Trip reports

Dawlish Warren - 18 February 2009

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Most obvious at the beginning were the largish gathering of magpies that moved through the willows, but other species observed included dunnock, woodpigeon, starling, various gulls, long-tailed tit, blue tit, robin, a pair of colourful bullfinches and a very active and green-looking goldcrest.
A peregrine was spotted perched in a distant tree as the group moved over the sand dune to get good views over the sea. There was a dead flat calm that made it much easier to spot birds on the water and it wasn't long before the surf scoter that has been at Dawlish for some time was located. Also in view were common scoters, large numbers of great-crested grebes and several Slavonian grebes. Another excellent bird that suddenly flew in was a red-throated diver. Also on view were lots of shags and several red-breasted mergansers.
From the two-tier hide, on a falling tide, many birds were visible including the usual large gathering of oystercatchers, but also present were lapwing, turnstone, grey plover, dunlin, sanderling, knot, little egret and whimbrel. Out on the water of the lower estuary were more red-breasted mergansers and a very attractive pair of goldeneye, as well as a large gathering of brent geese.
With a total of some 46 species, some of the party then made their way back past Powderham Castle and managed to catch up with the two cattle egrets that were picking their way about a paddock among some cattle. What a great way to end a superb day of birdwatching.