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.  

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As mentioned earlier the 2 Cattle Egrets near Teigngrace were still showing well at mid-day in the flooded fields adjacent the Exeter to Teigngrace road juction before flying across the road towards the farm amongst the cattle.  Link to video.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQkq57vgEeetJjzX_ts15bA/videos

To add to PA's earlier post: 1 Black Redstart around East  Soar Farm buildings early am plus 5 Redpoll (over) and at least two Bramblings heard in with passing Chaffinch flocks.

A Yellow-browed Warbler calliing regularly though quite elusive in willows aprroximately 200M N of White bridge on the main path to Otterton. Seen this morning and again this afternoon. This is presumably the same bird photographed by David White in the same area on 25th October.

Also today, a Cattle Egret (per Clive) seen on the Otter Estuary this afternoon from the public hide on the west side of the Otter and later in cattle fields north of the Aqueduct and west of the River Otter.

7 Black Redstarts including a stunning male on the roof tops this morning. 2 Firecrest past Lannacombe on coastal footpath 26 Goldcrest & 1 Chiffchaff  noted during coastal walk.

A few pictures from Alan Doidge of the Marsh Warbler seen at Soar today

At Morte Point this afternoon i saw 2+ Balearic Shearwaters & 2 Skuas headed Swest. 3 Common Scoter heading up the channel. A Hen Harrier & a merlin flew over chasing after meadow pipits. Several Ring Ouzels. 3 Roe Deer along the Skyline.

watched from 07:30 till 11:00

Avocet numbers continue to incresse with 159+ , 1 spotted redshank , 13 greenshanks, 120+ pintail, 600+ wigeon , 1000+ black tailed godwits. 36 bar tailed godwits, 400+ dunlin, 400+ redshank, 350+ curlew, 180+ lapwing, 44+ shoveler, 5 gadwall, 1 stonechat , 70+ skylark over , 200+ redwing , 3 mistle thrush, 45+ snipe , 4 little egrets, 12+ goldcrests, 15+ chaffinch, 1 kestrel, 1 peregrine, 2 sparrowhawk, 5 buzzards, 2 nuthatch, 1 treecreeper, 2 great spotted woodpecker, 1 green woodpecker, 2 song thrush, 2 grey wagtail, 2 pheasants, 100+ starlings, 2 brent geese , 8 greylag geese.

after a quick look from the church in topsham looking over exminster marsh produced 10+ snipe, 10+ golden plover all disturbed by the local peregrine. 

A Marsh Warbler originally glimpsed as an interesting Acro sp by AS and PM in East Soar Willows and then re-found and tentaively identified by the 3 of us before - with others - gradually getting conclusive views and photos. Still there to at least mid afternoon.

Also there, a Firecrest and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Earlier, duing the first couple of hours of light, a modset display of "vis mig" with 280 Chaffinches, 70 Starlings, and 65 Goldfinches going south; plus 50 Wood Pigeons north.

Also - Skylark c100, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 10+, Blackcap 2, Redwing 2, Lesser Whitethroat, Golden Plover 2, and Stock Dove 13 (south).    

of note 2ring ouzel 2firecrest 2short-eared owl plenty of thrush and blackbird in Southdown valley.

A two hour walk this morning recorded the Ridgeway's Cackling Goose, seen to fly onto river with Mallard and then flew off up river but to return 45 mins later. Always with Mallard & not nearby Canada's. Looks very different in flight. More duck like due to its small size I suppose. Make of it what you will!!

Also 25 Wigeon, 40+ Teal, 4 Snipe, Green Sand, 2 Lapwing, Water Rail, 14 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 150+ Goldfinch (feeding on Alder seeds), 3 Skylark over being the best of the rest.  

Limited time this morning. Got out to Start Point first thing, beautiful morning. Plenty of stuff going overhead but way up high in the largely clear bright sky making a worthwhile vis mig count impossible. Did pick up 6 Brambling, Lesser Redpoll and Crossbill. Thought the farm might be good after overnight rain but in a not to thorough look could find none of yesterdays Firecrest but about 10 Goldcrest and a handful of Redwings there. 2 Black Redsarts on the BBC buildings as i left ( distant, i would think a few more here ). Woodpigeons struggling to get going this autumn ?

