Happy New Year to all

Devon Birds is grateful to all observers who submit records. Please can you submit your 2021 records before the 31st January for inclusion in the Devon Bird Report (DBR). Records submitted to Birdtrack or EBird are already shared with the Society, but for any others please send them to Data.manager@DevonBirds.org 

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Tawny Owl currently calling in the orchard and several others responding across the valley.Earlier 3 GSW, 2 Marsh Tit ,Treecreeper, 8 Stock Dove,40 Chaffinch including several European types, Collared Dove, Nuthatch and a Male Sparrowhawk.Supplementary feeding in the bird mix field has had to be moved to another part of the farm due to the arrival of 200 plus Pheasant who monopolise the feed! Fields recently grazed by sheep have attracted 70 Starling and 160 Redwing as well as 6 Pied Wagtails and Mistle Thrush.20 Meadow Pipits and 30 Wood Pigeon in the barley Stubble.By the river 4 Goosander,Grey Wagtail and 2 Old Nogs.2 Song Thrush full of song and a Raven feeding on a deer carcass.Non avian included 4 Roe Deer and 16 Red Deer hinds .

Still two red throated divers off Westward Ho! this morning viewed from the field near the "haunted house" (edges.excavated.confirms). Also a great northern diver near the lifeboat viewed from the skern.

3 Hawfinch seen briefly by Butterfly Trail at about 2.30 this afternoon,very quiet otherwise with 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Buzzard only seen.

At least 35 on Easter Hill (SX966808). Viewed from Cofton Lane (SX970805)

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Very quiet round Butterfly Trail. Goldcrest best bird! 1 male and 1 female brambling under feeders along with numerous siskins, nuthatch, songthrush and various tits and finches.

Male Ring-necked Duck, 2 Goldeneye from the viaduct, and Great Northern Diver from the hide.

From Keith Pellow -

Lower Tamar Lakes this pm. 16 Mallard , 2 Wigeon , 2 m.Tufted Duck , 39 Goosander ( 10 males ),

3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret into roost. ( Keith Pellow )

Walked the railway over lunchtime. Worth noting were:

- 3 Spoonbills asleep on Isley Marsh;

- a big female Sparrowhawk on Home Farm Marsh, with the remains of a freshly-dead Wood Pigeon not far away;

- 5 Glossy Ibises feeding in the field W. of Saltpill Pond;

- 2 Stock Doves perched on the wall of Fremington Quay, only 6-8 feet above the water. Never seen them in a steel, concrete and aquatic world before;

- a Kestrel over, and 4-500 Lapwings on, Penhill Marsh.

Highlight was a Treecreeper in the cutting W. of Fremington, spiralling its way along a nearly-horizontal branch only 12-15 feet away: binocular-filling views.

The synchronised roost count at dawn on 22 Jan found 169 Goosanders (51 males), compared to 133 last month. The Dartmoor total was 49, compared to 63 in December. The main sites among the 23 covered were Meeth 46, Blackhill Quarry 27, Tamar Lakes & Avon Dam 18, Venford 16 and Plym Estuary 13, with smaller numbers from Big Pond (Cadover), Blue Waters (Bovey Tracey), Burrator, Dartington, Fernworthy, Meldon, Taw Estuary and Wistlandpound. Within 30 minutes of sunrise, 109 of the 169 birds had flown out to feed elsewhere. Thanks to all who participated.

A productive afternoon for Paul McEleny and I at Slapton today.

The male Snow Bunting was on the beach near the monument car park. Highlights on the sea included  a distant Velvet Scoter, 2 Common Scoters, 5-6 Red-throated Divers, one GND and a Med Gull.

On the ley was a Black-necked Grebe, a male Ring-necked Duck, 7 Goldeneyes including 4 displaying drakes. 4 Otters in the ley put in a strong bid for sighting of the day!

Here's a couple of Crossbill pictures from the DB Field Trip. Some sunshine would have helped with the photography as it was very gloomy. 

Common Crossbills

A good spread of birds, this morning including the lingering Knot, now 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpiper, 23 Turnstones, 7 Greenshanks, 293 Dunlins, 153 Redshanks, ad-w Mediterranean Gull, drake Teal, female Red-crested Pochard, 29 Wigeon, 22 Mandarin Ducks, 6 Goosanders (1 drake), drake Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Shags, 4 Little Grebes, female Blackcap and a pair of Bullfinches.

4 Red-throated Diver inc 1 immature off the field next to the haunted house.this morning

16 members of DB attended the walk from Four Firs to Uphams plantation.  Poor light and low air temperatures kept birds to a minimum with only a few Stonechat, Goldcrest, 2 Gt.Sp. Woodpeckers and distant Buzzards and others being the best we could list. 

