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. Many of these 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.

If you follow our Blog but are not currently a member of Devon Birds please consider joining Devon Birds to help us with the upkeep of running the website and this service as well as our valuable conservation work .

Acting on comments to Devon Birds some changes have been made to this page. To the right of this header post you'll see there are now several subjects for you to choose to read and post on. Just click your chosen subject and use as previously.

Please be careful not to post under the wrong subject. If you do, you can still easily go back to edit and change the subject yourself so it appears on the right page.

Please try and keep posts short, particularly in the Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts page. Photographs are still very welcome.  

For help with ID email photos to id@devonbirds.org.

(09:30)

Now singing males of Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat have joined the morning chorus. A Snipe flushed on the high tide. Wren carrying a feather (therefore probably female, lining a lucky male's nest!). Plenty of Linnet and Skylark. Swallows have been around but none this morning.

A walk along the coastal path and the Point produced the following: Whimbrel 15, Little Egret 15, Oystercatcher 41, Whitethroat 5,  Manx Shearwater 5 passed the Mewstone close in. 

Red Kite over at height being chased by Herring Gull at 10.50am. Last seen heading east towards East Hill, Ottery St Mary. 

Whilst here could I put in a plea....please would observers state location of sightings more clearly.. they may be familiar with their patch but I am sure many others won't know where it is.... North Devon, South Devon etc. would be helpful.

Also, to night's the night.... support Devon BIrds and come to the AGM/talk at Exeter Court Hotel.  Its always a good meeting. 

Two sandwich Terns on the estuary first thing and my first (2) Willow Warblers of the year here.Also 2 Green Woodpeckers and the female Red-crested Pochard.

As I returned home I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling in the grounds of Mount Gould Hospital where it then showed exceptionally well in and around a large pine tree by the fence next to the children's facility. Easily visible from the road.

Single swift and 2 house martins over the house, in Exminster, this morning. 

Several posts have appeared (and now deleted)  in recent days giving details of scarce breeding birds in Devon, please take some responsibility before you post .

Take note of the header post on this page, if you are still unsure read this..

 https://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/rare_breeding_species 

Thank you

Wed 18 April 9am: Single bird seen flying over Cyprus Road being chased by crow accompanied by much screeching 

Several territorial and singing Pied  Flycatchers, one with an accompanying female.  At least 2 Tree Pipits out on the Heath. No-one was owning up to having seen a Redstart though.

We went on to Exminster, and after much searching found the White-fronted Goose from the canal path. A Whimbrel  flew over as we were at the Lions Rest, hotly pursued by a Peregrine!.

No sign of any Cattle Egrets at Powderham.

Male Golden Oriole seen by Peter Temple and one other birder late this morning. Perched in tree above wooden seat then flew to top of trees above the hide on other side on Blaxton Meadow lagoon.They were unable to pick it up again. 

Eds: An exceptional record; there are no more than two previous records for Plymouth, both close to the boundary, and it's quite early for Devon as a whole. Would the observers please ensure they submit a description to the county recorder so that the record is not lost. Thanks. 

Feeding in the garden this morning, 7 Bramblings, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Greenfinches and 3 Siskin

A good mix of birds seen during an early morning visit to Berry Head, first nice tick was a Whitethroat and the last a female Wheatear, still a decent passage of Manx Shearwater's, two Red Throated Divers, numerous Gannets, a couple of Swallows in off of the sea, lots of Fulmar, a singe Common Scoter, plenty of Linnet, Dunnock and Goldfinch.

Very few migrants today.

Soar - Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 6, Willow Warbler, Blackcap 2, Swallow 3, White Wagtail 2.

South Milton Ley - Reed Bunting & Great Spotted Woodpecker.

South Efford Marsh - Greenshank & Teal 3.

Again Roborough Down, Male Yellowhammers showing very well this am

This am plenty of male & female Redpolls on Roborough Down near Clearbrook, also plenty of Yellowhammers, male & female, Linnets, Meadow Pipits, & Skylarks

Fine, bright and warm at last,.so some early birding.

