Devon Birds would like to thank the many members and other birdwatchers who complied with the restrictions during the recent Lockdown and stayed in their local area (village, town or part of city) to birdwatch while exercising (and later) taking recreation. We hope that, despite the obvious frustrations, you found some respite in watching wildlife in your local area and perhaps discovered some birds close to home, that you might otherwise not have seen! As always, please submit sightings to the County recorder and / or BirdTrack. 

 

Please continue to follow the Covid related requirements (currently "rule of six outside, social distancing etc) while enjoying the new freedoms to extend your birdwatching. Some hides will remain closed for the time being and where you find one open, please follow Government guidelines on keeping yourself & others safe: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

 

Thank you from

Devon Birds News site editors & members of the Records Committee

Please think very carefully before posting any information on scarce or rare breeding species both here and elsewhere online.

A list of ‘at risk’ species in the county can be found here. Please note that Wood Warbler should now also be treated as on the list. All species included need to be protected - many receive full legal protection under Schedule 1 and/or are rare in the county and may be vulnerable to persecution/disturbance. It is an offence to intentionally disturb any of the Schedule 1 species during the breeding season without a valid licence. This also applies to anyone taking photographs of these species at or near the nest or whilst feeding dependant young.

Some species may be found breeding at numerous locations however please keep information on these species limited to well-known sites (e.g. Labrador Bay for Cirl Bunting, Aylesbeare Common for Dartford Warbler). Others may be found as obvious migrants and as such can also be posted eg coastal Ring Ouzel and passage waders, or raptors eg Little Ringed Plover, Red Kite or Marsh Harrier.

If you have any doubts and think there is a chance there may be breeding, either because of the habitat or behaviour of the bird(s) then do not post, but please submit your records to the County Recorder and the RSPB.

Please be aware that egg collecting and other forms of persecution remain very real hazards for some of Devon’s birds.

Posts which breach these guidelines are likely to be not admitted / removed althogether, rather than edited.  

As noted in the minutes of the Oct 2020 DBRC meeting, Tim Jones is standing down after serving as a member of the Committee for an extended sixth year. Tim has been an active member of the Committee, and his consistently pragmatic approach to assessing records has proved invaluable. The Society would like to thank him for his contribution over the past six years and wish him well in the future.

In the hope of maintaining a geographic spread across the Committee, DBRC approached Dean Jones to fill the vacancy. Dean grew up birding and ringing in Antrim and Lothian, before a tour of various European islands, including Lundy where he has been the Warden now for the past four years.

His experience and knowledge from ringing and birdwatching around Europe will be especially useful to Devon Birds and the Records Committee.

Unless the County Recorder receives any other applications before 15th April 2021, Dean will be formally elected to fill the vacancy for a five year period.

For more information and/or an application form please contact:

Kevin Rylands, County Recorder.   Email: recorder@devonbirds.org 

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.

Owley Moor Gate to Glascombe Corner on the moors above South Brent this morning, bitterly cold and not the bird numbers that I would expect to see there at this time of the year.

But recorded were Song Thrush, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Chiffchaff, Yellow Hammer, Stonechat and Stock Dove.

Back at home at South Brent, soaring Buzzards, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker and Blackcap.

Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer

11 April - 9am. Interesting morning in fresh conditions!  Usual suspects, but in addition Goldcrest , pr Goosander , 3 GBB gulls , 2x pr Tufted Duck. Highlight, Peregrine on tree stump sentry duty. 

Single female ruff at Turf this evening with c40 redshank and one dunlin. Otherwise quiet apart from 20 black-tailed godwits on marshes. Cold wind and only a couple of swallows.

am, of note: 1 Red-throated Diver (heading east), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Sandwich Terns. 

08:25 - 12:41

Night Heron, Red-necked Grebe, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Gadwall were the highlights.

Ring-necked Duck, many Swallow, a few Sand Martin over Widdicombe Ley.

Two parent Mallards with 16 ducklings was a great sightings on the small pond adjacent to the main lake this morning.  On the large lake were 2 Gt B.B. Gulls, 2 male and 2 female Tufted Duck and Little Grebes.  Elsewhere were 4 Stonechat, several Meadow Pipits and Linnets.  Sand Martin activity seemed less than a week ago when a Buzzard was harassing the colony. 