Four members visited the plantation south of the car park and were rewarded with great views of 9 Crossbill feeding on cones.

I added 2 Bullfinch in bushes at Frying Pans and at home at Marsh Green added a good flock of 6 Bullfinch in a sycamore tree for the second day running.

Penultimate farmland bird count: 45 Cirl Bunting, 100 Yellowhammer, 710 Skylark - think likely many buntings ranging along the coast, maybe east to Prawle & west to Scabbacombe in search of food. Have begun supplementary feeding at Southdown. Also today: 2 Golden Plover, 17 Stock Dove, 250 Jackdaw, 100 Goldfinch & 30 Linnet.

Non-avian: 8 Sika Deer, 12 Roe Deer & Brown Hare.

6-8 Water Pipits golf course side of sand dune bank

Early start this morning, it began with a lovely melody from a Song Thrush high in a tree at the start of the Tarka path at Wrafton.  The pond was quite apart from three groups 1, 3 and 6 of Snipe. A Cetti's calling and a couple of Jays.  On the scrape were 16 Black-tailed Godwits, a few Teal and a Kingfisher flyby.

Song Thrush

Snipe

Beautiful Firecrest at Galmpton creek boatyard this morning, plus 50 + cormorants in a raft .

Walked a loop Ide - Windy Cross - Perridge - Ide this morning. The hedges and farmland between Idestone and Cotley Wood seem to be a paradise for seed-eaters at the moment: flocks of 60+ Linnets, 40+ Yellowhammers, 50+ Chaffinches and 30+ Skylarks. Also 20+ Fieldfares, a rarity for me this winter. Probably over 100 Siskins in multiple small groups in the woods, especially in the Larches, with 2 Crossbills joining them at Durnford. Song from several Mistle Thrushes and a Treecreeper.

Usual Glossy Ibis, Ruff, 2 Marsh Harriers were best bits this am Exminster Marsh. Also 140 Curlew, 900+ Blackwit, 200+ Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, Grey Plover & Avocet. 850+ Wigeon, 55+ Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 2 Tufted, 4 Gadwall & 3 Stonechat 

2 Brambling under feeders at Haldon Forest today. Otherwise 60+ Chaffinch, 35+ Siskin amongst usual birds. 

And finally on return to house a male Sparrowhawk sat on house opposite. Being kept alive by amble Sparrows in the area. 

2 Black-throated Divers & Great Northern Diver offshore at memorial car park - sea quite choppy.

Coming in with the Dunnocks a female Reed Bunting around the garden feeders this morning, my first of the year and as far as the garden goes the earliest previous date that they were recorded here was the 25th February.

Peregrine overhead, two very vocal Green Woodpeckers, Wren and Song Thrush.

Tawny owl visiting last evening.

Reed Bunting

Reed Bunting

In the gull roost late afternoon were c.270 Herring Gull, c.25 Lesser BB Gull, c. 300 Black-headed Gull, and 3 Commun Gull. Single Black-necked Grebe and female Goldeneye still present, and 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, and 1 male Tufted Duck.

River Otter this afternoon 

Little Grebe

Otter

Around the Ley today Black-necked Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 53 Wigeons, 2 Teals, 3 Goldeneyes, Pochard, Kingfisher, Firecrest  and 3 Redwings. Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in France Wood.

Seen in the bay in calm, clear conditions 13 Red-throated divers,  Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 34 Common Scoters and Velvet Scoter. 5 or 6 Common Dolphins seen on and off through day, showing well off Memorial Car Park late afternoon.

During my visit to my field this morning, there was a shoot nearby which resulted in a woodcock flying into the sanctuary of my small piece of mixed woodland. Two buzzards overhead at one point and several ravens. Great and blue tits using the feeders and 4 female pheasants feeding underneath.

This morning at the Lake.

6 Whooper Swan 2 adults 4 juv (flew out at 07:20), 18 Goosander 5m 13f, 4m Tufted Duck, 6 Canada Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Wren.

Quick afternoon visit to Saunton Down for a seawatch. Very quiet. Solitary Gannet flying off of Downend, cormorant Oystercatcher and Herring gull.
A single PORPOISE fishing off off Downend for half an hour or so.

On Stubble fields later by Sandy Lane,Braunton Marsh, good flock of 30 or 40 Redwing, one Fieldfare that i could see, Skylarks and Rob reported that he saw several song thrush in amongst them earlier.

