Dawlish Warren: November 2010

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The drake Scaup remains in Shutterton Creek where there was a single Pintail and an increase to 14 Gadwall. A Red-throated Diver was offshore but no other news was received.

In Shutterton Creek 10 Gadwall, a Pintail and a Shoveler were with the usual wildfowl, with the drake Scaup still present. Elsewhere the Surf Scoter remains offshore with at least 11 Eider, three Greenshank were in the estuary and overhead there were 40+ Lapwing, 20+ Chaffinch, seven Goldfinch, a Brambling and a Golden Plover.

The adult female Surf Scoter was again off Warren Point with 16 Eider, with an immature drake Scaup which flew in form the south. Also offshore at least eight Red-throated Diver, a Goldeneye and two redhead Goosander which circled the spit and headed east. In the estuary the adult drake Scaup and two Pintail were still present, with counts including c2500 Dunlin, 850+ Teal, 500+ Wigeon, 113+ Grey Plover, 105 Bar-tailed Godwit, 97 Knot, 46 Shelduck, 18 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere 55 Lapwing, 36 Redwing, three Snipe and a Golden Plover flew over, a Water Rail was on Warren Point and a Chiffchaff was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

The adult female Surf Scoter was off Warren Point with 16 Eider, also offshore a Velvet Scoter and three Red-throated Diver. In the estuary the drake Scaup was still present along with four Greenshank and two Pintail. Elsewhere four Mistle Thrush, a Redwing and a Golden Plover flew over.

The Surf Scoter was offshore with the five female/immature Eider still present. Counts from the estuary included 660 Wigeon, 340 Teal, 310 Curlew, 248 Brent Geese, 144 Grey Plover, 135 Redshank, 75 Bar-tailed Godwit, 37 Shelduck, 33 Ringed Plover, two Greenshank and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere an immature Dartford Warbler was along the Back Path and a Jay was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

Autumn may well be over with a virtual repeat of yesterday, the female Surf Scoter off the seawall with 40 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver, the five Eider off the estuary mouth and the drake Scaup in the estuary. The only 'new' bird was a female Black Redstart around the Visitor Centre.

Ringing news - an update on two Oystercatcher both rung at Dawlish Warren on 31 May 1981.

The first FV61419 was at least three years old when trapped and was found on 25 August 2010 in remains at an Eagle Owl nest in Hordaland, Norway over 1230km from the Warren. This bird was at least 32 years old when it was predated on it's presumed breeding grounds.

The second bird FV61422 was two years old when trapped and has for the last three years at least been breeding at Dart's Farm, Topsham at the top end of the Exe.

The female Surf Scoter was off the seawall with 40+ Common and a Velvet Scoter, also offshore 10 Great-crested Grebe, five Eider and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the drake Scaup was in the estuary, six Siskin and two Redwing flew over and two Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff were along the Dune Ridge.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported in tamarisks along the Dune Ridge but no other news was received.

A Short-eared Owl over the Visitor Centre was the highlight with other records limited to 240+ Brent Geese, 162 Curlew, 23 Shelduck and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary, two Siskin and a Buzzard in the Entrance Bushes and eight Great-crested Grebe offshore.

An adult female Surf Scoter off Warren Point was returning for it's fourth winter, also offshore 55 Common and a Velvet Scoter, a first winter Little Gull, two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. In the estuary the drake Scaup was still present along with 87 Grey Plover, 53 Knot, 43 Bar-tailed Godwit and 15 Sanderling. Elsewhere some late vismig gave totals overhead of 406 Redwing, 90 Wood Pigeon, 23 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, four Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, a Stock Dove and a Reed Bunting all heading north

The first Scaup of the year, a drake, was in Shutterton Creek late morning, and in front of the hide late afternoon, with the Slavonian Grebe, 208 Brent Geese, 25 Shelduck, seven Little Egret, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank also in the estuary. Offshore there were two Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver, a first winter Little Gull and 40+ Common Scoter. Elsewhere two Mistle Thrush flew through and four Siskin and two Redpoll were on site.

The Slavonian Grebe and two Greenshank were in the estuary but no other news was received.

The SE gales produced some big seas but little in the way of seabirds with a our hour watch producing just 15 Kittiwake and four Gannet, some quality was provided however with five Little Gull (3fw, 2ad) , two Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere the Treecreeper was in the Entrance Bushes, two Little Gull were off Cockwood, and a Whimbrel was in the estuary, the waders and wildfowl were however flushed by the presence of a boat in Shutterton Creek and people on the Railway Saltmarsh - an increasing trend.

Four Avocet were in the estuary on the falling tide, along with 23 Turnstone and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the Velvet and 52 Common Scoter were offshore, a Jay was burying acorns on islands in the Main Pond, a Mistle Thrush flew through and the Treecreeper was in sallows by the Main Pond.