Whilst out running along the tarka trail, a bird flew past. The viewing wasn't great, but I'm 80% sure it was a cuckoo, in the fields opposite Home farm marsh.

Also a sparrowhawk circling about the gardens in Fremington and 3 Glossy Ibis in the Pill at the Quay.

0910-1215:

5 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Wheatear (m), 4 Reed Bunting (3m,1f) several Swallow with 10+ Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail (m,f) Stonechat (m,f) 50+ Meadow Pipit in a sheep field, 2 Green Woodpecker yaffling in the trees, 1 Buzzard overhead.

Willow Warbler

Reed Bunting (male)

Big walk today all over lee moor and crownhill down and around for severa hours 

full list of whats seen . yellow hammers, stonechats m+f.  meadow pippits, raven, gs and green woodpeckers, lots of nuthatches, woodpigeon  willow warblers, chiff chaffs, chaffinch, longtail  coal, great and blue tits. Robin, dunnock, song thrush, pied wagtails, swan, coots, little grebe  tufted ducks, mallards, wheaters, buzzard x 4, sparrowhawk, crows, m+f blackcaps, herring gulls, canadian geese and lots of skylarks

Also  3 seperate herds of fallow deer totaling over 20 deer in seperate locations.

And here are those ducklings - per Tim's post, well 12 of the 13. Also present locally at Sherpa Marsh 3 Gadwall and a Common Sandpiper.

On our WeBS count this morning from 06.10: 5 Whimbrel, 5 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Sand Martin, just one solitary Swallow, handful of Willow Warblers, singing Reed & Sedge Warblers. Also the first Mallard ducklings and Coot chicks we've seen this year.

Whitethroat in scrub behind beach.10.00. Further up Churchwood valley 3 blackcaps 2m 1f. Lots of singing chiffchaff.

Late for yesterday 10/4/21.

Lower Tamar Lake

2 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Wagtail,1 Grey Heron, 6 Tufted Duck 5m 1f, 2 Moorhen, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Treecreeper.

Note:

The Goosander count this winter shows:

First seen 1m 2f 29/10/2020

Last seen 1m 4f 13/03/2021

Max 60 21m 39f 12/12/2020 this was on an official survey day.

Plenty of willow warblers in churchwood valley along with the guaranteed song thrushes. In the field beside our house, a green woodpecker, willow warbler and the first sighting this year of the neighbour’s pair of swallows. 

This afternoon on Crownhill Down. Wheatears 6 Stonechats 8, Linnets 3,Raven 1 Kestrel 2 c.20 Skylarks and a Buzzard mobbed by 2 Crows.

Wheatear

Wheatear

A pair Sandwich Terns flying, and diving, between Preston and Paignton seafront this morning. 

A380 Kingskerswell two Kestrels.

In a spring corn field off of Old Walls Hill, Bishopsteignton a mix of Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Cirl Bunting and Yellow Hammer.

Ideford Common ~ Stock Dove 3, Willow Warbler, Yellow Hammer 3, very mobile flight of four Crossbill seen on three occasions, Linnet 25, male Reed Bunting, Stonechat 7, Redpoll 2, Kestrel, Buzzard 3, Chiffchaff 2, Meadow Pipit 2 and a single Swallow mobbing a Buzzard.

Chiffchaff

Linnet

Morning walk along a 7 mile stretch starting at tiverton. Mute swan, malards (and crossbreeds) morehens with first chicks, nutharch, goldcrest, buzzard, cetti warblers, skylarks, wren, robin, dunnock, great blue and long tail tit. Green woodpecker, rook,jackdaw, crow, starlings, chiff chaf, chaffinch, blackcaps, pheasants. Someome pointed at a tree and claimed treecreeper  dissapointed as it was nuthatch. 

Late post regarding a small flock of at least 5 fieldfares near Hall's Cross, near Harford at 1pm yesterday.

The 1st Sum/Juv Night Heron showed from dense cover, low down in a willow tree north of the bridge at 10.20.  It afforded views until at least 13.00.

