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.

35,750+ Woodpigeons moved West over Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth 7.45-11.30.  Likely to be an conservative figure with almost constant movement along and below the cliff edge meaning that I no doubt missed some of the smaller flocks moving about half a mile inland.  Flocks of 100+ still moving west when I finally dragged myself away.

Also, 4 Purple Sandpiper on Chit Rocks at first light and a Dartford Warbler on Salcombe Hill.

Birds of note, Dipper, Kingfisher, Greenshank, Water Rail (heard) Barn Owl Quartering reeds, 1000+ Lapwing, 2000+ Golden Plover, 3000+ Starling

Record shot one of Barn Owl

Record shot two of Barn Owl

Orcombe Point - an estimated 20,000 woodpigeons moved towards the mouth of the Exe between 0745 and 0900. I had to leave at 9am but the passage was still going strong. I definitely missed birds before 0745 too - see gobirdingexmouth blog for photos of c10000 birds! Also 1 Jack Snipe, 1+ Golden Plover, 2 Lapwing, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Brent Goose and 1 Pintail. 

At Powderham Marsh this afternoon amongst all the Corvides and Woodpigeons there was 22 Stockdoves in the 1st stubble field which then flew over to Exminster Marshes.

c 4000 Wood Pigeons seen flying very high over Denbury 0930 - 1000hrs heading South West - largest flock over 1000.

At Sherford 1130 - 1230hrs - over 800 counted in smaller flocks flying North into the wind and very low over farmland and copses.

This change of direction has been noted in previous years later in the day

6 seperate Snipe and a buzzard this afternoon.

Between 8am and 9am this morning a count of just over 2000 Wood Pigeons (C~2144) passing and over South Brent towards Plymouth the flocks in view stretched from Brent Hill and out over the A38 valley. The high tailwinds resulted in them traveling at higher speeds than would be the norm, also the altitudes varied some flocks were coming over at tree top height and others so high they were little more than specks.

A drive up to Exeter gave views of several more flocks of up to 50 or so birds. Several smaller scattered flocks were feeding locally back at South Brent this afternoon, possibly dropping down to take Ivy berries.

Small flocks of both Redwing and Fieldfare very much in evidence

A female Kestrel passed over home almost at the same time as yesterday, later in the day another two Kestrels seen from the A38 one at Bickington and the other at Ashburton.

Haldon Forrest Park gave good numbers of Chaffinch and Coal Tit, other species included Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, Jay, Mistle Thrush and Siskin.

Bowling Green Marsh and Darts Farm were worth a visit but nothing to get excited about, good number of Shoveller Duck and Wigeon at BGM and Lapwings at both locations with attendant Starlings. A low flying Buzzard came across the marsh alarming the smaller species. reasonable numbers of Godwits at both locations.

Despite no recent reports on DBWPS I paid a chance visit to the Teigngrace area found two Cattle Egrets still in situe, feeding in a field of cattle alongside Little Egrets and Pied Wagtails, below the Solar panel installation across the road from the start of Greycoat Lane.

Back home at South Brent the garden feeders had up to 16 Greenfinch at one point along with growing numbers of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and House Sparrows the growing number of  birds at the feeders are proving a magnet for the resident Sparrow hawks and a hunting male made two passes.

1,520 Woodpigeons heading west this morning as viewed between Rec and M5 over 40 minute period.

A quick look at the Lake this morning showed 1 Scaup (f), 6 Goosanders 4m 2f, 6 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck 3m 3f, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Tits, 6 Redwing, 19 Fieldfare, 1 Jay.

8-10 am N.Gale. Blinking cold.

5 Bonxie

4 Red-throated divers (2 flypast, 2 on water)

4 Common Scoter

7 Kittiwake

approx 60 Auks (guillemot + Razorbill)

1 ad Med Gull

2 Common Gull

regards

Three birds still present this morning. Following, & riding the backs of, the Twelve Oaks herd in the solar panel field.

Photos of pigeons over Budleigh Salterton.

0820- 0835  Thousands of wood pigeons in wave after wave heading west over Estuary View Budleigh Salterton.  The most I have ever seen.

Rob Jerrard

The Glossy Ibis was still present this afternoon feeding in marshy pools to the right of the entrance track to the hide.

Afternoon walk around the marsh.Highlights - Gold Crest, Chiffchaff, Peregrine on plylon, Water Rail, Kestrel and a few small flocks of Feildfare among the usual teal, Wideon ,Curlew etc.

