Dawlish Warren: October 2008

Click here for 2008 Year List

Report sightings

The first Spoonbill of the year, a juvenile roosted on Finger Point until 11am, also in the estuary three Pintail and two Shoveler. Elsewhere a Grey Phalarope was offshore in the morning with 15 Tufted Duck on the sea late afternoon and 31 Skylark passed overhead.

The Surf Scoter was offshore south of Langstone Rock with single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver and c90 Common Scoter. Elsewhere Dunlin numbers had increased to 200 with a Dartford Warbler and at least 10 Siskin also on site. A movement of 400 Wood Pigeon overhead was the first of the autumn.

No sign today of the Surf Scoter offshore but three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, five Common Scoter and the drake Eider were present. In the estuary six Pale-bellied Brent Goose were in front of the hide with 100 Dunlin and in the Saltmarsh, a Mediterranean Gull, 31 Black-tailed Godwit and 30 Knot. Overhead there were 30 Jackdaw and a Buzzard.

A female Surf Scoter offshore from groyne nine was a surprise, possibly the third individual of the year, but most likely last winter's bird returning. Also offshore three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, two Common Scoter and a drake Eider. Elsewhere two local Buzzard circled over the carpark with four Raven, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose dropped into Shutterton Creek, two Wheatear was along the Dune Ridge and eight Stonechat, a Chiffchaff, a Dartford Warbler and 15 Siskin were in the remaining bushes.

Four Mediterranean Gull and two Greenshank were in the estuary, with a Dartford Warbler and two Wheatear also on site. Overhead there were 55 Wood Pigeon, 22 Siskin, two Jackdaw and three Swallow.

A probable Lapland Bunting was heard flying over, but the only other news received for today was of four Redwing and a Great-spotted Woodpecker.

A Balearic Shearwater was offshore, but the only other news came from the estuary with counts of three Mediterranean Gull, 1550 Oystercatcher, 235 Curlew, 47 Ringed Plover and 25 Dunlin.

Visible migration was stronger than previous days with single Brambling and Redpoll, 34 Siskin, 44 alba Wagtail, 90+ Meadow Pipit, seven Reed Bunting, six Chaffinch, 41 Skylark, three Swallow, three Raven and three Rook. Elsewhere a Kingfisher was on the Main Pond, the Slavonian Grebe, 15 Black-tailed Godwit and four Greenshank were in the estuary, three Great Northern Diver and two Eider were offshore and a Great-spotted Woodpecker and two Wheatear were on site.

A Redwing was overhead with 35 Skylark, six Rook, five House Martin, five Siskin and four Reed Bunting. Elsewhere three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore with two Eider and two Sandwich Tern, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with four Greenshank and two Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Wheatear were on site

Seawatching for three hours from first light produced a count of 330+ Gannet, four Kittiwake and single Balearic Shearwater, Grey Phalarope, Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua with three Red-necked Grebe. Rain throughout day made birding hard and uncomfortable. The immature Merlin remains, seen again around Warren Point, where there was also a Wheatear. An eclipse drake Garganey frequented the Saltmarsh where it was seen along with c.600 Wigeon and c.400 Teal. Also in the estuary there were 488 Great Black-backed Gull and 196 Redshank.

A Red-throated Diver and the two Eider were offshore, with 24 Red-breasted Merganser, six Black-tailed Godwit, five Sandwich Tern, two Lapwing, a Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe in estuary. Elsewhere the first four Redwing of the year flew over, as did a Buzzard and three Siskin. Elsewhere the Canary was still by the beach huts and a Merlin was over Warren Point, a Tufted Duck was reported and two Great-spotted Woodpecker were on site. A Long-tailed Duck was seen just south of the recording area from Rockstone flats flying south away from the Warren in the afternoon.

A Red-necked Grebe was offshore, with a Red-throated Diver, two Eider, two Sandwich Tern and a Balearic Shearwater. The Slavonian Grebe was, again, in the estuary with 12 Greenshank, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere vis mig included 96 Wood Pigeon, 44 Jackdaw, five Redpoll, four Siskin and a Buzzard with two Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Dartford Warbler also on site.

A number of late migrants included the reserve's latest ever Turtle Dove in the Entrance Bushes, along with a Stock Dove and the first Tawny Owl for nearly two years. Also on site four Coal Tit along the Back Path, 40 Wood Pigeon, 40 Greenfinch, four Goldcrest, two Blackcap and singles of Wheatear, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff. Despite large numbers elsewhere there was very little vis mig with totals as follows: 52 Jackdaw, 50 Meadow Pipit, 45 Skylark, 15 Shelduck, 15 alba Wagtail, 10 Goldfinch, seven Rook, four Siskin, two Redpoll, two Song Thrush, two Reed Bunting and two Chaffinch. Two Red-throated Diver were offshore with 100 Common Scoter, two Eider and a Great-crested Grebe. Elsewhere two Shoveler were on the Main Pond with a Kingfisher and two Little Grebe and the Slavonian Grebe and 12 Red-breasted Merganser were in the estuary.

