If you were fortunate enough to see any of the birds below please can you submit a description to the County Recorder Recorder@DevonBirds.org to ensure they are included in the 2021 Devon Bird Report.
Black Kite
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Shute
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07 Jun
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Honey-Buzzard
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Soar
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09 Oct
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Caspian Gull
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Exmouth
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01 Dec
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Honey-Buzzard
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Thurlestone
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13 Oct
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Chough
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Noss Mayo
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09 Feb
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Little Bunting
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Huxton Cross
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18 Oct
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Chough
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Chudleigh Knighton
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24 Sep
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Long-tailed Skua
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Thurlestone
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12 May
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Common Rosefinch
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Lundy
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10 Jun
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Ortolan Bunting
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Lundy
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17 Jun
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Corn Bunting [2]
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Lundy
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22 Jun
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Pectoral Sandpiper
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Bowling Green
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27 Oct
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Cory's Shearwater
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Lundy
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07 Sep
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Purple Heron
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Slapton Ley
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17 Apr
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Glossy Ibis
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Staverton
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21 Dec
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RC Starling
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Lundy
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01 Jul
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Glossy Ibis
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Otter Estuary
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28 Dec
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RC Starling
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South Huish
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09 Sep
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Golden Oriole
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Combe Valley
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09 Jun
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Ruddy Duck
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Exe Estuary
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04 Apr
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Nightingale
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Hallsands
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26 May
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Serin
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Haldon
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21 Aug
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Nightingale
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Wistlandpound
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30 May
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Tree Sparrow
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Ilfracombe
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22 Jan
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Hooded Crow
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Clovelly
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03 Jun
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Tree Sparrow
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Haldon
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14 Nov
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Posted June 30th at 11:34 pm by Kevin Rylands in Bird News
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Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Friday 31st August 2012
To add to previous post: 2 Little Egrets, 2 Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, 2+ Willow Warblers and 2+ Chiffchaffs and several Whitethroats. The Sparrowhawk was hunting early morning and the same waders were on the beach being regularly disturbed by dogs.

Dunlin
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 11:13 pm by Graham Watson in Bird News
Watched from the hide from 16:30 till 19:15
3 yellow wagtails the first of the autumn were in with the cattle, the adult spotted redshank came in with 156+ redshank, 20+ bar tailed godwits , 140+ Dunlin, 7 knot, 8+ ringed plover, 4 whimbrel, 500+ black tailed godwits, 9+ little grebes plus 3 recently fledge juv's, the Garganey showed at times far left hand corner , 3 tufted, 1 pochard, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 white wagtail, no sign of the wood sandpipers today, the juv spottred redshank flew over and into goosemoor . Not a bad afternoon
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 9:20 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
Just seen an adult hobby flying SW over my house (outside Paignton). Mobbed by 30+ swallows and house martins.
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 7:30 pm by Jacob Wood in Bird News
Mid tide this afternoon I rowed from Turf to Topsham and had good views of 50+ dunlin, 4 ringed plovers (all juvs), c30 sanderling and one curlew sandpiper. Also 4 shelduck and about 50 black-tailed godwits. All dispersed by peregrine at about 4.30.
The osprey was reported carrying a fish south of Turf. Also reported were a couple of wheatears.
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 6:55 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
Waders at Wembury today :- 1 common sandpiper, 5 turnstone, 4 ringed plover, 3 whimbrel, 1 dunlin, 2 redshank, curlew and oystercatcher. Also 2 juvenile wheatear and a close view of a male sparrowhawk trying unsuccessfully to fly off with a woodpigeon kill.

Male sparrowhawk with woodpigeon
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm by Stuart Green in Bird News
All the action around the marshes- on Thurlestone early am - 2 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 1 Swift, 1 Snipe, Water Rail , 1 Yellow wagtail.
On South Huish marsh - 16 Teal, 8 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff ( over ) , 150 + Swallow and House martin, , 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Willow warblers, 2 Whitethroat, 30 + Goldfinch , 13 Wheatear.1 Dunlin
Waders on the beaches - 5 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin,2 Sanderling, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Redshank ( over ).
Ringing team - 1 Groppa, 6 Sedge, 7 Reed W , 3 Blackcap, 4 Willow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat.
Over high ground at Upton's Cross large flock of Swa;;ow and sand martin which included 2 Swift.
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 3:06 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Only 4 Black-tailed Godwits visible from the reserve this morning, but on the flooded part of the field with them were 3 Wigeon, and several Teal.
Ringing this morning 4 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs of note.
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 2:47 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A fantastic morning with great light giving views of, 70+ Black-Tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew, Lesser black backed Gull.
Other sightings from the last week were, Kestrel, 8 Buzzards (at once) 15+ Lapwings with 3 juv among them.
