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This page was initially set up to give a concise news summary of birds of interest seen in Devon. Anyone noting interesting species, passage and counts could post the details to inform other birders what was going on around the county. Photos could also be added for interest and to enliven the posts. It was accepted that because other wildlife was of interest, this would also appear especially when included in a birding post.

However, in the last year, more posts have been appearing purely on subjects other than birds. Whilst of interest to some observers, this is detracting from the aim of the pages, i.e. principally bird sightings.

Devon Birds has therefore taken the decision to require contributors of other wildlife to post this in the Other Wildlife subject. However it’s accepted that occasional, exceptional, other wildlife seen during a birding outing justifies inclusion in the bird sightings post. This should, however, be a minor part of the post.

Photos are often appearing as a gallery, or even acting as a personal photo blog, rather than of county-wide sightings of interest. Devon Birds has a Gallery which members and other birders are welcome to submit their often stunning photos to, for others to see. Many of these photos need not then appear on this page. From now on, only two photos per post will be accepted to help keep posts more concise.

Devon Birds very much welcomes posts that already meet these criteria and those that will continue to do so. It would also be great to widen the input from keen birders who currently don’t contribute, including some old friends who have dropped out. Hopefully the changes will encourage wider participation, so if you look at the site but don’t post, please consider doing so.

Our aim is to provide a concise daily news summary of bird sightings around Devon, and these changes should fulfil this goal.

Below is a summary of the changes:

• Bird News (bird sightings of interest, with added occasional other wildlife) will be the default subject when visitors arrive at this page.
• Other Wildlife posts therefore won’t initially be shown unless visitors click Other Wildlife under Subjects on the right-hand side.
• Only two photos can now be submitted per post.
• General bird photos should be posted in our Gallery please.
• Co-authors should now only use the Submit a Blog Post form, to ensure a more consistent format for posts.

The deadline for the 2019 Bird Report is rapidly approaching. If you found (or saw) any of these birds please could you submit a description to recorder@devonbirds.org to ensure your records are published. Many thanks. 

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Walked the railway today. Highlights were Glossy Ibis and Spotted Redshank in Fremington Pill, four Cattle Egret on the Gaia Trust farm, and a Spoonbill asleep at Isley. Also present were five Grey Plover, twenty or so Barwits, and a dozen or more Swallows feeding, but not moving on, over Penhill Marsh.

This afternoon I watched a Kingfisher, a Common Sandpiper and  a Grey Wagtail on the opposite bank of the River Plym between the Plymouth Road bridge and the overpass at Marsh Mills. Images not as sharp as they could be due to the distance..

Kingfisher

Common Sandpiper

Cycled over to Kingsmill Lake where, after an unsuccessful fishing attempt with a big splash, an Osprey rose up high before crossing the Tamar and appeared to head up towards Lopwell Dam.

Sorry, forgot to mention that there were several Black-headed Gulls chasing insects (ants?) over the reserve a few times this morning and with then was a Mediterranean Gull. Plus - first time I've seen Golden-ringed Dragonfly in the reserve too. By the Caen - a Clouded Yellow Butterfly. First this year.

Ringing this morning was good if you like Great-spotted Woodpeckers - I caught 4, only one had a ring on (2018). Also of note: 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Wood Pigeon, retrap Kingfisher. Song Thrush and Goldcrest seen but not gracing the nets. First time I have seen a Golden-ringed Dragonfly in the reserve. Later on walked down the Toll road and found 30 Dunlin, 6 or so Redshank, And my first Clouded Yellow this year.

Kingfishers showing well at Radford Lake - 2 male & 2 female also the usual Heron showing well on it's perch, by the ruined boat house

Glorious weather so predictably hard work! Best were Great Spotted Woodpecker west over the Warren, 2 migrant Coal Tit at Starehole Ponds (rare here), first Goldcrest of the autumn, 11 White Wagtail, 23 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 330 Meadow Pipit, 5 Wheatear, 14 Chiffchaff & 570 Herring Gull. 

