Devon Birds would like to thank the many members and other birdwatchers who complied with the restrictions during the recent Lockdown and stayed in their local area (village, town or part of city) to birdwatch while exercising (and later) taking recreation. We hope that, despite the obvious frustrations, you found some respite in watching wildlife in your local area and perhaps discovered some birds close to home, that you might otherwise not have seen! As always, please submit sightings to the County recorder and / or BirdTrack. 

 

Please continue to follow the Covid related requirements (currently "rule of six outside, social distancing etc) while enjoying the new freedoms to extend your birdwatching. Some hides will remain closed for the time being and where you find one open, please follow Government guidelines on keeping yourself & others safe: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

 

Thank you from

Devon Birds News site editors & members of the Records Committee

Please think very carefully before posting any information on scarce or rare breeding species both here and elsewhere online.

A list of ‘at risk’ species in the county can be found here. Please note that Wood Warbler should now also be treated as on the list. All species included need to be protected - many receive full legal protection under Schedule 1 and/or are rare in the county and may be vulnerable to persecution/disturbance. It is an offence to intentionally disturb any of the Schedule 1 species during the breeding season without a valid licence. This also applies to anyone taking photographs of these species at or near the nest or whilst feeding dependant young.

Some species may be found breeding at numerous locations however please keep information on these species limited to well-known sites (e.g. Labrador Bay for Cirl Bunting, Aylesbeare Common for Dartford Warbler). Others may be found as obvious migrants and as such can also be posted eg coastal Ring Ouzel and passage waders, or raptors eg Little Ringed Plover, Red Kite or Marsh Harrier.

If you have any doubts and think there is a chance there may be breeding, either because of the habitat or behaviour of the bird(s) then do not post, but please submit your records to the County Recorder and the RSPB.

Please be aware that egg collecting and other forms of persecution remain very real hazards for some of Devon’s birds.

Posts which breach these guidelines are likely to be not admitted / removed althogether, rather than edited.  

As noted in the minutes of the Oct 2020 DBRC meeting, Tim Jones is standing down after serving as a member of the Committee for an extended sixth year. Tim has been an active member of the Committee, and his consistently pragmatic approach to assessing records has proved invaluable. The Society would like to thank him for his contribution over the past six years and wish him well in the future.

In the hope of maintaining a geographic spread across the Committee, DBRC approached Dean Jones to fill the vacancy. Dean grew up birding and ringing in Antrim and Lothian, before a tour of various European islands, including Lundy where he has been the Warden now for the past four years.

His experience and knowledge from ringing and birdwatching around Europe will be especially useful to Devon Birds and the Records Committee.

Unless the County Recorder receives any other applications before 15th April 2021, Dean will be formally elected to fill the vacancy for a five year period.

For more information and/or an application form please contact:

Kevin Rylands, County Recorder.   Email: recorder@devonbirds.org 

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

Incidental birdwatching. Whilst in the waiting room: two twirling Ravens and two Buzzards! Cracking!

The Spotted Redshank was still on the side of the Exe estuary either side of the R. Kenn outlet by Powderham Park early this afternoon, associating with Greenshanks. If watching this bird, please be very careful if you feel you have to cross the railway here. Trains approach very very swiftly!

Had a very enjoyable day giving the Lower Ley a good look around. Lots of birds there more like the good old days ( starting to sound old, doh, i am getting old ! ) Highlights were the long stayers i.e. the 2 Black-necked Grebes, fem Ring-necked Duck ( all at Torcross ), fem Scaup Torcross and the first winter male in Ireland Bay and the usual female Marsh Harrier. Also 28 Mute Swans, 58 Canada Geese, 3 Little Grebes, just 3 Great Crested Grebes ( very low total, first time ever for me in 30+ years of watching here that GC Grebes have been outnumbered by other grebes - doubt its happened since before they started flooding gravel pits furthur east ? ), 108 Gadwall, 28 Mallard, 13 Wigeon, 258 Tufted Duck, 37 Pochard, 12 Goldeneye ( 4 males, high ratio) and 173 Coot. The sea was fairly quiet but nice to see a flock of 57 Common Scoter ( north of monument ). Also 3 Shelduck, single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe ( off central car park ) and maybe 50 Razorbills visible in scattered areas.

Three Black-necked Grebes in bay at lunch time.

A good number of Linnets feeding on the sunflowers on the field edge above the fishing pond car park, Siskins, Gold Finch, Reed Bunting (one well coloured male) and Brambling around the feeding station by the hide.