My first Knot here, for over two years, this morning. Also, 2 Jack Snipe, 7 Greenshanks, 299 Dunlins, Black-tailed Godwit, drake Teal, 13 Goosanders (4 drakes), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (drakes), 19 Mandarin Ducks, female Red-crested Pochard, 30 Wigeon, 4 Little Grebes, Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk & 11 Roe Deer. 

Yesterday, also Kingfisher, 2 Common Sandpipers & 15+ Turnstones, plus Polish-ringed Mediterranean Gull (PHAU) on Tothill Playing fields & Chiffchaff in Mount Gould Hospital grounds.

Today, Chiffchaff in Mount Gould estate.

Quick afternoon visit to Saunton Down for a seawatch. Very quiet. Solitary Gannet flying off of Downend, cormorant Oystercatcher and Herring gull.
A single PORPOISE fishing off off Downend for half an hour or so.

On Stubble fields later by Sandy Lane,Braunton Marsh, good flock of 30 or 40 Redwing, one Fieldfare that i could see, Skylarks and Rob reported that he saw several song thrush in amongst them earlier.

Otter showed well this afternoon near the mill. Also seen were 8 Redwings, a male Bullfinch, 6 Goosanders (5 brown heads), Dipper, Sparrowhawk, and Kingfisher

The second reed cut will be going ahead at South Milton Reserve on Sunday, starting at 9:30.  We expect to be finished by 12:30.  Please wear wellies and gloves and bring your own refreshments.

We will be extending the area we cut last Sunday, about 300m inland of the SW coast path.  For details on parking and access please see my post of 14 January.

If you have any queries, please phone me at 07989 717383 or email me at gillnickt@yahoo.co.uk.

Nick Townsend

Nine Glossy Ibis flew onto the estuary at 4.30pm to preen and then the flock departed at 4.50pm when they appeared to head east along the coast. Also redhead Goosander on the river this morning.

After a -4.5C night and early frost it was good to find 3 redhead Goosanders and a single Coot on Escot Park Lake. Both new for me on what has become my local patch. Also, around the orchard, Coal Tit, Fieldfare, Redwing, Greenfinch, Stock Dove were seen with just one Buzzard on the field.    

Goosander

Buzzard

Many thanks to Barry Bryne’s post on Tuesday. During an early afternoon walk along the coast towards Hartland Point from Titchberry were 3 harbour porpoise and 1 grey seal near Shipload Bay. Between there and Barley Bay, near the lighthouse, were 8+ gannets, dozens of red-throated divers scattered about, 1 buzzard, several pairs of stonechat, 5 long-tailed tits, 1 song thrush (please note that the gate leading to the lighthouse  was locked and the nearest parking was at East Titchberry).

Hundreds of guillemots on the cliff and sea.

Fulmars pairing up and claiming nest sites in quarry.

2 Purple Sandpipers , one beyond the open air pool feeding on rocks with Oystercatchers and Turnstones plus a single Sanderling.  The second P.S. was west of Nassau Court feeding on the concrete culvert .   An adult Male Black Redstart was nearby with a Rock Pipit at the base of the crumbling cliff.

Late for yesterday.

6 Whooper Swans flew out at 07:35, 20 Goosander 8m 12f, 1 Green Sandpiper on the weir, 1 Little Egret, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Gadwall 3m 2f, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1m Tufted Duck.

Single Black-necked Grebe still, 1 Little Grebe, female Goldeneye, 2 Tufted Duck, Mallard 52, Teal 8, Herring Gull c.240, Lesser BB Gull c.20, Black-headed Gull C.200, Fieldfare 52, Redwing 20, Crossbill 2, Bullfinch 6.

Spotted redshank roosting with redshanks on tussocks quite close to the left of the hide from early to about 10.35, showing well intermittently before flying towards the estuary as the tide fell.

Visit to the southern part of the marshes this afternoon. from Station Road the ruff was feeding with about 10 black-tailed godwits. A little further on a great-white egret flew over (towards Topsham). From the canal bank the pink-footed goose was with several hundred Canada geese on the field between the lagoon and the canal. A fox was quartering the fields near Turf (inside the reserve) and seemed to upset two jays far out on the marshes. The glossy ibis was showing well from the footpath alongside the railway. Another interesting sighting was a female kestrel, male sparrowhawk and marsh harrier all in the same field of view.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing well on beach next to the slip.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing very well, enjoying the winter sunshine

Grey Wagtail on beach feasting on the swarm of flies.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing very well right by the slip at the end of Maelcombe beach Prawle. Sat with backs to slip wall and it was feeding very close to us , such a treat plus sunshine what can be better than that.!!!!!!!

