Happy New Year

Many thanks to all observers that have already submitted their records for 2019, both through Birdtrack and Devon Birds. This is much appreciated.

For other records please could observers submit their sightings by 31^st January.

Guidelines and links to recording forms can be found here.

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Best wishes and good birding for 2020.

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Small Starling murmuration 2 - 4 thousand birds seen from Ludwell Valley playing fields tonight from about 17.15. Been around there for a couple of weeks. 

Starling

Given the weather a weekend of garden bird watching, 26 species ticked off around the feeders today including 5 Bullfinch, the first female Siskin and first Yellow Hammer of the season.

The male "Italian Sparrow sp" continues to frequent the feed station on a daily basis.

At least 7 Greenfinch, 5 Long Tailed Tit, fly over Raven and Redwing flock, Nuthatch, Wren, last tick of the day was a Song Thrush.

Cattle Egret present this morning

The Black Redstart is still visiting the garden daily, although it is generally  quite elusive.

Around 60 ringneck parakeet

Not pleasant conditions on the Skern this afternoon. On the plus side virtually no dogs. The only species away from the norm was a single Ruff feeding around a much enlarged Greysands pool

Female black redstart present on a roof and in a garden in Lavinia Drive yesterday. Sorry for the late post. 

The Teign at Passages House Inn, Kingsteighnton. Atrocious weather conditions and an absence of most birds almost made the trip fruitless but in the last fifteen minutes before we had to leave, seven mergansers swam into view, five females and two males. Drizzle meant photographs were of poor quality but nonetheless worth the journey.

On this mornings high tide, the following were seen.

Peregrine 2, Little Egret 3, GND 2, Goosander 12 (5m & 7f), Red-breasted Merganser 4 (2m & 2f), Shag 1, Little Grebe 10, Redshank 155, Dunlin 313, Curlew 35, Greenshank 6, Snipe 3 & Wigeon 6 (2m & 4f).

Black Redstart (m) present this morning on the low garage roofs near sailiing club

Tootled  over to the Skern this morning. Never seen so many dogs!! A very high tide had pushed most of the birds onto the pool the other side of the road. Adam (from Holsworthy) and I checked and checked again all the Gulls that were being given a hard time by the dogs. Virtually all Black-headed, with good numbers of Common. We met another birder (dog but no bins) who told us that the Snow Buntings had recently reappeared over by the Visitor Centre. I walked from there out to the point around the 8th green - this has suffered some severe damage from the recent storms which has washed away a stretch of the high embankment of pebble ridge. No Buntings - just two Pied Wagtails. Back to the Visitor centre, where I once again met Adam. He went off to look along the pebble ridge - I went back towards my car - and a few small Gulls took off in front of me, one of which looked much smaller. Could this be the Bonaparte's Gull? Well I came to the conclusion that it was a first calendar year Little Gull. The black wing bar was very distinct. It was however not flying like a typical Tern-like Little Gull. It drifted off over the Burrows towards the Skern to where the returning Adam and I followed, but no further sign.

Good numbers of Oystercatcher and Curlew - shame about the cancellation of yesterday's netting attempt. Also numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover and Redshank along with 200+ Wigeon.

On the Upper Lake this morning,

4 Ring-necked Duck 3m 1f

The Lower Lake had 5 Great Crested Grebe.

The Black Redstart still present today, occasionally. It might be viewable from the turning area at the end of Hill Close, looking south.

An update on the condition of the Great Sea Bank between DWT Horsey Island & the Caen Estuary.

As expected after the recent high spring tides synchronising with severe gales, further erosion has occurred on the inside of the Great sea bank between Horsey & the Caen Estuary. Photo taken this aft.

A count of Forty One Cattle Egret at Cockwood in the fields between the pub on Church Road and the A379 (map ref SX974807)

On the Exe at Starcross, six Red Breasted Merganser, two Shag, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, numerous Dunlin. On the Golf course a large number of Brent Geese, along with Curlew, Lapwing, Oyster Catcher and a Pied Wagtail.

Kestrel at Powderham.

On the Exminster marshes lots of Wigeon, other duck species included Pintail, Teal, Shoveller and Shell duck. A Ruff on the new scrapes along with Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin and Starling.

Snow Goose in with some Canada Geese.

