Dawlish Warren..

Last Sunday morning found myself and Andy Grinter heading off to Dawlish Warren in Devon in the hope of picking up one or two good birds that have been present during the last week. The hoped for Bonaparte's gull didn't materialise but a drake Long-tailed duck was great to see. Despite good numbers of Brent Geese there was no sign of the Black Brant that's been moving around the estuary again this autumn either. We did connect with the water pipit, which showed in front of the hide at a distance along with good numbers of Dunlin, Blackwits, Grey Plover and a few sanderling.

Then the Tweet came in that three Penduline Tits had been seen at Bowling Green Marsh 20 minutes up the road! We soon abandoned the Warren and trudged back along the sand dunes to the car. We arrived to the news that they hadn't been seen for an hour-and-a-half and unfortunately that was to remain the case. What a great find though!

Is a log? Is it a pebble? No, it's a poor phone-scoped
shot of the water pipit: R. Harris

Gray Plovers in the early morning gloom: Andy Grinter

Brent Geese: Andy Grinter

Brent Geese: Andy Grinter

Little Egret: Andy Grinter

Redshank: Andy Grinter

Curlew: Andy Grinter