Birdwatching at Dawlish Warren
Although
Dawlish Warren is rightly famous for its birdlife, it can appear a very ‘quiet’
site and if timed wrongly, trips may be rewarded with little of bird interest. The following notes aim to outline the best times
and conditions to see certain bird-groups.
Waders: Check the Exmouth tide-table, viewing around one or two hours either side of high tide is the favoured time. Please note that recent erosion means any high tide visit may require a prolonged stay at the far end of the Warren. Waders are best viewed from the hide when they are in The Bight and surrounding mudflats on a mid-ranging tide (3.1 to 3.4m). During spring tides (3.4 to 4.6m tides) many waders roost on the beaches around the Bight. If these birds are on the beach they are only to be viewed from the dune-ridge from where they are rarely disturbed, however, problems by other visitors may arise. May, August and September are good months for variety, mid-December to early-February is a good period to see impressive numbers.
Wildfowl: Wintering numbers begin to build from late September but drop off early in the New Year. Ducks frequent Shutterton Creek whilst Brent Geese are often in the Bight on on the Golf Course. Other species can often be found with the Wigeon or passing offshore although most have also occurred on the Main Pond.
Wintering
seabirds: The sheltered waters off
the Warren support varying numbers of divers, grebes and seaduck from mid-November to
February. It is best to find these
birds on an overcast day in calm, flat-sea conditions. The shallow, tidal-waters here are prone to
becoming choppy and the aspect of the sun makes viewing these birds difficult
in bright sunshine. If few birds
are present, try looking off Dawlish seafront, ‘our’ birds regularly drift
around Langstone Rock depending on the tide-state and wind-direction.
Storm-blown sea-birds: If a storm is looking to provide interesting seabirds, you do not want to be seawatching here unless you are keen on your Dawlish Warren list! The Torbay headlands or even Dawlish seafront tend to produce larger numbers. However, tired or exhausted seabirds will often concentrate here during or shortly after severe storms because this is the most sheltered location in Lyme Bay. Saying this, storms from the southeast quarter often do produce interest throughout the year, particularly in August and September.
Migrant land-birds: The trees and scrub, more often than not have a peculiar eeriness about them, especially in the afternoon. Those situations when the bushes are alive with birds are very rare. These falls can occur when certain weather conditions force large numbers of migrants to land in a small area. April and May, August to mid-November are months which can receive ‘falls’. Light south’ or easterlies with either fog or overnight drizzle have produced good numbers of grounded migrants in both seasons with light northerlies and rain also good in Spring. However seemingly ideal conditions can produce little and falls can appear unexpectedly!
In autumn clear nights with easterlies
or other light winds can be good for overhead ‘visible migration’
Winter
land-birds: Wintering birds tend to be
limited to resident species but some years a BlackRedstart, Dartford Warbler or
even a Coal Tit might overwinter. Large numbers of
thrushes, finches and some waders rarely occur here as
‘cold-weather movements’. Such events
occur from early-December to early March, either during a rapid deterioration
in conditions e.g. a snow blizzard,
or a rapid and then prolonged decline in temperature caused by a dominating anti-cyclone.
Rarities and
exceptional numbers often only occur during
erratic climatic events, many migrants do not tend to linger here and the high level of
(unintentional) disturbance throughout the day and throughout year, are all
factors which can be perceived as making one anxious about attempting to birdwatch here. Despite these problems,
noteworthy birds occur practically every day (see Rare
birds Day by Day) but to optimise seeing them, a birdwatcher should
follow this advice.
-
assess the state and height of tide (mid or spring tides are best)
-
visit early morning (the first few hours after first light are often best)
-
watch local weather reports (overcast, still conditions or storms or snow are best)
-
keep updated with regional bird-news (birds which appear elsewhere can relate to what appears here eg 100 Wheatear on Portland might mean five here!)
-
patience (hours in the field)
Birding
‘do’s and dont’s’ at Dawlish Warren
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follow the Birdwatcher's Code
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adhere to all SSSI regulations and local bylaws
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do not disturb birds, particularly roosting waders and rare migrants (this is a nature reserve, people come second to wildlife)
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access is limited, do not go on the Golf Course, mudflats or saltmarsh
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report your sightings to the Recording Group and Devon Birds