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This page was initially set up to give a concise news summary of birds of interest seen in Devon. Anyone noting interesting species, passage and counts could post the details to inform other birders what was going on around the county. Photos could also be added for interest and to enliven the posts. It was accepted that because other wildlife was of interest, this would also appear especially when included in a birding post.

However, in the last year, more posts have been appearing purely on subjects other than birds. Whilst of interest to some observers, this is detracting from the aim of the pages, i.e. principally bird sightings.

Devon Birds has therefore taken the decision to require contributors of other wildlife to post this in the Other Wildlife subject. However it’s accepted that occasional, exceptional, other wildlife seen during a birding outing justifies inclusion in the bird sightings post. This should, however, be a minor part of the post.

Photos are often appearing as a gallery, or even acting as a personal photo blog, rather than of county-wide sightings of interest. Devon Birds has a Gallery which members and other birders are welcome to submit their often stunning photos to, for others to see. Many of these photos need not then appear on this page. From now on, only two photos per post will be accepted to help keep posts more concise.

Devon Birds very much welcomes posts that already meet these criteria and those that will continue to do so. It would also be great to widen the input from keen birders who currently don’t contribute, including some old friends who have dropped out. Hopefully the changes will encourage wider participation, so if you look at the site but don’t post, please consider doing so.

Our aim is to provide a concise daily news summary of bird sightings around Devon, and these changes should fulfil this goal.

Below is a summary of the changes:

• Bird News (bird sightings of interest, with added occasional other wildlife) will be the default subject when visitors arrive at this page.
• Other Wildlife posts therefore won’t initially be shown unless visitors click Other Wildlife under Subjects on the right-hand side.
• Only two photos can now be submitted per post.
• General bird photos should be posted in our Gallery please.
• Co-authors should now only use the Submit a Blog Post form, to ensure a more consistent format for posts.

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.