannet, 50+ Kittiwake and 40+ Razorbill. In the estuary there were 751 Wigeon, 298 Redshank, 40 Teal and two Greenshank. Elsewhere the Siberian Chiffchaff was with at least two Chiffchaff near the First Pond.

The highlight of the day was Little Auk which was on the sea off the boardwalk before heading south, also offshore 30+ Razorbill, five Red-throated and two Black-throated Diver along with 29 Great-crested Grebe, the drake Eider, the Surf and Velvet Scoter. In the estuary counts included 2500+ Dunlin, 151 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100+ Curlew, 21 Lapwing, 20+ Turnstone, a Greenshank and the, presumed returning, wintering Whimbrel.

Offshore the Surf and Velvet Scoter remain along with a Black-throated Diver, drake Eider and 50+ Common Scoter. Elsewhere the first Goldeneye of the winter was in the estuary, a Redwing flew through and the Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the Entrance Bushes.

The immature Surf Scoter is still offshore with the immature Velvet Scoter, also on the sea a drake Eider and single Black-throated and Red-throated Diver. The Spotted Redshank but in another appearance in Shutterton Creek along with 21 Black-tailed Godwit, four Greenshank and two Lapwing, also in the estuary 2000+ Dunlin, 326 Brent Geese and 49 Shelduck. Light passage overhead during the morning included 60+ Goldfinch, 25+ Chaffinch, five Siskin, a Fieldfare and a Redwing. Elsewhere the presumed tristis Chiffchaff was in the Entrance Bushes with at least six Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond.

The highlight was found late in the day in the estuary, a probable first winter Caspian Gull, potentially the first record for the reserve and only the third or fourth for Devon. Also in the estuary a third winter Yellow-legged Gull, a Great Northern Diver, three Avocet, two Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Lapwing. Offshore the Surf Scoter was present still closely associating with a single immature Velvet Scoter. Elsewhere at least three Chiffchaff, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, three Siskin and two Redwing.

The Surf Scoter is still present offshore from the windmill associating with a single Velvet Scoter. Elsewhere the eastern Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond with four other Chiffchaff, also in the bushes a Great-spotted Woodpecker, two Siskin and two Bullfinch with a Kingfisher and a Water Rail on the pond. Overhead there were six Redwing and three Fieldfare east.

The Surf Scoter was present with a single Velvet Scoter around the mouth of the estuary. In the Bight there were 69 Brent Geese and 23 Shelduck. Elsewhere a Dartford Warbler was by the windmill, two Little Grebe were on the Main Pond, five Great-crested Grebe flew south and three Chiffchaff were present on site plus the eastern Chiffchaff in Brambles along the Back Path.

The Surf Scoter was again reported but the only other news received today in foul weather was of 10 Common Scoter and two Common Gull off the seawall.

The rough conditions offshore meant only a single Velvet Scoter could be seen along with c20 Common Scoter and a flyby Great Northern Diver. An adult Mediterranean Gull was also present feeding amongst 400+ Herring, 30+ Common and 10+ Kittiwake. WeBS count figures from the estuary included 1480 Dunlin, 980 Oystercatcher, 815 Wigeon, 472 Brent Geese, 259 Great Black-backed Gull, 167 Redshank, c100 Grey Plover, 64 Cormorant, 58 Teal, 54 Bar-tailed Godwit, 46 Ringed Plover, 42 Red-breasted Merganser, 37 Shag, 33 Turnstone, 30 Curlew, 25 Shelduck, 20 Knot, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, six Sanderling, two Snipe and single Greenshank and Whimbrel. Also in the estuary a redhead Goosander in the Bight, an Avocet and a Kingfisher in Shutterton Creek, a Peregrine and, in with the Wigeon, a drake Gadwall.

Goosander 18/11/07

The majority of the interest remained offshore with two Velvet Scoter present along with the immature Surf Scoter and 40+ Common Scoter. The flat calm conditions also revealed a Black-throated and three Red-throated Diver, nine Great-crested and two Slavonian Grebe, a drake Eider, 15+ Razorbill and a Guillemot. In the estuary a drake Goosander was reported off Cockwood harbour, four Gadwall drifted in front of the hide into Shutterton Creek, where there were 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Lapwing and three Greenshank. Some light passage overhead this morning included 40 Redwing, 35+ Chaffinch, 24 Fieldfare, 22 Wood Pigeon and 15+ Blackbird. Elsewhere at least six Chiffchaff and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were on site, two Little Grebe, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail were at the Main Pond and a Dartford Warbler was on Warren Point.