Non-avian: 3 Southern Hawker, Clouded Yellow & 5 Wall Brown.

been sprucing up voluntary a local care home garden in plympton, including a range of feeders.  we now have visiting today, blue/great/coal/long tail tits, a charm of goldfinch, adults and juv. robins, blackbirds, sparrows, dunnocks, gs woodpecker, jays, hedgehogs, magpie family, and all this has got the attention of a pair of sparrowhawks, seen both male and female over past week.

Wheatear “running” along the path, buzzard hovering overhead in the wind

Very quiet around the reserve on Sunday, a lone peregrine using a pylon as a lookout post on the far side of the railway track. At the end of the walk heading back to the car park from the canal , thrilled to see a female marsh harrier hunting over the reed beds and fields, disturbing a startled heron, as she dropped into the reeds momentarily.

This morning 3 Mistle Thrush were around the Church yard. Late afternoon off Ilfracombe Pier a Juv Pomarine Skua followed in a fishing trawler then headed west down channel. 2 Little Egrets were on Larkstone beach alongside the Herring Gulls. 

My first returning Snipe & Shelduck of the autumn brightened up a rather dull afternoon. Also, 6 Greenshanks, Dunlin, 10 Oystercatchers, 13 Turnstones & 3 Mandarin Ducks.

200 Swallows over A379 west of Kingsbridge, 50 Swallows between  East and West Charleton, 300 Swallows Torcross all flying north till 6pm then all south, maybe roosting at Widdecombe Ley or Hallsands reedbeds. 6 Comic Tern off Torcross.

With pretensions of being a snow bunting this house sparrow is to be seen in a flock of 20-30 of its kind visiting gardens at Furze, near Chittlehampton 

A feeding pod of c.20 Common Dolphin offshore this morning attracted in a feeding frenzy of Gulls and Gannets along with a small dark Skua Sp. and c.23 Shearwater Sp.- too distant to ID (no telescope with me). Eventually the Dolphins moved off west with the Shearwaters following in a line low over the water. 

Waders still present along the beach at Wembury Point on the incoming tide - 4 Grey Plover still, now 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone and a Dunlin with 4 Curlew and Oystercatchers. 2 Little Egret, 4 male and a female Mallard and a Wheatear also seen.

37 Mediterranean Gulls (14 1st winters) roosting on the rocks before all flying off east as the tide came in. 

58 Canada Geese resting in the stubble field. GSWoodpecker heard in the pine trees at The Point again. Stonechat and Cirl Bunting showing well along the coast path along with a pair of Blackcap. Noticeable increase in Meadow Pipit in the fields. Great Wagtail and Kestrel over. 

Among the rock pools this morning were 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover and 4 Mediterranean gulls on the fringes of Wembury point. 

Today's tally inc.Sparrowhawk, 120 Skylark, 450 Meadow Pipit, 20 Alba Wagtail (inc.7+White), 9 Swallow, 28 Robin, 10 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 10 Blackcap, 29 Chiffchaff, 300 Linnet & 9 Siskin W.

Missed out on a reported Ring Ouzel.

Drake Gadwall and a Wigeon on Wrafton Pond this morning. Velator reserve had  calling Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers.  There has been a Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape for the last couple of days, but not this morning.

21 Goldfinch gathered in my Ash tree at the top of my garden, having been absent from my feeders for almost six weeks

Along the Pill this morning there were 105 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 34 Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 1 Glossy Ibis, 1 Little Egret and overhead at 11am there were a dozen Redwing.

At 9:30am a charm of 24++ Goldfinches, mostly juveniles, visited my silver birch. At times the activity was so great the ripe seeds fell like snow. Also briefly a single Chiffchaff with the usual tits.

Goldfinch juv

A quiet afternoon with very few birds showing. Around two dozen Coal Tits only birds until we found a feeding flock of 8+ Siskins with two Goldfinch. Two Jays. Heard several, but saw only one Crossbill over. Only singles of Chiffchaff, Great Tit & Chaffinch seen!

Birds on walk: 1 Short-eared Owl > W, 1 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 13 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 10+ Siskin, 400+ Swallows, 200+ House Martins and 1 Sand Martin.