Plenty of Black Redstarts around eg 1 Torcross, 2 at Beesands and 3 each at both North and South Hallsands. Little else seen on the coastal path however despite most of it being well sheltered. Only single Redwing, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and around 14 Goldcrest. Got to Start Point early afternoon  and around the farm were single Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest and 4 Firecrest. Little down at the light except for another 4 Black Redstarts on nearby rocks making a day total of 13 ( lighthouse was open so disturbance kept them away from the buildings ). Single Mediterranean gull flew south ( little else on sea except c250 Gannets feeding on the Skerries ).

Warren View Football Pitch - a Serin showing well in weeds and scrub behind the goals and big red London bus. Found around 3pm and still present late afternoon. Please note the pitch is a private ground but provided you are sensible and park just outside it shouldn't be a problem.

Photos on gobirdingexmouth later.

These two showing very well in the field next to farm entrance.

Yellow Browed Warbler still in NW corner of the cemetery. Calling and showing really well with Crest/Tit flock and Chiffchaff.

Very obligingly feeding on the ground in robin-like manner, then perching on the headstones in Dunkeswell churchyard and shimmering its orange tail. Unmistakeable!

Seawatch0710-0830: 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Med Gull, 1 Purple Sandpiper.

Around Headland still smaller numbers of Goldcrest and 2 Firecrest, a few Redwing and Songthrush flushed from bushes while walking down to headland. Some photos below showing the variation of the Goldcrest plumage (striking bird bottom 'continental' type? - no photo adjustments made to original photos - except cropping)

Brixham Breakwater quarry car park one non-calling Siberian Chiffchaff.

-

Despite most of the day spent looking in calm conditions yesterday - no sign of bird though still quite a few of the flock present that bird seemed to be associating with: Goldcrest, Coal Tit, LT Tit and 1 Firecrest in flock.

2 Cattle Egret still present in the flooded field at Teigngrace this morning. Both birds quite active flying around the field.

Here's a photo of one of the Cattle Egrets at Teigngrace this afternoon. More on the Teign Birds blog.

A quick walk along the coastal past behind the Ness pub produced 2 Firecrest, 4 Gold crest and 1 unidentified warbler.

16.15 > 16.30

1 Short eared Owl over Chivenor this aft being mobbed by 2 Crows. Good views from the west bank of R.Caen.

On the way back from a successful trip to East Devon for the 2 Glossy Ibis at Black Hole Marsh, Seaton which were viewable distantly from the hide and then the superb Pallas's Warbler at the Bristol School Camp entrance, Gore Lane, Exmouth which showed pretty much non stop from 12.25 to 12.55pm, news came through of a Cattle Egret at Teigngrace at 12.30pm. On arrival, a quick scan and there were in fact 2 Cattle Egrets and 2 Little Egrets. They are in the flooded field at the junction of Teigngrace Road and Exeter Road, 100 yards south of Blatchford Farm. Many thanks to the finder of the first Cattle Egret for getting the news out so quickly. 

Great looks at a Yellow-browed Warbler and male and female Firecrests at 1400 today.

At last, a Yellow-browed Warbler seen here, in willows below the hide. Also a female Black Redstart on Southdown cliffs. Around the marsh, numourous Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Redwings. A male and female Sparrowhawk seen together flying around the marsh. On the marsh itself, the usual Mallards, Teals and Moorhens, also a Little Grebe and apair of Gadwalls. Several Water Rails heard, but not seen.

A flock of 120 Golden Plover over South Hessary Tor this morning & 60+ Fieldfare in the valley below Black Tor early afternoon.

A flock of 120 Golden Plover over South Hessary Tor this morning & 60+ Fieldfare in the valley below Black Tor early afternoon.

Pallas's Warbler late this afternoon on the east side of the Otter in Sycamores 200M south of White Bridge.

The Pallas's Warbler found yesterday at Orcombe Point by Dave Hopkins still present this afternoon, see photo below

I think this may be the bird lost from the estuary. Looks the right size anyway. Grid ref  -  SX938896 Nearest pond to the Swing Bridge adjacent to the Exeter Ship Canal.