Male Sparrow Hawk seen twice in hunting mode making the smaller birds rather nervous

Large flock of Brent Geese including the white headed bird, reasonable number of Bar Tailed Godwits, Curlew and Lapwing on the fields in front of the hide

Sth Efford Marsh

Water Pipit 3, Merlin fem, Blk T Godwit the best of.  Please use footpath to right of entrance.

ENW

Walk around Fremington Quay and Pill this afternoon.

One Spoonbill just below the water inlet about half way down, first time I have seen them on the Pill

Watched from the hide 08:15 till 10:30

450+ avocet, 255+ bar tailed godwits , 900+ black tailed godwits, 1 spotted redshank , 1 golden plover , 1 grey plover , 400+ dunlin, 250+ redshank, 2 greenshank, 70+ lapwing , 2 cetti's warbler, 5 pintail(4m,1f),4+ tufted duck,2 little grebes, 400+ wigeon, 30+ shoveler, 5+ snipe

Goat walk, a nice group of 11+ turnstone 

11:30ish the female long tailed duck was showing well on the river north of topsham quay 

Walked the riverbank from Dartington Estate  to Vire Island Totnes this pm. 5 Goosander (3 redheads,  2 drakes),8 Teal, 154 Canada Geese accompanied by 1 Barnacle Gooose, and  5 Little Grebe. At Totnes 2 Kingfishers on the small creek at north side of town bridge, by Bridge Terrace. 14 Stock Doves together in stubble on the estate near Park School.

 Nothing on the lake but a very nice male Merlin that had the decency to perch up in front of me for ten minutes.

Report of an adult male Ring-necked Duck at the north end at the Lower Ley, with Tufted Ducks. But seen only in fading light.  The female Ring-necked Duck was seen earlier by same observer.  Also one male Scaup.

[Jason Smart]

The Little Owl showing well in its usual location this morning. 40 Lapwing, 30+ Skylark, Stonechat, 20 Chaffinch and a single Golden Plover flew north east.

A drake Goldeneye was on the sea close inshore briefly at 10.00 before flying east .Later 2 Brent Goose -db  flew onto the sea before joining a 3rd on South Huish Marsh .Also on the sea- 4 Razorbill

Waders on the beaches/ rocks - 8 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling .

On South h Marsh - 85 Teal, 60 Wigeon 6 Shoveler, 1 Shoveler, 1 female Goldeneye, 60 Lapwing, 25 Snipe.

On one of the houses a female Black Redstart

Group of around 30 very mobile Golden Plover near Princetown. Moving around the areas of short grass either side of the road from Peakhill to Princetown.  

A full days birding today starting with the WeBS count this morning & a bird check at Downend & Baggy this afternoon.

At Downend 1 Red throated Diver & the Scoters that Maurice

counted this morning had moved on but one of the 3 Red throated divers had come back again!

At Baggy Point 34 Common Scoters & 2 Red throated Divers.

A perfect winter's day.

Had a gentle stroll down to Charleton Marsh midday, not much about. Around 70 Teal and 7 Pintail on the marsh with 9 Little Grebes on the estuary around the saltstone. At least 4 Chiffchaffs in the sewage works.

My wife spotted a Ringtail Harrier flying over Yarner wood this afternoon. 

I would of missed it........too busy looking at the wood ants enjoying the sunshine.

Mandarin ducks there also.

Staverton Weir - Dipper and Kingfisher. 6 x Goosander (3M, 3F) towards bridge. 2 x Treecreepers close by.

Parke - large mixed flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare.

Yarner Wood - main pond - 4 Mandarin (3M, 1F), also 2 x Siskin on feeders at old hide.  1 Raven flying (and calling) over.

94 snipe on flooded area between road and river just before speed sign at landcross

09:45 - 10:45

Just 11 Common Scoter ( 2M,9F) and 1 Red-throated Diver, which was way out beyond the Scoter.

The Diver flew off towards Baggy and picked up 2 more on the way.

Drove down Sandy Lane on way home and flocks up to c300 Chaffinches were on the stubble fields around Avery`s farm and c150 Jackdaws in the sheep fields.

Two Ravens over Holcombe. Seawatching at Dawlish Warren produced little - Gannets far out and a Great Crested Grebe. Stonechat and many Meadow Pipits on the reserve. At the hide a Slavonian Grebe, 5 Goldeneye (1 male) and six Red-breasted Mergansers, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Wigeon and Brent Geese on the golf course. Tried for four out of five Grebes, but the Black Necked Grebe was not showing on the main pond.

