We are back in Lockdown, all sightings posts from observers should only be in their very local area (town, village or part of city). Any posts where the observer is obviously travelling distances to other sites will be deleted, Devon Birds will not edit these posts.
Posted January 6th at 10:52 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
During the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak the use of Devon Birds bird hides should be in line with Government guidelines to individuals on how to protect themselves.
Please follow NHS guidelines: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/
Thank you for your co-operation and stay safe.
Posted August 25th, 2020 at 9:58 am by Mike Daniels in Bird News
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.
Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Tuesday 31st March 2015
8 Chiffchaffs at Axe Valley wetlands, hard work in the wind finding any birds today with only 25 species found, go to http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp to find out more.

Posted March 31st, 2015 at 7:34 pm by simon thurgood in Bird News
Not much about at Velator as very windy this morning one Common Sandpiper, 5+ Redshank, 2 Little Grebe 2 Little Egrets.
Sheltered Wrafton Pond produced 2 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Chiffchaff, 20+ Sand Martins and 2 House Martins feeding over the pond which was my first sightings this Spring.

Sand Martin over Wrafton pond
Posted March 31st, 2015 at 10:18 am by Derek Carter in Bird News
Monday 30th March 2015
A Kumlien's Gull put in a very brief appearance in a field in Salcombe around 18:30 Saturday evening just giving time for a couple of lucky shots by Alan Doidge.


Posted March 30th, 2015 at 8:01 pm in Bird News
Some dreadful pictures of the distant second-winter/summer Ring-billed Gull on the Axe Estuary this afternoon. Present 14:55 - 15:10, but hopefully it is still around somewhere. Also c100 Common Gull and second-summer Med Gull. Earlier summer plumaged Slav Grebe stilll off Seaton Hole.

Second-year Ring-billed Gull

Second-year Ring-billed Gull in flight
Posted March 30th, 2015 at 4:10 pm by Steve Waite in Bird News
Amidst the howling gale were c214 Golden Plover, many approaching summer plumage, c8 Grey Plover, 6 Dunlin, 12 Shell Duck, 2 Redshank and a Sparrowhawk.
Posted March 30th, 2015 at 1:58 pm by Mike Jeffrey in Bird News
Cool but pleasant conditions at Tamar Lakes this morning
.8 Goosander, 2 Mallard, 12+ Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Moorhens, 1 Coot. 14 active Rooks nests at the rookery near the Lower Lake.
Upper Lake 7 Cormorants together on landing stage.
Also 1 ringtail Hen Harrier reported by a very reliable observer making two passes near the Lower Lake hide on Thursday 26th March.
Harvey Kendall
Posted March 30th, 2015 at 1:47 pm by Harvey Kendall in Bird News
Sunday 29th March 2015
A quick look around topsham 14:00 till 15:50
Good movement of sand martins with at least 150+ in various groups, 6 pintail from the hide at bowling green marsh.
from the viewing platform 1 spotted redshank
from the goatwalk a few red breasted mergansers and the female ruff was on the mud towards turf
Posted March 29th, 2015 at 5:01 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
Saturday 12.30
Unusual sighting of a Grey Wagtail close to the main entrance (Lowes Bridge) of Torbay Hospital. Flew off in the direction of McDonalds!
Posted March 29th, 2015 at 9:43 am by Paul Darlington in Bird News
Saturday 28th March 2015
watched from 09:00 till 11:30
1 spotted redshank from the viewing platform and my first swallow of the spring
from the hide 4 pintail, 4 tufted duck, 3 sand Martin , 2 Cetti's warblers, 1 blackcap, 4 chiffchaff, 5 reed buntings, 1 bullfinch, 5 black tailed godwits, 2 little grebe, 1 sparrowhawk, 4 buzzards, 2 raven, 100+ wigeon, 3 little egrets.
Posted March 28th, 2015 at 10:30 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
As the Penduline tits are showing again today thought I would post a pic from Thursday