Posted August 31st, 2012 at 10:39 am by Gareth Williams in Bird News
Thursday 30th August 2012
Watched from 15:45 till 18:35
2 juv wood sandpipers still showing on far side from the hide ,the adult and juv spotted redshank were amongst 150+ redshank, 130+ Dunlin, 4 knot, 4 ringed plover,12+ bar tailed godwits good numbers of black tailed godwits , 5 lapwing , 9+ little grebes, 1 pochard, 1 Garganey , 3 tufted duck, 20+ teal, 1 wigeon, 5+ whimbrel, 2 common sandpiper.
Had a call from Gary Clayden that 4 wood sandpipers flew over towards exminster at 19:25, and Brian heasman had 2 on powderham marsh at 18:30 so at least 4 around the estuary maybe more ?
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 9:30 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
On the pond this evening 5 juv Pochard, now 5 Wigeon, and in amongst the host of Mallard a juvenile Pintail.
On the flood over the trail from the pond now 31 Black-tailed Godwits.
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 8:14 pm by jon turner in Bird News
31 Black tail Godwits this evening at the flooded field on the Tarka Trail opposite Wrafton pond at 1900.
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 7:51 pm by Andy Leat in Bird News
A brisk NNW wind with some sunshine. Only wader on the beach this am was a Sanderling. However South Huish Marsh produced our first Ruff of the year along with a Green Sandpiper, 8 Black Tailed Godwit and 7 Dunlin. A Yellow Wagtail in with a small flock of Alba's
12 Ringed Plover and 5 Turnstone flew in and up the valley.
In the Bay 4 Sandwich Tern and a jv Arctic Tern feeding.
3 Grey Wagtail over whilst Bob B had a Crosbill over the car park at 13.30
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 6:02 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Mid afternoon a quick look at the estuary from Topsham revealed an osprey (wing moult suggests adult) and 120 black-tailed godwits. Also c200 dunlin flying south.
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 5:48 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
14:30
Black-tailed Godwit 112.
17 Mediterranean Gulls (11A; 1 1st S; 5 2nd S) in a roost of c600 Black-headed Gulls. The roost off the sewage works is certainly increasing in numbers.
25 Sanderling flying about.
c500 Canada Geese including the white farmyard goose and the hybrid..
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 4:17 pm by Maurice Clements in Bird News
Orcombe Point - 1300 - 1430 - a quick scoot around the top fields was surprisingly productive with 1 short-eared owl (presumed adult in wing moult), 8 wheatear, 3 whimbrel and 1 hobby.
Migrants on Orcombe in the last couple of weeks have included 30+ willow warbler, 1 reed warbler, 9+ tree pipit, 10+ wheatear, 4+ chiffchaff, 1+ pied flycatcher, 1 sedge warbler, 1 whinchat, 3 grasshopper warbler, 2 yellow wagtail, 1 greenshank, 1 green sandpiper and 1 ringed plover and 1 fw yellow-legged gull.

Short-eared Owl

juv swallow
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 4:03 pm by matthew knott in Bird News
Early this morning, the Little Stint, 3 Ruff and 44 Black-tailed Godwits on Black Hole Marsh - along with the usual Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Green and Common Sands.
Mid morning, (presumably) Monday's Garganey reappeared, this time on flood opposite Axmouth FC near Boshill Cross (SY261930).
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 12:04 pm by Steve Waite in Bird News
Juv. Common tern and Little Gull at high water.

Common tern and Little Gull
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 12:29 am by Stephen Hatch in Bird News
15:25-17:25
Pale phase juv Long-tailed Skua W at 15:50, 1 Balearic, 10 Manx, 10 Kittiwakes and 2 Sandwich Terns. Slow going, but worth it.
Posted August 30th, 2012 at 12:11 am in Bird News
Wednesday 29th August 2012
Wed 1515 1845. Clear, after heavy rain wind; SW 4-5 inc. 6 Seastate 5. most birds distant :-( all West
Shearwater: Sooty 1, Balearic 5, Manx 218
Great Skua: 4
Commic Tern:4
Blacktailed Godwit:1
Ocean Sunfish:1
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 10:31 pm by Dick Seekins in Bird News
0620-1500 [Only rained 0730-1350 ! ] Single observer, very wet, and very little close, but don't think I missed much, so interesting to see how much more Berry Head got compared to Hope's Nose on todays' wind.
Manx Shearwater 45
Balearic Shearwater 12
Sooty Shearwater 8 5 of which together distantly at 1445
Great Skua 5 only
Arctic Skua 5 only
Pomarine Skua 3 inc. a spooned sub-adult which sat on sea
Long-tailed Skua 1 dark juv. at 0653
Arctic Tern 1 juv.
