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.

14 med gulls this evening,6ad,6ss,2fs 17:45-18:30

Mid-day c25 Redwing still around the trees in the middle of King George V Playing Fields Countess Wear which were there also on Saturday. 2 Dippers seen on the Northbrook stream and group of 7 Goldcrest moving along the hedgerow with other tits and finches at Ludwell Valley off Topsham Road.

Dipper:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGItFb01lPA

Redwing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UccOWscPIBM

Dipper at Ludwell Valley

Redwing at King George Playing Fields

sunday March 6

black brant with 500 Brent's in fields south of Turf

Also cattle egret with 2 little egrets around cattle feeder in field west of railway line

also spotted redshank and Slavonian grebe at Turf

At Seaton Marsh the Green-winged Teal was seen at the far north end of the marsh pool behind the sewage treatment works looking towards BHM at 1400hrs onwards but mostly disappearing within the long grass. The long staying Glossy Ibis was showing really close in the marsh pools looking south towards Seaton from the hide.

At Black Hole Marsh 2 Kestrels showed continously perched on the overhead cables and 2 Water Rails were very close and noisey fighting in the ditch under the overhanging hedge behind the viewing area at the entrance leading to the tower hide.

GWTeal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROqG6-O-OMo

G-Ibis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTpntCQI7Bk

W-Rail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rZienvkj5E

Kestrel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB_NnYkQRl4

Green-winged Teal at Seaton Marsh

Glossy Ibis st Seaton Marsh

Kestrel at Black Hole Marsh

At Brixham Harbour today 06-03-16 I caught this Crow trying to get a tail feather from this shag, the shag seemed not to bother to much & the Crow did not manage to get any feathers.

A morning walk from Shipley Bridge towards the Avon dam as far as the old pump house, the moors are still in the grip of winter despite several lots of frog spawn and not overly abundant with bird life, that said two Buzzards soaring, numerous displaying and rolling Ravens, Jay, Crow, Magpie, numerous Robins, Long Tailed Tits, a single Goldcrest, two Kestrel and Dipper sightings which I suspect may well have been the same birds.

At Yalland farm a flock of around 20 plus Redwings and once back in South Brent a low flying flock of over 100 birds headed easterly possibly heeding the call of nature and beginning to migrate.

Around the garden feeders a male Reed Bunting and at least five Siskin in and out for most of the day, Raven, Buzzard and three Stock Dove overhead.

Just after 6.15pm Dave Pakes rang me to say he was watching a Barn owl near Marley Head just as I arrived the bird lifted from a roadside gate post and flew off across fields it did not strike me as being in very good health, no doubt struggling to feed in this up and down weather.

Having never visited this reserve beforehand, I would highly recommend it. There has obviously been significant investment in the infrastructure and creation of a variety of habitats. The wetlands have started to attract a variety of wetland birds, with the ponds and scrapes looking really good for the future. Had 42 species this morning, including Chiffchaff, Glossy Ibis, and adult male Green-winged Teal in the southern section of the reserve, by the pond behind the sewage Works. Barn Owls are apprently regularly seen and roost in the hides!

Glossy Ibis- Seaton Marshes

Green-winged Teal-distant view

I saw the adult Bonaparte's Gull briefly off Exmouth at the start of today's Stuart Lines Cruise, but couldn't find it later. The highlights were the Black Brant on the river near Turf, at least 4 Pale-bellied Brents off Exmouth, and Spotted Redshank and Slavonian Grebe off Powderham. Still good numbers of Avocets, Grey Plover, Dunlin and both godwits at the top end of the estuary, plus about 15 Knot. Also at least 10 Great Crested Grebes, c20 Shags, c40 Mergansers and a Grey Seal joined the resident Harbour Seal on Bull Hill sandbank.

The 'resident' Slavonian Grebe, today off Powderham

Spotted Redshank, also off Powderham

Grey and (resident) Harbour (Common) Seal

Yellow Browed Warbler - as per yesterdays post by Will Salmon (thanks) Yellow Browed Warbler seen in same place - St James School. by the disabled parking bays near the sports hall. Seen from 12.45 - 1.45 moving fleetingly up and down the hedgerow senn 4 times in 1 hour.