The Red-necked Grebe was briefly south of the entrance to Ireland Bay at 11.40.

Dusk last evening,  having paid more attention than the day before, revealed upwards of 100 Pied Wagtail  with at least a few probable, at this time of year, White Wagtail amongst the throng, gathering along the roof edge and, curiously, on top of the solar panels. (Residual heat?) Also seen this morning 7'ish was a lone female Sparrowhawk drifting west to east presumably looking for breakfast. 

A decent sized loose flock of Sand Martins feeding over Wrafton Pond and the scrape early today, a few House Martins too. One drake Shoveler on the Pond. Also on the scrape: 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Snipe, and the Green Sandpiper still. A few Willow Warblers around the pond and in the reserve, with a few singing Blackcaps. Around Sherpa Marsh 5 Pochard, a few Teal, more Sand Martins and (typically after a visit to Somerset to see some!) a female Marsh Harrier took off and headed for the estuary. It looked to have a full crop, so feeding well! 2 Common Sandpipers.

Dipper at 10.30 in East wilderbrook stream in alleyway between St. Brannocks and Horne rd.

Yesterday on a walk between Heybrook Bay and Bovisand. A Heron, 2 Buzzards, a Kestrel .several Greenfinches,3 Linnets and many Stonechats. 

hen Stonechat

Greenfinch

Scanned from the platform for ninety minutes this morning. The highlight was a ten-minute distant view of an Osprey working its way up the estuary and managing a few abortive dives despite the attention of the gulls, before turning downstream and, eventually, splashing into the water just S of Turf, only to re-surface empty-taloned. Lost sight of it as it headed downstream.

Waders on the Marsh consisted of  one each of Ruff, Common and Green Sandpipers, plus Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits. Among the Anseriformes were the sole remaining GWF Goose, the Snow Goose and a Tufted Duck. Overhead were several hundred hirundines, split 99:1, Sand Martin:Swallow, and the usual Kestrel on a pylon.

On the way out and back were two Cattle Egrets in the field next to Matford roundabout, two singing Sedge Warblers and another Green Sandpiper at Countesswear, and three more Common Sandpipers on St James' Weir.

Good numbers of Willow Warblers singing in recently planted areas around reservoirs, also Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Just 3 Swallows noted passing through. Reservoirs quiet, 7 Tufted Duck, including 2 obvious pairs, and scattered Mallard. 

Tavy Estuary, a Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose with Canada Geese off Blaxton Creek this morning.

Red Kite sighted today 9th April over High Bickington and Atherington at 6.02pm circling above a animal killed on the road below. Watched for approx 20 mins to see if it was going to land on the road but it decided to move away. This Red Kite was not a full adult possible a year old. I have seen a full grown kite in the same area at the same time of the year April last year. They are so beautiful.

Walk around local area - 3 House Martin and 1 Swallow over, 5 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff singing. This morning while sat in the garden, one Willow Warbler heard singing.

3 Greylag Geese on the Marshes late aft.

After a series of really quite wintery mornings on the exposed north coast, a distinct upturn in visible & audible migration this morning (c.06.30 to 09.00). Highlight was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. A smattering of other grounded warblers included 3 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs and 7 Blackcaps. Fair numbers of hirundines and finches heading west: 60 Swallows, 40 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 90 Linnets, 67 Goldfinches. Extremely quiet offshore, with just a trickle of Kittiwakes and auks, probably commuting between feeding grounds and breeding colonies along Exmoor coast.

Slim pickings in return for a good wander round but recorded: Willow Warbler, pair of Stonechats, 7+ Swallows, Sparrowhawk, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers, 7 Mandarin Ducks, Green-veined White, 2 Orange-tips & 8 Roe Deer.

Single Sandwich Tern flying up the Teign Estuary, just after the tide had turned.

Swallows arriving in droves from east to west; Cormorant in courtship colours; pair of kestrels involved in courtship on cliffs towards Tunnel Beaches; pair of Fulmar; 2 Purple Sandpipers on rocks below Capstone.