Black Tern 1 ad.
---------------------------------------------------------
On a completely different tangent, on a single buddleia yesterday near the Globe Inn, Lympstone,
one Clouded Yellow, 3 Painted Lady, 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Red Admiral, and 1 Peacock.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm by Brian Heasman in Bird News
2 Swifts and a Yellow Wagtail around the midway car park this evening.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 9:16 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
Couple of photos from yesterday

Wheatear

Swallows
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 8:46 pm in Bird News
After a fine days seawatching, popped into the airfield briefly this evening. At least 7 wheatears and 2 whinchats still.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 8:16 pm in Bird News
Watched from the hide 15:35 till 18:25
3 juv wood sandpiper were nice with 1 on far side and 2 near bank , the adult and juv spotted redshank were more easy to see today, the male eclipse Garganey was over in far left hand corner , also 63+ Dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 2 common sandpiper, 1 green sandpiper,1 turnstone, 4 knot, 12+ bar tailed godwit good numbers of redshank and black tailed godwits , 4+ whimbrel in with the curlew, 8+ little grebes, 2 wigeon, 2 gadwall, 1 pochard, 12+ shoveler, 20+ teal, 5+ snipe, 26+ little egrets, 1 peregrine, 1 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 7+ lapwing
A very good afternoon
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 8:00 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
Stayed on to 15.20ish with Luke. Conservatively another 8 sooty shearwaters (at least 4 through together), 9 balearic shearwaters, 1 pale phase arctic skua, 5 sandwich terns. Also 20 black tailed godwits flew into the bay and a wheatear on the cliffs.
Still drying out....
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 6:47 pm in Bird News
Wet, wet & very wet. Set out at 08.00 to look for waders on the beaches- managed to find 13 Sanderling, 5 Ringed Plover. When the really bad weather started viz so bad could not find a Gannet .
Moved on to Beesands where some passage but not up to BH's totals . From 09.15 - 11.30
90 Gannet, 17 Fulmar, 13 Kittiwake, 2 Common Scoter ,1 Turnstone and a Wheatear. Skuas moving west were - a juv Long Tailed at 09.30 ( considering the conditions good in flight views) and at 10.45 a light phase Arctic.
At 07.00 a Hobby over T'stone Marsh . Last nights Swallow roost est at 6000+
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 6:13 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
A good selection of birds late afternoon over high tide.
Sandwich Tern 4
Common Tern 16
Black Tern 2
Little Gull 1 A very smart juvenile
The only unexpected wader was a single Golden Plover among c600 Oystercatcher.
A passing Sparrowhawk caused chaos for a while.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 5:55 pm by Roger Doble in Bird News
On a rising tide:
2 wood sandpiper, 8 green sandpiper, 2 greenshank, 3 common sandpiper, 2 kingfisher, 2 Egyptian geese.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 4:00 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
In addition to the earlier post from ML from 1145hrs to 1345hrs an additional, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Juv Long-tailed Skua @1225hrs, 9 Great Skua, 12 Arctic Skua, 20 Balearic Shearwater and a Yellow Wagtail over the headland, and no you can't see the sketches in my note book!
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 3:52 pm by Bill Macdonald in Bird News
A quick look at Black Hole Marsh at 14:00 revealed; 1 Little Stint still present alongside c40 Dunlin, 25 Blackwits, 18 Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff, 3 Green Sands (with 3 more opposite Axmouth FC), 2 Turnstone, 2 Lapwing, 1 Knot, 1 Tufted Duck and an increasingly poorly looking Kittiwake.
Although the Little Stint was showing much nearer to the hide than it was at 8am this morning, the weather was still very dull and wet. Well that's my excuse anyway for this dreadful photo...

Posted August 29th, 2012 at 3:35 pm by Steve Waite in Bird News
Three Wood Sandpipers form the hide at lunchtime.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 2:25 pm by Phil Holyday in Bird News

A very soggy seawatch 0615-1145hrs, of interest: 2 juv Long-tailed Skuas sat on sea fairly close in for some time, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 54 Balearic Shearwaters, 300+ Manx (much milling around in feeding flocks!), 30 Arctic Skua, 12+ Great Skuas, 8 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Tern, 23 Common Tern, 1 Common Gull, 5 Harbour Porpoise.
Update as at 1230hrs
Another Long-tailed Skua south at approximatley 1215hrs. Presumed 3rd bird although plumage was similar to paler bird in Mikes pic. Mobbed by Arctic Skua (showing difference in size). Also another Sooty Shearwater with more Arctic Skuas/Shearwaters moving through after the front passed through. Im sure those left on site will post full update later. JDPM

Sooty Shearwater.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 2:07 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
06:05-10:05 at the Beer shelter...