See youtube - 

https://youtu.be/UT9TM_gNcWs

Not much else around except a at least 4 Little Grebe on Manaton Marsh.

N.B. Old Sludge beds well flooded only accessible with wellies and even then a bit dodgy. All the ponds well filled.

Ridgeway's Cackling Goose

Following on from Maurice post regarding the metal ring number 8048768 on GYfG/BaL, you can see from the digiscoped photo the number 8 on the metal ring which is same number as the last digit of the ring number.

This 1st Winter bird which I think is a female? was on the hedge that seperates the golf course and the reserve

Starling murmuration of about 20,000 starlings entered reedbed by the bridge around 4.30. A Merlin flew up the stream from under the bridge at 4.45, Bittern landed in the reeds just before 5.00 and an Otter swam down the stream towards the bridge about 5.10. Not a bad 45 mins. Sadly light was too low for my camera

At Slapton 2 male red crested pochard in front of hide at Torcross, 1st winter Mediterranean gull amongst the black headed gulls, 1st winter common gull amongst the herring, lesser black backed and greater black backed gulls.

At Beesands a single swallow around the buildings, a large peregrine over and at least 4 chiffchaffs with long tailed, great and blue tits and just 1 goldcrest in a mobile feeding flock in the bushes near the hide.

At Prawle a firecrest by the car park, a few gannets circling offshore with 3+ harbour porpoise underneath them, 7 auk sp. flying west.

2 Ring Ouzels in Starehole plus Firecrest. Another Firecrest in willows below farm. Not much else!

Nice walk from Skern car park this morning. Lots of Meadow pipits, several Stonechats and a few Wheatear, also a single Snow Bunting

Wheatear

Meadow pipit

Being based around Newcastle-Upon-Tyne these past ten years it's been about 12 years since last seeing a Black Redstart.  

Just down visiting my ma in Ottery-St-Mary and saw a Black Redstart on a roof in Thorne Farm Way estate next to the new cycle/walking bridge over River Otter.   Overjoyed to see one of these little beauties!   No photo unfortunately, but not really possible to confuse this one with a smoky grey/black plumage and orangy/red undertail area.

Had a look in the valley before the beach to try and see if the Firecrest were still around but did not manage to see them. I saw a male Black Redstart in the same place i have seen them before. Seen on cliff from the grassy patch overlooking the cliff and river mouth to the immediate right as you walk through the second gate on the cliff path up from the church. Grid ref 526 481. Sorry about pic quality.

Mutual preening, Sleeping together & a good stretch afterwards!

This really is true love between this pair of Spoonbills.

Looking into one another's eyes, syncronised dancing -

wait for it >

The two Spoonbills still present eraly this morning and yes Maurice that was indeed the combination! The reflection of the yellow flag was repeated this morning but through the scope clearly what you have described, although some of the colours are fading!

Surely this is "Old Faithfull" that has been wintering with us since the 7th November 2007?

Ringed as nestling on 10/07/2007 at Oosterkwelder, Shiermonnikoog, West Fresian Islands, Netherlands.

Ring combination: left leg - dark-green colour ring, above yellow leg-flag, above dark-green yellow ring.   

                              right leg-dark-blue colour ring, above metal ring NLA 8048768, above lime-green colour ring.

1500 Golden Plover on a sand bank on the Taw Estuary at Pottington in line with RGB.

2 Spoonbills which John had seen this morning & late aft, one of which is colour ringed. Apologies for the poor quality photo but very low light levels.

The 2 Yellow flags turn out to be one which is a reflection in the water.

Hope I have got this right, but apologies if not.

Left leg above knee Green/Yellow Flag/Green.

Right leg above knee Blue/Metal/Lime

The metal ring looks Gold in the photos.

4 grey partridge in garden late afternoon

Leaving the reserve late afternoon I spied that the 2 Spoonbills had returned for a night roost (high tide now and again early morning I guess). So I cycled along the Tarka Trail and took a closer look: one of them has yellow flags below and above the mid-leg joint (the ankle really) not sure if this has been recorded here before?

Then I met Rob, who had just taken pics in poor light - there may be other colour rings I couldn't see. I'll try to get another look tomorrow to confirm.

