If you saw any of the records below please submit a description to the County Recorder Recorder@DevonBirds.org to ensure they make the official record. Many thanks.

At a recent Council Meeting it was agreed that Field Trips (Guided Walks) and Indoor Meetings could restart as soon as Branches were happy to proceed, with all necessary Covid safe precautions in place. 

Full details are now on the website.

Taw & Torridge Branch will not be re-starting Indoor or Outdoor Meetings before January 2022.

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.  

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.

Up to 11.30

A juv Eider showed well ranging between Thatcher Rock and the Lead Stone, before disappearing behind the latter. 

Late afternoon 

6 Balearic Shearwaters around and then south past the Point. Also, Arctic Skua, Common Sandpiper, 29 Swallows out to sea and over the Orestone. 6 Common Dolphins. 

2-3 Arctic Skuas Kittiwakes from time to time, 1 Great Skua, 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 23 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Terns 7-8 Harbour Porpoise. Around the headland 1 Firecrest plus a couple of Goldcrest, 3 Blackcaps 7 Chiffchaffs. 

Adult Little gull , present during the morning.

A few bits 'n' pieces on a murky morning, including: Teal, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlins, 4 Turnstones, Mediterranean Gull (adult), Shag, Green Woodpecker & 2 Roe Deer.

______________________________________________________

Bowling Green Marsh this morning. Bit early for high tide and ducks moved off estuary by 2 shooters. 220+ Pintail, 150+ Wigeon, 110+ Teal, 15 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebe, 17 Lapwing best of it. 27 Greenshank on Goosemoor. 

Afternoon visit yesterday showed large numbers of wigeon and teal, canada geese and shoveler . Pair of little grebe feeding in front of hide with larger medium sized grebe near railway line along with a male Gadwall. Several lapwing.

Water Rail far side of the lake

Above Harford Moor Gate near Ivybridge.

Buzzard 6, Meadow Pipits in good numbers certainly well over 50, Stonechat 4, Skylark 6, Heron, Raven 4, Snipe, Kestrel 3, Jay 2, Linnet 2 and the odd Swallow passing over.

Buzzard

Buzzard

On this morning's high tide - Bar- & 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper & 2 Kingfishers. Also, Whinchat, 6+ Stonechats, Grey Wagtail & 3 Shags. 

_______________________________________________________

Not a good day for scrub migrants but better on open ground with 230 Meadow Pipit, 60 Skylark, 6 Wheatear, White Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, Great Spotted Woodpecker - migrant, Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, influx of 30 Robin and 3 Jay moving up west through Starehole Valley. All topped off by passing Spitfire!

Non-avian: 5 Wall Brown - 3rd generation.

Honey buzzard over Plymstock chased by crow and common buzzard towards Saltram at 1.45 pm.

4 Cattle Egrets in the Southcott valley , Bideford east.     20+ Mediterranean Gulls in the gull flock at Ethelwynne Brown close , Bideford east.

Change of venue! 2 Greenshank, 100 or so Dunlin and about the same of Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper (poss 2), 1 Little Egret. Lots of Teal.

And strangely no waders came into the Wrafton scrape this evening.

8 Cetti's Warblers between tank car park and Stokeley hide along the Ley side, all calling well, back in action after moulting

Nothing much about a part from a Bar-tailed Godwit and 94 Med Gulls, the majority being 1st winter birds.

Moulting juvenile Starlings in transition to adult plumage.

Specially chartered afternoon cruise on Kellys Hero produced: 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1000+ Kittiwake, just 23 Gannets, 5 Razorbills, over 100 Common Dolphins in many pods, 11 Harbour Porpoise 9 Grey Seals sadly including one with part of a lobster pot stuck around it's neck.

Good numbers of Black Tails yesterday evening. 160 ish. Plus Cattle Egret,Greenshank, Teal and Mallard.

Black Tail Godwits arriving on Wrafton Scrape

Saw this little beauty yesterday while walking on the east side of the Caen around the middle of the day....a Common Sandpiper 

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

On and over the marsh around high tide this morning were 2 Spoonbills, 4 Ruff, 3 Little Stints, 3 Snipe, a Curlew Sandpiper, and a Peregrine eating something on a pylon, and on the canal bank were at least 4 squealing Water Rails. Also noticeable was the recommencement of Cetti's song; I assume that their moult is over and that they hold Winter territories. 

The Great White Egret on the main pool in Powderham Park this afternoon , seems to be spending its days here then flying into Exminster Marshes to roost.