Rose-coloured starling present at 09.15 hrs perching in small trees in garden above Milbury Lane, Exminster, in between flying to neighbouring gardens.

Med Gull (ad) loafing with gull flock in meadow on west side of Otter at 12.00 hrs.

Stuart Lines cruises yesterday and today produced: Slavonian, Little (2) and Great Crested Grebes, c70 Shags (with stronger wind today), 13 Goldeneye (2 drakes) off Cockwood, Long-tailed Duck (Topsham-Turf), 50+ Mergansers, c500+ Avocets, c50 Golden Plover, 6 Sanderlings, Spotted Redshank, 9 Greenshank (both at Powderham), possibly 1000 Black-tailed Godwits, many fewer Bar-tailed, 300+ Common, 6 Lesser Black-backed and 100+ Great Black-backed Gulls. Also Grey Seal near Turf yesterday.

Token shot of the Long-tailed Duck in poor light

Between 10am and 2pm

10 Teal on lake with some mallards (water level in lake looks very low compared to normal levels)

Usual tits on the feeders at the hide with at least 4 different Nuthatches taking nuts to stash as were a couple of Jays.

2 moorhens and a very brief glimpse of a Water rail in the reeds opposite the hide.

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in trees nearby but no visits to the feeders.

A male Sparrowhawk turned up and sat on a post for a few seconds.... not long enough to get the camera on him!

 From Zeneca car park  early afternoon, telescope views of a Great Northern Diver and 3 Red-throated Divers. Also another Great Northern off Shoalstone beach later.

Broadsands 13:15-15:00

On the marsh the 2 'tristis' type Chiffchaff were showing very well on the pool and between the car parks. Also 2 chiffchaff and 3-4 goldcrests. There were good numbers of cirl buntings on the feed with chaffinches and 2 reed buntings.

On the sea there were 4 GNDivers which flew off east when the rain stopped, 1 Black necked grebe, 1 great crested grebe, 10+ razorbill, and 20+ common scoter.

The male Black Redstart still this morning on the rooftops of numbers 29, 31 and 33 Roundham Road by Paignton Harbour, opposite Cliff Road. (It was also seen on these rooftops last week).

Nearby, a Little Egret on the rocks at Preston

Also,2 Egyptian Geese in a marshy field at Waddeton just outside the hamlet on the Galmpton Road.

18 Shoveler, 8 WIgeon and 4 Gadwall on the pond this morning. Nearby in the reserve, more signs of spring with more Primroses out and a Coot - the first since last summer.

Late post from yesterday.  Short-eared owl from Burrows headed towards hinks old shipyard, lost it to view.16:45.   Female brambling in my garden again today.

All four Waxwings in situe and feeding well, being observed by 3 other birders when I arrived, while watching these birds they were joined by eight Siskins which added to the spectacle, on leaving saw a Goldcrest in cover alongside the path by the shops

Single Little Grebe on a small fresh water lake, location checked following report by owner of a small Grebe on his lake also handful of Moorhen some of which were displaying and rather territorial, one Coot and a Heron in one of the nearby fields

 A visit in the early part of the afternoon produced a female Merlin up towards the motorway flyover. The Ruff was again present with the Lapwing flocks, approximately in the area bounded by the railway path, Lions Rest Estate and the large lagoon. A drake Pintail, a Water Rail, 4 Stonechats and 2 Ravens completed the scene.  

A Common Sand at low tide up river from Passage House Inn.

Late afternoon, the Firecrest was still present along the road west of the main car park entrance. Both tristis Chiffchaffs were again in the marsh. 12 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park.

1 ad w Mediterranean Gull in the rooost this evening

Like Josh, the bay was relatively quiet, the only Black-necked Grebe I could find was over at Preston and no divers at all!

48 species, mostly the usual suspects. Really good views of Kingfisher, Pintail (1male, 1 female), 15+ Snipe (no Jacks!) and a beautiful male Sparrowhawk on the lone fence at the back. Also noticed two Jackdaws food swapping at the back - spring is not far round the corner!

Looking out over the bay was pretty uneventuful. 38 Common Scoter, 27 Great Crested Grebe.

8 Chiffchaff, with one tristis type. 3 Reed Bunting, 6 Cirl Bunting, 5 Goldcrest

Chiffchaff feeding, J.Marshall

All day out on the estuary at low tide turned up these selected peak counts:

Little Grebe 10, Little Egret 32, Brent Goose 84, Wigeon 540, Teal 138, Pintail 9, Goldeneye - cracking male, Red-breasted Merganser 18, Oystercatcher 94, Grey Plover 11, Dunlin 230, Bar-tailed Godwit 10, Curlew 160, Redshank 63, Greenshank 4 & Razorbill 2.

