Please take extra care when visiting Dawlish Warren. We have been informed that due to the recent bad weather there has been significant erosion from Groyne 10 eastwards. This means that access along the site, to and from Warren Point (and the bird hide) will be via the beach only, with a risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water! Signs have been put up to alert people to the hazards, but people need to be aware that access routes that they have become used to may not be available and they need to exercise extreme caution,  with the possibility of being cut off by the tide, and people are strongly urged not to try climbing the sand cliffs. Further information is available on the Teignbridge District Council website.

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Acting on comments to Devon Birds some changes have been made to this page. To the right of this header post you'll see there are now several subjects for you to choose to read and post on. Just click your chosen subject and use as previously.

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Solitary swallow flying low along the estuary towards Barnstaple at 8.45 am. 

1 Slavonian Grebe with two Little Grebes.

Pair of Gadwall briefly only highlight on a bitter day.

Gadwall

Great Egret, sparrowhawk, jays, gs woodpecker, 4 mistle thrush, 6 song thrushes, flock of over 100,mainly fieldfare and some redwing, good amounts of all local woodland birds and a bout 30 starlings. By 3pm it was bitterly cold. 

On Checking The Lake At 13.30 This Afternoon I Counted Twenty Six Goosanders. Twenty Females & Six Males....Numbers Are Increasing!!

The bay is far to rough to check thoroughly for scoter, divers and grebes today but the Yellow-browed Warbler was showing well at Broadsands 1st car park.

Also 1 Cattle egret with at least 11 Little Egrets in fields east of the Waddeton Road, Paignton.

2 'Continental' Goldcrests ringed this morning,both of which had the pale grey tones of the nape and side crown extending further onto the mantle than is usually the case. Possibly an indication of a more Eastern origin.Oddly,there were no British Goldcrests present at this site ,which normally holds 15/20 wintering birds. Also present were 5 nominate Chiffchaffs; again a poor number for the site in Dec. Perhaps a reflection of the mild weather , or are they late in arriving ?.

' Continental' Goldcrest.i

Two Firecrests, 7 Ring-necked Parakeets (1 blue), 20 Redwings, 2 Bullfinches, Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, 6 Goosanders, 9 Mandarin Ducks, 15 Wigeon, 2 or 3 Shags, 56 Curlews, 156 Redshanks, 4 Black-tailed Godwits & 7 Greenshanks.

4 chiffchaff, 1cettis,6 common snipe, 1 kingfisher, 5 song thrushes, 8 redwing, small flock of goldfinch andLt tits, stonechat and on the estuary large flocks of lapwing and golden plover. About 8 grey plover, 1greenshank, bt godwits about 20.Stopped at Heanton Court cfor a coffee and warm up, lovely day. 

Had excellent views at 3.30pm today, of a male Hen Harrier, which flew low over the B3357 near Mel Tor car park east of Two Bridges, Dartmoor. It was so low that it twisted in flight as it flew over the road, to avoid the car! It then flew away to the north, presumably to roost as it was headed towards Warren House.

Two singing robin along Four Mills Lane. Small flock of goldfinches in Bullmarsh Field (SX 83402 99140). Two little egrets among the gulls in field other side of River Yeo from footpath (SX 83052 98875). Brambling near Backs Barn at top of Breakheart Hill (SX 82707 99417). About 20 ground-feeding redwing at bottom of Cradle Fields (SX 82450 99785) on walk back to Tin Pot Lane.

Seen briefly around 11.30 am from the Mudbank screens flew down river past the screen turned and flew up towards Lympstone where i lost it in the background. Distant view but looked right (80% sure).

Paignton/Preston: 2 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Great Created Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers.

Goodrington: 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers (flew in together), 1 fw Surf Scoter, 5 Common Scoter.

In marsh in Youngs Park, Goodrington: 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Broadsands: 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Great Northern Divers, 3 Wigeon

Aslo Yellow-browed Warbler still present in back corner of 1st car park.

I was the only living thing around Broadsands at 8am yesterday. Apart from one solitary cormorant. In the first car park the Siberian chiff chaff was playing hard to get, Stayed still long enough for just one photo but pleasing all the same. Nothing out of the ordinary at Clennon but nonetheless a beautiful morning.

Early at Broadsands this morning, managed chiffchaff, Siberian chiff chaff and the Yellow-browed warbler, (with a bit of help from Mike at first). At Holden forest there were both Marshfield Crossbills in the quarry At the back of the office's. Into the Ex. at Turf locks we got Golden plover and a Red-breasted Meganser. On the way home stopped of at Cockwood and were lucky enough to see the Slavonian Grebe with a Great Crested Grebe. 65 species in all today. A very good day.

Waders and Ducks on the River Taw.