This afternoon’s highlights on a circular walk around Home Farm Marsh were seven buzzards soaring together, a flock of 60+ linnets, 1 male wheatear, a female kestrel on her ‘house’, a pair of pintail, a pair of shoveler, 3 wigeon (1m, 2f), 2 Canada geese, stonechat, and plenty of chiffchaffs.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Pied flycatcher, Newton Tracey. Dull male. First record for me in 10 years at home in North Devon - made my day. It fed for a while.

Ringing in the reserve this morning caught a good number of migrants: 4 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warblers, 9 Blackcaps, 1 Sedge Warbler. Also ringed 3 Bullfinch, 2 Dunnock, and a cracking male Stonechat. Nearby on the scrape 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, a few Teal (nearly all gone now) and the Green Sandpiper.

Male Stonechat

c150 Hirundines flying past Baggy Point towards Lundy this morning.

Counted 133 Swallows & 10 House Martins over a period of one hour.

As usual the Jackdaws performed some entertaining aerial displays.

1 Wheatear & plenty of bird activity. Danish Scurvy Grass & Sea Campion in flower.

Last night, as dusk fell, I became aware of about 40 Pied Wagtail lining up, equally spaced, along the roof edge of the North Devon District Hospital main building. In ones and twos they all dropped down to an area I couldn't clearly see because of the failing light, but eventually they'd all gone, presumably to roost for the night. Sweet! 

Plenty of willow warblers in churchwood valley along with the guaranteed song thrushes. In the field beside our house, a green woodpecker, willow warbler and the first sighting this year of the neighbour’s pair of swallows. 

Shelduck, low overhead at 17.30, heading south; unusual as we are halfway, 8km, from both the Dart and the Kingsbridge Estuary

The Red-necked Grebe showed well to the south of the entrance to Ireland Bay this morning.  A Brent Goose was in Ireland Bay and Willow and Cetti's Warblers were by the bridge.  Large numbers of Sand Martins and smaller numbers of Swallows were also over the ley.

A House Martin was over the shingle ridge near the middle/memorial car park where a Red-throated Diver was offshore.  6 Sandwich Terns were also present.

Walked the Dunes and Saunton sands late this afternoon. 60+ Sanderling along the shoreline and plenty of Swallows over the dunes. Willow Warbler and Blackcap heard singing in the wooded area. Cold wind dropped off which made it a very pleasant afternoon. 

Sanderling feeding and resting on Saunton Sands

In my garden at 1610 and heard and saw a group of gulls go up. Saw a large bird of prey circling around Green hill road area. Went in to grab my bins and saw it was an Osprey with a fish in its talons. Circled for about 5 mins before move off northwards. Definitely the best garden tick I’ve had. 

18 Chiffchaff, 15 Swallow, Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap. Firecrest, Nuthatch & 40 Linnet.

First Speckled Wood.

Cadover area: 6 Swallow, just 1 Sand Martin, 2 Blackcap, 2 Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, 2 Raven, Reed Bunting and just 2 Wheatear (1m,1f)

Four Wheatear (3m,1f) at base of Crownhill Down.

Wheatear

From out of the kitchen window was the first Linnet we'd ever seen in Colebrook. When it flew off there were actually three of them. These are only the second Linnets we've seen this year and the first were, not in the countryside, but on a warehouse roof in Cattedown! (photos through the glass, sorry)

Linnet

Linnet

Small fall of migrants: 4 Willow warblers, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Balckcap. The arable field along Gillards Road had at least 10 Yellowhammers and a couple of Cirl Buntings still. 

No sign of Pochard on Wrafton Pond this morning. Out on the scrape 4 Black-tailed Godwits 3/4 Snipe, some Teal a Pied Wagtail, a Common Sandpiper, but best was a Green Sandpiper. 3 Swallows and a Sand Martin. The Godwits were flushed by the dramatic stooping arrival of one of the local Buzzards.

Didn't see the Sand Martins or Goosanders at Cadover, but a Snipe and a Heron were on the old clay lagoon.

At Saltram Park still seven Swallows this evening plus a Sparrowhawk and a female Kestrel beside the cattle.

Swallows

Kestrel

On the way to Exminster marshes , on a nearby field there was a curlew and a nest of coots .Small flock of Canada geese with presumably a snow goose x Canada goose  hybrid , or a leucistic Canada goose.