Fieldfare

A good mix of birds today: 1 Black-throated Diver (in Elberry Cove), 4 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Brent Goose, 8 Shelduck, 3 Razorbills & 1 ad w Mediterranean Gull.

Around Marsh: 4 Firecrest (together at one point), 2 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff (all collybita type), 3 Cirl Bunting.

Really good numbers of waders over a lunchtime high tide including plenty of Avocets. A Sparrowhawk casued a bit of mayhem for a while. Small party of Brent Geese headed over in the direction of Darts Farm. A Nutchatch on the feeders.

From Goosemoor, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Green Sandpiper until about 1.50 at least.

A female Scaup was present this morning along with four male Goosanders.

A visit to Clennon Lakes just after the rain stopped found 4 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest, 8 collybita type Chiffchaffs, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 3 Water Raqil, 4 Snipe and 1 Little Egret.

                    Firecrest photo is a still grab from a 4K video on my Lumix FZ1000 in dull light! 

15.00 - The shooters were out again blasting away over Sherpa Marshes & around the DBWPS Reserve this aft.

As I cycled along the Tarka trail between Wrafton Pond & the DBWPS Reserve 2 female Mallard were shot (1 wounded which landed in the bushes adjacent to the Tarka trail & was retrieved later on by another member of the shooting party) flying from the fresh water scrape very close to the Tarka trail.

In the interest of public safety I was very surprised to see one of the shooters shooting so close to a busy public right of way.

Looking at the map of the shooting rights I see the boundary outlined in red is right up against the side of the Tarka Trail from Velator to Wrafton & next to a public footpath from Velator to Velator Quay.

There is also a public footpath all the way around Horsey Island & they also have shooting rights here as well as several other areas on the Marshes.

I was also surprised to hear from 2 other members of Devon Birds that they were showered with shotgun pellets while birdwatching from the east bank of R.Caen.

Perhaps a caution from the Police will rectify this problem or a change in the law.

These shooters are in possession of a lethal weapon which can injure & kill not just birds but people as well.

In absence of a Forum page could I refer readers to todays Express and Echo (page 36) in which a Mr Norman Brooking raises a question.  He says 'every morning at about sunrise many thousands of gulls fly in a north-westerly direction in front of his window (Waterside, Exeter) and at dusk this pattern is reversed.  He thinks they are Black-headed Gulls and asks where they might be going- perhaps to a rubbish tip?'

If anyone has the definitive answer please email me (ruscoe@talktalk.net) and I will happily reply to the Echo. Thanks... Jonathan (East Devon Branch).

Just had a call from Robin Khan. He spotted a small black and white bird by the side of the roundabout at Clyst St Mary around midday. He stopped the car and went back to the bird which was still alive and turned out to be a Little Auk!! It seemed healthy so he took it to Exmouth where released and flew out to sea unharmed. So hopefully this casualty of the storms will survive!

Glossy Ibis flew into the marsh at 11.55 , showing well at the back of the 2nd pool

After an absence of over a week the female Black Redstart was back again this morning at the new-builds on Old Barn Drive.

A quick walk along the breakwater before weather closed in, saw only 4 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper. Watching a trawler coming in with nets out many gulls, gannets but also a smaller dark bird and on discussions with Mike Langman could well have been Pom Skua. Weather closed in to then see a goose and after much watching getting soaked managed to photograph for ML to ID a Brent Goose ( bernicia ). Through bad weather saw many other seabirds but too wet to hang around.

Still have places on Sunday boat trip, if interested text 07866202576.

Not a bird sighting I know, but a late record for this species?

It came into our porch as I left for work this morning

Walked from Fremington to Home Farm Marsh .40+ Oystercatcher,40+ Redshank,13 Lapwing,10 Curlew, 1 Snipe,6 Goldfinches,3 Little Egrets,1 male Reed Bunting, 2 Spoonbills flew over the fields heading towards Braunton side of the estuary.30+ Starlings. From the hide over looking the pond 2 female Shovelers,good numbers of Teal, Widgeon and Canada geese one of which looked like a hybrid.On the way back 4 Linnets,2 Great Black-backed Gulls,5 Herring Gulls,30+ Black-headed Gull.

Around 3pm this afternoon we saw a flock of 20-30 crossbills near Haldon Forest main car park.

Ali & Andy Gooch

A great northern diver was in the bay on the north side. Nothing unusual on the sewer - just one common gull among the herring and black headed gulls, and a pair of stonechats on brambles on the edge of the quarry. A red admiral basking by the road at the top was a bit of a surprise in the cool dull weather.