Being chased by Rock and Meadow Pipit's constantly .

A stroll along the river at low tide - 2 Goosanders (1 drake), 2 Little Grebe, 50+ Dunlin, 25 Wigeon, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Sandpipers (North of Blackstone Meadow on river) 1 Kingfisher.

A pair of brambling at the bird feeders again today, along with the usual suspects - chaffinches and siskins, goldfinch, greenfinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpeckers, dunnock, blackbirds, robin, blue tits, great tits, coal tits and pied wagtail.

Greenshank & Redshank together feeding, male Kingfisher showing well.

Single Female Velvet Scoter on the sea

Firecrest showing well and very vocal by the gate at the end of the bridleway near the bridge/stream.

Very brief visit to BGM hide this morning. Birds were small in number but good views of a Snipe, pair of Egyptian Geese, Greylag Geese, two Grey Heron, nice male Bullfinch outside.

Today in Gidleigh were four or five Jays.

Jay

Jay

A walk round this afternoon produced 4 drake teal (2 on lake 1 and 2 on lake 3), 4 tufted duck ( 3 drake & 1 duck on lake 1), 1 drake gadwall (lake 1), a pair of  shoveler (lake 1), 1 dabchick (lake 1), 3 snipe (by lake 1), 2 herons (roosting in trees by lake 1) and a kingfisher which flew from lake 4 to 3.

Teal

3 Snipe

Unbelievably quiet and a morning of hard work found Black-throated Diver off Goodrington plus Razorbill, 3 Great Crested Grebes plus Kittiwakes & Fulmars. At Brixham Great Northern Diver & just 2 Purple Sandpipers. And the chip shop was shut!!!

Stover CP at first light ~ drake Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 19 Mandarin.

Yarner ~ First Marsh Tit of the season for me, an immature male Sparrowhawk rapidly cleared the area of any avian life.

Heathfield WTW ~ 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a small flock of Redwing.

Haldon Forest Park ~ Green Woodpecker, 3 GSWP, male Brambling, numerous Siskin, Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.

Buckfastleigh (Rv Dart) Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff , 3 Long Tailed Tit, 2 soaring Buzzard.

Brambling

Siskin

Walked out to Baggy this morning with Andy Lansdell. Several Fulmar on site, 2 Shags down on the rocks, and at least 2, possibly 4 Red-throated Divers off the point. It's also possible that some of the distant small Gulls were Kittiwakes. Again a single Mediterranean Gull in among the other Gulls on Croyde Beach.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

18 Goosander 9m 9f, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Willow Tits (2 at the hide), 2 Marsh Tits, 1m Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Nuthatch.

3 green sandpipers in the straightened stream channel this morning, plus grey wagtails.

During today's walk: Firecrest, Treecreeper, Blackcap (male), Stonechat (male), Grey Wagtail, 65+ Redwings, Jack Snipe, 9 Goosanders (4 drakes), 28 Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard (female), 25 Mandarin Ducks & 13 Roe Deer. 

the female golden eye, and the black neck grebe still showing well early morning,   then over to yarner,  in the birch trees were a small flock of redpols and siskins.

170 Red-throated Divers between the lighthouse and Shipload Bay this morning.

Another cracking day with sunny skies and a light breeze showed of the birds and the estuary in all their glory. As usual plenty to see with DB Brent geese seen across the Estuary. Kingfishers again fishing in the shallows Black-necked Grebe still well established around the Starcross area. A few GC Grebe off Exton with plenty of Dunlin across the mudbanks towards Turf Locks. Good numbers of Avocet Black-Tailed Godwit a few Knot and Lapwing towards Topsham. Spotted Redshank still off Topsham. To top this cruise was the 4-500 Golden Plover which were airborne and in formation flew over the boat and landed on the mudbank opposite Turf Lock. On the way back to Exmouth the water was like glass with great reflections in the late afternoon sun... another great day on the "Pride of Exmouth".

Golden Plover

Kingfisher

In and around the garden yesterday 

Redwing

Marsh Tit

On my way down to Kingsbridge I stopped off for an hour at Stover.  No Great crested Grebe but lots of Mandarin, Tufted, Mallard, Wigeon and Pochard.  Many gulls mainly Black headed and couple of Herring Gulls. A Water rail calling around the hide area.

Coot

Tufted Duck

On Monday after completing a job in Kingsbridge I popped over the Slapton Sands to photograph the Snow Bunting and anything else that would stand still.  Saw a family of Long-tail Tits and a Chiffchaff in some tree around the edge of the Ley and a single Snow Bunting in the usual place on the Beach.

Chiffchaff

Snow Bunting