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.

Jurston Dartmoor, 1 Male Merlin

The Siberian Chiffchaff was again at the back of the 1st car park this morning also 1 collybita Chiffchaff.

On the Sea: 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great Northern Divers and 1 Brent Goose.

Goodrington: 2 Black-necked Grebes, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Velvet Scoter, 2 Eider (1st w Male and imm/fem) also another 5 briefly joined the Velvet Scoter before moving off, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Scoter

Clennon Valley: PADe informed me the 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were apparently seen at same time mid afternoon. One again in trees by the arsto turf pitches by the leisure centre, the other is proving elusive around the 2nd lake, Cetti's Warbler still around the middle lake. 

8 Eider off Crow Point near mouth of the Taw ~1300 hrs/low tide. 7 male 1 female, diving for mussels.

Late this afternoon off West Lodge: fw drake Scaup, fem Goldeneye, 2 Shoveler and a Greenshank of note.

15 - 16 Cirl Buntings usual spot (though a visiting birder reported c. 35 from there and along the seafront).

1100-1245. 3 Velvet Scoter off middle car park early on - not too far out. On walk towards Torcross, close-in Black-throated Diver, then a Black-necked Grebe very close in, and then a middle distance Gt Northern Diver. On Slapton Ley, midway from middle car park to Torcross, Long-tailed Duck (would say female), and then 1st winter Scaup. There was an interesting looking pipit flock on the beach. MMay off Beesands, raft of 30+ Common Scoter.

Plymouth's first American Wigeon (a drake) this afternoon (thanks Roy) with a small flock of Wigeon - presumably the Kingsmill Creek bird wandering. 

Also: c40 Avocets and 12+ Great Crested Grebes.

YBW at Topsham Rec mobile around play area. Two female Goldeneye off the rec. Black Redstart showing well at Shelley Beach Exmouth. 

see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3vvGte7xRE

Black Redstart

Great Northern Diver and Longtailed Duck in the Taw by the sewage works 10.00 this morning

Two hours of perseverance finally paid off as dusk approached, with the Great Grey Shrike found in the first walled enclosure NW of Saddle Tor. Further on in the Becka Brook valley 11 Redpoll.

A Great Grey Shrike was on Woodbury Common on Thursday, found at the north end of the common near the warren car park. It was mobile and last seen flying towards the north west corner.

Highlights on the ley included 11 Little Grebes ( Ireland Bay ) and from the Stokeley Hide male Scaup and Long-tailed Duck still present. Also at least 4 Goldeneye including 2 displaying males.  In Start Bay viewed from the central car park Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver and Black-throated Diver. Now 3 distant Velvet Scoters. Finally 3 Harbour Porpoises heading south together.

Just off Torness at 1530 today, 2 Red-throated Divers.

The Yellow Browed Warbler still present this afternoon plus Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest and 5 Chiffchaff.

Anybody wanting to see Goosander fairly easily, Staverton Bridge late afternoon (around 3.30 p.m) is reliable at present albeit that there has only been a single redhead the past 3 days (but the river has been subject to disturbance by kayakers yesterday and today). Last week there was usually 3 birds and i have had up to 8. Kingfisher is regular along this stretch of river together with up to 3 Dippers and 3-4 Little Grebes.

An early afternoon walk on the Tarka Trail produced 6 dabchick feeding together just upstream of the new(?) bridge, 4 goosander (1m,3f) off RGB and the long tailed duck by the sewage works plus most of the usual suspects.

A glorious morning on the heights enlivened by 47 Gannet & 4 Harbour Porpoise fishing off the Ham Stone, 11 Snipe, Lapwing, 218 Skylark, male Black Redstart in the Cove, Firecrest & Chiffchaff in Soar Mill Valley willows, 235 Linnet & 32 Yellowhammer.

Two birds still present in solar panel field but with regular commutes to other herds in the vicinity

In extremely foggy conditions. The 2 Firecrests were along Madeira Walk at the back of the cricket club. Also, the Little Grebe was still in the marina at midday, and nearby the female Black Redstart was on the roof of Leeward Court by Shelly Beach. Later on in the afternoon 3 Goldeneye were off West Lodge.

The highlights of yesterday afternoon's Stuart Lines cruise were the 2 Slavonian Grebes (off Cockwood and later off Starcross), 13 G C Grebes, at least 130 Pintail on the mud around the mouth of the Clyst, the Long-tailed Duck at Topsham ferry and a large flock (500+?) of Golden Plover roosting on the mud near Turf.