                
Curlew                                                 Eurasian Wigeon

Sightings

     
Lapwing on the River Taw near Ashford                  Grey Plover              Red Shank on the River 

12 Red Kites seen near Heasley Mill, North devon. A mixture of adult and juvenile birds. One appears to have a ring.

Nothing new at South Huish Marsh, where a male Stonechat and a couple of Meadow Pipits were the highlights. On to South Milton Ley to top up the feeders by the viewing screen. The hard working Alan Pomroy was again present, ringing assorted birds. Last time on 3/12 he had a Water Rail to show me. Today he was ringing a Redwing, as I arrived. Lovely to see these birds so close, and an opportunity to try out a new camera! At the viewing screen highlights were a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a Water Rail, 3 Bullfinch and a couple of Chaffinch, with the tits. On to West Charleton Marsh, where despite it being low tide several ducks were still on the scrape, along with 2 Greylag Geese, probably the same ones that spent a couple of days at S.Huish. Also saw a Water Rail, Kingfisher, male Blackcap, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail and 4 more Redwing amongst other birds. Light was poor, but could make out a number of Dark Bellied Geese and a lot more ducks out on the estuary. When I left, about 15.30, several flocks of Teal were flying from the estuary to join others on the scrape 

          
Redwing rung by Alan Pomroy -South Milton Ley   Greylag Goose and ducks - West Charleton Marsh

Ringing in the reserve had a good start with an adult Redwing, and finished on a high with a smart adult female Sparrowhawk. Sadly not much in between, a quiet session with only 19 birds ringed. Goldcrest, Song Thrush and Reed Bunting the pick of the rest, although a ringed  female Chaffinch was ringed in early November in Berrynarbor by Chris Dee.

A firecrest seen in the garden a couple of times this morning.

.

Wildfowl highlights on the ley included Greylag Goose ( on a brief sojourn from Beesands I think ), fcy fem Scaup ( probably the one that has been at Beesands, ) the Ring-necked Duck and 4 Goldeneyes ( 1 male ). Also 5 Little Grebes. Offshore 50 Common Scoters ( 2 males ), 4 Great Northern Divers ( 2 flying south ), Black-throated Diver ( distant ), Red-necked Grebe and 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese which eventually flew north. An otter put in an appearance halfway down the Lower Ley.

Around at Beesands the aforementioned Greylag Goose a couple Little Grebes and little else.

On a negative note just no Pochards seen today and on a clam sea with good visibility not a single auk.

Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Dipper and Water Rail on the Northbrook (never managed a picture of Water Rail here before). Also Jay (Northbrook Golf Course). 15 Blackwit on the University playing fields. Little grebe near Salmon Pool. Matford Marsh - Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Shoveller etc also a decent amount of Wigeon but with failing light and only my bins I couldn't pick out anything yankee!

  
Green Sandpiper                             Water Rail                     Chiffchafff

Visit mid morning. Surf Scotor 1st wint, viewable towards Goodrington with 5 Common Scotor. Red-necked Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebes, a third small Grebe but too far to ID, 1 Red-throated Diver & 7 Great Northern Duvers. 

Undoubted highlight of the morning was a superb view of a Corn Bunting perched out in the open with a Song Thrush & Yellowhammer. Another highlight was 131 Yellowhammer, as far as I can tell a record count for the area. Also: Sparrowhawk, 29 Meadow Pipit, 29 Blackbird, 11 Song Thrush, 2 Snipe, wintering male Blackcap, male Bullfinch, 90 Linnet, 9 Cirl Bunting & 10 Reed Bunting.

Knot 5; Redshank 83; Grey Plover 7; Shelduck 2; Dunlin c140; Sanderling 6; Dark-bellied Brent Goose 168; Black-tailed Godwit 39; Wigeon 14; plus a flock of c200 Golden Plover (best count so far c1500 4/12/18)

  One  Firecrest seen in the garden a couple of times this morning.

A personal patch record of 20 Goosanders on Filham Park fishing lake this morning.

Female Goldeneye in the channel off Passage House car park this morning.

Just to add to Mike's earlier posting; Red-necked Grebe in Elberry Cove again late am, out towards oyster beds in loose company with the Black-necked Grebe.

At 3.15pm on a walk along the coast path heading east from Yelland Quay we found a lone avocet on the rising tide.The last time we saw one anywhere near here was in March 2018 on the River Caen - again a singleton.

A single Mediterranean Gull in with a flock of 40 plus Black Headed Gulls at Marine Parade, Paignton this morning, also seen were 28 Turnstone, a Little Egret, five plus Oyster Catcher, GBBG, out on the sea four Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, several Gannet and Cormorant.

While leading a group from Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust today at Broadsands we managed to see a Black-necked Grebe a couple of Great Northern Divers in challenging blowy conditions on Elberry Headland. Several Gannets were feeding just off shore. At least 10 Cirl Buntings in the back of the 2nd car park, and some managed to glimpse the Yellow-browed Warbler in the willows and ivy covered trees in the 1st car park. Also here were at least 2 collybita Chiffchaff and probably 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs.

Some of the group joined me to go and look for the Surf Scoter off three beaches Headland, it was present agian with at least 10 Common Scoter.