2 Willow Warblers and 3 Chiffchaffs at Kingford Fen.  Much calling and activity from the rookery at Kingford Mill with at least seven nests so far

7+ Swallows flying around and into the farm buildings at Lana.

2 Willow Warblers, 1 Treecreeper calling but not seen, 1 Blackcap and some calling from the heronry..at Dunsdon NR.

Harvey Kendall..   

.

Common Sandpiper near Sampford Peverell (just east of village) 8.15am 18 April, coasting low over the water and the resting up in reeds at edge until disturbed by my passing then up again, low and slow. Seen on 3 recent dates, also same time last spring, it's taken a while to work out what it was but some low res shots (apologies for quality) this morning confirmed it. Only around fora while last year so presumably in passage

Grasshopper Warbler initially heard singing then after a search spotted on Streatham Campus University of Exeter 

23 Black-tailed Godwit on the main lake this morning. Most in full summer plumage. Viewed from main road. 

Watched from 15:15 till 18:20 from the lifeguard hut on the sea wall visibility very poor at times 

The highlight were 3 groups of whimbrels the first group of 19 dropped onto the beach before flying of north west and included 1 bar tailed godwit , the second group was much bigger with 70+ and included 2 bar tailed godwits and again headed of north west the third group of 20 included 3 bar tailed godwits) also seen were 170+ Manx Shearwater all heading south, 11+ common tern, 1 great northern diver, 1 red throated diver, 3 gadwall, 3 common scoter, 2 eider, 12+ great crested grebes, 2 swallows, 13 pale bellied Brent geese , 25+ sandwich terns , 5+ fulmars, 1 Great skua.

black swan on the estuary, cettis, chiffchaff, willow warbler, sedge warbler,thanks to the ghia trust for nice new steps,dog walkers still fail to keep of this little sanctuary.

Male Wheatear, 4 Curlews, 1st w/s Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank & 2 Mistle Thrushes.

About 90 Godwits on the scrape this morning. 1 Swallow over Wrafton Pond. Walked down to Sherpa Marsh and found lots of Sand Martins, good numbers of Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Teal, and several Reed/Sedge Warblers chuntering away in the reed-beds. Sadly, no sign of the Hoopoe.

Spent an enjoyable half hour yesterday watching treecreeper(s) nest building in a bat box.

Saw them doing similar previously at Challacombe Farm.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth 

On an early morning. A Little Gull flew past east from the coastal path and 2 White Wagtail in the dung field. 

Exminster Marsh

A quick visit after work. The White-fronted Goose was on show from the railway path. A Yellow Wagtail calling in flight but not located and a Willow Warbler calling from the powderham side of the tracks.

If interested more details http://dixiesbirding.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Further to my post a couple of days ago, the vocal Willow Tit (presume same one) still visiting feeders  Seems to favour sunflower seeds. Has now been joined by occasional second bird. 

This lunchtime at Exminster Marshes, the White-fronted Goose was reasonably close in from Staion Road. Also 1 Reed Warbler by the RSPB car park, 1 Sedge Warbler by the middle car park, 11 Whimbrel flew over and 1 House Martin.

Circular walk this morning yielded 36 species of which best were: Cuckoo (1), Chiffchaff (3), Green Woodpecker (2), Marsh Tit (1), Treecreeper (1), Tree Pipit (1 singing from top of Willow), Willow Warbler (10).

I had planned a morning ringing in the reserve this morning before the Hoopoe livened up yesterday evening by flying into the reserve - honest!

Doing my net rounds early on I saw Dave Paull and Alex Gladwin over near the gateway and when they were leaving later I went out for a chat - they had seen it near the SW corner of the reserve again. Later on I saw Roger and Lyn Doble, so went tot he gate and as I walked out the Hoopoe flew from the track right in front of me towards them and into the reserve, just near where I have some nets. They both accompanied me  back into the reserve, and I went off round the nets again: no luck!