Decided to stay in and no Bird Watching today as so miserable, only to be rewarded by this Black Redstart turning up on the back gate this afternoon eyeing up the seed feeder - particularly exciting as we now live on the new development at Milbury Farm Meadow - who says new development is always a bad thing for birds?!  7 Meadow Pipits arrived yesterday too - we had a dozen here all last winter so hoping for more.

The large fall of Goldcrests reported onTwitter yesterday by Mark Darlaston has perhaps been added to overnight. Groups totaling over 170 were counted from the Headland back toward the Berry Head Hotel and a further 50+ up the lane toward the Wardens bungalow. Nothing rare that I could find amongst them but 5 Firecrest, 2 Coal Tits, 3 Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaff added some more interest.

Seawatching - best bits:: 2 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Pom/Arc Skua, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater,  3 Shoveler, a Skylark and a Blackbird!

Overhead very quiet, 5 Skylark, 2 Swallow and the highlight being a Woodlark flying in toward Torbay.

Ref George and Julia Harris report yesterday.

My next door neighbour was at Worswell Barton yesterday and saw the bird with many gulls in a field, larger than a Blackback, grey with white under the tail. When it flew off large wingspan.Raptor out of the question. All seen with naked eye.

Female Black Redstart again today Old Barn Drive

The two Spoonbills roosting in the field by the Tarka Trail this morning. 

Yesterday in the reserve several Red Admiral butterflies.

Good numbers of waders and ducks now coming onto the marsh over the high-tides as viewed with Keith from tonights high-tide roost and increasing on a daily basis. Link to video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS5Fo5LheeM

watched from 14:50 till 16:40

A busy high tide with 800+ wigeon, 163+ pintail, 736+ Canada geese, 1 barnacle goose, 7 greylag goose, 35+ shoveler, 3 gadwall, 250+ teal, 144 avocet, 1 ruff, 1 spotted redshank, 1000+ black tailed godwits, 500+ redshank, 13+ greenshanks, 38+ bar tailed godwits, 563+ curlew, 350+ dunlin, 1000+ starling, 5+ snipe, 1 white wagtail, 1 grey wagtail, 1 stonechat, 1 buzzard, 3 jay.

A very gloomy afternoon and generally a dearth of birds. However scanning a mixed tit flock just past the pumping station was rewarded with brief but good views of a Yellow browed Warbler (sorry Dave P!). It was associating with 10 Long tailed tits, 2-3 Goldcrests and a few Blue tits. No sign of any winter thrushes let alone Ring Ouzels. 1 Dipper and 5 Grey wags.

Good numbers of Redwings moving between Hillside and Forder Lane, South Brent throughout the day, counts of 33, 24,25,42,22,19, 34+, 47, 33 and one flock that lifted from the berry trees in that area and were beyond counting.

A flock of 52 Starlings

11 Fieldfare, one Song Thrush but a notable drop off in the number of Mistle Thrush around today.

Very high flying Sparrow Hawk picked up in the binoculars while I was scanning the area, unable to find it without the binoculars.

Highlight of the day was an unidentified Harrier species that flew over towards Yonder Cross,I did get a photo but given the distance and poor light the image is not worth posting.

A breezey walk at Wembury today with some good sightings.

A feeding flock of small birds in the bushes in the valley to the beach was comprised of blue, great, coal and long tailed tits with goldcrests, at least 2 chiffchaffs and 2 very smart firecrests.

On the rocky shoreline were a grey heron, 2 curlew, 4 little egrets, oystercatchers and 5 feral mallard types amongst the mallards. A surprise was an immature wigeon amongst the mallards.

Offshore the odd adult gannet was flying east.

14 Canada geese were feeding in the stubble field with a male pheasent. A male cirl bunting was very skulking in the hedgerow.

2 meadow pipits along the beach with rock pipits, pied wagtails and a grey wagtail.

Anyone in the area of Warren Point, Yealmpton, Puslich, Memland? - keep a look out for "something a bit different".  I received a call from Tony John, Lifelong birder, who had a very brief sighting of a large bird flying away from him near Worswell Barton Farm area SX5447.  Flying inland.  Larger than a gull, not a Heron, Goose or Buzzard wrong flight.  Appeared dark with white in wings.  Disappeared from sight over fields.   If anyone is driving through the area in the next day or so worth having a look around just in case.