Other wildlife included 25+ Clouded Yellow Butterflies including 2 helice types, hundreds of Whites over the low coastal fields too also 15 Grey Seals

At Moorwell Pond this morning ,16 Chiffchaffs. 9 Blackcaps. 8 Robins. 15 Chaffinches ( not the local residents) and overhead the first Woodpigeon flock of the autumn ( 30 +)  flying west into the wind.

On a sunny Sunday: 

6 Greenshank, 6 Teal, 2 Common sandpiper, 8 Black tailed Godwit flew over to Kingsmill lake at high tide, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great spotted woodpecker flew over.

This mornings boat trip from Brixham aboard Kelly's Hero was a bit rough so went down the coast towards Dartmouth. Had some very good sightings of dark morph Artic Skua and pale morph Artic Skua( pictures to follow) 150+ Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot, few small finch like birds and a few Swallows. Had a further two Skua but these could well have been the same two we saw earlier. Further trips in October.

A fine but quiet day. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Siskins, Redpoll  (presumed Lesser), 3 Song Thrushes, 7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps & a Hare.

Late post for Saturday 26th. In addition to Rob's earlier post: 1 Pied Flycatcher at the top of the Goat Track, 1 Grasshopper Warbler in Stare Hole and at least two Sand Martins and an additional Wheatear up by the airfield. 

2kingfishers,1bartailed godwit,6 greenshank 1 glossy ibis, 8 dunlin 1 common sandpiper,numerous redshank, goldcrest and 4 little egret.

Kingfisher.

Bartailed Godwit.

A week away so interested to see if anything around. Male Sparrowhawk in the reserve, and out on the scrape a pair of Swans one of which (the pen I think) is sporting yellow rings on both legs! This pair have been in residence all summer, and this is the first time I have seen these rings. Also there 1 Little Egret, 2 Cattle Egrets and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Rather quiet on this afternoon’s high tide but logged: adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Greenshanks, 2 Stonechats & 8 Roe Deers. 

Highlight totals 0720-1200hrs: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 29 Blackcap, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Stonechat. Overhead: 27 Siskin, 2 Crossbills, 3 Skylark.

Quiet just Wheatear, 70 Swallow, 9 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 170 Meadow Pipit, 14 Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, 7 Cirl Bunting.

The first Goldcrests of the autumn ringed this morning ,with 8 around the site . Also present 10 Chiffchaffs. 2 Blackcaps .1 Reed Warbler ,1 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Cetti's Warblers . Overhead a very smart male Peregrine circling effortlessly .

1st. Yr. m. Goldcrest.

1 Whinchat (Trowlesworthy), 1 Goosander, 3 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Snipe, 2 Teal, 1 Green Woodpecker the highlights 

Goosander

Good numbers of Swallows and House Martins feeding over a sunny sheltered east facing hillside, 45 -50 of each species.

At Moorwell Pond at this morning's ringing session ,16 Chiffchaffs. 4 Blackcaps ,and overhead several small groups of Chaffinches, moving West into the wind. Nearby 60 + Meadow Pipits on the airfield.

1st.Yr. Chiffchaff.

High tide roost this afternoon:

15 Grey heron, 156+ Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 34 Curlew, 2 Mediterranean gull, 2 Mandarin, 1 Little grebe, 1 Kingfisher. Swallows and House martins over the fields, 3 Ring necked Parakeet squawking in the trees.

750 Starling left the reedbed roost this morning, Clouded Yellow near the Chapel this afternoon.

Even more disappointing than Pete's day at Berry Head, my day at Prawle only gave 5 Balearic Shearwaters with 17 Manx, 113 Gannets and 1 Razorbill and no skuas of any type.

A rather disappointing watch this morning: 22 Balearic Shearwaters, Arctic Skua, 3 Skua sp, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Scoters, adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Harbour Porpoises & 5 Common Dolphins. Also, 8 Siskins & a Grey Wagtail over. One observer was soldiering on after I left so combined totals higher.

