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.

Please send your records to Karen Sims data.manager@devonbirds.org and any descriptions to Kevin Rylands recorder@devonbirds.org.

Best wishes and good birding for 2020.

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Over 5 'exercise' walks from home in the last 10 days (to compensate for not being in the Antarctic!), I've been counting birds between the SW edge of Chudleigh town and the River Teign. I finally got around to using the BTO's BirdTrack app* and have notched up 41 species, the highlights of which have been: a pair of Mandarin Ducks, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Moorhen (unexpected on the Teign), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (moving N), Kingfisher, a pair of Dippers displaying, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, 3 Roe Deer, 2 Rabbits (rare here these days) and a bat flying in daylight.

* The app is excellent and allows you to easily record what you see as you go along and then upload the data when you get home. A great way to make use of the records you gather as you're birding, and I believe the records come back to Devon Birds at some point. And you can record mammals and dragonflies as well!

Quick look at the scrape this morning - much as yesterday but 5 Black-tailed Godwits too.

Pair Goosander, pair Grey Wagtail. Also 2 Angleshades moths sunning on our windowsill in Honiton. 

Nine Fieldfare heading north into the headwind over Kingsteignton at 0845hrs

My very local patch produced buzzard jay long tailed tit bullfinch and the usual woodland suspects 

While it is good for the well being of us all to get out and about, we must consider our NHS staff. So where we go, how long we stay outside, who we go with or meet should be kept to a minimum and while you are out be sensible about maintaining the Social Distance.

A Wren sunning itself along the footpath

On my home I took the foot path between Tews Lane and Maple Grove.

 I saw and heard a lot of different types of birds,  a Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, a number of Wrens, a Blackcap some tits  

Chaffinch                       Greenfinch                             Goldfinch

Popped out to Fremington Quay this morning for my daily exorcise and  took my camera to help me build muscle tone you know!

Greenshank                      Spotted Redshank                          Little Egret

Roost of about 12 Little Egrets in the trees at the top of the Pill, 10+ shelduck, 20 redshank and 1 swallow seen this morning whilst on daily exercise this morning. 

Daily exercise ride to the pond and scrape, which was very busy. several Sand Martins hunting insects in the shelter of the railway embankment footpath. On the scrape a Shelduck, 2 Shoveler 27 Teal, 2 Pied Wagtail 17 Canada Geese, 2 Swans. By Wrafton pond a lone singing Willow Warbler livened up my day.

Early morning dog-walking from St. Davids to Trews Weir and back - several singing Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebes and my first Swallow of the year: one around the canal basin and later at the Millenium Bridge (probably the same bird).

Seen from our bedroom window at 9.15 this morning in the lane - 2 Red-legged Partridges.Last seen here in April 2005. In 2003 they successfully bred in the church graveyard.

Chiichaffs have arrived but still await returning Swallows  and House Martins

From home this morning a Peregrine falcon in after my racing pigeons !!! Followed a few minutes later by another sighting of a Red Kite, looking at the state of its tail and wing moult it's the same bird that was seen here yesterday.

Bird No.23 of the day being the would be cock Italian Sparrow sp that has been visiting since January.

Heron overhead and a GSWP started the day just on sunrise.

I'm up to 21 species seen from my Modbury garden during this terrible time. Some of them very distant and seen through my scope. 4 species of corvid (no jay yet) a stock dove flying over, a distant little egret in flight and a male blackcap which was in the garden and a first for the year for me. Also a distant buzzard the rest are the usual garden visitors. Seeing if I can beat my rival and arch nemesis Rob Murphy who is on 22. 

Seen in the Avon, between the railway line and the Lawns, 27.3.20.

Seen 28.3.20 in South Brent, flying up the Avon valley north of Lydia Bridge. Settled in a tree at Lutton, 17.45.

On our one walk of the day we went to Fremington Pill. The 2 ruff are still present, as is the spotted redshank and a couple of greenshank.