Gadwall 17/11/07 © Simon Thurgood

An immature Velvet Scoter joined the long staying Surf Scoter offshore with 25 Common Scoter also present along with a Black-throated and Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the 'eastern' Chiffchaff remains on site with three other Chiffchaff, a Lesser Redpoll was in Dead Dolphin Wood and six Avocet were in Shutterton Creek.

A Grey Phalarope was in the estuary around midday, before drifting out to sea with the tide, the first record for the year, also in the estuary two Avocet, 102 Grey Plover and a Pintail. The Surf Scoter remains offshore along with single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the possible Siberian Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond.

The Surf Scoter remains offshore along with a Slavonian Grebe, four Red-throated and at least one Great Northern Diver. In the estuary there wewre counts of 800 Dunlin, 217 Curlew, 200 Redshank, 168 Brent Geese, 45 Ringed Plover, 28 Knot, 26 Turnstone and a Greenshank. Overhead 400 Wood Pigeon, two Mistle Thrush and a Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere a possible Siberian Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond, with eight Goldcrest and five Chiffchaff.

All records today came from offshore where amongst the highlights was a late Pomarine Skua around a distant trawler this afternoon. Other records included a Little Auk which came in from the south and landed near the river mouth, a Red-necked Grebe off Langstone Rock, the Surf Scoter, which came closer in during the afternoon, 50 Common Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe, two Great Northern and three Red-throated Diver.

The first Little Auk of the year was offshore early afternoon, flying south and twice landing on the sea. The immature Surf Scoter was again present with 40 Common Scoter, single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, a drake Eider and a Slavonian Grebe also on the sea. Four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver flew south with a single diver sp. Elsewhere at least 14 Siskin flew overhead and four Chiffchaff and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were again in the bushes.

A Spotted Redshank was in Shutterton Creek along with a good count of 15 Greenshank, also there 130+ Redshank, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, eight Grey Heron, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Whimbrel, 775 Wigeon and 220 Teal. Also in the estuary 39 Ringed Plover and eight Sanderling. Offshore the Surf Scoter was still present but difficult in choppy conditions also there were c35 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere at least 130 Chaffinch moved over the reserve early morning with four Siskin and a Brambling, 950 Starling came out of the roost, eight Pheasant were on the Golf Course, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond and four Chiffchaff and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were in the bushes.

Counts from the estuary included 600 Dunlin, 285 Curlew, 225 Brent Geese, 105 Bar-tailed Godwit, 34 Grey Plover and 14 Shelduck in the Bight with 45 Redshank and 20 Black-tailed Godwit in Shutterton Creek. The Long-tailed Duck remains in the estuary off Cockwood. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter was again offshore though distant and five Siskin and three Chiffchaff were around Greenland Lake with a Brambling briefly in Dead Dolphin Wood and a Buzzard low to the west.

The Surf Scoter remains offshore but always distant, also on the sea 15 Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere on site, 100+ Brent Geese and 20+ Red-breasted Merganser in the estuary, a Song Thrush on Warren Point, two Great-spotted Woodpecker and three Bullfinch in Dead Dolphin Wood and a Chiffchaff around the Main Pond.

The Surf Scoter was still offshore with 10 Common Scoter this afternoon, but was again very distant. Elsewhere on site a Dartford Warbler remains on Warren Point, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond with a second bird in the estuary and a third at Langstone Rock, the Long-tailed Duck was off Cockwood and in the bushes there were three Chiffchaff, three Blackcap, two Great-spotted Woodpecker and a female Bullfinch.

A Tufted Duck offshore early morning was a new individual, also on the sea the Surf Scoter, again distant, 21 Common Scoter, nine Great-crested Grebe, two Pintail south and a drake Eider. Despite seemingly ideal conditions there was very little visible migration, with totals limited to 120 Wood Pigeon, 47 Goldfinch, 20+ Skylark, 20 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, six Jackdaw, four Bullfinch, three Rook, three Shelduck, two Siskin, two Raven, two Reed Bunting and a Redpoll. The highlight though were two late House Martin. Elsewhere a Spotted Redshank was in the estuary with six Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank, two Kestrel were onsite and the Great-spotted Woodpecker remained in the Entrance Bushes, with a Blackcap and three Chiffchaff.