Good numbers of Black Tails yesterday evening. 160 ish. Plus Cattle Egret,Greenshank, Teal and Mallard.

Black Tail Godwits arriving on Wrafton Scrape

There were still 2 spoonbills (adult and juv) on the marsh this morning, (a further 5 were reported from Dawlish Warren). Also seen were 3 ruff, one cattle egret (12 on Monday) and two marsh harriers. Duck numbers increasing including 6+ gadwall. Few small birds; a few chiffchaff and one sedge warbler (juv).

5 Greenshanks , 200 ish Dunlin & 1 Curlew Sandpiper

Wembury Point 08:10

43 Med Gulls at the high tide roost. 21 adult winter plumage, 17 moulting into 1st winter. A larger than normal passage of Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Double figures for both species. 90+ Canada Geese in the stubble field east of the point.

Maybe 10,000+ Swallows in the valley last night - amazing spectacle!

WANTED: Deceased birds (especially waders and small passerines) , Hello , I have been growing a collection of British Natural history for the past year consisting of complete or partial bird skeletons . I'm enquiring if anyone has found any deceased birds ( ideally fresh but rotting birds may be considered )  or skeletons for them to perhaps kindly donate them to my collection . Also I do not condone the harm of any animals for the purpose of obtaining their skeleton .  I would be extremely grateful . Ideally collection in person or packaging and mail price may be considered and discussed . If you are interested please contact me on :

Twitter " @Tuftedbirder " 

or send an email to " titan07u@hotmail.com "

Many thanks, Unai

16:45  - 7 Lapwing over the Caen Estuary & then a walk out to Horsey on a rising spring tide with the scope.1 Great White Egret over half way along towards the White House  This was moved on by the rising tide & flew south over the outer sea wall onto the Taw Estuary.

11 Greenshank & 4 Redshank on the way back.

There was a Cattle Egret with the cows during the morning, Not sure where the other went!

Scrape full of Godwits

Just above Owley Moor Gate this afternoon 26 Mistle Thrush feeding on Rowan berries, a male Kestrel, about 50 plus Meadow Pipit, one flock of 10 birds and one of 32, 2 Jays, a Wren and a male Blackcap.

Not sure what happened to my pic yesterday - Andy Lansdell also posted one which didn't appear. Will try again.  Ringing today was a good deal better than recently with over 30 birds ringed, best being 8 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher. Retrapped the Tawny Owl too.

Migrant-friendly conditions led to a lack of migrants grounded but did get 7 Wheatear, 5 White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, 160 Meadow Pipit, 25 Chiffchaff, 11 Blackcap, migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker & 40 Skylark. Also: 550 Herring gull, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Bullfinch.

A walk in lovely conditions this morning produced: a singing Dipper, Kingfisher fishing, Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, single Black- & Bar-tailed Godwits,  44 Curlews, 22 Mandarin Ducks & a Siskin.

Upside down BH Gulls.

The light has been brilliant for photography recently so I thought I would post a photo of some upside down BH Gulls at Downend!

Yesterday aft the rising spring tide rushed in at some pace at Saunton Sands filling in the hollows in the sand. 

40+ Black-tailed Godwits  on Scrape between 0700 - 0745 before dispersing, except one that seemed a little distressed and appeared unable to get airborne - still there 0900. Ruff still present but no sign of any Cattle Egrets. 2 Little Egrets flew over before I departed at 0900

some of 40+ B-t s

trying to get airborne

An evening visit to Dawlish Warren NR to see the Dotterel  found by Lee Collins (who was on fortunately site to help point it out to visiting birders) not easy to view as it was tucked behind one of the wooden paling screens amongst a large number of Dunlin, along with a few Ringed  and Golden Plover.

On the beach up to 30 Sanderling (one ringed bird) and a smaller number of Dunlin, 3 Tern sp out over the sea, 30 Black Tailed Godwit.

On leaving a flight of Brent Geese flew into the reserve.

Sanderling

Sanderling

Late post.

On the high tide at Skern on Sunday (19.09.21) there was one Brent Goose and yesterday (20.09.21) there were four Brent Geese along with a party of six Wigeon.

Osprey over S.E. Marsh around 1500, panicked all the Gulls and Waders. It continued upriver mobbed by a couple of Crows. Other birds seen: Kingfisher, Stock Doves, Curlew, Blackwits, Teal, Mallard, Little Egrets, Cormorants. Domesticated White Goose? with the Canadas. Solitary hen Pheasant near the hide.