Walk around the Tamar Lakes on Saturday - very cold wind made the water very choppy & the water bird sheltering at the margins on both lakes. Good numbers of Gooseanders (25+) & Great Crested Grebes (16). No birds at all in front of the hide on the Upper Lake but lots of Tits, (Blue, Coal, Great & Marsh), Chaffinches, Dunnocks & Reed Buntings on the feeders alongside the hide on the Lower Lake. Also lovely views of a Jay & a Snipe from the same hide.

Marsh Tit

Jay

Snipe

Late post for yesterday, 5th March. Kingsbridge Estuary at Wareham Point, of note: 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 140 Brent Geese, 3 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel (!), 1 singing Cirl Bunting etc; plus ca 20 Common Snipe at West Charleton Marsh and 6 Chiffchaffs at the sewage works.

Wickedly cold in the strong winds around the Broadsands and Brixham area this morning, Broadsands gave a Carrion Crow trying to break into a dead Black Headed Gull on the beach, the rough seas spoilt any realistic sea watch.

The Brixham multi story car park gave a single Goldcrest.

The winds must have at gale force on Berry Head but views of the cliffs from the hide gave good number of Guillemots and a handful of Fulmar one pair appeared to be feeding a single chick.

Back home in South Brent the sun was out and no wind to speak of, with very clear skies the birds were flocking to the garden feeders the 29 species recorded included a female Siskin, male Reed Bunting (both making regular visits) a BTO ringed Blue Tit the last three numbers on its ring being 697, two Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, several Pied Wagtails, Rook, Jay, Raven, two Wren, two Long Tailed Tits, Sparrow Hawk, two Buzzards, 58 Jackdaw and a 40+ flock of Starling passed over head..

Three Jack Snipe, 9 Snipe, a drake Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe, 4 Stock Doves, Green Woodpecker, Pergerine (juv female) and (the) leucistic Magpie.

Good to see everyone out today. 

Last night a good candidate for a sinensis Cormorant (adult).

Yellow-browed Warbler again around the car park at St James School late morning & early afternoon. Seems to favour the bushes opposite the disabled parking bays next to the sports hall.

A pleasant walk today with Andy Leat from Chivenor to Barnstaple produced 10 goosander, a flock of circa 50 sanderling then 2 almost certain curlew sandpiper, one of which stood chest deep in the water (does that help I.D. it). They were directly across from the garden centre. Also had my first look at the Chivenor white breasted robin. Bizarre!

Quite a pleasant morning at the lake today, the numbers of Goosander are starting to drop, the best count this year was 29, last year we had 45. 1m Gadwall, 17 Goosander, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 G.C.Grebe, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Cormorant,5 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Nuthatch, 5 Marsh Tit, 2 Willow Tit, 2m Reed Bunting, 1 Snipe, 2 Greenfinch.

As we wait for the much anticipated first Wheatears and Sand Martins to arrive, I can recommend sitting down with a cup of tea and having a read of this inspiring report written by Dawlish Warren patch birder Lee Collins: http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/2015%20Dawlish%20Warren%20ring%20report.pdf

There are many dedicated bird ringers out there, but it's refreshing to see such a dedicated ring reader whose efforts are adding invaluable data to the BTO database about bird movement and migration.

Just to show how East Devon Branch is never put off by bad weather forecast.  New Branch Chairman Geoff Green (nearest on left) battles through snow at Postbridge and later leads the way at Steps Bridge to find Goosander.

Viewed over the afternoon high-tide good numbers of the usual numbers of Black & Bar-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Snipe, Avocets, Curlew, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Water Rail with a Brambling and Nuthatch around the garden feeders amongst the other finches and tits. From the viewing platform the Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Red Breasted Mergansers and another Water Rail in field along the path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHsRDA_7Jq0

Brambling

Long-tailed Tit

Spotted Redshank

9 ringneck parakeets and 2 going in out of nest site again.

2 Gt Northern Divers, 1 Gt - crested Grebe, c.09:30; at least 4 Cirl Buntings (3m, 1f) in field adjacent to footpath in far LH corner of rear car park + 1 Chiffchaff feeding & singing in same area, c.10:00 - 11:30; 1f Sparrowhawk over same field.