A female Black Redstart again on rooftops this morning at Old Barn Drive, mpretonhampstead.

A photo of a Chiffchaff with the plumage characteristics of Western siberian chiffchaff. ( P.c.fulvescens) ringed on private land near Moorwell pond at this morning's ringing session.

06:15-11:30. Cloudy, moderate SSE wind strengthening through morning.

Spent an hour on the cliff top north of the car park waiting for the vis mig which never started. There were a few Goldcrest calling however and a look around the farm showed them to be in good nos here, conservative estimate of at least 60 ( min 70 in area ) with at least 2 Firecrest. Also a late Lesser Whitethroat and 4 Chiffchaffs. Walked down to the light to see if any crests were working their way up the ridge but there were none. Tamarisks blown out in the compound but could hear a handful of Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff. Did an hours seawatch, around 500 Gannets and 200 Kittiwakes through. Also 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Teal and 6 Mediterranean Gulls including a tight flock of 3 adults and 2 first calender year birds close in heading south. Checked the farm again on the way out and would say 50% of the Goldcrest had moved on.

The only bird of note to add to Pete Aley's report from this morning was a single House Martin over the airfield.

Just to add to Keith's post on the walk down to the viewing platform had good views of the Yellow Browed Warbler in the large tree with 2-Blue Tits near the large galvanise gates along the road at 1415hrs (somone mentioned later it was seen in the morning just inside the gates to the platform). From the platform 1-Kestrel, 1-Grey Plover, 1-Red Breasted Merganser, 4-Common Gulls, 1-Kingfisher.

Avocets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kWQwzo23c

Stralings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oalvRkGpGqE

Kestrel

Avocets

Good numbers of these beautiful little waders on the Skern and beach today

Golden Plover

07.10 - 09.30 Visible migration - Downend

821 Chaffinch > SE during first hour, 1036 during second hour then fizzling out. 173 Starling,11 Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldfinch & 17 Skylark all heading SE into the wind.

Aft -Yelland - high tide roost between 2 Jetties - 1 female or imm Merlin (can not see any blue on the Cere from the photos but digiscoped at long range).

Isley Marsh - Now only 2 Spoonbills present.

watched from 13:40 till 16:30

An excellent few hours from the hide with a new record for Pintail with 186+ , wigeon 784+, 3 tufted duck, 28+ shoveler, 295+ teal, 117 avocet, 1006+ black tailed godwits, 30+ bar tailed godwits, 440+ redshank, 1 spotted redshank, 1 ruff, 13+ greenshanks, 394+ curlew, 259+ dunlin, 7+ snipe, 5 jay, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 buzzard, 2 grey wagtail, 32+ lapwing.

A yellow browed warbler was reported by the path to the viewing platform 

A quick look from the church at topsham produced a few thousand starlings performing before going to roost.

Further to Mike Langmans post in respect of Berry head this morning, almost constant movement of small numbers of Meadow Pipits on the main head land.

But to make the day a Short Eared Owl was seen from the cafe area circling the ground the the front of the fort walls and end of the car park, unfortunately it was a bit too far away for decent photography, on the front fort wall over looking the area that the bird was seen I recovered a fresh owl pellet which after some checking I suspect may have been cast by a Short Eared Owl.

Focused on East Soar from just after dawn and then a brief look at the west side this afternoon.

A Yellow-browed Warbler briefly in the willows mid morning was the best bird, Also: 2 Firecrests, 2 Ring Ouzels, 3+ Siskins (over), 5 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests, 2 Sparrowhawks, 30 Golden Plovers, 5 Song Thrushes, 2 Redwings, Jay, c200 Skylarks, Fieldfare, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow and 3 Bullfinches.

Also a Firecrest in Marlborough. 

Radde's Warbler tentatively identified after Andy Plumb and I tracked the calling bird for some 10 minutes with the briefest of views. The bird crossed the road into an even denser area of scrub before showing briefly again after some 20 mins to confirm id it continued calling occasionally but getting further away in deep vegetation. Last seen some 60m north o the 'wardens bungalow' on W side of road.

