Dawlish Warren: September 2010

Click here for 2010 Year List

Report sightings

A Treecreeper by the First Pond was the highlight, only the second of the year, other migrants were limited to a Goldcrest, four Blackcap and two Chiffchaff. Overhead single Siskin, Grey and Yellow Wagtail passed through along with the first Lesser Redpoll of the autumn.

A seawatch early morning produced 200+ Common Scoter offshore with 69 Gannet, three Kittiwake, three Razorbill and single Arctic Skua and Fulmar south.

The first three Shelduck for several weeks were in the estuary along with 379 Dunlin, 333 Wigeon, two Little Stint and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere single Jay, Coal Tit and Whitethroat were on site and 100+ Common Scoter were offshore with three Eider.

Counts from the estuary included 1900 Oystercatcher, 474 Wigeon, 305 Redshank, 273 Dunlin, 259 Teal, 48 Ringed and seven Grey Plover, five Greenshank, two Little Stint and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere two Jay and two Goldcrest were on site, two Siskin flew over and two Eider were offshore.

The Wryneck remained along the Dune Ridge, other migrants including single Whitethroat, 11 Chiffchaff and six Blackcap. Overhead there were 77 Meadow Pipit, three Grey and 42 alba Wagtail, two Rook, a Chaffinch and a Siskin. Elsewhere two Little Stint were in the estuary and two Eider were offshore.

The Wryneck was again along the Dune Ridge, other migrants included single Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. A Little Stint remained in the estuary with a Curlew Sandpiper, 295 Wigeon, 150 Teal, nine Brent Geese, 150 Redshank, 100+ Bar and 90 Black-tailed Godwit, three Whimbrel, two Greenshank, a Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 190 Swallow, 76 Meadow Pipit, four Grey and a Yellow Wagtail, four Chaffinch and a Siskin passed overhead and two Eider were offshore.

The Wryneck was again along the Dune Ridge this evening, near the path down to the hide, also this evening a Short-eared Owl roosted on Warren Point, also on site a Firecrest in Dead Dolphin Wood with two Jay and a Coal Tit. Elsewhere a Little Stint, an adult Mediterranean Gull, four Greenshank, four Whimbrel and the first Grey Plover for several weeks were in the estuary and 60 Goldfinch and five Jackdaw headed NE.

The first five Brent Geese of the autumn were in the Bight along with 160 Redshank, also in the estuary 321 Wigeon, 236 Canada Geese, 94 Teal, six Greenshank, a Pintail, a Razorbill, a Little and the Slavonian Grebe. Despite disturbance over the high tide two Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint were on the beach. A Wryneck was reported in tamarisks along the Dune Ridge this evening, also on site 10 Chiffchaff, nine Blackcap and single Goldcrest, Jay and Wheatear. Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl headed NW early morning, 85 Swallow roosted in the Golf Course pond and offshore there were 25 Common Scoter and a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver.

Early morning vis mig saw 200 Meadow and a Tree Pipit over before 10am along with four Grey Wagtail, two Siskin and two Reed Bunting. Grounded migrants included 18 Chiffchaff, two Whitethroat, two Goldcrest, two Reed Bunting, a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and three Greenshank were in the estuary

Despite an early morning movement of 200+ Swallow south there was very little overhead with just 30+ Meadow Pipit, three Grey Wagtail, two Siskin, an early Mistle Thrush, the first of the autumn, and a Chaffinch. In the estuary there were at least 165 Redshank, three Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, 327 Great Black-backed Gull, c50 Sandwich Tern, three Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stint on the evening tide, a second winter Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere eight Blackcap, three Whitethroat, two Reed Warbler and a Goldcrest were on site along with at least one Jay and a Coal Tit, whilst offshore there were 50+ Common Scoter and two Balearic Shearwater flew south.

The highlight was the recording area's first record of Pink-footed Goose. A single bird flew in off the sea early morning, landed briefly in Shutterton Creek and then flew off SW over the Golf course. Other movement overhead was much reduced with many birds passing too high in clear conditions, totals however included 200 Meadow Pipit, 16 Rook, nine Grey and a Yellow Wagtail, three Jackdaw, two Collared Dove, two Snipe and a Chaffinch. Grounded migrants included 16 Chiffchaff, six Willow Warbler, five Wheatear, two Whitethroat, a Coal Tit and a Reed Warbler. Elsewhere 550+ Curlew, 350+ Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, 20 Sanderling, three Greenshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were in the estuary, two Shoveler were offshore and a Curlew Sandpiper and an adult Mediterranean Gull were on the beach, despite disturbance.

The autumn vis mig season finally got started this morning with the site's earliest ever Lapland Bunting over at 8.20am, only the seventh record and the first since Oct 2003. Also overhead before 10am, 350+ Meadow Pipit, 90 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 15 Snipe, 13 Siskin, 11 Grey Heron, nine Rook, five Grey and two Yellow Wagtail, two Sparrowhawk, two Little Egret, a very high Great-spotted Woodpecker and single Tree Pipit and Reed Bunting. On site migrants included 22 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap, three Sedge Warbler, three Song Thrush, two Reed Warbler, two Whitethroat and two Wheatear. Elsewhere 103 Mallard roosted on site, 117 Teal and 51 Wigeon were in the estuary with 71 Bar-tailed Godwit and four Curlew Sandpiper, and the long-staying Buzzard was along the Dune Ridge.