1 Sooty Shearwater @ 06:30, 24 Balearics and 13 Manx, 5 Arctic Skuas and 1 Pomarine, 35 Common Scoter, 2 Kittiwakes, 1 Curlew, 3 'commic' Terns, 2 Arctic Terns. Everything flew W except the Pom, which went E.
At BHM - 1 Little Stint (appeared to fly off N), 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Knot, 3 Ruff, 1 Turnstone, 1 Green Sandpiper, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, several Common Sands, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.
Posted August 29th, 2012 at 1:21 pm in Bird News
Tuesday 28th August 2012
Back to the hide tide roost at bowling green marsh today watched from the hide 15:15 till 17:15
The adult and juv spotted redshank were elusive hidden amongst the 376+ curlew, 3 whimbrel, 502+ black tailed godwits included 45+ juv, 12+ bar tailed godwits, 5 knot, 33+ Dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 7 lapwing, 2 common sandpipers, 1 greenshank, 34+ little egrets, 9+ little grebes, 116+ redshank , 1 wigeon, 2 tufted duck ,had a call from Gary Clayden 17:15 with news of juv little gull from the goat walk in topsham, did not see the little gull had flown over towards turf but there was 1 juv black tern in with 3+ arctic tern and 15+ common terns, a kingfisher flew over to exminster marsh.
Popped back to the hide and watched from 18:15 till 1910
A new arrival on the far side from the hide a stunning juv wood sandpiper , and shortly after a male eclipse Garganey , also 20+ snipe , 1 pochard, 14+ shoveler, kestrel
A cracking afternoon
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 9:58 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
Broadsands 07:45-08:00pm
Huge number of herring gulls on the beach, possibly 250+ and that again on the sea. Only about 20+ black headed gulls and no med gulls.
I managed to pick up a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull before 5-6 kayakers disturbed the birds and pushed them on to the sea.
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 8:58 pm by Jacob Wood in Bird News
4 Pochard, with single Wigeon and Shoveler on the pond today, and over the trail on the flooded field up to 8 Blcak-tailed Godwits with 2 Little Egrets, 3 Mute Swans and the escaped Black Swan.
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 5:59 pm by jon turner in Bird News
A good mix and numbers of waders today - big influx around 13.30
South Huish marsh - Wood Sandpiper still and a Green Sandpiper. In the bay 2 Med Gull.
At 13.30 aflock of 25+ Dunlin flew over my garden , Bob had picked up some waders flying over inc 25 Ringed Plover. then found 86 Dunlin on the beach, these still there at 15.30 , other waders on the beaches- 17 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover ,1 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone , 32 Oystercatcher.
A Wheatear on the coast path. In amongst the Gulls in the field were 45 ad Lesser BB Gull ( a good count at this time of the year0
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 5:32 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Just a couple of hours this morning turned up whimbrel, 2 tree pipit, sedge warbler, 6 whitethroat,
2 willow warbler, 5 chiffchaff & 40 linnet.
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 4:41 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
A quick look this morning after yesterdays deluge found 9 wheatears and 2 whinchat along with approximately 30 swallows feeding around the dung heap. No visible migration this morning and it is probably a sad reflection on their fortunes but have not had a single sand martin through so far this autumn.
Congrats to Doug and co at Budleigh yesterday with the Long tail but i see that it kept another clean sheet regarding shearwaters!
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 1:22 pm in Bird News
One flew south from Colyford Common towards Axmouth and currently hunting over river near Axmouth (13:15). Also 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Knot, 3 Green Sand, 3 Ruff and good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Bl-t Godwit etc. at Black Hole Marsh. Two Whimbrel and 80 Curlew from Colyford Common hide.
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 1:19 pm by Andy Swash in Bird News
A good look around the Axe this morning 07:45 - 10:00 gave the following totals; 3 Lapwing, 26 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 44 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, c25 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Common Sands, 14 Green Sands, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff, 1 Turnstone and a Kittiwake!