Later , I got an excellent view of a pair of common pheasants

There was also lots of sand martins flying low over the water and reed beds feeding on small insects.

A faint glimpse of an adult  female sparrowhawk flying low over the hedghes

At the end of Exminster marshes a disturbing scene of multiple lapwing feathers ( approximately 40 or even 50 ) laid at the side of the path . Further back there was also a chunk of presumably the lapwing's wing. Presumably the same adult female  sparrowhawk may have killed this lapwing.

Also ,unfortunately I didn't see the ruddy shelduck :( which was on Exminster marshes on Monday 05/01/2021 which had been filmed by a certain birder who goes by the name of " Exeter birder " on youtube.

Canada goose x snow goose hybrid , or leucistic Canda goose

Curlew

Yarner Wood and Trendlebere Down ~ Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellow Hammer, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers Long Tailed Tit  and Stonechat.

Ideford Common ~ Tree Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Stonechat, Siskin, Linnet, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, a roving flock of up to thirty very vocal Redpoll.

Dawlish ~ Adult Yellow Legged Gull, Rock Pipit and a distant Great Northern Diver.

Kingsteignton ~ two Swallow.

At South Brent a visit to a friend’s edge of Dartmoor farm to put up some late nest boxes, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, nine Mistle Thrush, Raven, Jay and a Stock Dove.

Pied Flycatcher

Yellowhammer

Further to yesterday’s post, hirundine feeding over Kennick reservoir predominantly, if not all, swallows and in the region of 60 - 70. 

4.30 around 100 swallows and 50 house martins also at least 2 sand martins and a drake Pochard

This morning.8  House Martins around the houses in Torcross. This evening 500+ Swallows and 250+ Sand Martins feeding over the Ley

Central Park - ford park to barn park lane

Two buzzards circling overhead, coal tit, greenfinch  chiff chaff, great spotted woodpecker- newly excavated nest hole spotted.

Ford Park Cemetary

Coat tit, nuthatch, male and female pheasant at the feeders. 

Short Eared Owl next to Motorway bridge.

Single Red Kite soaring over Kennford at 16.45 today - heading in a generally south-east direction.

Up to 13.15

My first Whimbrel of the year on low rocks 80m north of Sandy Point courtesy of local, Chris.  It then flew off south and was not relocated.  4 Purple Sandpipers at the point.  

A Grey Seal close in, consuming a sizable Wrasse.  

Resident buzzard spotted circling and perching in large pine next to the cafe in Victoria Park. 

Small flock of greenfiches and gold finches together at the top of the Royal William Yard steps. 

Two Greater Black-backed gulls on Drakes island. Potential Sandwich tern sighting - bird seen diving off the West side of the island. 

Two oyster catchers on Millbay pier. 

Several pairs of pied wagtail seen along the coast from Devils point all the way to the Hoe. 

Slapton Ley - Red-necked Grebe still at north end, 3 Sandwich Terns, 150+ Sand Martins, on the beach- 2 White Wagtails and a Yellow Wagtai, Reed Warblers singing

Beesands Ley - drake Ring-necked Duck still,Snipe,3 Swallows and 1 House Martin

Yesterday On the scrape were three Black tail Godwit,one Snipe, two Lesser Black back gulls and a few Teal.  One the pond were two male and a single female Shoveler, five male and two female Pochard, Mallard, Coots, Moorhens in various numbers and two Little Grebe.  In the air over the water were an abundance of Swallows and Sand Martins and a fleeting glimpse of a single Sparrow Hawk.

Black tail Godwit

Swallow

Mixed swallows and house martins flying low over Kennick reservoir this evening. Not sure how many and what proportion of each as no bins; 20 plus I would think. 

3 Glossy Ibises & 2 Greenshanks in the Pill . At Saltpill Duck Pond a mixed flock of approx 50 Swallows/Sand Martins , 1 Glossy Ibis & 1 Black-tailed Godwit . In Home Farm 1 first year Peregrine.