3 Lesser Redpoll in and around garden this morning (garden tick). Also a few hundred woodpigeons on the move.

2 Great Northern Divers on sea and 1 Black- necked Grebe but little else.

Around car parks and marsh 3 Frirecrest see one displaying to another (look at blurred image behind front bird).

Between 0830&0900hrs this morning 3000+ Wood Pigeons in 7 flocks moved >SW.

1-2 Siberian Chiffchaffs around Lakes photod above. Video link: https://youtu.be/LR4b2tnhU78

The first bird I saw as I got out the car by the railway bridge at the top of Bowling Green Road was the Firecrest! Watched it for 40 minutes or so busily feeding either side of the road. Still there when I left around 1.55.

8-11am Wind W Fresh

3 Bonxie

1 Manx Shearwater

9 Great Northern Divers. All flying south, 7 singletons ,one pair

90 Auks and 17 kittiwakes in first hour

3 Med gulls

A couple of porpoises plus attendant Gannets

Just seen around 1000+ Wood Pigeons fly over the Exe and another report on twitter reporting 6000 birds fly over the Warren around 09:00 to 10:00 this morning.

A female Black Redstart showing well on the roof of South Brent Church this morning, the church yard also gave Mistle Thrush and Nuthatch.

A flock of 25 low flying Herring Gulls circling over the school

A flock of some 60 to 70 high flying Wood Pigeons headed west this flock being the first sign of Wood Pigeon migration that I have seen this autumn small flocks of both Redwing, Fieldfare and Green Finch moving around and over the village.

Just to add to Keith's post, one Firecrest along the railway bank at the top of hill leading down to Bowling Green Marsh just after 8am.

1 Woodcock, Dart Valley woods a little upstream of New Bridge this am.

Male Merlin and Short-eared Owl hunting at dusk this evening

Aveton Gifford ~ the tidal road on a low tide was subject to a strong wind coming up the river and bird numbers were down, that said Greenshank ~ Redshank ~ Curlew~ Oyster Catcher ~ Little Egret and Common Sandpiper seen, small gathering of Gulls included two Greater Black Backs along with Herring and Black Headed Gulls.

At the entrance to South Efford Marsh a large flock of Long Tailed Tits, mixed in with them were Blue Tits and Gold Crest the poor light made observation and identification difficult. Several Redwings in the general area

Kingsbridge Quay ~ Redshank and Little Egrets

watched from 09:15 till 12:30

on the walk down to Bowling green marsh good numbers of goldcrest with several groups of redwing flying around with a few fieldfare best bird over was 4 siskin heading west, a definate increase in greenfich around the marsh as well as goldfinch, 1 nuthatch, 1 kestrel, 1 peregrine.

from the viewing platform 5+ jay going back and forth to riversmeet house, a Jack snipe flew in from the east and dropped into the reeds opposite the hide.

a quick look at darts farm produced a good numbers of greenfich and goldfinch

from the goatwalk , 309+ avocet was my best count of the autumn, 1000+ dunlin, 200+lapwing, 20+ golden plover and at least 20+ grey plover, 5 red breasted mergansers, 200+ black tailed godwits.

finished back at the viewing platform at bowling green marsh, 200+ black tailed godwits in field to left of path, and 816+ on the clyst ( so around 1216+ around the area again best count so far this autumn ) 37+ bar tailed godwits and another 6+ avocet.

Firecrest again in the garden this afternoon with Long-tailed tits, Goldcrests, Treecreeper, Blue, Coal and Great tits. More Goldfinches feeding today and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders.

Another windy and wet day at Tamar Lake, the Goosanders have increased to 4m 2f also 1 L/Grebe, 1 G.C.Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch.

Arrived at the Reserve for a bit of maintenance work this morning and almost the first bird I saw was a rather lovely Barn Owl. I've never seen one in here before (although Tom Williams reprted having seen one from the Tarka Trail last month). In the surrounding fields there are lots of Black-headed Gulls and a big flock of Canada Geese - a few of which have been dropping into the reserve pond of late.

Over 700 Kittiwakes first moving south then building into a feeding frenzy off headland also 1 Great Skua.

In Brixham in the Breakwater quarry car park (multistorey) 1 Firecrest with 2 Goldcrest in sycamores and scrub. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1UpP9-htRk

Black Redstart on the garden wall of Pebbles B&B at 9am today, stayed until chased off by a Robin