Other more notable birds on site: 2 Firecrest, 14 Goldcrest, 9 Chifchaff, 5 Stonechat, 1 Blackcap & 3 Coal Tit.

Overhead:4 Redpoll, 1 Brambling, 16 Chaffinch, 11 Bullfinch, 13 Greenfinch, 55 Goldfinch, 1 Grt Spt, Woodpecker, 32 Skylark, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing.

Challacombe to Headland Warren, fm.Hen Harrier. 1.00pm.

Sousson's farm 50+Fieldfare

Delighted to have a firecrest feeding on the midges in the garden with the long-tailed tits, goldcrests and others early this afternoon.

There was a Great Grey Shrike this morning on the moor at Emsworthy Farm DWT Reserve (SX745765), although it disappeared after about five minutes. Also at least 2 Ring Ouzels, 80 Fieldfare and 4 Redpolls.

Later, there were c520 Golden Plover in short, grassy heath NE of the tor, near the old tramway.

Great Grey Shrike, Emsworthy

Rig Ouzel, Emsworthy

A walk along the breakwater in Brixham first thing this morning, 18 Turnstone, only 3 Purple Sandpiper, checked my records and this time last year 15. Looking over towards 7 quarries 15 Grey Heron on the cliffs but otherwise very quiet. Was a report mid week from a fisherman 30 Common Scoter off Paignton sea front.  So will not be starting my Sunday morning winter boat trips till the 22nd November, if interested email wildbones@btinternet.com

9.30 - 10.30am walk with the dog. Within 100m Buzzards, Kestrel, great views of the female Marsh Harrier, a female Merlin getting mobbed by crows and bird of the hour which I though was a short eared at first but displayed a white rump as it flew off - pretty sure of a female Hen Harrier but would be happy for someone to verify. It flew across the Caen and out over Horsey Island, typical Harrier flight pattern. All the other regulars present. Great bit of birding - rubbish walk for the dog!

06:15-09:00. Beautiful clear, still morning.

Good start to the day flushing a Short-eared Owl from the side of the road about a mile from the entrance to Start. Little vis mig, best were 2 Lesser Redpolls and a Crossbill ( Siskins heard frequently but very high up unseen ). Around the farm Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, Brambling and 2 Reed Buntings. Around the top fields a female Merlin shot through, Black Redstart at the BBC station and 4 Crossbills overhead.

Sea watch from 7.40am till 1pm in SSW 4-5 going NW 2-3 produced nice range but disappointingly few birds.

1 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Red Throated and 1 Great Nirthern Divers, 2 Puffins, 2 Fulmars, 3 Common Scoters west -2 east. c 200 Kittiwakes west, 130 Auks west (predominantly Razorbills) , 450 Gannets west and c 100 east. Also first autumnal Black Redstart. (imm/female on coastguard cottage roofs) and 2 late Wheatears. 

watched from 11:30 till 16:30

from the hide 91 avocet, 695+ black tailed godwits, 33 bar tailed godwits, 1 ruff, 180+ dunlin, 348+ curlew, 1 whimbrel, 23+ greenshanks, 250+ redshankss, 20+ lapwing, 1 grey plover, another excellent count of 148+ pintail , 311+ wigeon, 30+ shoveler, 160+ teal, 1 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 2 buzzards, 4+ jay, 2 grey wagtails.

from the goatwalk 1 adult winter Mediterranean gull, 6 golden plover , 1 kingfisher.

from the viewing platform, 2 kingfisher, 16+ skylark over, 15+ goldcrests, 10+ chaffinch, 1 nuthatch, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 Cetti's warbler, 1 water rail, 1 peregrine, 4 greylag geese, 5 jay.

Very surprised to see a kingfisher fly to the small pond below Tor Rocks, Harford this afternoon.  

This afternoon on the high tide - 9 Little Egrets, 16 Grey Herons, 42 Curlews, Black-tailed Godwit, 113 Redshanks, 6 Oystercatchers, Mediterannean Gull (ad-w), 4+ Goldcrests, c40 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Mistle Thrushes, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff (singing), Kingfisher and only 2 Shelducks. 

A walk around the West Cliffs this afternoon produced a Firecrest again and then a walk around the top fileds east of the Otter resulted in bird of the day, a Short-eared Owl plus 140+ Skylark and 70+ Linnet.