A biting cold wind and several snow showers in the Swincombe Valley this morning. Still managed to see my first Wheatears(4) of the year, a nice pair of Reed Bunting, several pairs of stonechat and Meadow Pipit.

Wheatear, Swincombe - 06.04.2021

About 100 Golden Plover flying, then a larger number around Ringmoor Down, lovely to see on a very cold windy walk

Disappointing, was hoping for an early swallow or sand Martin and saw neither. Plenty of stonechats, wheatear and skylarks and a noisy pair of ravens above the Dewerstone. 

No less than 6 Pochard on Wrafton Pond this morning, plus a pair of Shoveler. On the scrape a few Snipe and 3 Black-tailed Godwits in lovely summer plumage. On the down-side, no Hirundines at all - all gone back to Spain?! One or two Chiffchaffs singing in the reserve and a Blackcap too.

Despite the light snow 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap singing. Also 6 Wheatear (4m,2f). 

Single male Mandarin on the Tory Brook near Newnham Park, Plympton.

Grey Heron

Good views of 6 Wheatears (2m, 4f)in the fields before the Down. c.20 Meadow Pipits,8 Stonechats, 6 Swallows, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Wrens, 2 Ravens,7 Crows, c.30 Skylarks.

Wheatear

Stonechat

Ringing on Sunday was mostly pretty cool - sadly due to the weather - not so many birds - 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler ringed but apart from the Tawny Owl not much else of real note.

Tawny Owl

Sparrow hawk watching the bird feeders from the top of the laurel hedge this morning. It spent 10 minutes on the hedge, another 10 minutes perched on top of the bird feeder post, before eventually swooping down under the hedge and grabbing chaffinch before flying off.

11.30-12.10

Further to the earlier posts, I first saw the Alpine Swift as I drove into Torcross from the north at just before 11.30.  It caught my eye as it swooped across the rooftops of the village.  It showed incredibly well over the village, beach and lower Slapton Ley, before appearing to move off towards the north at 12.10.

After lunch at Beesands Ley, the drake Ring-necked Duck showed well.  Also, a Great Northern Diver on the sea and Sandwich Terns calling offshore.

Later at Aveton Gifford, the Lesser Yellowlegs gave excellent views in the creek off the tidal road, below Milburn Orchard.  It then flew out to the main estuary, where a leucistic Herring Gull and a Common Sandpiper were close by.  

A Swallow and Blackcap day around the house at South Brent.

Swallow

Blackcap

Walked down and back from St Leonard's first thing. Of note were:

- a Sedge Warbler, my first for the year, singing from the Southernmost former Countesswear pond, now reed-bed, and three or four Willows from eponymous trees along the canal bank. Plenty of Cetti's, Chiffs and Blackcaps as well, of course;

- a Common Sandpiper, also a first, in the river by the sewage works outfall;

- battling the wind, Sand Martins in several groups, which coalesced into a single flock of 4-500 low over the river either side of the by-pass;

- the first two eggs in a Swan's nest on the canal;

-a handful of Wigeon and Teal still on Matford pond, but the Shovelers and Tufted Ducks present last week have gone;

- a Siskin, brilliant in the sunshine, and a Treecreeper singing near St. James Weir.

Alpine swift Torcross, found by Paul Darlington.

Alpine Swift

Alpine Swift

Pretty quiet today, but at least 7 Swallows around the cows, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Siskin,  4 Greenshanks & 8+ Roe Deer.

In my garden (Mount Gould), a Willow Warbler.

Alpine swift excitement at Torcross. I saw it about 11.40, presumably about the same time as Alan S. Also seen by at least 3 other birders. A number of reed warblers now in, hundreds of sand martins flying low over the water.

Had a pair of Siskins very keen to be on the feeders yesterday. First to have a pair in the  garden. Swallow sighting in Harberton on 31/03 - earliest arrival we have noted. Had walk to Dartington Hall Estate, last Saturday, with an impressive thirteen Buzzards simultaneously circling over or close to North Woods.

A few swallows flying over the stables.

An  Alpine Swift over the Ley at the Torcross end.

A Hahn's Macaw has been reported missing in the Highweek Village area of Newton Abbot. If anyone spots the bird whilst out enjoying their birdwatching would they please contact the Secretary.