An exceptionally late Grasshopper Warbler on Warren Point was the most unexpected record, also there a Short-eared Owl, which was mobbed by 60+ Carrion Crow as it headed east over Exmouth and a flyover Lapland Bunting, only the ninth site record but the third this autumn. Wader numbers have increased with counts including 2500 Dunlin, 126 Grey Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 15 Sanderling, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, nine Lapwing, three Greenshank and a Whimbrel. Also in the estuary a second winter Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe, a Goldeneye, a drake Pintail and the ringed escaped Red-breasted Goose, which flew in on it's own from upriver. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver, a Gadwall, 76 Common and the Velvet Scoter were offshore, two Jay were in Dead Dolphin Wood before returning to the mainland and five Siskin and a Redwing were overhead.

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 35 Shelduck but no other news was received.

The Red-throated Diver was again close inshore today but no other news was received.

A Short-eared Owl was over the Buffer Zone late afternoon with the Velvet Scoter still off the seawall. Also reported four Grey Phalarope, but no further details.

Seawatching during the first our of light gave the first two Little Auk of the year, which flew south with 30+ auks, mostly Razorbill, also south 220 Kittiwake, three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver. Also from the seawall four Avocet, the Velvet and 30+ Common Scoter. Elsewhere three Goldeneye and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary, the Treecreeper was by the First Pond, a pair of Pochard flew in off the sea and upriver and 250+ Wood Pigeon and eight Stock Dove flew NW with small groups of Brent Goose, Dunlin and Grey Plover arriving in off the sea all morning.

The unexpected highlight was an immature male Goshawk over the saltmarsh corner early afternoon only the third site record, this was closely followed by the spectacle of pigeon migration. Two waves of birds headed NW on a broad front, approx 7,000 between 7.30 and 9am and even more between 10 and 11.30am; in total

24, 125 Wood Pigeon birds were counted along with 340+ Stock Dove - the latter very much a minimum figure. Also on the move 83 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Chaffinch, 40 Lapwing, 25+ Skylark, 23 Jackdaw, three Sparrowhawk, two Brambling, a Buzzard and a Snipe. The American Golden Plover made a brief return being heard over Shutterton Creek early afternoon, but could not be relocated later in the day, also in the estuary 18 Black-tailed Godwit, four Greenshank and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere a Chiffchaff was on Warren Point, a Red-throated Diver was offshore, a Dartford Warbler was on the Golf Course and a Short-eared Owl was in Greenland Lake.

The highlight was the sixth site record of Yellow-browed Warbler, a well marked individual found on Warren Point - the first since Oct 2006. More unexpected however was the flock of eight female-type Mandarin which flew south close inshore mid morning - the third site record, all in early November. Overhead pigeon started up again with 1415 Wood Pigeon and 45 Stock Dove heading high northwest, also overhead 17 Lesser Black-backed Gull south and singles of Brambling, Redpoll and a late Swallow. A Red-throated Diver, 53 Common and a Velvet Scoter remain offshore Elsewhere a Firecrest was along the Back Path, three Blackcap, two Jay, a Chiffchaff and the Treecreeper were on site and the Slavonian Grebe, seven Lapwing, a Whimbrel and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose were in the estuary.

Counts from the estuary included 1387 Wigeon, 980 Dunlin, 342 Teal, 311 Brent Geese, 277 Black-headed Gull, 205 Redshank, 70 Common Gull, 57 Grey Plover, 28 Red-breasted Merganser, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, four Greenshank, three adult winter Mediterranean Gull, two Whimbrel and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere a Red-throated Diver, 58 Common and a Velvet Scoter were offshore and a Brambling flew over.

A quiet day with little movement overhead or in the bushes. The best of a meagre selection were a pair of Cirl Bunting around Greenland Lake, a Brambling in the Entrance Bushes and a Treecreeper by the Main Pond. Other records included a Buzzard overhead with 70+ Wood Pigeon, four Black-tailed Godwit, four Greenshank and two Peregrine in the estuary and two Chiffchaff on site.

The highlight was a ringtail Hen Harrier which flew south down river at 8.20 before heading east and circling over Exmouth. This was on the 14th record for the recording area and the first since May 2007. Also overhead during the morning but heading west were 2642 Wood Pigeon, 87 Jackdaw and 14 Stock Dove. Elsewhere the immature Cirl Bunting remains around Greenland Lake and a second winter Mediterranean Gull was in the estuary.

A Merlin through the site late morning was the highlight with other movement failing to start, with 89 Jackdaw the only notable count, other species overhead included nine Siskin, three Redpoll, two Redwing and a Brambling. On site the two Cirl Bunting were again in Greenland Lake, the Treecreeper was by the First Pond, with Water Rail in brambles along the Dune Ridge, in the Entrance Bushes and at The Main Pond. Elsewhere the Velvet Scoter was offshore with single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver heading south and the Long-tailed Duck was in the estuary with 358 Brent Geese.

Early morning before the fog arrived from upriver saw the first Wood Pigeon movement of the year with 4245 heading W along with 154 Skylark, 110+ Starling and 66 Stock Dove. Also on the move, but to the NE, were 316 Chaffinch, 37 Greenfinch, 14 Siskin, 11 Brambling and four Redpoll. At least three of the Brambling paused in Greenland Lake along with two Cirl Bunting and a Fieldfare. Elsewhere the Velvet Scoter was off the seawall, the Tawny Owl was in Dead Dolphin Wood, the Treecreeper was by the First Pond and a Whimbrel was in the estuary.