Maybe the predicted cold snap will bring in more birds!!

On the sea were: c60 Common Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers. Along the line was a female Marsh Harrier.

Highlight of my Grand Western Canal WeBS survey between Halberton and Burlescombe was a female Merlin perched on the crossbar of an electricity pylon at Batten's Bridge.

Other sightings included 3 Kingfisher, 2 Little Grebe, and a Water Rail.

Flock of c60 Fieldfare. Starling numbers still around c600. 2 Mistle Thrush having a noisy and violent coming together. Lots of singing Robins.

3 Brambling, 3 Reed bunting, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue/Great tit, Greenfinch and Great spotted woodpecker all feeding on and around the bird table.

Out on the wetlands, 10+ Teal and Wigeon. A small group of Black-tailed godwit with a few Curlew. A large flock of Brent geese here for most of the day but mobile.

On the stubble field 12 Skylarks with 30+ Linnets

In the river only a pair of Goosander this morning along with about 60 Dunlin and single Turnstone and Ringed Plover. A flock of Brent Geese over on the Penhill Saltmarsh.

In the reserve a few Teal and a couple of Wigeon, and a flock of 60 or so Linnets feeding on the flotsam from the recent flooding.

9 Cirls Buntings on seed in 2nd car park with 1 Reed Bunting. Around Marsh;1 Firecrest, 1 collybita Chiffchaff, 1 tristis Chiffchaff.

I couldn't even see the sea from the sea from the wall due the fog and low tide - never mind any divers or grebes!

The first Stuart Line birdwatching cruise of the year was greeted by fog, although it did clear as rain moved in. That said, some good birds were seen, with 13+ G C Grebes, Slavonian Grebe (Cockwood), c25 Shags, female-type Long-tailed Duck (Topsham-Turf), 4 Greenshank, very good numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits (approx 500 and 1000, respectively), c50 Golden Plover, adult Med Gull (Pole Sands) and a Guillemot (swimming along Exmouth beach).

After 10 years since retiring and covering the patch I finally nailed my bogy bird- standing in the rain at West Buckland I found my first patch Tree Creeper. Never has such a small bird on a gloomy day produced such a smile on my face.

On T'stone Marsh - 50 Teal, 27 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 40 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe 1 Grey Wagtail, 30 Pied Wagtail ( to roost ) 1m Black Redstart. 14 Reed Bunting on my feeders

On South Huish Marsh - 65 Teal, 35 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 1 Little Grebe

My first visit to Ernesettle Creek, Plymouth (and my last until the ground conditions improve, very wet and slippery, serious risk of taking a bad tumble) That said was pleased to six Red-breasted Merganser fly past in a line towards the Tamar Bridge, appeared to be one male, two female and three juveniles, a solitary Redshank, three Heron, small number of Wigeon (mostly males) and a couple of Curlew. Bullfinch alongside the treatment works.

Lots of birds on the high tide roost this afternoon in lovely light. All the usual stuff including 6 Spoonbill, more than 200 Teal, 100+ Widgeon, 1 Ruff  and lots of Snipe (more than I have ever seen at this site). Perahaps the biggest suprise was a Fox right in the middle of the marsh (see pic 4).
Attached a few Astroscoped snaps taken at 1920mm from 300-600 feet.

Birding remains pretty much the same - 40 Fieldfare, 40 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipits, 4 Buzzards, 13 Stock Doves, 400 Starling  and a Stonechat this morning.

At lunchtime, a walk around Knackers Hole lane, Churchinford found amongst commoner species a Marsh Tit which, by my reckoning, was about 3 foot over the border into Devon!

Watched from 14:10 till 16:40

A very good afternoon around the marsh, walked along station road and soon found the female merlin hunting between the railway bridge and the motorway, 2 water rail were in the pool beside the bridge and a kingfisher, scanning through severall hundred lapwing proved rewarding with female ruff in fields between station road and the lagoon, another 2 water rail and a group of 6 chiffchaffs by lions rest industrial estate and the middle car park, 3 Cetti's warblers and 4 stonechat, a look from the canal bank produced 61+ golden plover, 15+ bar tailed godwits, 400+ dunlin , 50+ shoveler and 2 pintail, then around 15:45 a female hen harrier flew towards me from the motorway bridge it hunted between the middle car park and the canal bank for 10 mins before dropping down out of sight, on the walk back to exminster found a male merlin hunting between the lions rest industrial estate and the motorway to finish a very good couple of hours . 

