Pete Reay, Editor, Devon Bird Report, November 2007

The 79th annual report of the DBWPS was delivered to members in mid-December. It is the first in the new size and format, and although still called the Devon Bird Report, it is also issue Number 3 of Devon Birds Volume 60.

This latest report, edited by Peter Reay and Mike Lock, contains contributions from 25 writers and 16 photographers & artists. One of the writers was Roger Thornett who died in July, and the report is dedicated to his memory. Roger’s contributions include notes on the weather, most of the warbler species accounts, a box on Dartford Warbler surveying on the East Devon Commons and a report on the results of the 2006 National Dartford Warbler Survey in Devon.

As usual, the bulk of the report is taken up with the Systematic List, which this year totals 285 species, including one in Category D (Falcated Duck), 10 in Category E and 12 BBRC rarities. Of the latter, one was new to Devon, Britain and (almost) the Western Palearctic. This was, of course, the momentous Long-billed Murrelet off Dawlish Warren and Dawlish in November 2006. It brings the Devon List to 416 species, all of which are listed in the back of the report. The other bird new to Devon in 2006 was the juvenile Caspian Gull in Torbay in August. At present this is still a subspecies of Herring Gull, but rapid evolution (within the BOURC taxonomic sub-committee) suggests that it will be recognized as a full species next year.

Accounts of the discovery of both the Long-billed Murrelet and Caspian Gull can be found in the report, as well as photographs of both species. Not surprisingly, the murrelet features as the cover photo, and in complete contrast there are Brambling flocks on the back. On the inside covers, and on an eight page centre-spread, there are colour photos of many other species including portraits of more common birds such as Redstart and Willow Warbler (the latter a nestling being engulfed by an Adder), while others illustrate some of the highlights of 2006, such as the four Cranes in January, and the Long-billed Dowitcher in October.

Among all the species accounts within the systematic list there are 11 Boxes, providing more detail on interesting events or specific surveys such as the flight speeds of shearwater, Black Kite, Peregrines feeding young Kestrels, Exe Estuary gull counts, Carrion Crow predation on Sandwich Terns and breeding Serin. In the regular feature on Early and Late Dates, there are some revised extremes unearthed as a result of research for the Birds of Lundy, and among the early and late dates for 2006, there are two new extremes (but only by one to two days), for Redstart and Sandwich Tern.

Regular survey reports for WeBS, BBS and WBBS are included, as well as three specific to 2006 - NEWS, Dartford Warbler Survey and BBS for Dartmoor Training Areas. In the Ringing Report, the breakdown by species (93 of them) of the 13,899 birds ringed in Devon in 2006 is given. Another table here provides details of birds either ringed or recovered in Devon and these are for durations (between ringing and recovery) of up to 4,395 days and for distances up to 8,302 km.