When I eventually left at about 12.30, I went towards the gateway and there it still was. Took some photos and left. Here is one of the pics.

Hoopoe Velator today.

Dog-walk at 6:45 - 7:15am. Teal and Wigeon still around. Multiple singing males of Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Meadow Pipit... Also female Linnet nest-building. No Hirundines since a small flock of Sand Martin a few evenings back.

6 A.M cycle ride out to the head, a single Wheatear right on the end, by the coastguard lookout station

A couple of brambling above us, a coot on 7 eggs, a male mute swan attacked a white duck sitting on it's eggs, plucked loads of feathers out and chased her off. We saw 1 pair of tufted ducks and a drake scalp which I'd never seen before. 

Whoops! Should have said a Night Heron - sorry!  But can now attach the photo I was shown this morning.

A casual look at the sea with bins picked up groups of Manx Shearwaters passing south. Watched for 45 mins , estimated 350-400 birds, likely many more beyond bins range, stopped moving by 7pm. Also 12 Sandwich terns and a GND on the sea.

Yesterday at Torcorss - Drake Scaup on the Ley and a few House Martins.

Fairly quiet this afternoon between the showers, managed to see a record 6 male Pheasants (plus one female), a Jay, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Song Thrush. In addition I heard 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, and a Green Woodpecker.

Three Whimbrels on Blaxton Pool - my 100th species for the patch this year (I only saw 101 species in 2017, so it's set to be a good year). Also surprisingly, a Jack Snipe still about, Grey Wagtail, Ringed Plover, Mandarin Duck (drake), 4 Curlews, Common Sandpiper, 24 Shelducks, 30 Turnstones, 7 Stock Doves and an adult Shag.

Just got back from an afternoon working in the reserve - mostly the excitement of raking duckweed out of the pond.... Good to have the accompaniment of a few singing Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

About five o'clock I packed up and headed down for a walk round Sherpa Marsh. As | approached the gate to the first field a bird took off in front of me and flew towards the reserve, A cracking HOOPOE! I immediately called the troops, and as the rain arrived, Sue Bruce and Rob and Paula arrived. I saw it again just before they got there, flying south along the east side of the reserve, and it flew into the large macrocarpus tree, where it and we waited for the rain to stop. When it did I went back into the reserve and as I approached said tree, it flew out back to where I had first seen it, and right in front of the three spectators. I went back out and joined them and got some pictures, which I will post shortly.

A female Brambling for a brief while at a sunflower feeder in my garden this afternoon. Yesterday, my second record of a Lesser Redpoll at the feeders, a single bird this time.

The storms at the end of March brought down some trees along the boundary of the Reserve next to the access road.  A tree surgeon has inspected the damaged trees as well as the other trees along the boundary.  He has been engaged to make safe all the trees along the boundary wall.  The work will start on 16 April and take up to three days.

Apologies for the inconvenience .  If you have any queries, please call Nick Townsend on 07989717383

White-fronted Goose still on the marsh near the turf as viewed from station road. 

more details if interested https://dixiesbirding.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

The 2 Egyptian Geese still present this afternoon by the River Kenn. Also c.60 Swallows, 10 Sand Martins and a lone House Martin. Best viewed from the path below the farm shop car park.

2 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2m Great Tit, 1 Longtailed Tit, 5 Bullfinch (2m 3f) 5 Chaffinch (3m 2f) 10 Goldfinch, 1m Greenfinch, 4 Siskin (2m 2f) 1m House sparrow, (1st here in 35yrs). 1 Robin, 2f Dunnock, 2Wpgn, 2Blackbird (1m with deep red beak, 1f) 1 Crow & 1m Blackcap

I was shown a photograph this morning, dated 4 April, of a Squacco Heron which landed in their garden. It stayed for about 20 minutes before she inadvertently frightened it off. No doubt about the ID - just wish I'd been here when she saw it!