Three Red-necked Grebe were offshore from the seawall with a Red-throated Diver, two Eider and a few Common Scoter. Movement overhead was limited with estimates of 55 Linnet, 20 alba Wagtail and Meadow Pipit, 10 Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Skylark, eight Reed Bunting, seven Rook, three Redpoll, and single Siskin, Brambling and Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere a Wheatear was in front of the hide, 12 Greenshank and at least one Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary, three Little Grebe and at least two Water Rail at the Main Pond with a Canary in the Buffer Zone adding a splash of colour.

Movement overhead was limited with vounts of 23 Skylark, 13 Siskin, 10 Meadow Pipit, six Linnet, six alba Wagtail and five Goldfinch. Elsewhere a Red-throated Diver, two Eider and eight Common Scoter were offshore with four Goldcrest in the bushes.

A late Garden Warbler on Warren Point and three male Yellowhammer in Greenland Lake early morning were the only real surprises. The Yellowhammer eventually headed off west with other movement today including 305 Linnet, 88 Meadow Pipit, 83 alba Wagtail, 37 Siskin, 31 Greenfinch, 12 Skylark, 10 Swallow, 10 Reed Bunting, five Song Thrush, three Rock Pipit, three Rook, three Jackdaw, just three Goldfinch, two Raven and singles of Redpoll and Grey Wagtail. Aside from the Garden Warbler migrants were few with a single Dartford Warbler, still in Greenland Lake, and six Goldcrest, four Chiffchaff and three Blackcap also on site. The Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary with seven Red-breasted Merganser, two Lapwing, at least one Black-tailed Godwit and 232 Canada Geese plus attendant hybrid and a Bar-headed Goose. Elsewhere the summer plumaged Red-throated Diver and two Eider were offshore.

The Red-necked Grebe was again offshore with two eclipse drake Eider, a Pale-bellied and four Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a summer plumaged Great Northern and an immature Red-throated Diver. Overhead passage was down on recent days with 65 Linnet, 35 Siskin, 27 Goldfinch, 24 alba Wagtail, 23 Meadow Pipit, seven Swallow, three Redpoll, two Chaffinch, two Grey Wagtail, two Rook and two Jackdaw. On site two Dartford Warbler were in Greenland Lake with a third on the Dune Ridge, a Mistle and seven Song Thrush, two Coal Tit, six Goldcrest, three Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and single of Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker also on site. Counts from the estuary included 1060 Wigeon, 260+ Teal, 20 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin, four Red-breasted Merganser, three Greenshank, two Black-tailed Godwit, a Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe reappeared. Elsewhere a Merlin flew across the Bight, 43 Mallard, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail were at the Main Pond and 80 Starling came out of the roost at the Golf Course pond.

In contrast to yesterday, thick fog covered most of the area on and off during the morning, there was however still some movement overhead with 135 Meadow Pipit, 62 alba Wagtail, 59 Siskin, 33 Chaffinch, 17 Linnet, eight Swallow, five Shelduck, five Rook, three Reed Bunting, two Skylark, two Grey Wagtail and single Redpoll, Raven and Collared Dove. Grounded migrants included a Spotted Flycatcher, the latest site record, 12 Goldcrest, five Blackcap, three Chiffchaff and a Wheatear, with 40+ Linnet, three Pheasant and a Great-spotted Woodpecker also on site. The afternoon WeBS count revealed a Garganey in with 1113 Wigeon and 587 Teal. Other counts included 454 Curlew, 268 Redshank, 65 Brent Geese, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Knot, six Greenshank, two Mediterranean Gull and single Whimbrel and Lapwing. Elsewhere 33 Mallard, three Little Grebe, a Coot and a Kingfisher were on the Main Pond, two Eider, the summer plumaged Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore

Despite the lack of cloud cover vis mig before 10.30 was productive with a site vis mig record of 162 alba Wagtail over mostly NW. Also overhead 132 Meadow Pipit, 87 Linnet, c75 Goldfinch, 55 Skylark, c35 Greenfinch, 31 Jackdaw, 19 Siskin, 12 Rook, nine Chaffinch, eight Reed Bunting, seven Swallow, four Grey Wagtail, two Redpoll, two Raven and the first Brambling of the autumn. A Dartford Warbler in Greenland Lake was also the first of the autumn, with two Coal Tit, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, six Blackcap, three Chiffchaff, two Wheatear, single Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker also present on site. Elsewhere three Little Grebe, a Coot and a Kingfisher were on the Main Pond, a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver and 20 Common Scoter were offshore and two Greenshank were in the estuary.