Two female Long Tailed Ducks just south of Yacht Club and 600ish metres out.

A new Yellow-browed Warbler heard yesterday evening and seen well this morning in trees just north of the astro turf pitches by the Torbay Leisure Centre.

Around the Lakes still the usual Yellow-browed Warbler around the 2nd lake also the Cetti's Warbler, Shoveler, 4 Little Grebe and 2 Water Rail.

Great views of the Yellow Browed Warbler through the freezing fog at Topsham Rec this Lunchtime.

1405 - 1445 

Female Kingfisher fishing  (2 successful attempts out of 3. 2nd attempt bird never entered water after a hover.)  

2 male and 1 redhead Goosander. 

Small flock of Long Tailed Tits and and Coal Tits foraging through.

The Xmas Robin was present again today at midday after a cold frosty foggy night. Icy patches on the Tarka trail earlier this morning.

12.00-14.30

From the track next to the railway line in cold conditions:  

60+ Brent Geese in flight heading towards the estuary mouth, 2 Barnacle Geese, 80+ Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 50+ Teal, 200+ Wigeon, 60+ Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 4 Shoveler, Pintail, 4 Mallard, 100+ Golden Plover, 3 Tufted Duck, 20+ Curlew, 40+ Black Tailed Godwit, Buzzard, female Marsh Harrier, Song Thrush, 20+ Robins, 10 Blackbirds, 3 Jackdaws, 2 Carrion Crows, 2 Ravens, 10 Cormorant, 2 Meadow Pipits, 5 Pied Wagtails, 4 Long Tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Cetti's Warbler, 3 Pheasants, 3 Grey Herons, 6 Woodpigeons and a Linnet.

Back home in Torquay, the male Blackcap still present and visiting the fat balls in my garden. 

The Siberian Chiffchaff still present in the Marsh with 2 collybita Chiffchaffs. 2 Cirl Buntings on seed this morning with 2 Reed Bunting in 2nd car park. 

The 8 Velvet Scoter were still viewable but over toward Goodrington.

A Yellow browed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs (no tristis) and single Goldcrest at Staverton Water Treatment works this afternoon.

Pleasant walk in the sunshine this morning - on the river 2 male and 3 female wigeon and on the mudflats a greenshank and 50+dunlin. 2 firecrests, a coo-ing stock dove and a mistle thrush in the trees above the river folly. 2 cattle egret in the fields with cattle along with a sprinkling of redwing, song thrush, blackbird, starling and pied wagtail.

 
Firecrest                                                  Cattle Egret

Male Snow Buntings still near the 8th green. Lots of dog walkers and when disturbed flies onto the pebble ridge.

Yellow-browed warbler still present, feeding in bushes around sewage works. Also present are chiffchaff, blackcap and goldcrest.

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at the Topsham recreation ground at around 11am this morning.  There were a surprising number of birds about, including a flock of Long-tailed Tits, quite a few Goldfinches, a couple of Redwings and a lone female Stonechat. On the river there was a Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye, with a Ringed Plover on the mud with the gulls and Redshanks, and a Kingfisher.

Desert Wheatear still present on Wednesday 28th

Still a Slavonian Grebe near Charleton Point and c 300 Golden Plover near Rowden Point.

2 Mediterranean Gulls on the rocks this afternoon (ad w and a 2nd w)

Late afternoon and not much to report other than 1st sighting of Redwings at Occombe this winter, counted approx 10 in all. Plus a small number of Goldfinches a Buzzard and a Roe Deer. And though it has been a mild December it appears that nature doesn't always see it the same way...

It took a while to find , but worth the effort!

15.25

The male Blackcap that has been visiting my suburban garden since 22nd December, produced some full (though muted) song for a period this afternoon. 

Despite being very obliging yesterday, it has been much more secretive today, preferring the deep cover of the laurel hedge. 

2 Cattle Egret showing well at the back of the fields as the cows were being fed

Today at Lower Tamar Lake.
2 Willow and 1 Marsh Tit, 32 Goosander 14m 18f, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 5 Snipe, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Drake Teal, 2 Cormorants, 1 Song Thrush, 11 Coot, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Spotted from a distance with hunched look of cattle egret.  In field with cattle.  Flew over head low later when bill and leg colour could be seen well. One other seen at distance not identified.

Yellow-browed Warbler again in the trees near the zip wire at 9.30 this morning

1 Great Grey Shrike showing well in the valley just south-west of Holwell Tor around midday.

1330 - 1445 on a rising tide: 

11 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, c40 Redshank, 1 Curlew,

2 Great Crested Grebe,  c30 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 

2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 1  Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 

1 Goldcrest. The Avocet  flock was across the border today!

Excellent views of two Water Rail on low tide mud at Goosemoor this afternoon, easily seen from one of the viewing screens on the boardwalk / cycle path.