Back home at South Brent a Tawny owl in its Holly tree roost, around the feeders, Bullfinch M&F, Nuthatch, Song Thrush, around 30 Starling and the male “Italian type Sparrow “ of undetermined origin.

First winter Bonaparte's Gull resting with Black-headed Gulls around 30m from the road half way along the Skern at 15.10

A single, breeding plumage Curlew Sandpiper amongst the Dunlin flocks on the mudflats off Powderham. 1pm 12th February.  Brick red below, dark above, slightly larger than Dunlins

One male Hen Harrier seen around Trowlesworthy.

Seven Goosander on Upper Shaugh Lake.

21 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 8 Teal and 3 Moorhen on Whitehill Yeo Pit (nr Big Pond).

We had a Black Redstart in the back garden all afternoon, on and off, much to the displeasure of the local Robin. I imagine it's the same bird we saw on 30 November. A Rook has learnt how to raid the seed feeders.

  
Black Redstart                                                            Rook

Lesser Whitethroat since Jan 27 a daily visitor to feeders. Still visiting today 12th February. Verified by Mike L

Watched on a dull day the bird showed unremarkable warm brownish on upper parts and wings. The brownish did extend high into the nape. It did look relatively short winged, the tail was not particularly long with very little white on the outer tail feathers. The only call heard was a fairly standard softish LW 'tack'.  Possibly a dull Blythi but also perhaps just a slightly browner curruca not one I would like to nail to a subspecies without DNA! ML

2, Brambling,m&f+100 Chaffinches.Crossbills heard calling

Delighted to see a Spoonbill at the mouth of the estuary at Fremington Quay yesterday afternoon. Other birds of interest were Curlews, Redshanks, Greenshank, Oystercatchers and Common Sandpipers.

Spoonbill

Male Pochard, Male and female Shoveler the female Goldeneye still around and some Teal.

  
Male Shoveler                                       Male Pochard                 Tufted Duck on Stover Lake

A good day out a Stover Lake. 4 M/F Mandarin duck. Coal/Marsh tit, Tree Creeper, and Tufted duck.

  
Tree Creeper                                 Mandarin duck                         Eds: Marsh tit

I was out taking landscape photos on Dartmoor , near to Sharpitor , when a flock of Golden Plover flew by.

About 50 Fieldfare viewed from the hide at Dart's Farm today around 4 pm.

Fieldfare

134 Goosanders were located in Devon around dawn on 8 Feb, cf. 146 in Jan. The total includes only nine on Dartmoor, where most sites were not covered. The main site was again Meeth with 56, followed by Tamar Lakes (32), Blue Waters (19), Plym Estuary (10), smaller numbers at Clovelly and Dartington and zero counts at Portworthy and Stover. Thanks to all who took part.

Two more shots of Marsh / Willow Tit, if that helps i.d.
I’m presuming it’s the same bird!

Eds: it is a Marsh Tit see post below for details

The Collared Dove image that I've had trouble sending.

Collared Dove.

Well, what an exhilarating and enjoyable cruise we all had today thanks to Skipper Jake and the Crew Lauren and Craig. With some birds keeping their heads down sheltering for the strong wind there was a good diverse number of birds throughout the estuary to be seen by the visitors.  Still with us the Red-Necked Grebe was fishing off Shelley Beach, the Slavonian Grebe put in an appearance off Cockwood and several Great Crested Grebes were fishing the lower reaches. Turnstones were seen in flight and feeding around Starcross. Bar-Tailed Godwits and Greenshank were seen feeding near the Ken confluence. Shelduck were out in numbers along with a few Widgeon and Pintail off Lympstone. With a guest appearance of Mike Langman as assistant spotter we picked out Grey Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and our first Avocets near the Clyst confluence. A Peregrine Falcon put in an appearance low over the mudflats heading towards Powderham Marsh then turned towards Stracross. A large flock of mixed Godwits mainly black-tailed were viewed further up the estuary and stayed as we cruised by. Avocets and mixed Gull flocks were seen all the way to Topsham with plenty of Red Breasted Mergansers seen along this stretch. A small flock of Lapwing finished off this memorable afternoon cruising.

The Collared Dove and Little Grebe that I saw on my way and on Wrafton pond on Thursday 6.

Little Grebe