Ruff                                  Spotted Redshank                         greenshank

This afternoon a friend in the village rang to say he had a Red Kite over his garden heading my way on turning round I got the briefest view as it passed into the A38 corridor valley.

That prompted me to have a walk around the home fields finding a pair of Long Tailed Tit investigating a holly thicket, then a pair of GSWP's followed by a Chiffchaff the first one I have seen here this season, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and two LBBG's passing over.

Back to the kitchen to watch the garden feed station, the Italian Sparrow sp has been showing on and off since 8am this morning, along with Greenfinch, numerous Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Blue and Great Tit, Dunnock, Wren and a plague of Rooks trying to get at the feeders.

Was then aware of a large bird in the air coming down from the Exeter direction and the same or another Red Kite was about to pass over the house, images poor as by the time I grabbed the camera it was almost in line with the sun, very tatty tailed bird.

Cycled to the pond and scrape - 6-8 Sand Martins and a Swallow, but with this cold wind certainly not summer yet.

13.10

Red Kite low over my back garden being mobbed by three Herring Gulls. It then headed over Cadewell Park and on towards Newton Road and the railway line. 

15.25

Same or different Red Kite flying the exact same route as above, this time being mobbed by Herring Gulls and Corvids. 

From the garden and in flight earlier this morning, Sparrowhawk, several Buzzards and two Ravens. 

Another early wake up call around 5.30am thanks to the very vocal daily fly pasts from a number of Canada geese, Green Woodpecker calling but fortunately not as loudly, four LBBG's over today have been seeing this species passing over the house almost every day for the last 10 days or so.

Two Buzzards and a Raven overhead.

Female Bullfinch on the feeders, a new female House Sparrow showing a few white feathers turned up and Passer brentus the would be Italian Sparrow sp rocked up just before 3.30pm.

A walk around the house fields gave several pairs of birds on territories inc Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Chaffinch and displaying Greenfinch.

Spent part of the afternoon putting up some new nest boxes with luck something to take up residence.

A friend in Ivybridge rang to say he had a Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap in his garden.

On my key worker drive to work, there was a little egret flying up the parkway in plymouth at 9am. Landed in a tree. Never seen an egret flying up this busy dual carriageway before.

Red Kite seen today at Cofton near Dawlish Warren

A pair of treecreepers and a pair of goldcrests have been visiting the garden in Tiverton over the last few days.

Red Kite over Roundswell this afternoon at 13.45 being mobbed by gulls.

Red kite seen flying over my garden in Old Torrington Road Barnstaple at 2pm

I am very fortunate to live a couple of minutes walk from the river and to be able to exercise there.  Today and since the 25th I have been hearing a number of chiffchaffs singing.  Finally managed to see the blackcap that has also been singing since Wednesday.  There are a number of them along the river.  

Cuckoo heard this morning whilst out delivering shopping.

Red kite 

Flocks of about 30 Pied Wagtails and Stonechats mostly males.1 male Wheatear,Buzzard,1, Flock of Meadow Pipits,2 Goldcrest and 1 nesting Nuthatch.

Wheatear                                   Stonechat                                       Buzzard

Around and over the garden today

Pair of greater spotted woodpeckers                      Goldcrest            Local raven warning off local buzzard

Male Reeves Pheasant SS760257

Male Reeves Pheasant

Took our dog for her daily walk this afternoon also took my camera.  Walked up Tews Lane where a number (15-20) Starlings grabbed my attention. 

Starling

Had my first House Martin of the year high over the garden in Bridford Village on the edge of Dartmoor today.

House Martin

Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and a female on the peanuts too. Green Woodpecker calling off in the woods. Two Jays were nearby and the usual collection of Tits and a male Blackcap early on. Later on I added Brimstone to the garden and year list for Butterflies.

Blackcap, Topsham

At least 3 Red Kites high over the Village this lunchtime. 

Can you please act responsibly and not encourage travelling by posting birds that are not from your immediate house location

Eds: Agreed - any posts were it is obvious the birder has driven to the site to birdwatch will be deleted until we all are given the clearance to go out again..