Yellow Browed Warbler showing well at Topsham Rec also theFemale Long Tailed Duck 1 Grey Plover and 1 Water Rail,on Exminster Marsh 1 Kingfisher 1 Chiffchaff and the female type Marsh Harrier,and finally at Matford Marsh the American Wigeon in with a flock of Eurasian Wigeon of about 100 birds

Record shots from earlier today.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Plym Estuary & Saltram: highlight today was 2 Cattle Egrets with c8 Little Egrets among the cows in Saltram, Also - Jack Snipe 3, Snipe, Curlew 32, Wigeon 5, Redshank 135, Greenshank 3, Oystercatcher 7, Dunlin 54 and Goldcrest 3.   

Earlier, in Beaumont Park, a Yellow-browed Warbler (high in trees on the northern boundary of the park) and also 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, and a Nuthatch.

Not a bad day!

In addition to previous post,  looking at photos an additional Red Throated Diver just off the lifeguard station.

  
Red-throated Diver                                                                 Great Crested Grebe

26th December 2016 - Good visual sighting of Great White Egret as it flew from Arlington Lake to river below, then as it stood on the river bank.  

The Yellow-browed Warbler was again around the middle Lake this afternoon also, Cetti's Warbler, 4 collybita Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail, Kingfisher, 2 Little Grebe and 3 Gadwall.

Yesterday. Quick walk around Higher Ashton with my brother produced 1 GSW, 2 Nutchatch, 1 Treecreeper, Great, Blue & LT Tits, Robin, Blackbird and 4 Goldcrests.

This morning Dawlish Warren off sea wall - 15-20 GCGrebes, 2 GND, 2 Guillemots, Rock Pipit and around 10 Gannets plunge diving off of Red Rock.

A very cold, beautiful but quiet morning at Broadsands and Goodrington. Clennon was a little more fruitful. one male teal, one shoveler, Gadwall, twp pairs of bullfinches and one possible chiffchaff or a warbler, too fast to ID. 

Gadwall

Late post from 26th; adding to Perry's earlier post. Of note: 1 Great Northern Diver, c15 Great-Crested Grebes, 7 Little Grebes, 75+Brent Geese, 7 RB Mergansers, 60 Lapwing (overhead), c20 Snipe (no Jacks), 3 Greenshank etc.

50 at loddiswell near industrial estate.

Late post from 26th: 1 Black-necked Grebe very close offshore at the memorial car park late afternoon.

The Siberian Chiffchaff was agian in the back of the 1st car park with two collybita Chiffchaffs, 13 Cirl Buntings and a Reed Bunting on seed in the 2nd car park.

On the sea: 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Eider (looks like the fw male that has been around the mussel farm buoys has moved in close with the female)

The 8 Velvet Scoter could be seen over toward Goodrington

A lovely Boxing Day treat on a walk on Woodbury Common. A Dartford warbler flew low across a pebble track and into a gorse bush where it allowed a close approach. The first I have ever seen. Delighted.

Finally made it to Arlington Court Hide. 

  
Goldcrest                                                        Nuthatch                                                          Goldcrest

Grey Wagtail and 3 Chiffchaffs in the sewage works, 750+ Golden Plovers flying over fields west of Charleton Marsh.

Offshore 2 Great Northern Diver & 3 Red-throated Diver. Also 4+ Harbour Porpoise & one Common Dolphin. On the ley male Goldeneye & 82 Gadwall.

Quick trip after lunch produced 4 x Green parakeet and 4 x Pheasant (f) in addition to the usual corvids, sparrows etc.

Eds: The green parakeets are Ring-necked Parakeets.

Yellow-browed warbler around the sewage works

Walk along Brixham Breakwater by old fuel bunkering jetty 12 Purple Sandpiper and 3 Turnstone. On marine wave screen 3 Common Gull with some Black headed Gulls. Looking out towards Broadsands 1 great Northern Diver and Gannets diving, on the edge outer edge of mussel farm a group of Scoter. My son text me to say a male and a female Eider just off Goodrington beach. From Brixham breakwater looking towards Berry Head many seabirds seen. To far away to ID.

Boat trip Sunday 8th in Torbay still have places, call 07866202576 if interested. 

Goldcrest feeding in the manor gardens Exmouth this morning.

