In the light of the continuing Covid19 restrictions on the number of people gathering together, and the need for social distancing, it has been agreed that there will be no Devon Birds meetings or events organised until 21st June 2021, when Government restrictions are planned to be lifted. If there is any Government announcement that necessitates a change to this date an update will be posted.

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.  

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.

Myself and Russ Eynon in the area north of Burrator had several male Redstarts and Wheatears. A male Cuckoo and at 1315 two Red Kite over Leather Tor heading N/NE

Had 2 Crossbills fly north over Wood Lane ( behind the field centre ), Slapton village, this morning.

Osprey low over Starcross towards Powderham this morning about 11o'clock.

0745.

Off Pottington - 5 Black-tailed Godwits. Hybrid goose with c40 Canada geese. Looks like a cross between Barnacle and possibly a Ross` Goose. Short neck, small round head and pinkish, blue bill. 2/3s size of Canada. 

Off Ashford sewage works - 2 Mediterranean Gulls (1A, 1 2S); pair of Shelduck with 5 ducklings.

Late posting for same area - 11 Sanderling in breeding plumage on wednesday 5th.

We have had a large number of sightings of both "bubbling" females and chasing males in many areas of Dartmoor over the last week.  Now you can read and follow the four Dartmoor cuckoos that have been sponsored and tagged jointly by Devon Birds and the DNP here

1 Red Kite drifted E toward Brixham mid-afternoon also on near the 'false' tree 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a female Whinchat.

Yesterday evening I photographed this 2nd calendar year Hobby hawking the cliffs for over 1.5hrs. Interesting to see the contrast in moult from body to wings and tail (newest feathers blue grey).

Sighted flying west high over Exminster Village at 1.30 pm. 

Lesser Whitethroat singing on the path by the railway line, but very hard to see!

A Barnacle Goose in with the Canadas on the marsh.

2 Mistle Thrush near Powderham on the cycle home.

Lots of fledgling Long-Tailed Tits about today!

Another red kite seen hunting from the road through Sourton (en route to Lydford Gorge where a dipper flew down the river, and 2 marsh/willow (longish bull-necks - willow?) tits were feeding on the ground by the bird table.

Just had another Red Kite over Yalberton Idustrial Estate from my bedroom window. Drifted SE at 12:20. Possibly the same bird as yesterdays?

Three hour walk: Terrace Drive (road between Haytor and Manaton): Cuckoos in abundance: 2 together seen in flight  whilst 2 or 3 other birds seen and calling. Also a pair of Mistle Thrushes. Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs singing (by Yarner), Linnets, Yellowhammers and Stonechats (many terrirtories) at Trendlebere.

Red Kite over my garden, Clennon Valley - drifted West at 3.50pm.

Just seen Jakes post - obviously the same bird!

Red Kite over Yalberton Industrial Estate at 16:00. Then drifted East towards Torbay.

Red Kite over Drewsteignton this morning c08:30 going West.

(Information passed on by Nick Dixon)

Meant to add this to previous post but fouled up.

Red Kite - Topsham 3/6/2013

A Red Kite just drifted north over my garden in Topsham at about 12.30. Still waiting for one of Matt's HB's though.

Garden Warblers singing at se edge of melbury forest&thornbury n,devon.12 buzzards between powlers piece x & thorne moor nr buckland brewer.Male kestrel nr powlers piece& female at thorne moor.Pair of yellow hammers behaving as though nesting on road from thorne moor also 2 individual males singing.Lovely views of roe deer mother & baby.

Today I was shown a cracking image of an Osprey that was photographed while soaring over fishing lakes at Loddiswell during the last few days, also a report of a Red Kite being seen at the same location but not photographed.

10:05hrs this morning, Red Kite over Peek Hill Farm and Yennadon, eventually driven towards Ingra Tor by corvids and gulls.

(Rob Harrison)

Much quieter today, with just 3 Spotted Flycatchers, and a late male Redstart adding a nice splash of colour.

Belle Vue Road - another honey buzzard over the house at 10am, this time accompanied by a common buzzard heading high east and possibly a female. Also, an unseasonal drake wigeon on the river.

Orcombe Point - 1 yellow wagtail yesterday.

honey (top) with common buzzard below. Bottom picture soaring honey.

Spent an enjoyable couple of hours along the toll-road at Braunton Marsh - lots of species about - dozens of Swallows & Swifts swooping around but no sign of any House Martins. Sedge and Reed Warblers singing from the bushes & reeds together with numerous Skylarks above.   

Couple of Spotted Flycatchers by the sewage works and a female Marsh Harrier. Little out on the estuary.

Marsh Harrier

Thought I was having a good day, then I saw the Portland website !!  A total of 43 Spotted Flycatchers is as far as I know the 2nd highest site count, but pales into insignificance when compared to the 1000+ through the Bill today.  Of mine, two groups flew through, of 8 and 6, while the rest were spread throughout the area. The only other migrants were a single Wheatear and a small number of Swifts through.  Yesterday, the 2nd Cuckoo of the year was eyeing up Whitethroat nests. 

3 1st  summer little gulls showing well at moment from the hide with the stunning male ruff and 2 1st summer Mediterranean gulls 

Still some limited migration: 1 Reed Warbler (in song), 2 Wheatears, and two parties of a total of 13 Swallows, 3 House Martins and 3 Swift.