Penduline Tit

Reed Bunting
Posted March 28th, 2015 at 1:32 pm by Steve Hatch in Bird News
Friday 27th March 2015
Seawatch 14:30-17:00, front arriving with rain 16;00. 7 Manx Shearwaters which was nice to see, also 2 Common Gulls in with numerous gulls as the day trawlers came back in. At least 5 Harbour Porpoise, but the highlight was a White-beaked Dolphin that breached around 10 times before moving off south (only my third sighting from BHd).
Posted March 27th, 2015 at 6:41 pm by Mark Darlaston in Bird News
Bowling Green Marsh and Darts Farm

Water Rail towards the platform

Penduline Tit in the Spring Blossom

Reed Bunting destroying another reed head
Posted March 27th, 2015 at 4:39 pm by Colin Scott in Bird News
Lesser Whitethroat still in private gardens. Also Blackcaps, Greenfinch and Goldfinch on feeders.
Posted March 27th, 2015 at 10:47 am by richard teague in Bird News
Very little in the way of migrants on the headland this morning just 3 Chiffchaffs. However an ad Iceland Gull (see photos below) put in a brief appearance on the sea with some Herring gulls before flying off toward Brixham Harbour (I tried but could not relocate it).

Paignton Beach: 4 Common Scoter and 2 Sandwich Terns
Posted March 27th, 2015 at 9:51 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Seen today in the field adjacent to Wrafton Pond was this goose which was in company with about 20 Canada geese. Can anyone confirm Snow Goose in eclipse plumage? There was a flock of about 20 sand martins over the pond too!


With Canada goose for size comparison
(Eds: This is one surviving (originally three in 2009) presumed hybrid Ross's x Barnacle Geese that spent most of their time in N Devon but have ventured as far south as Exminster Mashes)
Posted March 27th, 2015 at 7:44 am by Philip Naylor in Bird News
Thursday 26th March 2015
Late post - spotted this bird yesterday, (25th), whilst out with my grandchildren in Westward Ho. Managed to get a couple of photos with mobile phone of it devouring a Blackbird (eds Starling) on someones lawn


Posted March 26th, 2015 at 9:26 pm by Chris & Sally Bollen in Bird News
Winter thrushes still moving through - 3 separate flocks of Fieldfare this morning (total of 57 birds) plus a single Redwing. However the cold strong North West wind has put paid to any other migration at the moment. At least 3 snipe hanging on in the ploughed pig field.
Posted March 26th, 2015 at 7:36 pm in Bird News
A first for me while visiting Wrafton Pond late aft.
At the side of the Tarka trail a Wren clearly visible mimicking the first phrase of a Chiffchaff's song at the start of its usual song & repeating this several times.
Also 2 Crows predating a Magpies nest.
Posted March 26th, 2015 at 6:39 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Red Kite flew east over Cockwood at midday.
Posted March 26th, 2015 at 4:12 pm by Gerry Hooper in Bird News
Red Kite flying north over main lagoon exminster marsh at 12:05 being mobbed by crows
Posted March 26th, 2015 at 2:56 pm by Tom Jurd in Bird News
Very poor pictures of a very lovely first-summer Caspain Gull on the Axe Estuary this morning. It was briefly on the Estuary before flying to Seaton Marshes where it landed with a gull flock just north of Seaton skate park. The whole flock were flushed at 09:40 and I had to leave.

First-summer Caspian Gull; right hand bird of the upper three gulls

First-summer Caspian Gull; snow white axillaries

First-summer Caspian Gull; the only bird with its head up
Posted March 26th, 2015 at 11:13 am by Steve Waite in Bird News
Wednesday 25th March 2015
Bowling Green Marsh this morning.

Two Foxes in field RH side of hide

Snipe also in both fields towards platform

Heron having a snack
Posted March 25th, 2015 at 5:41 pm by Colin Scott in Bird News
1 cracking male Black Redstart at Baggy this morning.
Highly mobile & very difficult to digiscope but managed 2 frames before it flew out of site.Normal behaviour for a Black Redstart!