A Yellow-browed warbler was calling and seen in the trees in the playpark near the zip wire at 8:15. The Long-tailed duck and 2 Goldeneye were on the river. Adult Med gull yesterday.

Since I found myself in Exeter on my own I went birding instead. Saw 400 Common Scotor, Red Throated Diver & 2 GC Grebe on sea, 60 Chaffinch at STW, 40+ Skylark on fields & 2 Dipper at Otterton Mill. Nice day out. Merry Christmas all. 

What a wonderful start to Xmas Day to walk around the National Trust Arlington Estate, visit the hide & digiscope a Great White Egret on the lake before returning home to Christmas Dinner!

For a video of Long John Sanderling enjoying Christmas Eve on Westward Ho! beach, please follow this link: https://youtu.be/eG8MTZRjwxw

1 Great Norther Diver and 3 Razorbills close to shore on the East ( sheltered ) side of Hopes Nose this afternoon, plus good numbers of Gannets fishing between the point, the Orestone and Thatchers Rock.

Walking on a windswept beach at Westward Ho! this morning my daughters and I saw a one legged Sanderling. It was feeding well but only travelling at half speed! 

11am.  24th December 2016.

Single female Ring Ouzel spotted on ground, in old orchard, on approach road to Eggesford Garden Centre, Eggesford, Devon.

Christmas Eve morning walk started quietly but in all saw: a pair of Pied Wagtails, 20- 30 Goldfinches,, a pair of Greenfinches, a Dunnock, a pair of Green Woodpeckers, a Nuthatch, several good flocks of Blue Tits feeding through, 6/7 Great Tits, approx 6 Long Tailed Tits, 5 Goldcrest (2 sets of pairs), 6 Wrens, 8/9 Robins, Blackbirds in various parts of Occombe including 2 with dark coloured bills. Also heard a Bullfinch and viewed 3 Roe Deer.

just a little promotion of the RNLI

Saw the Desert Wheatear at Thurlestone today, even in the wind it was quite active catching any food blown up the beach while the Rock Pipit was working the shoreline

The reported Spotted Redshank showing well at Goosemoor from the viewing area, along with six Greenshank, twenty plus Redshank and a Little Egret.

RSPB Bowling Green Marsh alive with waders and ducks, feeding directly in front of the hide at times, hundreds of Black Tailed Godwits with a handful of Bar Tailed mixed in, good numbers of Wigeon and Redshank, two Snipe, five Curlew, thirty plus Shoveller duck, Lapwing, Dunlin, two Grey Plover, two Greylag Geese, thirteen Avocet, Starling and a single Greater Black Backed Gull to mention a few.

Female Bullfinch in the hedge, it was a good day for visiting BGM..

Lone drake wood duck in old mill leat near new co-op in centre of Bovey Tracey. 

Unusual to see one heading east over the house on Clovelly rd bideford at 09:15

A quick scan from Broadsands this afternoon revealed the 8 Velvet Scoters (distant), Eider, Black-necked Grebe, G N Diver, 12+ Fulmars, 20+ Gannets and a scattering of Razorbills.

After further consideration, the 'funny Wigeon' at Bowling Green the other day seems to be just that, not a hybrid!

At BGM just after the neap high tide, masses of Godwits as expected, but the Avocets didn't show at all.  The most notable things were a Coot for at least its second day and a Little Grebe, neither of which are common here. Snipe numbers up to at least 13.  On Goosemoor a w.pl Spotted Redshank with singles of Redshank and Greenshank in the same view (but not long enough for a picture together).

What a difference the sun makes

    
Curlew                                                    Greenshank                                           Spotted Redshank+Greenshank

27 Common Scoters at Downend this morning - 26 females + 1 male.

Lots of Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls, also the usual Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Coots, Moorhens. There was a male Kingfisher on the lake and on one of the feeders were three Willow Tit. But most exiting of all were the two Pochards seen from the hide.

Eds The 'willow tits' would almost certainly have been Marsh Tits - they are not always easy to separate! Willow Tits are very rare indeed in S Devon.

Sunny and calm at the Lower lake this morning.

50+Snipe flushed from the reedbeds near the hide, 15 Goosanders,  (6 males), 2 Grey Herons. Blue, Great and Coal Tits plus one Willow Tit on the feeders at the car park, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Coot, 5 Moorhens,  6+Robins  an apparent influx of Blackbirds with at least 12 seen between Thurdon and the hide, c.20 Mallard, 14 Black headed Gulls, 5 Chaffinches and 1 Dunnock.

Harvey Kendall.