The highlight was again offshore, a drake Tufted Duck, the first of the year. The Surf Scoter was also offshore although more distant than previously, also on the sea a Great Northern Diver, 15+ Common Scoter, 15 Shoveler, two Velvet Scoter briefly mid afternoon before heading south, six Great-crested and a Slavonian Grebe. Overhead migration, although varied never really got going with 165 Redwing, 118 Wood Pigeon, 80 Starling (with 200 out of the roost), 50 Dunlin, 17 Skylark, 17 Greenfinch, 11 Song Thrush, nine Fieldfare, five Chaffinch, five alba wagtail, five Goldfinch, three Meadow Pipit, three Snipe, two Siskin, two Redpoll, two Reed Bunting, a Linnet and a Shelduck. Grounded migrants included 60 Goldfinch, 50 Greenfinch and 40 Linnet. Also on site two Dartford Warbler on Warren Point, three Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and a Bullfinch in the Entrance Bushes, two Coot and two Little Grebe on the Main Pond and 385 Brent Geese, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank in the estuary.

Another morning of visible migration brought another new site record with 1021 Chaffinch over NE, with them were 170 Goldfinch, 119 Greenfinch, 57 Meadow Pipit, 46 Skylark, 36 Starling, 16 Siskin, 16 Linnet, seven Reed Bunting, seven Brambling, three Redpoll and a Bullfinch. Pigeons were again on the move with 13755 Wood Pigeon west along with 112 Stock Dove, 82 Jackdaw, six Rook, two Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard. Going north there were 225 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing and seven Song Thrush with 290 Lesser Black-backed Gull heading south. Offshore there was no sign of the Surf Scoter but a drake Long-tailed Duck was with c40 Common Scoter and the Great Northern Diver was still present. Elsewhere the Tawny Owl was roosting in the Entrance Bushes, a Dartford Warbler was in Greenland Lake and four Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, a Kingfisher and a Great-spotted Woodpecker remained on site.

The Surf Scoter was again present offshore, still keeping to itself, the highlight of the day though was another duck, a drake Mandarin briefly on the Main Pond early morning, only the second site record. Visible migration (all NE) produced a site record 404 Chaffinch along with 48 Greenfinch, 28 Lesser Black-backed Gull (S), 25 Goldfinch, 23 Fieldfare, 13 Siskin, eight Jackdaw, three Brambling, three Redpoll, three Rook, two Redwing, a Grey Wagtail and a Bullfinch. In the overcast conditions there were very few pigeon on the move but a brighter spell after 10am produced 945 Wood Pigeon and 21 Stock Dove high west. In flat conditions offshore there were 260 Shag, 15 Common Scoter, 11 Great-crested Grebe, the drake Eider and singles of Slavonian Grebe, Red-throated and Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere 235 Brent Geese were in the estuary with 45 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Turnstone and a Greenshank, a Dartford Warbler was on Warren Point, two Kingfisher were on the Main Pond, 800+ Starling roosted on Warren Point and in the bushes there were five Chiffchaff, three Lesser Redpoll, (the first to be identified to species, all other records this year have been flyovers), two Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Brambling - a very rare grounded migrant here.

A immature female Surf Scoter provided an unexpected highlight, sat alone 200 yards offshore from the windmill, the ninth site record. After a no show yesterday, pigeons and corvids again were on the move with 10390 Wood Pigeon west during the morning with 71 Jackdaw, a minimum of 52 Stock Dove, nine Feral/Racing Pigeon, eight Magpie and three Rook. Other birds moving overhead, mostly NE included a high count of 341 Chaffinch, 68 Greenfinch, 64 Goldfinch, c40 b, c15 Skylark, 14 Starling, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, eight alba wagtail, four Song Thrush, four Redpoll, three Brambling, two Redwing, two Siskin, two Reed Bunting and singles of Bullfinch and Swallow. Offshore six Aythya duck circling the bay were probably the first Tufted Duck of the year, whilst on the sea there were 12 Common Scoter, three Great-crested Grebe, a drake Eider and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the drake Long-tailed Duck was again in the estuary with 10 Black-tailed Godwit, eight Lapwing, three Greenshank and a Golden Plover. At least two Dartford Warbler were still onsite along with six Chiffchaff and a Great-spotted Woodpecker.

A female/immature Ring Ouzel west over the golf course was the highlight but other birds onsite included three Dartford Warbler and a Short-eared Owl. Counts from the estuary included 1250 Oystercatcher, 787 Wigeon, 209 Redshank, 108 Brent Geese, 93 Teal, 86 Curlew, 45 Red-breasted Merganser, 26 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Knot, 13 Little Egret, eight Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank. Elsewhere a Red-throated Diver was offshore, a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond, a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the ent4rance bushes and an adult Peregrine was over Dune Ridge. The drake Long-tailed Duck was still off Cockwood, venturing into the recording area as the tide drops.