Posted August 28th, 2012 at 11:38 am by Steve Waite in Bird News
I have received a good selection of photos for the 2011 Bird Report - but there are more out there I've seen them on various Websites, if you would like to submit some good quality photos taken in Devon during 2011 for consideration - not just rarities - please contact: mikelangman@blueyonder.co.uk
Posted August 28th, 2012 at 11:11 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Monday 27th August 2012
06.10-17.00 all south: Long-tailed skua 4 (+2 probable), Pom 4, Arctic skua 78, Pom/Arctic 2, Bonxie 20, Gannet 670+, Sooty shearwater 1, Manx (hundreds) and Balearic (min 9) but not consistently counted, Common tern 234, Arctic tern 1 juv, Black tern 1, Roseate tern 1 ad, Sandwich tern 9, Little gull 1 juv, LBB gull 3 ads, Kittiwake 200+, Storm petrel 1, Redshank 9, Greenshank 1, Whimbrel 1, Curlew 1, Dunlin 3, Common scoter 13 (inc 1 with prob LT duck but too murky to clinch), Swift 2
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 10:29 pm by Simon Geary in Bird News
Watched from 08:10 till 16:30 with LC from11:35
Not as good as BH but still good numbers with 5 long tailed skuas ( 1 flew in nearly over are heads and into the estuary and was followed by 2 more that flew into the estuary ,my first in Devon ) , 52+ arctic skuas , 5+ great skua, 3+ pomarine skua, 2+ black tern , 1 little tern, 1 juv little gull ,6+ arctic tern, numerous common terns and sandwich terns, 1 curlew, 1 whimbrel, good passage of Manx shearwater but to far out to get good count, 1+ balearic shearwater, 29+ common scoter, 30+ fulmar and a steady passage of gannets
A very good day
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 8:31 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
Did all of those seawatching at Berry Head miss something - looks very much like an Iceland Gull in this picture - perhaps the same bird BMc and Jake saw off Broadsands over a monthago?

Posted August 27th, 2012 at 7:55 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
06:15 - 17:15 (all obs). TBr, MD, IL, ML, SL, DN, KRy, RSt et al in attendance (at times). F5 SSW, prolonged rain, drier spells.
12 (confirmed + probable) Long-tailed Skua, 6 Pomarine Skua, 65 Bonxie, 134 Arctic Skua, 9 Sooty Shearwater, 53 Balearic Shearwater, 2500+ Manx Shearwater, 2 Stormie, juv Little Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Black Tern, 10 Arctic Tern, 246 Common Tern, 1 Grey Phalarope, 2 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Swift, 12 Scoter, 2 Mallard. n/c, but good passage of Gannets, Fulmars & Kitts.
A few Porpoise.
<10 mins glance off Dawlish c.19;00 revealed Bonxie & a 5 Arctic Skua in the murk.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 7:26 pm by Ivan Lakin in Bird News
Seawatch 13:00-16:30. No Long-tailed Skuas (or I failed to identify them!). Juvenile Sabines Gull in with raft of Manx Shearwater off the Mew Stone, flying around and landing from 13:00 (immediately on arrival) to about 13:10 when a squall impaired visibility/it disappeared. In comparison with BH, a modest count of commoner skuas was expected but 3 Sooty Shearwaters wasn't a bad count for FP (only 2 Balearics though). A large feeding frenzy of several hundred shearwaters north west of Eastern Black Rock (SX915500) had grown since Saturday and may be worth looking through.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 6:57 pm in Bird News
Seawatch from Warren Pt 2hrs from 08.20- although a F 5 SSW and poor viz not up to expectations - 70 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 1 jv Pom Skua , Waders on the beaches - 28 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone. Amonst 30 Alba wagtail feeding on the Golf course a jv Yellow Wagtail , 2 Tree Pipit over.
Went over to BEESANDS at 12.00 and shorly afterwards joined by Perry S much more passage here all moving towards Start Pt . In 3 hrs totals were - 105 Gannet, 38 Fulmar, 16 Manx S'water, 1 Balearic S'water, 6 Common Tern, 16 Sandwich Tern, 15 Arctic Tern ( inc 1 flock of 14 ), 8 Arctic Skua, 1 Turnstone, 2 Great C Grebe. 3 Sand Martin over the Ley
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 6:35 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Highlights of afternoon seawatch (14:50-17:40)
Another juv Long-tailed Skua W at 16:20, 6 Arctic Skuas, 25 'commic' Terns, 24 Common Scoter.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 6:15 pm in Bird News
The habitat at South Effiord marsh has improved dramatically in the past few weeks after water has been allowed on to the marsh through the tidal exchange system. With recent rain this has created a series of shallow pools and wet areas, hence today at high tide
Wood Sandpiper; 6 Green Sandpiper; 4 Greenshank; 4 Dunlin.
Also: 18 Little Egret; Kingfisher; 10 Sand Martin; 70 Swallow.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 5:29 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
4 juv Pochard on Wrafton Pond this morning 2 of which seem to be moulting into male plumage. 1 Wigeon still.
Across the tarka trail on the flooded field, 7 Black-tailed Godwits.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 3:32 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News

Trawler returning with a mass of Gulls Gannets.
