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. 

Please be aware that in line with Government guidelines on social distancing, the Devon Birds hides at Beesands, Fernworthy and Roadford, in addition to hides elsewhere in the County including Dawlish Warren are closed until further notice. Thank you for your co-operation and stay safe.

Please follow NHS guidelines:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

If you follow our Blog but are not currently a member of Devon Birds please consider joining Devon Birds to help with the upkeep of running the website and this service as well as our valuable conservation work.

1 female seen intermittently 20.55 - 21.15. 

Lesser Emperor in south-west corner of Venford Reservoir this evening, viewed from bank where the red lifebuoy is. Flying over water then settled in a birch tree.

Seen between 1030 & 1145 , LITTLE STINT (juvenile) feeding amongst  small flock of Dunlin, plus a  Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper & Ruff 

Photos by Derek Carter

4 each of Common Sandpipers & Greenshanks, 2 Mandarin Ducks, ad Mediterranean Gull (no rings), 4 Stonechats & 2 Whitethroats. 

Earlier, male & female Peregrines over my garden (Mount Gould, Plymouth).

Osprey perched in Ilton Woods tonight ( distant across estuary from Charleton Bird Hide )

Kayak trip to Eddystone today.

1 juv Common Tern

Despite checking all the rafts of many hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, no Balearics today (surprisingly)

For a couple of hours, between three and six miles offshore, the sea was shredded by dozens of Bluefin Tuna feeding frenzies. Massive splashes and a huge roar of sound. I must have seen 50-100 fish. Astonishing.

Three Minke Whales, plus one more heard but not seen.

At least 85 Common Dolphins

14 Porpoise

2 Sunfish

1 Shark at surface, I suspect a Blue.

More pics: thelonekayaker.wordpress.com when my pulse rate returns to normal

Bluefin Tuna                        Common Dolphin                             Minke Whale

30 ringneck parakeet

Ten Mandarins, a family of Great Crested Grebes and multiple sightings of Kingfishers today were eclipsed (for me) by 2 separate male Lesser Emperors, 1 over the main lake and 1 (photograph) at one of the sedimentation ponds. The latter was found during a systematic survey of the no-go areas created last year.  There were also lots of Small Red-eyed Damselflies mating and egg-laying on the main lake, plus Long-winged Coneheads (a bush-cricket) near the hide, at least one Clouded Yellow, Brimstone and a few Silver-washed Fritillaries.

A juv Peregrine buzzing the gulls & waders on Blaxton Meadow, ad Mediterranean Gull (yellow ring on left leg but I couldn't read number), 149 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 5 Oystercatchers, 38 Curlews, 5 Stonechats (family party), Green Woodpecker, leucistic Goldfinch & 3 Roe Deer.

Yestersay in the Cattewater - Kingfisher & 2 Common Sandpipers. 

highlights of butterfly  survey for TCCT 1 Clouded yellow,1 wall brown and  31 common blues. On the rocks kingfisher and 3 common sandpipers.

Migrants included Swift, 7 Tree Pipit on Bolt Head, 3 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat & Willow Warbler. Also: 450 Herring Gull, 130 Rook, Jay, 40 Jackdaw & 20 Stonechat.

Non-avian: First site record of 3 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on Starehole Ponds. Also 4 Emperors & Common Blue Damselfly. Clouded Yellow.

8 Med gulls incl 2 juvs, 1 Sandwich tern, first 2 common sands of the autumn, 2 redshank. 

Cattle Egret present this afternoon with the cows south of the reserve. Also present this evening until about 20.00.

High numbers of migrating swifts over the camping fields on saturday 8 and sunday 9 August. Many groups of between 50 to 160 birds heading south, some incredibly high screaming parties, others feeding low over the fields. A single swift over Drewsteignton last night on our return, possibly an adult with late young in a nest we are unaware of.

