Category: South Devon
Bats and Ladders; the Good, the Dodgy and the Really Interesting Stuff-George Bemment-S.Devon Branch Indoor Meeting 7.30pm-21/09/26
Author of the book, ‘Bats and Ladders’, George has spent 36 years looking for our British bats and their roosts. She will talk about the species, their roosts and what is actually involved in bat survey work, and what we’ve learnt (or think we’ve learnt) about the greater horseshoe bats of Berry Head.
The Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QA
Suggested donation for entry £3 Members £4 Non-Members, to include refreshments
S. Devon Branch Visit to Cabilla Manor, Cornwall 29-06-26
South Devon Branch Walk in the Atlantic Temperate Rainforest of Cabilla Manor, Cornwall 29th June 2026
See PDF Report here South Devon Branch Walk In The Temperate Atlantic Rainforest Of Cabilla Manor
The group of 12 members, arrived for their guided tour in the heart of the Cornish countryside and were immediately serenaded by a Song Thrush perched in the boughs of an Oak tree whilst Swallows and House Martins swooped down to their nests under the eaves of the Manor House.
The group was then introduced to their leader, Ennia, who enthusiastically extolled the virtues of the habitat we were about to enter. Her knowledge of the flora and fauna inspired the group to focus and re-focus on the total environment that we were experiencing, to the extent that the birds were almost a sideshow to the splendour of the ancient oak rainforest, which had been in existence for over 3000 years. Even the cheeky young Robin, that tried to interrupt the talk, didn’t really get a look in!
As the group continued into the depths of the forest, so the birdsong decreased and the peace and tranquillity of the environment enveloped the walkers, making the occasional burst of song from the Blackcap and Wren even more poignant. With Ravens croaking overhead the views over the valley showed the full extent of the forest, with the occasional squawk from a family of Jays and later on a Buzzard, flying through the dense canopy from its hidden nest site.
Just as the walk was ending, the group was entertained by a real-life drama, when a tiny Wren flew onto a branch, then hid for a while as it was surprised to see so many onlookers. It persevered and eventually returned, struggling to carry a feather as big as itself into its mossy enclosure in the Mother Oak. This was a fitting end to our walk and symbolic of the massive task that Merlin Hanbury Tennison has chosen, when setting up the Thousand Year Trust, to try to safeguard and expand the Atlantic Temperate rainforest for the benefit of future generations.
Nick D’Agorne
Bird List
| Stock Dove Common Woodpigeon Common Swift European Herring Gull Common Buzzard Great Spotted Woodpecker Eurasian Green Woodpecker Eurasian Jay Eurasian Jackdaw Rook Carrion Crow Common Raven Coal Tit Eurasian Blue Tit Great Tit |
Barn Swallow
Western House Martin |
South Milton and South Huish Reserves – Wildlife Havens Created by Devon Birds-Nick Townsend-S.Devon Branch Indoor Meeting 7.30pm-20/04/26
Nick is Devon Birds Conservation Officer for South Devon, responsible for the Reserves at South Milton, South Huish and Prawle as well as the bird hide at Beesands. Over the last 50 years, the South Milton and South Huish wetlands have been transformed by Devon Birds into the wonderful wildlife havens we know today. The flora and fauna list now runs to an astonishing 1800 species at South Milton, including 217 bird species. Nick will be telling us about how these changes came about and describe some of the more interesting flora and fauna.
The Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QA
Suggested donation for entry £3 Members £4 Non-Members, to include refreshments
The Little Owl its Past, Present and Future-Roy Leigh- Little Owl Monitoring Network-S.Devon Branch Indoor Meeting 7.30pm-19/10/26
Roy Leigh has been monitoring owls for over 30 years. His talk will cover the introduction of the Little Owl into the UK, its ecology, the current status and the monitoring network he has established to champion the owls’ cause and understand its decline. Roy will share the latest updates in Little Owl conservation and his work with NGOs to establish a conservation plan.
The Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QA
Suggested donation for entry £3 Members £4 Non-Members, to include refreshments
South Devon Branch Indoor Meetings 2026-The Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot
South Devon Branch of Devon Birds
Meetings Programme for 2026
| Date | Title of Talk | Speaker |
| 19/01
|
Wings of Determination – An Ornithologist’s extraordinary journey from Changi Prison to Scientific Legacy | Fenella Davis |
| Fenella Davis is the daughter of Guy Madoc, a policeman and keen ornithologist who lived in pre and post war Malaya. She will share her father’s extraordinary journey, from discovering a new subspecies of Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius madoci), to his imprisonment in Changi Prison, where he secretly wrote a seminal work, ‘An Introduction to Malayan Birds’. Fenella has shared this incredible story around the world, in addition to being interviewed by Chris Packham on BBC’s The One Show. | ||
|
16/02
|
Britain’s Atlantic Temperate Rainforests and the work of the Thousand Year Trust |
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison
|
| Merlin Hanbury-Tenison is a Cornish conservationist and veteran living with his family in a rainforest in Cornwall. He founded the Thousand Year Trust, Britain’s rainforest charity. The charity’s mission is to catalyse the movement to triple Britain’s rainforest cover to one million acres in the next thirty years. His first book, Our Oaken Bones, was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. In his presentation, Merlin will talk about the history and future of Britain’s rainforests, the current threats and opportunities and how research sits at the heart of the Trust’s efforts to protect and restore them for the future. | ||
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16/03
|
Birds of Orkney and what they can tell us about the Birds of Devon |
David Bailey
|
| David is a wildlife and nature blogger based in Devon. He spends his summers on the Orkney island of Westray meticulously observing and photographing the seabirds and the migratory and resident birds of the island. His beautiful portraits and action shots and observations of breeding and feeding birds give a thrilling insight into their lives and show a different side to some of our familiar birds. | ||
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20/04
|
South Milton and South Huish Reserves – Wildlife Havens Created by Devon Birds
|
Nick Townsend
|
| Nick is Devon Birds Conservation Officer for South Devon, responsible for the Reserves at South Milton, South Huish and Prawle as well as the bird hide at Beesands. Over the last 50 years, the South Milton and South Huish wetlands have been transformed by Devon Birds into the wonderful wildlife havens we know today. The flora and fauna list now runs to an astonishing 1800 species at South Milton, including 217 bird species. Nick will be telling us about how these changes came about and describe some of the more interesting flora and fauna. | ||
|
21/09
|
Bat Droppings, Birds and Dragonflies |
George Bemment
|
| Author of the book, Bats and Ladders, George worked on bat conservation, survey and monitoring for the 36 years between 1988 and 2024. As an ecological consultant, she also advised on nesting birds. Her talk provides an entertaining look at the world of bat conservation and her personal efforts in recent years to rewild her own garden for biodiversity. | ||
|
19/10
|
The Little Owl its Past, Present and Future
|
Roy Leigh- Little Owl Monitoring Network
|
| Roy has been monitoring owls for over 30 years. His talk will cover the introduction of the Little Owl into the UK, its ecology, the current status and the monitoring network he has established to champion the owls’ cause and understand its decline. Roy will share the latest updates in Little Owl conservation and his work with NGOs to establish a conservation plan. | ||
|
16/11
|
Wildlife Watching around Vienna, Austria
|
John Walters |
| John Walters is a life-long naturalist and ecologist who studies the natural world through field sketching, photography and video. In this presentation he travels to Vienna, Austria to see the amazing variety of wildlife that is found within the city and surrounding countryside. From Wallcreepers to Chamois at the eastern edge of the Alps, and Field Hamsters to Black Woodpeckers in the city itself. He also explores the largest Steppe Lake in central Europe – the Neusiedlersee with Penduline Tits, Bee-eaters, Savi’s Warblers and Pygmy Cormorants. | ||
| All meetings at the Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QA at 7.30pm
For more Information please contact the S.Devon Branch Secretary at jeffhacon@devonbirds.org |
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Devon Birds AGM 2026
Devon Birds AGM 2026
The 2026 Devon Birds Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 14th March 2026, in the Devon Suite at the Exeter Court Hotel, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7UX. Starting at 14.30pm
After the formalities of the AGM, there will be a talk by Gus Robin entitled Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Devon and the South West – their ecology, monitoring and can we halt their decline?
We are looking for members (or non-members) who are willing and able to offer their time and energy to the work of Devon Birds, contributing to the conservation and protection of the county’s wildlife.
The membership covers a very broad spectrum of enthusiasts, from simply feeding birds in the garden to more organised record keeping of sightings and identification of rare birds. Our Council similarly represents this range of interest and we do not all need to be expert birders to contribute.
We have a number of vacancies, including Chair, vice chair, Communications Officer, WebSite manager and Member Trustee roles.
If you might be interested in any of these roles please contact Secretary@devonbirds.org for more information
Lundy Day Trip sailing from Bideford on Sunday 3 May 2026
As holiday companies typically launch their advertising campaigns at the beginning of January with promises of island adventures and the opportunity to get away for it all, why not take advantage of what is on your doorstep by joining the Devon Birds annual trip to Lundy on Sunday 3 May 2026?
The early start, boarding M V Oldenburgh at Bideford from 7.30am ready to sail at 8.00am, will mean that you have over 6 hours to enjoy this beautiful, peaceful island with only the local fauna and flora for company. One of the highlights is that, weather permitting, the boat will tour round the island before you disembark allowing spectacular views of rafts of Guillemot, Razorbill and everybody’s favourite, Puffin.
Whether you to choose to take a picnic or buy some supplies on the island, you will have time to explore the cliffs and scan the coves below. This island offers so much more than the 35 species of bird that breed there. It is a hot spot for rarities and the thrill of a visit is that you never know what you may see. Added to this is the chance to see seal, dolphin, basking shark and Sika Deer.
The journey from the mainland takes about 2 hours with the chance to catch up with old friends, make new ones, share news of what you have seen and lament on the one that eluded you, all the while scanning the sea for shearwater, dolphin and one last surprise.
The day will end all to soon, returning to Bideford at approximately 6.30pm.
Tickets, priced £42 for adults and £19 for children (under 16) are available to buy from the Shop on the Devon Birds website (www.devonbirds.org.uk). click here for the shop
Please note that when you make your booking the Lundy Steamship Company require you to provide the full name and gender of all passengers.
The trip is open to everyone, not just Devon Birds members, providing the opportunity to share this very special place with friends and family and make it a day to remember. It’s a great way to start using your new 2026 diary – make your booking and save the date.