Osprey

hen Pheasant

Nice flock of waders Jon, was it very foggy or did you forget to attach the photo? My morning was spent on the other side of the river.  At Fremington salt pond there were; two Snipe, a Kingfisher (distant views of both), a Little Egret, two Little Grebes, a few Moorhens, five female Shovelers, a Robin, some Mallard and a Sparrowhawk. On the river bank a Turnstone dropped in for a few minutes before heading towards Fremington quay.  Further on around Home Farm Marsh was a Kestrel, eight or nine Widgeon flew past as they headed up river towards Fremington, a flock of Linnets, a Willow Warble or Chiffchaff (didn't get a close view) and five Reed Buntings.

Snipe

Reed Bunting

My camera has patched up it's argument with the computer so I can share a pic or two again! Here's the flock of waders out on the scrape late afternoon.

Wrafton scrape today: This morning just a couple of Snipe - all the Egrets, Ruff and Godwits had gone elsewhere. Still, I was tempted back down this late afternoon, where I met Sue who said the Ruff was back and a Cattle Egret was resting out there too. A while later a few Black-tailed Godwits appeared and settled in for a preen. A couple more groups followed in and soon there were 29 - just as many as the other day. By degrees more arrived, one group with a couple of smaller waders too. These were Knot - in winter plumage. More kept coming in until I counted 133! The most I can remember seeing there was about 96, while Sue recalls seeing 126, so a record number we think. All very lovely in the evening sunshine.

Rather slow for migrants this morning but saw: 4+ Whinchats, 2 Yellow & 1 Grey Wagtails, Tree Pipit, 6 Wheatears, Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Whitethroats & Goldcrest. Also at least 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jays & a Sparrowhawk.

Later, at South Huish Marsh, 12 Mediterranean Gulls (5 ads, 4 3rd cy & 3 1st cy), Black-tailed Godwit & 30+ Stock Doves. 

10 members of DB attended this mornings (East Devon Branch) field walk (with thanks to Paul Norris for leading us).  Birds were thin on the ground and a circular walk produced a Whinchat at the 'Dell', 2 Spotted Flycatcher at the 'Hollow' and 5-6 Wheatear at several locations, plus others including tits, finches, pIpits, corvids, swallows, Chiffchaffs and a probable Sparrow Hawk. A highlight was the sight of a stoat chasing a rabbit for several minutes (the rabbit got away!).

Sundays Lyme Bay pelagic boat trip, on leaving Brixham harbour, Rock Pipit, Turnstones and an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Off of Berry Head a Wheatear on the top of one of the rock outcrops, small number of harbour porpoise.

Large numbers of Kittiwake, several small groups of Guillemot, Gannet, two first winter Mediterranean Gull, seven Skua sightings but very distant, two Balearic Shearwater, highlight was a pod of very active White Beaked Dolphin.

Kittiwake

Mediterranean Gull

Osprey watched for 5 min halfway between Aveton Gifford and Bantham

Around Heybrook & Wembury Bays this morning: Wryneck (by pines at Wembury Point), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Wagtail & Ringed Plover.

Also, a Yellow Wagtail over Staddiscombe. 

30 Canada,38Mute swans 300 plus Widgon and50 mallard..

White-tailed Eagle this morning at Seaton Wetlands. A juvenile, presumably from the IoW re-introduction, soaring in a thermal with Buzzards to the east of  Colyford Common disappeared into a cloud and then re-appeared gliding rapidly westwards at approx 11.35am.

Migrants in area were at least three Wheatear, c.50 Meadow Pipits and c.40 Skylarks. Two Kestrels were hunting the moor, and at least seven Ravens chasing and tumbling high in the sky. Unusual was a group of five Cormorants flying across the moor in a NW direction at 1045.

250 plus Dunlin , 2 Curlew Sandpipers , 1 Spotted Redshank , 5 Greenshanks & 11 Black-tailed Godwits. 

On Friday morning another birder and I were watching a single bird on the far bank of the pill between the sluice and iron bridge. Unlike the two Greenshanks that it was feeding with it appeared to have a darker back and grey head.  We thought that it could be a piper possibly green or wood.  In my opinion, it looks like it could be a Green Sandpiper.

Eds - another Greenshank; there is some variation in tones, especially at this time of year.

Green Sandpiper?

