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.

Early afternoon: 1 Red-necked Grebe (in Elberry Cove), 5 Black-necked Grebes, 9 Great Crested Grebes,11 Great Northern Divers (probably all additional to Dave's counts), 1 Black-throated Diver in Broadsands Bay (so different from Dave's bird), 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Razorbills & 2 Guillemots.

2 Siberian Chiffchaffs in Marsh with 1 collybita Chiffchaff.

Cattle Egret still on Playing fields at Clennon Valley late afternoon. 

Mid morning as rain started to lift, two Great Northern Divers to the north of the harbour, from Zeneca.Shortly afterwards between Breakwater beach and Shoalstone, four Great Northerns close in at times, together with one Black-throated (photos to follow), plus an Eider. 

Two, maybe three, Great Northern Divers at Roadford lake this morning (from kayak)

Great Northern Diver

Doing a little tree trimming in the reserve and saw at least 2 (and possibly 3) MARSH HARRIERS over the reed-bed.

Jon Avon also reports that he received a call yesterday of a  single Glossy Ibis in a field near Broadhempston.

Jon Avon reports:

9 Goosander (5males),
2 Pochard, 10 Coot, 5 Moorhen,
2 Kingfisher, Water Rail, 
10+ Snipe,
Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker,
SongThrush, 4 Marsh Tit. 12 Siskin,
Buzzard, Grey Wagtail.

No Scoters at Downend but 11 female Common Scoters + 1 Eider, 2 Kittiwakes & 8 Fulmars at Baggy Pt.

Also flock of 80 Black headed Gulls + 12 Common Gulls by treated sewage outfall & 1 Kestrel searching for prey.

The Cattle Egret still showing around the playing fields until at least early afternoon. Not so many dogs in the pouring rain so the egret doesn't get as badly disturbed.

1st winter Glaucous Gull still on the Skern from 10:30 to 11:00.

Fw glaucous gull from 09.15-10.00

The Cattle Egret from 745am this morning and still currently showing well on playing fields with Black Headed Gull flock.

edit- it remained feeding well on the playing field till 830am then was flushed by a dog walker and flew to the eastern most pond where is showed well again in a tree at the west end till 845am at least.

Also 1 adult Med Gull on the playing field.

Great Northern Diver photographed at Roadford Resevoir this morning.20th December.

www.adriandaveybirdphotography.co.uk

First found by Neil Trout on 14th and refound today by Roy McCarthy; seems to favour the Longstone side but often hidden under overhanging trees and seems to be mixed in with large group of Mallard.

Still present near dusk when 26 Goosander had arrived to roost and 5 Little Grebe still present.

Last few days around the Otter:
2 Siberian Chiffchaff in with at least 2+ Collybita about 200M North of South Farm Road on west side of valley frequenting wet ditches and brash piles. Birds have been calling and responding to song.
Thanks to Phil Bentley who initially reported 1 bird present since beginning of December

Much of the fields to the north of White Bridge are currently flooded and as a result are attracting quite a lot of wildfowl and gulls. Today 3 drake and 1 female Pintail (good for Otter) and 2 adult Med Gulls were the highlights other than one Sibe Chiffchaff above
Water Pipit yesterday DC on scrapes S of White Bridge

The Cattle Egret was back on the upper playing fields (western most) late this afternoon, also 1 Ad Mediterranean Gull. The egret did not show early morning as the fields were frosted, no gulls were feeding there either until late morning.

Jake Wood located the Cattle egret mid afternoon feeding in a cattle field near Stoke Gabriel.

2 Siberian Chiffchaffs in marsh & 1 collybita Chiffchaff.

Appeared on the back fields at midday . However very skittish  with Jackdaws taking a dislike to it and eventually flew off although I was 60yds away. This time it disappeared over towards Sainsburys

Just had a call from a very reliable source; 2 possible Cattle Egrets in flooded fields seen from train 1-2 miles east of Crediton this morning. Can't make it myself but if anyone's nearby would definitely be worth a look.

Rugularly a Goldcrest in the trees at the entrance to the main carpark at Exminster Marsh, today was no exception.

Berry Head, seawatch 0930-1130: south 3 Black-throated Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Northern Divers otherwise little seabird passage. 10+ Harbour Porpoises off the head.

Brixham: 6 Great Northern Divers just outside the breakwater (so these will all be additional birds to ML's).

A sweep of the beaches produced:

Preston: 5 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers, 21 Common Scoter and 45 Turnstone.

Goodrington: 18 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers.

Broadsands 1 Red-necked Grebe, 6 Black-necked Grebes, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Great Northern Divers, 2 Black-throated Divers, 1 Guillemot & 1 Little Egret.

Around marsh: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 3 'collybita' Chiffchaffs and 10 Cirls and 1 Reed bunting on seed in 2nd car park.

On my return home at 1315hrs the Cattle egret was again on the upper Clennon Valley playing fields viewable from my front door step! it was flushed by several dogs and flew up the valley toward Paignton Zoo.

Video clip here: Click on photo

Very brief visit this lunchtime - the Long-tailed Duck still present.

Roadford Reservoir - Thursday 19th December.

1 Great Northern Diver, reported to me by the Ranger Paul Lott.

Harvey Kendall

Cattle Egret back around playing fields and roosting in trees on bottom (Eastern) pond. Yellow-browed Warbler in usual place with two Siberian Chiffchaffs this morning. Also 1 Little Egret, 1 Ad Mediterranean Gull, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 5 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Water Rail and 3 Little Grebes  

Not exactly the bird news we are used to reading on this blog, but I urge all readers to look at this press release from the Barn Owl Trust: https://www.devonbirds.org/news/society_news#blogEntry4350

The winter of 2013/2014 and the 2014 breeding season are obviously going to be critically important times for the UK Barn Owl population.