Eds: please ensure the photo is sent on to the County Recorder and to the National Records committee BBRC otherwise the record will be lost   https://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/recording/downloadable_forms 

Female goldeneye reported by Mike Booth was again at Trews Weir around midday today.  Initially just downstream of the weir but later moved to the top of the adjacent floor relief works. Also two common sandpiper nearby.

 Harwell Lane / Forder Lane area of South Brent this morning, saw four Song Thrush, three Blackcap (2M & 1F) Four Chiffchaff, Two Willow Warbler, pair of Bullfinch, two Wren and a Kestrel over head.

Jon - When the Black tailed Godwits are not on Sharpa scrape they fly over to Horsey Island.

Pigeons and doves, in the form of 79 Woodpigeons (in flocks of 6 to 18 flying E just offshore) and Collared Doves (3 west) were, surprisingly, the most noticeable migrants on a beautifully sunny morning. Otherwise a trickle of Sand Martins (4) and Swallows (7), along with a few Meadow Pipits, alba wagtails, Linnets and another (presumed Lesser) Redpoll. Also a handful of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Odd that I didn't see any Godwits this morning despite being in the reserve most of the morning! At least 6 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers and 3 Chiffchaff around the reserve. I went along to look at the scrape this evening and was pleased to see 90+ Black-tailed Godwits, along with a Shelduck, and a Common Sandpiper. So on to Sherpa, where last night there were NO Swallows or Sand Martins, just an odd late drake Wigeon. Tonight there were about 50 Sand Martins but only one Swallow. 2 more Common Sandpipers.

Manx shearwaters at least 3 groups of four seen today flying and diving 2 miles south of  Plymouth Breakwater. Also spotted 2 Gannets and a shag with a beautiful crest!

Single Redstart (male) and Willow Warbler around bushes at the end of the Headland this afternoon.

A quick scan of the Erme estuary today, on the rising tide at lunchtime, produced two very handsome Mediterranean gulls showing well amongst the Black-headed and Herring. 

Plenty of N Wheatears about Skylarks and Meadow Pipits,1,m Golden Plover in summer plumage 4 Hares.

Plenty of bird life close to the RSPB car park, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Stonechat, Reed Warblers, Linnets...Peregrine on the pylon in the distance....Marsh Harrier quartering in the distance by the canal....very few wintering ducks left now.

Female Goldeneye feeding adjacent upstream side of Weir at 08:45

Plym Estuary: Red-necked Grebe still at top end of estuary at high tide, 2 Snipe, 23 Turnstones, Green Woodpecker, Greenshank, 11 Little Egrets, 12 Mute Swans, Swallow, Green Woodpecker & 2 Roe Deer.

Wembury Bay: Grasshopper Warbler reeling, Whitethroat & female Wheatear.

Radford Woods & Park: Kingfisher & Willow Warbler.

Best sightings at Yarner this morning, 3 Pied Flycatchers, and a large mixed flock of Redpoll and Siskins ( perhaps 50 or 60 mostly Redpoll) in trees next to new Reservoir hide

Redstart,wheatear,chiffchaff,swallows,increasing numbers of guillemots and razorbills,good numbers of all local birds enjoying the dry weather at last!!!.

The Italian type Sparrow is still present in East Budleigh today.
It was trapped and ringed on the 9th April with feather samples removed for DNA testing. This was all done under a Special Methods Licence granted by the BTO. If anyone is still interested in seeing the bird,
please view only from the designated areas as before, shown on the map below.
More details on Steve Waite's Blog: https://stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/east-budleigh-italian-sparrow.html

Extremely quiet this morning. Calm, overcast and misty but hardly a migrant in evidence other than some Linnet flocks (totalling about 50 birds), a (presumed Lesser) Redpoll and a single alba wagtail passing over. Otherwise it was pretty much local breeding birds only, including some by now territorial Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. The complete absence of hirundines was particularly noticeable, as it was yesterday (12th), when a single Swallow was the only hirundine seen during a whole day spent in foreign parts (!) along the Dart estuary/lower Dart valley.

