Following on from the 2009 SMADD survey, Peter Dare has decided to continue with a further pilot for 2010. The survey will now be known simply as Breeding Bird Arrival & Departures or BBAD.

This year two pilot survey has a revised recording form which can be downloaded in either Excel or PDF formats.

17 January 2010

A January whitethroat caught on Sunday 17 January by Jon Avon is causing considerable interest.

6 January 2010

The current harsh winter conditions have brought many unusual birds into gardens in search of food. However, the meeting of birds not normally associated with garden feeding often means confrontations with more normal garden visitors.

16 December 2009

Phil Stidwill took this shot of a Garden Warbler – an incredibly late one – in his Plymouth garden on 3 December.

14 October 2009

On a walk along the Grand Western Canal in late September, Andrew Cunningham was hoping to see one or two migrants. These Swallows provided him with an excellent photo opportunity, despite the poor light.

27 August 2009

Ringer Bob Burridge and his team of helpers managed a 'hat-trick' of Swallow controls over the two days of 21 and 22 August at the South Milton Ley Swallow roost.

11 August 2009

John Fortey took these shots of a very tame Little Ringed Plover from the hide at Dawlish Warren on 6 August. John said the bird was so close to the hide they overlooked it (literally!).

11 August 2009

Devon ringer Bob Burridge reports several hundred Swallows roosting at South Milton Ley on 9 August. Among the birds caught was a juvenile Swallow already bearing a BTO ring, number X260758.

29 June 2009

There are often reports of second-calendar year (2cy) Hobbies in Devon, although basing identification on a slight brownish tinge to the uppers may not rule out adults, which can show this feature when well lit. You really need a good underside view such as this shot, taken by Mark Darlaston.

9 June 2009

During the first week of June, Charles Fleming spent a lot of time watching Cuckoos on Dartmoor, learning much about their behaviour and eventually capturing this excellent photo.

28 April 2009

Rob Jutsum took this photo of a Little Ringed Plover at Sherpa Marsh on 22 April.

9 April 2009

Last year, Peter Goodfellow heard his earliest-ever singing Blackcap, in February. In that month’s Harrier, Peter appealed for other records from Devon, but none were received – until his own record this year: a Blackcap that sang loudly twice from a thicket of pussy willow in his garden at 10.45am on 7 March.

image:

This Chiffchaff was present at Clennon Valley since November 2008 and was still there in Febrary 2009.See Chiffchaff Sub-species - but which? for the full story.

27 January 2009

This intriguingly brown/grey and white Chiffchaff has been present at Clennon Valley since November last year. Unfortunately, it has not positively been heard to call – one of the best ways to separate the various Chiffchaff types.