The slow trickle of migrants continues with two Jay around the Main Pond briefly the highlight. Overhead before 8.30am there were 17 Meadow Pipit and a Grey Wagtail, whilst grounded there were 14 Chiffchaff, four Blackcap and singles of Whitethroat, Wheatear and Goldcrest.

Light vis mig gave 22 Meadow Pipit, five Grey Wagtail, two Rook and a Siskin overhead before 9am. Grounded migrants included 13 Chiffchaff, six Blackcap, three Whitethroat, two Wheatear and single Willow and Reed Warbler.

Two Common Sandpiper and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary with 28 Sandwich Tern and eight Razorbill offshore.

Wader counts over the morning high tide included 300+ Dunlin, 110 Ringed Plover, 12 Curlew Sandpiper and three Greenshank. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 258 Great Black-backed Gull, two adult Mediterranean Gull, one with a white ring, 65 Teal and 35 Wigeon. Migrants on site included single Goldcrest, Reed Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, two Wheatear, including one in the estuary on the Wreck, 12 Chiffchaff and four Whitethroat.

An further small fall saw 34 Chiffchaff and two Willow Warbler on site along with the first Firecrest of the autumn - an early bird. Birds still present included nine Wheatear, two Sedge Warbler, single Spotted Flycatcher and Whinchat. The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with wader counts including 1700 Oystercatcher, 352 Curlew, 166 Redshank, nine Curlew Sandpiper and two Greenshank. Elsewhere a Coal Tit was on site, 60 Meadow Pipit, four Grey Wagtail, three Chaffinch and a Siskin flew overhead and a site record 104 House Sparrow roosted in the Car park sallows.

Offshore there were three Black Tern, a Balearic Shearwater and an Arctic Skua with 30+ Common Scoter. On site a fall of migrants included single Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler and Whinchat, seven Wheatear, six Whitethroat and four Reed Warbler with seven Grey Wagtail overhead. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe and two Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary and on the beach there were three Curlew Sandpiper and a first winter Yellow-legged Gull.

Seawatching in the strong southwesterly wind during the morning produced a site record 52 Balearic Shearwater south along with five Great and two Arctic Skua, 39 Common Tern and a Little Gull. Elsewhere an Osprey and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary and on the beach there were three Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint.

Five Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stint were on the beach early morning but no other news was received.

High tide this morning saw 400+ Ringed Plover, 362 Dunlin, six Sanderling and four Whimbrel with the Slavonian Grebe and 20 Sandwich Tern also in the estuary. Elsewhere single Whinchat and Wheatear were on site, two Gadwall were on the Main Pond and six Grey and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.

Only four Curlew Sandpiper were present today with 400+ Ringed Plover and 250+ Dunlin. Also in the estuary nine Greenshank, the Slavonian Grebe and a second winter Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a Lesser Whitethroat was along the Back Path and a Wheatear was on the Point.

Over the evening high tide there were at least 17 Curlew Sandpiper including the first adult of the autumn, also in the estuary 450 Curlew, 308 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 30+ Knot, 10 Turnstone, nine Common Tern, five Black-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank, two Whimbrel, two adult Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe, a Common Sandpiper, a Black Swan and a canoeist flushing everything. Offshore single Great and Arctic Skua passed south early morning with three Arctic Skua and a Black Tern present mid evening. Elsewhere two Jay were around Dead Dolphin Wood and migrants included two Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler.

Wader counts included 544 Dunlin, 517 Ringed Plover, above the internationally importance threshold, 15 Knot, seven Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint, also in the estuary c200 Wigeon. Offshore there were three Arctic and a Great Skua, single Little and Arctic Tern, an immature Little Gull and a Great Northern Diver flew south. Elsewhere migrants included a Lesser Whitethroat, three Whitethroat and a Reed Warbler.

Wader numbers increased with counts over high tide including 564 Dunlin, 360 Ringed Plover, 42 Sanderling, seven Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stint. Also in the estuary 59 Wigeon, 36 Teal, the Slavonian Grebe and with the Canada Goose flock, two Bar-headed and a Barnacle Goose, the latter the first of the year. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua was offshore with 36 Sandwich, five Common and an Arctic Tern, a Buzzard and a Kingfisher were around the Main Pond, four Grey and a Yellow Wagtail were overhead and grounded migrants included two Wheatear and a Garden Warbler.

Counts over high tide included 404 Dunlin, 363 Great Black-backed Gull, 309 Ringed Plover, 28 Sanderling, three Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint. Elsewhere a Balearic Shearwater was offshore, but migrants were limited to two Wheatear and a Whitethroat.

A Spoonbill flew east over the Visitor Centre early morning, the second of the year. The only other news received was of a Little Stint in the Bight.

A Black Tern and two Curlew Sandpiper were in the estuary but no other news was received.

Curlew Sandpiper 01/09/10 © Colin Scott	Knot 01/09/10 © Colin Scott
Sanderling 01/09/10 © Colin Scott	Turnstone 01/09/10 © Colin Scott