Seawatching 0615-1715hrs a great mixture of species and some really good birds: Grey Phalarope 1, Long-tailed Skua 8 (all juvs plus a 2s) , plus 4 probables juvs, Pomarine Skua 6 (1s to sub-adults as expected - juvs not normally seen until very end of Sep), Arctic Skua 134 mostly ads/imm not many juvs, Great Skua 66, Black Tern 1, Sooty Shearwater 9, Balearic Shearwater 53, Manx Shearwater 2300+, Strom Petrel 1, Arctic Tern 11 virtually all juvs, Common Tern 241, 'Commic' Tern 87, Little Gull 1 juv, Whimbrel 5 Curlew 1, Turnstone 1, Dunlin 1, Swift 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Wheatear 2. Harbour Porpoise 3+.
Many obs through the day
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 1:52 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
Watched from 8.30.a.m. to 11.40.a.m. with SH ,RH and CT
Juvenile Long-tailed Skua 10.40.a.m.
Also 14 Arctic Skua, 5 Great Skua, Sandwich Terns, Arctic Terns ,Common Terns. Passage of Fulmar, Kittiwake and 9 Common Scoter.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 12:27 pm by Doug Cullen in Bird News
Combined totals from 2 sessions (06:10-08:40 and 09:55-11:55). Virtually everything flew W.
Common Scoter 37, Kittiwake 6+, Common Tern 1, Arctic Tern 2, 'commic' Tern 9, Sandwich Tern 13, Roseate Tern 2, Whimbrel 2, Manx Shearwater 6, Balearic Shearwater 2, Arctic Skua 9, Bonxie 3, Long-tailed Skua 1 (juv W at 10:42)
PA, GMH, KH, IMc
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 12:21 pm in Bird News
Black Hole Marsh this morning 06:10 - 08:00 gave totals of; 1 Garganey (then flew north to Colyford Marsh), 60 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 3 Lapwing, 24 Ringed Plover, 42 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 43 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Redshank, 10 Green Sands and 8 Common Sands.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 9:00 am by Steve Waite in Bird News
In pleasant conditions found: Pied Flycatcher 3+, Sedge Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 8, Chiffchaff 10, Whitethroat c10, Blackcap 3, House Martin 40+, Wheatear 5.
Called in at excellent improved habitat at Averton Gifford (South Efford) on way home where 5+ Green Sandpipers, 35+ Little Egrets and 4 Greenshank showed and Paul Kemp saw the 2 Wood Sandpipers before they disappeared over the sea wall.
Posted August 27th, 2012 at 8:51 am by Pete Aley in Bird News
Sunday 26th August 2012
Watched from the hide from 12:00 till 14:00
The juv and adult spotted redshanks showed well, along with 47+ little egrets, 4+ greenshanks, 8+ little grebe, 1 kingfisher, 1 knot, 20 Dunlin, great spotted woodpecker, 1 snipe
Goat walk from 10:30 till 11:15
450+ black tailed godwits including 15+ juv's, 20 ringed plover
From viewing platform 11:20 till 11:55
21+ greenshank, 11 ringed plover, 2 common sandpipers , sparrowhawk, 2 kestrels
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 8:59 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
At 19.45 rec'd a call from John King to say he had a Wryneck in his garden
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 8:50 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Early start this morning before any disturbance. The 3 Ringed Plovers still, 7 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 3 White wagtails amongst 30 Pied, 1 Grey wag, 1 Meadow pipit, 1 Whitethroat. About 30 Swallows and a few House martins moving south.
This evening 8 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat.
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 8:13 pm in Bird News
Late news for Saturday midday down Pignose Valley.
At least one wryneck, watched for 20 mins. Pied and spotted flycatcher. Hobby. Great skua harrasing lbbgs off point.
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 7:57 pm by Lyndon Savage in Bird News
One over house at 19:10 bideford
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 7:31 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
Quite a bit around today - Beer Cemetery Fields - 5+ Tree Pipits, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 7 Whitethroats,1 Redstart (m) & a few Willow Warblers, also Gav had 5 Crossbills over whilst i was a few fields away
Beer Head - 30 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat, 2 Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher & Yellow Wagtail.
(P.Abbott, K.Woolley, G.Haig, K.Hale)
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 6:57 pm by Kevin Hale in Bird News
Relatively quiet day - this am 4 Tree Pipit over T'stone Marsh with 15 Teal on the water .
Waders around - 1 Wood Sandpiper on S Huish marsh, 1 Knot over, 10 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover on the beach before all the sunworshipers moved them on
Bob B ringed 10 Reed , 5 Sedge and 1 Willow Warblers
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 6:11 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Now 48 Black tailed godwits on the marsh.
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 2:24 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
08:30
At least 23 Mediterranean Gulls in mid-river roost with Black-heads. 17A, 4 2nd S, 2 1st S.
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 12:42 pm by Maurice Clements in Bird News
Early this morning 20-30 Gannets feeding just offshore with small pod of Harbour Porpoises, one Bonxie heading W. Just a handful of Manx Shearwaters in contrast to yesterday afternoon, with lighter winds and dramatically better visibility. Only grounded passerine migrants were two Wheatears.