111 Coots and 5 Tufted Duck Slapton Ley, Torcross end, finches flying south between rain.

Overhead migration 0700-0900hrs: 2 Redpoll, 29 Siskin, 4 Linnet, 12 Goldfinch, 78 Meadow Pipits, 2 'alba' wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 21 Swallows, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Around the headland: 13 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit - and 2 Balearic Shearwaters in a very short seawatch more later hopefully from the seawatchers..

This morning at the lake.

1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Cormorant, 1f Greater Scaup, 4 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Wren, 1 Willow Warbler.

1200 Starling into reedbed roost next to the ducker, good murmuration prior.

Dawlish W today 19 Pale-bellied Brents, 14 Common Scoter (10M), 2 Eider, 9+ Sandwich Terns; 620 Oystercatcher; 313+ Dunlin; 73+ Ringed Plover; 13 Grey Plover; 2 Wheatear best of it. Few Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff & 4 Blackcap. 60+ Linnet and 100+ Goldfinch. 

The first Autumn sighting of a  Firecrest  in the garden this morning.

8 Stonechat at Beesands in the wild area between the Ley and beach, 2 Stonechat and one Clouded Yellow Tinsey Head, Hallsands.

Still plenty of darters and hawkers at the Leys.

Constant southerly movement of Swallows between the showers.

The Pill , 2 Glossy Ibis ( both in flight ) - 1 Spotted Redshank , 2 Kingfishers & 20 + Dunlins .

Saltpill Duck Pond - 15+ Little Egrets & 7 Cattle Egrets .

Home Farm Marsh - 24+ Greenshanks , 1 Ruff & 2 Spoonbills.

Overhead migration 0700-0900hrs: 3 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 10 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, 22 Goldfinch, 24 Meadow Pipit, 3 Swallows, 2 Alba Wagtails & 1 Grey Wagtail

Grounded migrants: 24 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest.

Also 3 Stonechat and a pod of 12+ Common Dolphin off the headland.

65 Swallows south at 10 am just prior to heavy rain.

Numerous pied wagtails and starlings with cattle in field north of cycle bridge.  Also managed to pick out one immature yellow wagtail.  Kingfisher flew up river and perched on jetty at Turf. Peregrine flew over near Powderham Church. At least six little egrets roosting in tree at high tide near turf.

driving back from heddons mouth aprox 6.15pm came across a small flock of fieldfare coming to rest in a tree full of red berries.surprisingly early?

At Moorwell Pond this morning ,18 Blackcaps. 14 Chiffchaffs. 8 Robins , an increase on the local birds ; 2 Grey Wagtails ( probably migrants ) and a Snipe.

Berry Head 13:00-14:45 in relatively calm overcast conditions (SSW2-3) hoping for cetaceans. There was a small passage of seabirds with 16 Balearic Shearwaters (groups up to five), Arctic Skua, 2 Sandwich Terns and 37 Kittiwakes. Cetaceans not great with 5 Common Dolphin and 6+ Harbour Porpoise. Also a Wheatear and a few Chiffchaffs around the quarry.

At 1420 an Osprey flew up the Tavy Estuary and lost height over the woods opposite the dam.  Appeared to come down in the woodland higher up the Tavy.  Also present 5 Common Sandpipers and a Stock Dovw calling.

Slim pickings in quite thick mist at Soar this morning: 5+ Siskins, 2 Redpolls (presumed Lesser), 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, Sparrowhawk, 2 Hares & a Roe Deer.

Later at South Huish: Little Stint, c30 Dunlins, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Ringed Plovers, 3 Grey Plovers, 4 Mediterranean Gulls & White & 2 Yellow Wagtails.

On the high tide at Wembury Point this morning still a good range of Waders present - 54 Oystercatcher, 15 Turnstone, 9 Ringed Plover, 6 Curlew, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot and 2 Dunlin.

Kingfisher, Wheatear and 5 Little Egret also out on the rocks.

Gulls still feeding on the rotting seaweed along the beach - Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed with a juvenile Lesser Black-backed, 7 Mediterranean (1 juvenile) and another juvenile/1st Winter Yellow-legged Gull.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker (in pine trees at The Point), Stonechats, Cirl Buntings and a few Meadow Pipit also seen. 

Yellow-legged Gull