Pete Reay, Editor, Devon Bird Report, March 2009

DBR 2007, the 80th annual report of the DBWPS, was delivered to members in mid-December 2008. It is the second in the new size and format, and although still called the Devon Bird Report, it is also issue Number 3 of Devon Birds Volume 61.

This latest report, edited by Peter Reay and Mike Lock, contains contributions from 22 writers and 12 photographers & artists. As usual, the bulk of the report is taken up with the Systematic List, which in 2007 totals 288 species, including one in Category D (Falcated Duck), 15 in Category E and 11 BBRC rarities. Among the latter was an Audouin’s Gull at Seaton in August, the first for Devon and only the fourth for Britain. This, together with the elevation of Caspian Gull to full species status, brings the all-time Devon list to 420 species. Another Caspian Gull and a Black Brant in 2007 were both seconds for the county, and breeding Long-eared Owls were the first for 20 years.

An account of the discovery of the Audouin’s Gull can be found in the report, as well as some rather distant photographs of the bird. These are among 29 colour photos in total. Immaculate portraits of Kingfisher and female Cirl Bunting decorate the outer covers, while Wheatear, Buzzard and Dunlin are on the inside. The remaining photos appear on an eight-page centre spread, and include 2007 rarities such as Ring-necked Duck, Night-heron, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret and of course the Audouin’s Gull. Of these, perhaps the most significant is the Cattle Egret, since five in the county in late 2007, part of a national invasion, almost doubled the number of county records and may have marked the beginning of the end of this species’ status as a national rarity.

Among the species accounts, there are several black and white photos, many fine drawings and four Boxes. The latter provide more detail on interesting events (the MSC Napoli incident and Raven predation on a rookery) or studies (Red Kite wing-tags and how to separate migrants from local breeders at coastal sites). Strange events reported included a Carrion Crow seizing a Feral Pigeon in flight and a farm pond at West Alvington which held two of the year’s three Glossy Ibises – an adult in April and a first-winter in November. In the regular feature on Early and Late Dates, the only new extreme was a new late date for Garganey – breaking the previous record from 1958 by just one day!

Other regular features are the survey reports for WeBS, BBS and WBBS and the Ringing Report, and there is also the latest update on the Alba Wagtails at Slapton Ley. A ‘Looking Back’ review covers DBRs from 1932, 1957 and 1982. In the Ringing Report, there are details of birds either ringed or recovered in Devon in 2007, and these are for durations (between ringing and recovery) of up to 8,817 days and for distances up to 1,947 km.