A Yellow-browed Warbler in the wood at Lipson early afternoon, with the Tit flock. Also 2 Firecrests, a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail.

One female Black Redstart this morning on rooftops Old Barn Drive.

14.40

15+ Swallows flying back and forth above Brixham College and adjacent playing fields.  Slowly moved off towards the south east. 

watched from 11:30 till 16:40

A good afternoon steady movement of skylark west also included to 10+ crossbill( 3 & 10) over, 20+ goldcrests by viewing platform.

from the hide , 93 Avocet highest count of the Autumn, 1001+ black tailed godwits , 20+ bar tailed godwits, 120+ dunlin, 300+ redshank, 1 spotted redshank , 1 ruff, 30+ lapwing, 11+ greenshanks, 44+ pintail, 80+ wigeon, 28+ shovelers, 300+ teal, 369+ curlew, 6 snipe, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 kestrel, 3 buzzards.

from the viewing platform , 1 whimbrel, 10+ bar tailed godwits, 100+ dunlin, 100+ curlew, 2 oystercatchers, 1 red breasted merganser.

09:20 This morning saw 4 Fieldfare, numerous flocks of Goldfinch,1 Reed Bunting, 6 Teal, 26 Lapwing, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Buzzard, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant.

Not much showing at BGM over lunch, - the high tide wasn't until mid afternoon and a only a few Godwits, Lapwings and Greenshank when Keith got a call from Lee at Warren Point - off I went and was rewarded with great views of the Great Grey Shrike consuming what was left of the impaled Blue Tit! Thanks to Lee for the call and Keith for passing it on!

An adult Bonapartes Gull found by Bob Bailey at 3.45pm on the high tide off the Passage House hotel car park. Flew off downriver but then returned at 3.55pm and watched on the grass spit with the B H Gull flock till 4.27pm when it again flew off downriver.  Also a Common Sand, Water Rail and 10 Greenshank. 

Like Perry, little moving overhead - the highlights were 6 Fieldfare 4 Redwing a Reed Bunting, Redpoll and 2 Yellowhammers.

Around the headland: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler newly arrived in bushes beside the coast guard station at 8am (still reported present at 0930), 11 Chiffchaffs and 16 Goldcrest.

There was another Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday with Long-tailed Tits around the navigation beacon scrub seen by a couple of visiting birders.

Cloudy, moderate SW wind strengthening. Dissapointing vis mig watch 07:30-09:30.

130 Meadow Pipit, 20 alba Wagtail sp., 110 Goldfinch, 15 Chaffinch, Brambling, 5 Siskin, 30 Linnet and a Lesser Redpoll. Also seen 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. 3 Little Egrets below the cliffs flying towards the point.

Over the last two days the movement of migrating Redwings seems to have slowed down around South Brent and the birds being seen now are feeding.

A mixed small flock of Redwing and a few Song Thrush seen this morning perched in the canopy of a mature Ash tree, the odd Mistle Thrush and one possible Feildfare in the air.

A counted flock of 50 Redwings just before 9 am came over and all of the roosting birds lifted and were caught up in the low flying flock.

A counted 23 Redwings late this afternoon.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Coal Tits and a Nuthatch on the garden feeders,small number of Pied Wagtails still moving around the area.

24 Pintail searching for food on the Ridge this aft.

A couple of habitat photos for the Devon Atlas are needed urgently:

1. One of the larger reservoirs - Fernworthy, Burrator, Roadford a good quality atmospheric photo would be best - but all submissions will be considered.

2. Photo depicting the Devon Redlands or Blackdowns - this could include the river Otter or Axe.

Contact Mike Langman if you can help - mikelangman@blueyonder.co.uk  

Lesser Redpoll flew over Rickham Farm nr. East Portlemouth this morning

8-11am. 1620 auks (razorbills and guillemots) in first hour, then tailing off. 170 kittiwakes in first hour. I dark phase arctic skua. 1 imm type Pomarine skua. 1 unidentified distant skua (I think pom).1 Balearic shearwater.5 Common Scoter. 2 Mediterranean Gulls. 3 groups of Harbour Porpoises, with attendant fishing flocks of Gannets.

regards, Rupert