Early morning visit to Wrafton pond where there were a good number of birds. More than one each of the following - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Long tailed tit, one male Reed Bunting and a female with a metal ring, Little Grebe, male Pochard, Cetti's Warbler and some of the usual. 

Reed Bunting

Willow Warbler

Additional to today's three posts for Saltram was a Treecreeper in the 'wet wood', my first here for some time.

Devouring feral pigeon on back patio

Sparrowhawk and deceased pigeon

A walk out to Baggy Point this morning bought the reward of our 1st Northern Wheatear Two  in fact, a male and a female. Overhead was one Swallow which  was flying....South! Maybe its heading back to Spain to avoid the cold weather tomorrow! Images are included for record only as they're distant & heavily cropped. 

Male Northern Wheatear at Baggy Point

Female Northern Wheatear at Baggy Point

08:41 - 12:17

Highlights: Yellowhammer, Siskin,male singing Pied Flycatcher, Song and Mistle Thush, Nuthatch, Stonechat, Goldcrest.

Sat in the garden this afternoon, there were a steady stream of swallows and house Martin's traveling east to west. Buzzards soaring overhead, blue and great tits furnishing nest boxes. Goldfinches ,Plenty of house sparrows chittering from bramble hedges but no nest box activity.grey heron no doubt seeking out ponds in people's gardens and finally the regular sparrow hawk streaking between gardens..

Sightings today:

Saltram woods 

Nuthatch, chaffinch, green finch, stock dove, skylark, ring-neck parakeet 

Saltram bird hide

3 x Curlew, 18 x Redshank, 4 x shelduck, 6 x little egret, 6 x Canada geese

Plymbridge woods

Green woodpecker, nuthatch, dunnock, chaffinch, green finch,  peregrine pair (food pass observed at 13.45pm), Bullfinch pair, mandarin duck 

A relatively short look at the Plym Estuary & Saltram this morning produced: 1+ Snipe, a pair of Stonechats, Linnet & 12 Roe Deer. 

Late afternoon at Exminster Marshes, the Ruddy Shelduck still about (viewed from the canal bank just south of Fishermens’ car park) &, from the Lion’s Rest, adult Russian White-fronted Goose, 3 Pintails (2 drakes), 3 Cattle Egrets & 300+ Sand Martins.

Jays 2, Snipe 1, Green Woodpeckers 2, Chaffinches Goldfinches, Linnets a pair nr. Blaxton Meadow, Nuthatches, Skylarks, Chiffchaffs, Stock Dove. At least 5 Swallows over Saltram House and pond. Sadly found a dead Tawny Owl in the drainage channel by the Sewage Works.

Skylark

Goldfinch

My first Blackcap of the year and heard in full song in the garden this afternoon, it took ages to actually get a view of it as it remained sulking in the deep hedge cover for most of the time, a second bird heard singing closer to the house later in the afternoon.

A Green woodpecker calling frequently and the sound of a GSWP drumming.

Blackcap

Blackcap

At Penhill this morning , a minimum of 3 Sandwich terns & 1 Osprey .

Once it had warmed up after a cold start the air was filled with the sound of bird song again, Chiffchaffs ,Blackcaps, Wrens,Robins, Dunnocks, Blue tits, Great tits etc all full of the joys of spring.

A few Holly Blue Butterflies on the wing & my first sighting of a female Orange tip Butterfly. The path was fringed with violets & primroses against the backdrop of the flowering gorse smelling of coconut.  

A Ruddy Shelduck was the main interest showing south of the access road and before the bends.  Found by others this morning. Judging by the pale head a female I believe.  Also present in the same area were 3 Cattle Egret. 70+ Sand Martin high and passing through..  Numbers of duck still present with at least 24 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 2 Pintail.  

Male Yellowhammer in full voice on Hopes Nose this morning - first I've seen here for a while. Also still nine Purple Sandpipers o Haldon Pier, Torquay Harbour.

Red Kite circling quite low over house in northerly direction today at 11.20 hours. Local Gull population not so impressed !!!

Pied Flycatchers are back with two seen and heard singing.