Several pairs of Swallow still feeding their third broods were joined by 65 more and 5 House Martins in the farm yard this morning .Their presence attracted a female Sparrow Hawk which succeeded in catching one but it fortunately escaped when I approached.9 Pied Wagtails 2 Buzzards and a Wheatear feeding in the bird mix field but most disappeared upon the arrival of 45 Herring Gulls.7 Meadow Pipits,mostly juveniles feeding amongst the cattle.A wildlife camera filmed a Tawny Owl bathing in a deer wallow……after it was deserted by 4 Red Deer Stags……..also a fleeting glimpse of a grey squirrel being pursued by a Raptor.Marsh Tit,Nuthatch and Spotted Flycatcher in the orchard.

This mornings low tide:

26 Lapwing, c40 Pintail, 8 Little Grebe, 4 Snipe, 2 Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Black Tailed Godwit, Kingfisher. Also, 6 Stock Dove, Kestrel, Raven, Chiffchaff. From the viewing platform, 3 Greenshank, several Redshank, Cetti's warbler heard.

A quick look at Matford marsh: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Teal and Wigeon on the water, 1 Buzzard up a pylon.

Buzzard

A very pleasant walk around the southern half of the marshes mid afternoon was rewarding. Two marsh harriers near the railway were talon grappling and interacting. The trees alongside the railway held 6+ chiffchaffs and at least 2 willow warblers. Near Turf a red-legged partridge was a surprise in the field between the reserve and the Turf, (a new Exminster Marshes bird for  me). On the mud north of Turf were c500 curlew, 125 black-tailed godwits, one knot and the 2 spoonbills. The spoonbills later flew onto the central scrape alongside 4 cattle egrets and a good selection of smaller waders including 4 ruff, 1 curlew sand, 1 little stint, 4+ dunlin, 1 green sand and 1 snipe.

On this afternoon's high tide: 2 Bar- & 1 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Greenshanks, 2 Dunlins, 2 Common Sandpipers & 3 Turnstones. Also, my first Meadow Pipit of the autumn, here, 2 Stonechats & a lingering Spotted Flycatcher.  

________________________________________________________

A proposed solar farm would destroy Chelson Meadow’s best habitat for breeding & migrant birds & other wildlife. Much of the wildlife seen in the wider Plym Estuary & Saltram site, relies on this adjacent area. Please object & support an alternative which would deliver solar and protect wildlife. Visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ooJ-fkSosPfTOD3Xga3Iro1gLwgtGppvRaTbGBbO8E0/edit?usp=sharing…

Please encourage others to do the same.

Highlights form the two trips

Thursday 16th September

Sooty, 5 Balearic and Manx Shearwater, 2 immature Little Gulls, 10 Arctic and 4 Great Skua, 65 Common Tern (60% immatures), 3 Arctic Tern, 200 Common Dolphin, 10 Harbour Porpoise and 8 Bluefin Tuna

Friday 17th September

17 Arctic, 4 Great and an immature Long-tailed Skua, 7 Balearic and 2 Manx Shearwaters, 800+ Kittiwakes in a single flock, 60 Common Dolphins, 5 Harbour Porpoise, breaching Bluefin Tuna and a 1-2 Minke Whales.

LT Skua

LT Skua

Forgot to mention the Glossy Ibis on or by the scrape.

Only 2 Ruff on the scrape this morning, until I looked again when in the reserve, A small wader appeared, which I tentatively thought might be a Common Sandpiper. Headed off down the river on the east bank, but the only birds of interest in the river were 2 Common Gulls. No waders at all! a few Swallows still about, 1 Kingfisher, and the usual few Little Egrets. Still 6 Cattle Egrets with the cows but at one point they all took off and went up into the trees in the reserve. Got back to find that the other birders had identified the small wader as a Little Stint! Some pics confirmed this. Kingfisher, Dipper and 2 Grey Wagtails in the river.

An easy morning visit due to relatives arriving for a few days produced the follow. Tawny Owl, Bar -tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, 14 Stock Doves, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail and my first returning Snipe on Blaxton meadow.

As a regular birder in the area, an application has been put forward to PCC for a solar farm on Chelson Meadow. I'm all for green energy, but the proposed  area would destroy the  meadow’s best habitat for breeding & migrant birds & other wildlife. Please object & support an alternative area on the meadow which would deliver solar and protect wildlife. Visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ooJ-fkSosPfTOD3Xga3Iro1gLwgtGppvRaTbGBbO8E0/edit?usp=sharing…

Please encourage others to do the same.

Just after first light this morning a high flying Osprey seen from Maristow Quay headed own river.