Late post for Tuesday 24th: 75 Golden Plover at the north end of Blackslade Mire just west of Rippon Tor. Many in smart breeding plumage and looking superb in the evening sunshine. 

Whilst working on my own in a garden at Hope cove, Stock doves, lots of wood pigeons and Jackdaws, a few chiffchaffs and singing dunnocks. Heard green woodpecker in the distance.

Wood pigeon                      Stock dove                           Jackdaw

Birdwatching is NOT essential travel at this time!
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Whilst birding can be good for exercise and mental wellbeing, we are taking the view that travelling ANYWHERE, even locally to see birds that others have found, cannot be encouraged at this time. It is non-essential travel and does not conform with current government guidance.

We will therefore not be publishing bird news until it is safe to travel. We encourage you to watch the birds in your garden and submit your sightings and data to the BTO’s Birdtrack scheme. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack/about

Could you please post this and not pictures of birders who  not conform with current government guidance.

Red Kite over garden early afternoon. Circling high, travelling west towards Plymouth. Five Buzzard also around, Meadow Pipit and 2 Siskin also over.

Taken today at 4.30pm. Thanks to the earlier post for letting us know it had returned.

A just before sunrise visit to Dawlish Warren this morning gave 39 species including ~ LBBG, GBBG, Teal, Shelduck, 23 Greenfinch, GSWP, DB & LB Brent Geese, Stonechat, 26 plus Knot, 40 plus Linnet, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 26 plus Turnstone, 20 plus Skylark, 14 Dunnock, 23 plus Goldfinch, 199 Curlew (one ringed bird right leg, blue above knee, green over yellow below) one Whimbrel in with the Curlew, 5 Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Song Thrush.

An early afternoon visit to a local farm on the edge of Dartmoor above South Brent to place some nest boxes, a brief bird watch gave 18 species including 3 Wren, 5 Stock Dove, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, a pair of displaying and nest building Treecreeper,1 Song Thrush, a pair of Buzzard, 1 GSWP and 1 Raven.

Several Peacock butterflies and an unidentified type of eared bat that was flying around in the warm sunshine.

The Italian type Sparrow continues to frequent the garden feeders at home.

Superb raptor migration over 2 hours this pm, involving 38 Common Buzzards, discounting the resident pair who were very interested, leaving 36 migrating birds generally migrating high NE. Also first Swallow of the year.

My daily exercise took me on my bike to Wrafton Pond this morning where there were no Sand Martins but one of the drake Red-crested Pochard has returned.

First,  Wheatear (M), of the year, plenty of Skylarks, Raven, Buzzard and Meadow Pipits. 

Dotterel on short grassy area by road  this evening til dusk at SX7368777567.

Dotterel                         Dotterel

On Roborough Down this afternoon a Red Kite flew towards Plymouth, distant shots

Ringing in the reserve (the perfect place to self-isolate!) Produced of note: 1 Reed Bunting, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, and a Willow Warbler - very long wing making it a male, which usually arrive first. Sadly it didn't sing. Only 3 or 4 Sand Martins over early on.

6 or 7 Peacock, 2 or 3 Small Tortoiseshell (one very scruffy) and a cracking Comma.

Red Kite at 12.57 p.m. flying S.E. then E.  Seen from my back garden GR SS 45063 26153  That's the GR of the viewpoint, not the bird.  Too slow off the mark with the camera, though.  Sorry.

17 Chiffchaffs in valley.

Sunday 13:00 hours  two Ringed Plover  also,three Redshank,Little Egrets and groups of Shelduck.Sand Martins over fields near The Great field.

09.15.  Red Kite over Dawlish Warren. Cirl Buntings feeding in the new park. 

Isolated but the birds are coming to me.  A female reed bunting on my sunflower heart feeder this am.  A first for my garden.  I wonder what else I will see now that my focus is just on my small patch.