Cattle Egret again this evening NW of the reserve with cattle! 19.00 hrs

Cattle Egret

Wheatear at the Turf, same location as last year,  over 200 Starlings, 8 - 10 Swallows,, House Martins at altitude, 12 - 15 Pied Wagtails,  5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Rock Pipits. Oystercatchers, Curlew, 3 Mute Swans, several Shelduck, Rooks and a few hundred Black-headed Gulls on the estuary itself. 

The boat trip from Brixham out into Lyme Bay aboard Kelly's Hero was at first a bit slow and not many birds about. The second half of our journey was much more productive. Birds seen 40+ Manx and 2 Balearic Shearwater, a Sanderling, 22 Kittiwake, 90+ Guillemots in small groups, 4 Fulmar, 1 Bonxie, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls. 3 Porpoise and some Common Dolphin in the distance.

Yesterday afternoon and this afternoon had views of single Swifts passing over my house in Barnstaple on their way south and yesterday whilst at my field near Codden Hill a Hobby flew over also heading south.

2 Hobby circling over Coastguard cottages.. 6 Clouded Yellows in the Warren

Dunlin at the Pill this morning.

A cracking morning on the patch with a juv Marsh Harrier which flew over low west then drifted higher towards Laira Bridge before disappearing. Probably the first record for the site. Then, 3 Green Sandpipers on Blaxton Meadow for a few minutes before flying off towards the narrow river: my first here for many years. Also, Kingfisher, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Greenshanks, adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Stonechats & a Roe Deer.

From the kayak - 14 Greenshank & Common Sandpiper.

First noc-mig recording of the 'autumn' overnight Friday/Saturday. Recorded a Yellow Wagtail calling as it flew over at 05:22. 

Thanks to Andy for posting my message re the Cattle Egret, which I didn't see again. I was there to catch Swallows, but none obliged tonight. At 20.52 all the Gulls in the surrounding field, which had been feeding happily, suddenly took off and  made a right din. I looked out at the scrape and the Spoonbill circled few times and then landed. Often wondered what sort of time it turned up.

Just rec'd message from John Turner, Cattle Egret south of reserve !9:40h.

Great Crested Grebe Feeding Two Of The Four Youngsters, On The Parents Back This Morning.

A different juv Yellow-legged Gull to yesterday’s on Blaxton Meadow. Also, 2 juv Peregrines, Whinchat, 5 Stonechats, 16 Little Egrets, 2 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Shag, 38 Curlews & 5+ Clouded Yellows.

We have seen what we believe is a Prionus coriarius in our garden three evenings this week. Very impressive.  Never seen one before.

Eds. The Sawyer Beetle - feeds on dead wood and comes to light but they are also active on hot and sunny days and may occur kilometres away from suitable habitat. 

Please send any non bird records to the relevant County Recorder or direct to the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre https://www.dbrc.org.uk/wildlife-sightings/ 

Sorry for late post.Taking part in the Big butterfly Count yesterday in Marldon, Paignton my son and I saw my first common blue (picture not brilliant because of bright sunlight) but amazing photo of meadom browns mating.

Common blue

Mating meadow brown

Eds. Looks like Holly Blue. Ivy is one of their foodplants

Along Fremington Pill this evening (7 August) there were 30+ Redshank feeding on the water line.

Redshank

1 Cattle Egret in field on hillside just N of the Parkers Arms Pub, this evening.

Soar area early morning - 30+ phylloscs, 30+ Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Wheatears

Slapton - juv Yellow-legged Gull, Yellow Wagtail

137 Redshanks (mainly on Blaxton Meadow) with 3 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, juv Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gulls (juv,1st-s & 2nd-s), Kingfisher, 15 Little Egrets & 3 Stock Doves.

Also: Swift, Green Woodpecker, 5 Stonechats, Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk, Roe Deer & 2 Clouded Yellows.

Not what you expect to find in a Torbay garden........ a young Cuckoo sunbathing and  feeding on flying ants.

Four Swifts overhead.