Kate Bush sang December Will Be Magic Again, well it was certainly true of Occombe this morning:
From the bird hide: Dunnock, 3 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, 2 Robin, but the highlights were 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the tree immediately in front of the hide. I've never known any woodpecker to remain in one place as long as these two. Then a Sparrowhawk flew in, turned around mid flight right in front of me, what a fantastic sight that was displaying all it's flight feathers caught in the sunlight.

Elsewhere there were many more Great Tits and Blue Tits that I lost count, a sizable flock of Long-tailed Tits, a bird I haven;t encountered at Occombe since the March storms - a Goldcrest. For my 2nd consecutive visit a Treecreeper, Buzzard, 4 Song Thrushes, male Bullfinch, at least 3 Greenfinches, and a minimum of 5 Chaffinches, 6 Blackbirds, a further 3 Robins, a Wren, and 2 female and a male Pheasant.

The total Goosander count was 14 6m 8f, I think I put 16 in my blog.

The monthly dawn Goosander count.

14 Goosander 6m 8f present at 0730, all had flown by 0830.

Great Northern diver feeding in river mouth opposite the Ness this lunchtime.

The fw Surf Scoter was again off Three Beaches Headland, Goodrington this morning with 8 Common Scoter.

Broadsands: the Yellow-browed Warbler and at least 1 Siberain Chiffchaff still in the marsh at the back of the 1st car park. Nearby at Elberry Cove 1 Red-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver.

Not the nicest of days but the garden feeders been busy, among the visitors a unusual Blackbird and in the Devon hedge at bottom of garden this White Goldfinch . Our garden backs on the Parkway at Eggbuckland unfortunately not great of pic of Goldfinch.

Blackbird                                                 Goldfinches                                 and another

A Male Black Redstart at 1300 on the east side of Mountwise above Richmond walk. 

At Stover before dawn (07:15) for a coordinated Goosander count: 4 present (1 drake). Also 5 Cormorants had roosted overnight in trees. Water Rail called, then Cetti's Warbler called near hide (good views later). Usual Siskins, Green and G S Woodpeckers, and Song Thrush getting into song. (I was surprised to hear two Goldcrests singing in Chudleigh yesterday, in less than lovely weather.) Also 18 Tufted Ducks and maybe 100 Mallard in total.

A fantastic range of unusual species around the bay at the moment:

3 Beaches Headland, Goodrington (accessed from Oyster Bend  behind the church at Goodrington)

A 1st w Surf Scoter with 7 Common Scoter straight out from the headland, picked out initially from Broadsands.

Broadsands: The Yellow-browed Warbler still present in back of 1st car park, also 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs (and another probably Siberian but showing some pale olive in upperparts and less strong supercilium), also 4-5 collybita Chiffchaffs and 1 Goldcrest. 12 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park.

Elberry headland: and cove: 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes & 5 Great Northern Divers.

                 Siberian Chiffchaff 1                       Siberian Chiffchaff 2              Probable Siberian Chiffchaff

am. Female Black Redstart in the lighthouse compound. Crossing the meadow a male Merlin sped past at knee height.

Nineteen Goosanders All Female On The Lake This Morning, The Most I Have Seen At This Location.

Photo Shows Twelve With Another Seven Out Of Shot!!

Male Siskin in my garden this morning

3 female and 1 male Siskin on the feeders in my garden this morning.

This afternoon's Stuart Line cruise again witnessed spectacular numbers of birds, especially in the upper part of the estuary. The Great Northern Diver was still present between Cockwood and Starcross, as were the usual Slavonian Grebe, 2 Little Grebes and 2 immature drake Eiders. The Eiders seemed to be feeding successfully on mussels. A dozen or more Great Crested Grebes and about 20 Red-breasted Mergansers were scattered throughout, but large numbers of Brent Geese and Wigeon were concentrated around Shutterton Creek and off Lympstone, with a hundred or more Pintail at the latter. Over 100 Mallard, c50 Teal and maybe 200 Shelduck completed the ducks. A Harbour (Common) Seal was hauled out on a sandbank off Lympstone Barracks. c100 Common and 2 Lesser Blacked Gulls were amongst large numbers of gulls on the intertidal flats.

The mudbanks at the northern end were covered in hundreds each of Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Redshank. There were perhaps 1000 Lapwings and 500 Golden Plover there too, with about 50 Knot and smaller numbers of Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits and occasional Greenshank and Ringed Plover. A Sanderling back at Bull Hill sandbank completed a 'full set' of waders!

First Blackcap of the winter - male on the feeders this afternoon. A Mistle Thrush has taken up residence in our Rowan tree and is busy defending the berries against the local Blackbirds.

The Siberian Chiffchaff present again today around the higher of the 3 main lakes also at least 7 collybita Chiffchaffs in area.

                   Siberian Chiffchaff                                                                              collybita Chiffchaff

Yellow-Browed Warbler still mid morning at Broadsands in back right hand corner of first car park favouring ivy tree , plus 1 Chiffchaff 

I've had a male and a female Siskin on the feeders in my garden on and off since 9.30 this morning.