Late news of a ringing recovery from Oct 2007 - a ring and leg found on the beach have been tracked back to a Great Skua ringed as a nesting at Hermaness, Unst in July 1998.

A quiet day with just three Siskin and two Swallow overhead and two Coal Tit also present on site. A probable Marsh Tit would easily have been bird of the day had it been more than glimpsed! Elsewhere four Mediterranean Gull, 10 Sandwich Tern, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel were in the estuary and a pale phase Arctic Skua was offshore.

An early morning combination of thick estuary fog and cloudless skies meant little was seen or heard as it passed very high overhead. The usual suspects, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, and Goldfinch were up there but only Siskin with c30 birds reached double figures. A single Pintail flew south over the carpark. Grounded migrants in the Entrance Bushes included two Coal Tit and a Jay with four Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and a Great-spotted Woodpecker also present. Elsewhere a Merlin flew west past the hide, with 60 Dunlin, 30 Knot, four Grey Plover and three Black-tailed Godwit in the estuary and the Red-necked Grebe and an Arctic Skua were offshore.

Visible migration this morning produced 130+ Meadow Pipit, 107 Goldfinch, 64 Siskin, 32 Skylark, 23 Rook, 11 Swallow, six House Martin, five Chaffinch, four Song Thrush, three Redpoll, three Jackdaw and two Reed Bunting. Grounded migrants included six Blackcap and four Chiffchaff, but there were good numbers of resident birds with a record count of c40 Dunnock, including at least three birds high overhead, as well as several Great and Blue Tit moving through the site, with them were up to five Coal Tit as well as single Great-spotted and Green Woodpecker. Elsewhere a Red-necked Grebe was distant off groyne nine and a Mediterranean Gull was in the estuary.

Early morning seawatching produced a Grey Phalarope south at 8.50 just off the seawall. Also going south before 11.30 eight Arctic and two Great Skua, seven Balearic Shearwater, c.170 Gannet, c.120 Kittiwake, nine Razorbill, seven Sandwich Tern, three Fulmar, one Knot, a single Red-throated and a probable Black-throated Diver.

Seawatching before 10.30 produced another three Long-tailed Skua, two of which flew south together around 10am and passed Berry Head 40 minutes later. A single Great Northern Diver which went south was also recorded off there. Also recorded were 10 Arctic, four skua sp, three Great and a Pomarine Skua, three Balearic and two Manx Shearwater, 305 Gannet, five Fulmar, seven Sandwich, a Common and an Arctic Tern, a Great-crested and two Red-necked Grebe. Also offshore 60+ Common and at least one Velvet Scoter. Two immature Tufted Duck in the estuary were the first of autumn, also there 81 Dunlin, 31 Ringed and eight Grey Plover, four Greenshank, four Sanderling and three White Wagtail. Overhead there were eight Siskin, seven House Martin and three Swallow. Elsewhere a Coal Tit was in the Entrance Bushes, three adult Mediterranean Gull were by the seawall and two Merlin were mobile around the reserve chasing waders in the Bight, two Wheatear on the Golf Course and two Kingfisher at the Main Pond.

In the promising conditions the first Long-tailed Skua of the year, flew south along with 44 Arctic, four Pomarine and two Great Skua. Also heading south four Balearic and two Manx Shearwater, 200+ Gannet, c75 Kittiwake, c25 Razorbill, six Fulmar, six Sandwich and four Arctic Tern and a Merlin. Also offshore 70+ Common and the first Velvet Scoter of the autumn, which had earlier flew west past Seaton. Before the weather arrived, vis mig produced 175+ Meadow Pipit, 40+ Siskin, c25 Goldfinch, 12 alba Wagtail, nine Redpoll, three Chaffinch, three Jay and single Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Reed Bunting. In the estuary single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were present over high tide with nine Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, adult Mediterranean Gull and two Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere two Wheatear were on site and a Coal Tit was near the Main Pond.

The only news received was of the fourth Sabine's Gull of the year, a juvenile on Bull Hill with other gulls and terns.

A juvenile Osprey was still in the estuary causing havoc amongst the waders and wildfowl. Also there 31 Brent Geese and 20 Knot. Migrants overhead 30 Meadow Pipit, 15 Goldfinch, three alba and a Grey Wagtail, three Redpoll, three Swallow, two Reed Bunting and a Buzzard. In the bushes there were at least six Chiffchaff, four Blackcap, two Garden Warbler and both Great-spotted and Green Woodpecker.

Two Curlew Sandpiper were reported over the high tide, along with two Common Tern and a Merlin.