At Moorwell Pond  a B.T.O. ringed Sedge Warbler caught this morning. Hopefully a good distance recovery. Very few other migrants present,with 2 Willow Warblers. 2 Chiffchaffs ,1 Blackcap,1 Whitethroat and 1 Reed Warbler ( a fresh arrival ,with another ringed yesterday at the site )

50 Swift, 28 Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 270 Linnet.

Non-avian: 33 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 35 Common Blue, late Dark Green Fritillary & Marbled White.

Mint Moth, picture missing from yesterday’s post.....

08:27 - 11:28

Highlights - 1 Knot, many hundred Redshank, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, 160+ Curlew, Whimbrel, 12 Little Egret, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Common Sandpiper (Goosemoor). 

Just before 09.00 the Spoonbill was again asleep on the scrape. Just beyond was a lone Black-tailed Godwit.

Precious little around Sherpa Marsh - 2 Lapwing, 125 Canada Geese....

The highlights of today’s high tide were 116 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 37 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Common Sandpiper & 1 Kingfisher.

Saltram produced 2 each of GSW & Green Woodpecker, 3 Stonechat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Sparrowhawk & 7 Spotted Flycatcher all together!

Sandwich tern on the Plym in front of TR2 resting on a boat late this evening.

A dull evening walk around here tonight in patches of mizzle with Very little bird activity. Did come across this little beetle though. Nicrophorus vespilloides. 

Beetle

Black Redstart sheltering appropriately at Black Tor (GR 566 894) on 05/08 and also 7 Red Grouse in flight at Okement Hill on 06/08.

Mint Moth....a small Moth with a wingspan of about 20mm...it may be small, but it is wonderfully coloured.

Seen this morning while topping up the feeders

2 Willow Tit and 4 Long-tailed Tit foraging along the lakeside among the reeds.

From the Tarka Trail at about 09.00 a single Spoonbill roosting out in the water of the scrape. Nearby a Black-tailed Godwit. By the time I had got round into and around to that side of the reserve, both had gone.

SKERN later (4-5pm): 1 Wheatear, and several Whimbrel over. Tide a long way out.

12:44 - 14:13

Wood Sandpiper was very close to the walkway to the hide giving tremendous views. Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, many Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Shelduck all present too

Early evening, Little Egret, 7 Turnstones, 5 Sandwich Terns (3 adults, 2 juvs) and numerous House Martins (probably enjoying the flying ant fest).

Whilst working at a house on the top of the cliffs overlooking Westward Ho! this morning, I counted about 30 Swifts and a similar number of Swallows migrating roughly southwards in about a ten minute period. Also seen at the same place very close views of a Green Woodpecker.

A combined seawatch from several observers from 0600-1930hrs produced (selected highlights): 42 Balearic Shearwaters, 908 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Pomarine Skua, 8 Arctic Skuas, 8 Great Skuas, 15 Common Tern, 26 Sandwich Terns,3 Arctic Terns, 1 Puffin, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 45 Common Scoter. Also, 10 + Harbour Porpoise and several pods of Common Dolphins feeding undisturbed off the headland (no jet skiers today)

My thanks to Alan Searle for putting me out of my misery and identifying my stranger in paradise. Thanks Alan. Another mystery solved. Cheers.

At Berry head this morning six Cirl Bunting, one Whitethroat, Rock Pipit, Jay, small number of Swallow and three Swift.

From the headland, early passage of immature LBBG, 18 plus Gannet inc three immature birds, Fulmar, GBBG, one Kittiwake, light passage of Manx Shearwater, flock of sixteen Common Scoter.

Harbour Porpoise showing well and one Common Dolphin.

c30 Sandwich & c15 Common Terns, c70 Ringed Plovers, c55 Dunlins, 29 Sanderlings, 20+ Whimbrels, 4 Common Scoters, 4 Mediterranean Gulls & a distant Pom/Arctic Skua.

The summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe & 4 Bar-tailed Godwits off Cockwood.

Late morning visit, and as I did the usual circuit, I thought I could hear a Curlew calling. A little further on and there it was just circling over and letting out that lovely whistle. Once again quite early here, usually an unusual winter visitor.