Dawlish Warren, Cockwood & Starcross - Sat 25 Jan

A morning off work so I managed to get in some birding instead and headed off to south Devon with my mate Steve. Arriving at Dawlish Warren at about 8.45am we went straight to the seafront for a bit of seawatching. A bit of gen from a few other gathered birders soon got us on a Velvet Scoter. Scanning the calm sea I had soon got well in to double figures with regard to Red-throated Divers and Great Crested Grebes but that was about it. We then bumped in to the Chard Posse and after a good natter Steve and I headed up towards The Bight. A few Turnstones were seen on the groynes and then another spell seawatching. Before too long I managed to pick out a Long-tailed Duck and Steve's Gannet was a new year tick for me. At least three more Velvet Scoters were hanging out with half a dozen or so Common Scoters. A large flock of Linnets were feeding on the mudflat behind the hide but waders were limited to a few Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank with a large number of Oystercatchers. A call from Andy of aforementioned Chard Posse informed us of a Black Brant at Cockwood, so we walked back to the car adding Stonechat to my year list and ending a pleasant couple of hours at Dawlish Warren.
Five minutes down the road we parked at Cockwood and scanned the field of Dark-bellied Brents. After about ten minutes I finally located the Black Brant. This field also held a few Canada Geese and several Curlew and Common Gulls. We then crossed the railway line hoping to see some waders, but the tide was right in. No waders then but a cracking Slavonian Grebe instead.

 

 

 

Another message, this time from Dave, had us continuing north and stopping at Starcross. After pulling in to the car park we scanned the small pool on the opposite side of the road and soon found the Spotted Redshank amongst the other waders. Seven Greenshank were also present as well as a small flock of Teal.
It was then time to head back home as I had promised to be home in time for lunch. This meant skipping a few other sites we had considered visiting, but it had been a good morning out and in dry weather for a change.
Year list for 2014 now at 106 species.