Posted March 25th, 2015 at 3:08 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
The American Wigeon was still there today around midday. It was with other wigeon in the difficult viewing area between the 'worst sited hide in the world' and the railway bridge. Not easily distinguished through bins I needed my scope to confidently pick it out but with good light I could see the beautiful speckled wolf-grey head and white forehead. Also showing a pair of Goosander.
Posted March 25th, 2015 at 2:19 pm by alan craddock in Bird News
Tuesday 24th March 2015
Yes indeed, I also enjoyed the American Wigeon this morning from 10:10 to 10:30 with 16 Wigeon from the Tarka Trail north side of the Taw, moving out with the tide. Sorry about the photo quality.
Also 6 snipe and the hybrid (Snow?) goose with Canada Geese at Bradiford reserve.

Posted March 24th, 2015 at 4:10 pm by Martin James Bond in Bird News
1 cracking male American Wigeon with 28 Wigeon this morning on the north side of the Taw Estuary. Good views from the Tarka trail.


Posted March 24th, 2015 at 2:25 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
On the sea: 12 Great Crested Grebes, one Black-necked Grebe in full summer plumage and, 2 male Common Scoter.
Posted March 24th, 2015 at 8:47 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Monday 23rd March 2015
Surprised to see a male Brambling on the garden nijer feeder today - I haven't seen one for two months. Maybe we shouldn't bank on Spring just yet!
Posted March 23rd, 2015 at 6:22 pm by Rob Hubble and Stella Tracey in Bird News
Mostly usual suspects around Topsham but two Red Kite over the Rec at 13.05.
Spotted Redshank showing well from platform.

Posted March 23rd, 2015 at 4:17 pm by Martin Rooney in Bird News
Two Firecests in Starehole, one at the ponds and one at the very bottom of the valley. Not much else!
Posted March 23rd, 2015 at 3:58 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Large flock of Golden Plovers in the vicinity of Emsworthy (nr. Haytor), probably 250 birds some now moulting into breeding plumage.
At Vitifer the Great Grey Shrike was distantly seen and was quite mobile flying from Vitifer over to Soussons plantation. Plently of Siskins in the plantation as well as Goldcrests.

Golden Plovers

Great Grey Shrike
Posted March 23rd, 2015 at 3:43 pm by david cawthraw in Bird News
Scanning from the beaches produced: 14 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck and 1 Mediterranean Gull.
Posted March 23rd, 2015 at 9:48 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Sunday 22nd March 2015
Attention seeking behavior and then the sulk.



Posted March 22nd, 2015 at 9:12 pm by Richard Yeats in Bird News
I found this bird which looks like its nearly in summer plumage in a ditch just down from Turf by the cycle track.
Did a walk from Powderham Church to Exminster Marshes and back and found 37 species of birds, if you are very bored you can follow the link to find out what they are http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp


Posted March 22nd, 2015 at 7:31 pm by simon thurgood in Bird News
Velator / river Caen - 8 x Redshank, 4 x Dunlin, 1 x Greenshank, 2 x Little Egret, 1 x Great White Egret, 4 x Shelduck, 1 x Reed Bunting, 1 x Stonechat, 10 x Whooper swan, 4 x Mute Swan,4 x Widgeon 1 x Greenfinch
Braunton Burrows - 2 x Bullfinch, 10 x Linnet, 1 x Greater spotted woodpecker, 2 x coot, 2 x Canada Geese, 1 x coal tit, 2 x chiffchaff
Posted March 22nd, 2015 at 5:49 pm by Mark Webber in Bird News
Fairly quiet this morning, 32 species seen, including:
5 Sand Martin, c30 Tufted Duck, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Pochard, c30 Common Gull, several singing Chiffchaff, and a pair of Bullfinch (m+f) around Ireland bay. Cetti's warblers heard In the reeds.
Posted March 22nd, 2015 at 4:44 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
Ray Hamilton reported a Red Kite 9.00am this morning seen over the Pebblebed vineyards, Woodbury.
Posted March 22nd, 2015 at 10:47 am in Bird News