Red necked grebe still mid channel on the incoming tide off Blagdons Meadow. Also 1 swallow over, chiffchaff and blackcap singing, 7 stock dove and a pair of bullfinch in Saltram Park and 1 greenshank, 5 little egrets, 11 common gulls (5 adults), 34 redshank, 1 curlew and 32 turnstone along the river on the low tide.

1 Cattle Egret in a field (with cattle) North of Powderham Park this lunchtime. Also 2 Egyptian Geese by the lake.

Black Redstart around the coastguard buildings this morning. Also, a Ring Ouzel dropped in near the cafe. Very brief stay before flying off inland.

Very few migrants this morning: 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and a Black Redstart at the end of the headland. 1 Tree Pipit and a Curlew over, also 1 Common Dolphin off the end of the headland.

Yesterday evening at Broadsands 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.

Whimbrel seen this morning on the Caen Estuary North Devon. A Wheatear showed well with a pair of Greenshank on the Taw Estuary.

  
Whimbrel                                         Wheatear                                                Greenshank

No sign of the Gargany at Dawlish Warren today but I did managed to locate the Slavonian Grebe distantly from Cockwood Steps.

Slavonian Grebe

A Ring Ouzel (male), only my second here ever and hoping around with a Fieldfare! Also Jack Snipe, Red-necked Grebe, 4 Swallows, 2 Greenshanks, 11 Little Egrets, 2 Curlews and a pair of Mandarin Ducks. A great mix of Spring & Autumn. 

One spotted redshank.

As part of the development of the roads to Derriford in Plymouth Liz Harris and I have been carrying out a survey of Poole Farm since 2016. The farm is at the bottom of Forder Valley Road which is being developed into a community park which is to open in 2021. Today we observed, Mallard 1, Pheasant 3, Buzzard 3, Herring Gull 10 flying over, Feral Pigeon 1, Wood Pigeon 30 plus, Collared Dove 2, Robin 11, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 11, Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 11, Goldcrest 1, Wren 10, Great Tit 9, Blue Tit 13, Nuthatch 2, Magpie around 30, Jay 4, Carrion Crow 13, Chaffinch 11, Goldfinch 6, Greenfinch 2.

Over last few days on or around our feeders (as well as usual residents), 2 yellowhammers (M+F), 2 siskins (M+F), 2 nuthatches (think M+F), 2 bullfinches (M+F) each visiting as pairs, lesser redpoll (F) and today a very vocal willow tit (not uncommon on Thorne Moor) but scarce in our adjacent garden. Swallows now in garage. Chiffchaff flitting about. Sparrowhawk dropped 3/4 eaten collared dove from one of our tall leylandii trees and made my wife jump. The visiting male is very recognisable with 2 parallel rows of white feathers evenly spaced (like dotted lines) from back of head to rump. Have watched him ambush an unfortunate robin by hopping along the bottom of our leylandii hedge about foot off the ground. This seemed to be a deliberate ploy - when the Robin flushed from near the top of the hedge, which is about 4 feet high, the sparrowhawk somehow whizzed out, up and over to catch it. Incredible speed and agility. Then took 20 minutes to pluck and eat it!

One male Hawfinch on feeders (fleetingly) in Salcombe Regis.

On the off chance that the Drake Garganey was still around I was most fortunate to see the bird at fairly close quarters at last light last night 11/04/2018. He was showing intermittently on the main pond at Dawlish Warren just past the rangers building. He was initially illusive but flew out into the open and settled for a couple of minutes before disappearing back into the reeds. I spoke to others who had been waiting for a number of hours so patience is the key with this bird.

Just a quick visit. Red-necked Grebe still off Arnold’s Point. Also 2 Greenshank, Kingfisher, 4 Common Sandpiper, 16 Turnstone and 21 Redshank.