17 Redwing feeding in the Holly tree next to savers.

Lower Tamar Lake 08:30 – 10:07  Very wet and windy.

20 Goosander 11m 9f, 23 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 G.C. Grebe, 10 Mallard, 2 Coot, 3 Teal, 1 Wren, 1 Kingfisher, 1 G.S. Woodpecker.

Too wet and windy to walk out around Elberry Headland but 1 calling Great Northern Diver in the bay and a single Black-necked Grebe with 2 Great Crested Grebes. 10+ Gannets feeding just off shore.

Sunday 15 Dec: An egret with a yellow bill was seen flying W past Brixham on the Torbay boat trip last Sunday, after I received a call while I was on Elberry Headland I waited to see what was told  to be a large egret flying my way. When it didn't turn up I scanned the cliffs and found a distant white 'blob' in the misty rain sat on the cliffs Seven Quarries. The egret I could see was small, certainly not the Great White I was expecting. After straining my eyes for several minutes I decided it was just a Little Egret but called back to the boat crew describing where the egret was - how I wished I had waited for the weather to clear now! The boat crew failed to get good views on their return. This was the best photograph Chris Proctor managed to get from the boat -

perhaps it was the Cattle Egret or maybe a snowman!  Photo Chris Proctor.

Lovely day's birding, numerous lapwing, redshank, curlew on the marshes. Lots of pied wagtails on the stones with close veiws of curlews on the golf course. Highlights were six stonechats, two pairs plus two single males plus one Snow Bunting by the pool. Nice end to the day with three or four thousand starlings going to roost under Bideford old bridge.

7 purple sandpipers feeding with turnstones seen on Brixham breakwater at 4pm today

3 Black-throated Diver showing well from the beach at lunchtime. 1 very close

Have any of you ever tried doing this with your feet in the sea or swimming baths?

12 female Common Scoters at Baggy Point.

 Three Siskins on the feeders at home this morning, having lived here for five years and only ever seen two previously seen a couple of years apart to see three was a real bonus, one cock bird and two hens, late rin the day a very vocal and singing Song Thrush arrived first one that I have seen here since the summer, the day was capped off with a Treecreeper only the second one seen here in five years.

Lots of Redwings, Starling,Greenfinch and Goldfinch present over the last few days

Yellow-browed Warbler still present 200m W of YMCA in Sallows over stream, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, 1 Mandarin Duck, 5 Snipe, 2 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 15 Tufted Ducks, 3 Shoveler.

Siberian Chiffchaff video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zhDq9GBso

Yesterday: 1 Cattle Egret on bottom E most field, unfortunately not there this morning!  

1145-1430hrs   The only raptor seen today was the female MARSH HARRIER sat on the top of a bush on Sherpa marsh viewed for 15 mins. The sandbanks of the Taw held 3000+ Lapwing 3000+ Golden plover good numbers of Curlew and Widgeon. 2 Kingfisher on the Caen.

The Long-tailed Duck and female Red-breasted Merganser still from the hide this lunchtime until about 1.30. Increased number of Pintail today with at least 15 males and 5 females. Quick look from the new cycle path at Goosemoor saw 2 Water Rails showing well in the open from the last viewing point before the bridge. I was told there were 5 there earlier.

A search for wintering passerines turned up just 16 cirl buntings but also firecrest at the wetland, female merlin & female sparrowhawk.

The Long-tailed Duck still from the hide this lunchtime until about 1.40. Otherwise all the usual stuff, including at least 3 male Pintail.

200+ skylark

100 chaffinch

The morning's boat trip in wet conditions from Paignton to Brixham and back again. 3 black throated divers (Churston), 2 black necked grebe (Broadsands), 8 great crested grebe, 3 teal (Churston), 2 purple sandpiper & 4 turnstone (Brixham breakwater) plus a fair few gannets and kittiwakes sheltering in the bay. 1 seal just outside Brixham harbour. Next trip is 29th December, phone Nigel Smallbones on 07866 202576 to book.

Black throated divers

Black throated diver

Black necked grebe

New hide at Slapton useful in view of weather.  Male goldeneye and 3 females with the tufties, 20+ pochard, gadwall, 2 shoveler,2 great crested grebes.

Good view of bittern at Beesands also 2pairs gadwall

It was hideous weather but a morning  out of Paignton on the Dart Princess was productive the highlight being a these 3 Black-throated Diver just off Broadsands. 

On the sea: 3 Black-throated Divers out from Elberry Cove, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 25 Gannets feeding close inshore, also 1 Grey Seal.

Around the marsh,  2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 1 'collybita' chiffchaff, 8 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park. 

10:30 - 12:00 Very wet and windy.

1 G.S Woodpecker, 25 Tufted, 1 Grey Heron, 13 Goosander 10m 3f, 4 Snipe, 2 G.C. Grebe,1 Gadwall.

Broadsands 11:45-12:30

2 Black-throated Divers off shore towards Elbery Cove, also 3 Black-necked Grebes and 5 Great-crested Grebes.

There were 44 rod & line fishermen on the foreshore at low tide this morning on the north side of the Taw Estuary from the North Gut at Chivenor to Bradiford Reserve.

No birds were able to feed on the muddy margins along this stretch of several miles.

Out early this morning before the rain closed in.

Cracking close up view of the Marsh Harrier on the Marsh.

Gadwell, Shoveler Tufted and Wigeon on Wrafton Pond.