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 11:40 am by Tim Jones in Bird News
1130-1530 when rain and poor vis set in. 74 Manx (West) 9 (east)
1 Balearic (W), Osprey (W) at 1515, 1 wheatear
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 9:18 am by Dick Seekins in Bird News
Quiet this morning with only a juv Med Gull on the beach and 15+ Whitethroats (local juvs probably)
Posted August 26th, 2012 at 8:02 am in Bird News
Saturday 25th August 2012
Watched from the hide from 11:00 till 13:00
The adult spotted redshank is still showing well and is now in full winter plumage , also 70+ Dunlin, 1 knot, 2 snipe , 3 whimbrel, 10+ bar tailed godwit, 20+ little egrets, 400+ black tailed godwits
From the viewing platform earlier 2 grey plover, 1 ringed plover, 2 common sandpiper, 20+ greenshank, 1 juv med gull.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 10:07 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
A cold north westerly wind made for difficult birding this evening. Just 5 wheatears and 1 whitethroat but now 3 ringed plover with the juv joined by two adults. Around 80 swallows feeding in the area. On the way home an astonishing 30 mistle thrushes gathered just on the Devon side of the Somerset/Devon border just outside Churchinford.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 7:57 pm in Bird News
Osprey seen flying SW low over the sea at 3pm today (25/8), just off Sharpers Head (below East Prawle and east of Prawle Point).
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 7:42 pm by Tim & Aishlyn Youngs in Bird News
14.30 to 17.30 Strong NW breeze (but not strong enough!) and heavy showers. 295 Manx Shearwaters, 48 Gannets, 35 Fulmars, 7 Whimbrel, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kestrel, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 1 Grey Seal.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 6:31 pm by Tim Jones in Bird News
37 Black tailed godwits still, with 20 teal, 2 grey heron.16:00.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 5:48 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
Not much recent change but Redshanks have edged up to 110, and Little Egrets to 12. 3 Greenshanks remain and 4 Dunlins were on the pool with 33 Curlews.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 5:35 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Still two Pochard and a Wigeon on the pond and an odd singing Chiffchaff. Cetti's Warbler also called - first I've heard for several weeks.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 12:14 pm by jon turner in Bird News
148 manx shearwater,1 Balearic shearwater,1 pale Arctic Skua,91 Terns between 7 am and 9am seen by Malcome Shakespeare
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 11:51 am by David Churchill in Bird News
This morning,08.30 - 10.00, 5 x Common Sand, 9 x Green Sand and single Spotted Redshank.
Posted August 25th, 2012 at 11:21 am by Neal Moss in Bird News
Friday 24th August 2012
16.15 to 19.00
Pom skua at 16.50 attacked a Kittiwake and then sat on sea until 2 Great Skuas past west at 16.58 when it got up and joined them. 3 juv Little Gulls between 18.15 and 18.35 and a Little Tern with Sandwich terns at 18.25. Routine fare in 70 Gannets, 24 Sandwich terns, 2 Commic terns, 20 Kittiwakes (4 juvs), 19 Fulmar and 4 Common Scoter. All heading west.
Budleigh has become a shearwater free zone at the moment - i can only think that the guys at Berry Head have erected some kind of force field stopping them going further up channel or have an infinite supply of sprats!
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 9:07 pm in Bird News
15:54 - 17:50
Juv Long-tailed Skua E at 16:37, 3 Sandwich Terns, 5 'commic' Terns, 3 Kittiwakes, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Common Scoter, 160+ Gannets.
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 6:22 pm in Bird News
Driving rain and very poor viz made any seawatching impossible - even the Gannet were too far out. A nice ad Med Gull and 4 Sandwich Tern in the bay. on the beaches waders totalled - 22 Sanderling, 22 Ringed Plover, 13 Dunlin and a Whimbrel over.
Late afternoon 8 Sandwich Tern in the Bay , 3 Black Tailed Godwit on South Huish marsh with 6 Teal.
At 07.30 a Wigeon on T'stone marsh
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 6:12 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Seawatching 0645-1800hrs noteable species: Manx Shearwater 607, Balearic Shearwater 11, Arctic Skua 13, Great Skua 10, Pomarine Skua 1. Common Tern 76, Commic Tern 51, Sandwich Tern 5, Common Scoter 23, Common Gull 1 (juv/1w), 1 Swift, Sunfish 1, Harbour Porpoise 5. Also 637 Gannets, 50+ Kittiwakes and a Wheatear.
ML,MD,PA,BBH,SS,LH
Updated 19:30
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 2:32 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
A friend phoned me to say he was watching a Red Kite over the river Torridge at Torrington this morning at around 10:30. He said he saw the colour wing tags but did not take note of the colours!