3 Waxwings (adult and 2 first winters) still early afternoon in estate, feeding on berries by footpath behind houses off Lower Cannon Road opposite Prince Rupert Way.

A soggy tramp around the Ryder's Hill/Huntingdon Warren area of the moor this afternoon produced a ringtail Hen Harrier, 57 Golden Plovers and 19 Fieldfares.

A calm and dry evening so a quick Owl trip: 2 Little Owls and a Barn Owl at dusk.

  The Ring-necked Duck still, a Scaup in Ireland Bay, the Marsh Harrier out hunting, Cettis singing and Water Rail squealing.  Off the Monument 40+ Scoter.  Missed  a Firecrest by minutes!  At Beesands [mid afternoon] a feeding frenzy was taking place with 150+ Gannets, 150+ Razorbills, 80+ Guillemots and many Kittiwakes covering a small area. A very conservative count as so many were under water at any one time!  Many of the auks were just offshore in the end.  Quite a spectacle.

A full day looking for winter flocks turned up 260 skylark, 100 chaffinch, 40 linnet, 20 yellowhammer & a single reed bunting.

Also 4 snipe on the wetter areas and offshore 20 gannet & 72 shag.

A few more ducks, 3 Gadwall, 5 Wigeon and about 10 Shoveler on the pond this afternoon.

Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrests in the reserve. 

George Mudford saw 5 Purple Sandpipers at Capstone earlier, along with the 2 Black Redstarts.

Lunchtime visit today - the female Long-tailed Duck was off the goatwalk. Other highlights were a Water Rail and 5 Pintail.

Common Scoters & female Eider still present at Baggy Pt but numbers falling off now after peaking in Dec 2012, 64 counted this morning.

 6 Rock Pipits & several Stonechats enjoying the sunshine.

1200hrs

2 Black redstarts on the cliff face west side of capstone.

Goosanders still on River Tavy behind the Pannier Market yesterday.

Duck numbers on both Marshes  unchanged . Of interest today - T'stone Marsh - Cettis Warbler, Male Black Redstart in the Close with a Green Woodpecker over.

Offshore a Red T Diver with a male Shoveler east, 2 Sanderling on the beach

On South Huish marsh - 80+ Lapwing, a 2w Med Gull, and a 1w Yellow legged Gull

A friend (Peter Jeffery) reported he saw a Great white egret flying low over the Torridge between the two Bideford bridges on Sunday afternoon. A different friend (Dave King) has just reported that he saw it at the waters edge off of Crow today.

Seawatching at Prawle ,0845-1045 produced westward passage of 630 auks nearly all Razorbill, 206 Gannets, 56 Kittiwakes and 4 Red-throated Divers. Late morning , Water Pipit feeding with Rock Pipits and 3 Chiffchaffs at west end of Horseley Cove, also 4 Turnstone, 2 Curlew and 21 Oystercatcher on the rocks. Fog and drizzle stopped observation by lunchtime.

I called in at Beesands afterwards and was surprised to see virtually no wildfowl on the lake-they must all be at Slapton.

Despite the clagged in dull weather,  found the four Waxwings at Heathfied around 9.30am, all four sat up in an Alder tree (on the footpath that runs up beside the shops near to Drum Way) Were happy just to preen and slow to feed, two flew down to the gutter of nearest house presumably to drink. Once feeding a cat came in under the berry trees and the Waxwings beat a hasty retreat.

Late morning visited Exeter services, three other birders present looking for the Waxwings. Found initially two sat in the Poplars just beyond the staff car park towards the exit lane, again very slow to feed, despite it being very quiet. Initially dropped down into the bushes on the bank above Costa before all four appeared and began to feed for a brief spell on the trees directly behind Costa.

The birds took on an alert posture and I thought I could hear other Waxwings calling, but only saw the four in sight, all four remained in the alert posture and soon moved off flying out towards the motorway.

The Rose-coloured Starling showed well briefly at around 2o'clock in the gardens of the houses on the left of Milbury Lane after a lunchtime search. Also a male Brambling in the churchyard with a small flock of Greenfinches

A few highlights from yesterday:

Dawlish Warren -  Black-necked Grebe still on Main Pond, Water Pipit & Rock Pipit in front of hide, a few auks & 12+ Great Crested Grebes offshore

Cockwood - 10 Goldeneye, Slavonian Grebe

Exminster Marshes - female Merlin north of middle car park at dusk (& possible 2nd bird present)