Posted August 24th, 2012 at 11:45 am in Bird News
Thursday 23rd August 2012
A dearth of migrants at present - just 2 wheatears tonight (with 6 last night). The juv ringed plover still present
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 10:12 pm in Bird News
Wednesday 22nd August
1 Pied Flycatcher on east side of Otter
Thursday 23rd August
A walk along the coast path this afternoon produced my 2nd Wryneck for the area (the 1st being just last year on 4th Sep). It was approx. 1Km east of Otter Head before flying inland.
Also 1 Whinchat on the top fields and a Greenshank on the main scrape this afternoon.

Wryneck: Nr Otter Head
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 9:20 pm by Chris Townend in Bird News
40 Black tailed godwits,30 teal,17:45.
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 8:08 pm by robert marshall in Bird News
06:15-16-00 hrs ( East Soar / Starehole / Warren / Soar Mill Cove / Southdown etc. )
No overnight rain, 75% cloud cover at dawn. Very still and humid by early afternoon with a light S-SW wind picking up.
Lot of effort for not a lot namely Ringed Plover, Swift, 250 Swallows, 150 House Martins, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Tree Pipits, 3 Wheatears, 3 Sedge Warblers, 13 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 15 Willow Warblers and 6 Chiffchaffs.
To all those rarities that hid away this time all i can say in my best Schwarzenneger voice is ......i'll be baaack.
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 7:59 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
At 6.00pm today there were at least 1 common sandpiper, 3 green sandpipers and 4 wood sandpipers on the ditches and pools close to the railway line and as far as possible from the viewing area. The only other birds were 6 mallards, 1 shelduck, 3 moorhens, 2 coots, c30 pied wagtails, 9 linnets and lots of rooks with a few jackdaws.
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 7:20 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
Walked from Bollberry Down to Soar Mill Valley- fairly quiet - totals - 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 40 Linnet, 30 Goldfinch, 2 sparrowhawk
The Wood Sandpiper still on South Huish marsh.
Tonight 21 Teal and 225 Mallard on Thurlestone Marsh - last night the Swallow roost was 4500 plus a Hobby
This am Bob B ringed 26 Sedge, 1 Reed W blr, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow warbler with a Tree Pipit over
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 6:26 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Juv Spotted Redshank still on Black Hole Marsh this morning, with 3 Redshank. Also 45 Teal, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Dunlin, c8 Common Sands, 5 Green Sands, 3 Snipe, 2 Lapwing and a Water Rail.
Mid morning a lone Whimbrel flew west over the house (a common sight and sound in spring, not so in autumn).
Just had a mid afternoon stroll over Beer Head, singles of Yellow Wagtail and Whitethroat were the only migrants.
Posted August 23rd, 2012 at 4:25 pm by Steve Waite in Bird News
Wednesday 22nd August 2012
Had a look from the Pumping Station along Embankment Road, Kingsbridge on the rising tide this evening but fairly quiet. Only 71 Redshank, Greenshank, Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, Med Gull and 4 Sandwich Terns. Numbers of Tringa Sandpipers and gulls well down on what one would normally expect here this time of year. No small waders either but they are always a bit hit and miss here.
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 8:20 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
Late news for Tues - at 20.30 4 Black Tailed Godwit flew onto the marsh ( no sign att 07.00 today )
2 Wigeon and 15 Teal on the marsh this am
Waders on the beach only 37 Sanderling. A Whimbrel and a Curlew flew over. Offshore feeding parties of Gannet and 3 Manx S'water.
Bob B ringed 6 Sedge and 1 Reed Warbler , also 1 Tree Pipit over.
This afternoon news rec'd of a Wood Sandpiper at the back of South Huish Marsh- still there when I went over at 16.45
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 6:21 pm by Mike Passman in Bird News
Ley predictably quiet but around and about:
60 house martin, 9 wheatear, whinchat, 3 willow warbler.
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 4:03 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Initial impression was that all birds had deserted the common,,, until one of those mixed Tit flocks of birds turned up, including c20 Long Tailed Tits, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch and Tree Creeper. Then along came a female Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Also present on the common were Bullfinch and both Green and Gt Spotted Woodpecker. Totasl of 21 species present.
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm by Jonathan Ruscoe in Bird News
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 11:26 am by Mark Darlaston in Bird News
08:00 - 09:00.
Mediterranean Gull 5 ( 1A, 1 1st S, 3 2nd S including 1 carrying green ring on left leg - Belgium/France)
Common Gull 4; Sandwich Tern 1; Ringed Plover 65; Turnstone 3; Sanderling 2 and 15 Dunlin.
Posted August 22nd, 2012 at 10:57 am by Maurice Clements in Bird News