Now for the report that most of you may find hard to believe: Hobby  flying inland over the back of same field c.11:00! Definitely not a Kestrel; showed black cap & moustache; too small, too slim; too long in the wing & too dark on upper parts; distinct lenghtways striations on breast. (Believe me I'm as suprised as you - used to watch hobbies in New Forest and seldom had first individuals before mid to late April.)

Last but not least: 1 Firecrest in reedy tree divide between main car park & back of huts, c.13:00.

A chilly walk around Burrator reservoir this afternoon dodging the hail and sleet showers and the ususal wildfowl present on the water - a male and 2 female goosander, mallards, 2 cormorants, Canada geese, 4 Muscovy duck and a white farmyard goose - but a complete surprise were a pair of scaup busily diving - distant views and a couple of dodgy cropped and zoomed photos attached.

In the woods the usual species - siskins, nuthatch, tits, robins, a buzzard, 2 jays and a roe deer.

Male Scaup

Female Scaup

12 members of DB (East Devon Branch) attended the fieldtrip to Postrbridge.  We had only gone up river a few hundred yards when a sudden blizzard caused us to retreat but not before we had seen Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch and a colony of House Sparrow.  We decided to move to the shelter of Bellever forest and were rewarded with warm sun and a blue sky and sightings of Siskin, Treecreeper and Bullfinch. A Green Woodpecker was heard and a second at Postbridge when we returned for lunch where c22 Fieldfare were on the move plus c10 Redwing.

After lunch the remainder of the group headed back towards Exeter and five of us stopped off at Steps Bridge to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  We soon heard one calling several hundred yards into Dunsford Woods plus a Green Woodpecker.  A Marsh Tit was found together with several Long Tailed Tit.   I decided I was getting fatigued (having finished two months of radiotherapy the previous week) and said goodbye to the others. 300 yards before the bridge I heard a Lesser spotted Woodpecker calling from alders on the far bank.  15 minutes later it revealed itself and flew across the river, long enough for me to see the red crown of a male.  (This was the same clump of trees we had the species last year).  A great day out made memorable by the snow showers and familiar company. 

Very few migrants just 200 Golden Plover inc. several in summer plumage and 11 Meadow Pipit. No hoped for Wheatear!!

Seen calling in tree in Inverdeen Road Sunday 30th Feb, kept calling as the Ringnecked Parakeet's flew over going to roost

The juv Glaucous Gull first found last week, again on the River Plym late afternoon, at the bend of the river at the north end and viewable from the layby. Still there till 4.10pm at least. 

Highlights were 2 Slavonian Grebes - seen very close in at Cockwood, 14 Great Crested Grebes - 12 offshore, 300+ Brent Geese, 22 Red-breasted Mergansers, 14 Shags, 20 Sanderling, 1 Knot, 60 Turnstones & Kingfisher off Cockwood. Grey Seal hauled out on sandbank.

Still dipped on the Bonaparte's Gull!

Saw one today got this shot of the bird herd more calling but did not see them Ford park Plymouth.

Today two female Black redstarts,one male Black redstart,and one Ringed necked parot..

One Spoonbill this morning flying towards and then over the scrape, but not seen to land. Struggling in the very windy conditions.

Three Tufted Duck and two Pochard on the pond.

1 Woodcock, Hembury Woods, late afternoon.

A good start to March with a close encounter with a Barn owl near South Brent, close enough to see that it was an un ringed female.

Around and over the garden 30 species including one Lesser and two Great Black Back Gulls, three Siskin, male Bullfinch, Raven, Wren, 35 Chaffinch and 13 Starling.

Almost continuous movement of Redwing flocks once the rain had stopped, initial count of 28 followed by 67, 40+, 29 and late afternoon a counted 84 birds.

Female Blackbird collecting nesting material, pair of Great Tits checking out a nest box

1 adult Spoonbill on freshwater scrape late aft.

I saw 3 redshanks along the newly landscaped flood relief channel further downriver from the quay - nice to see them :)

5 Raven today flying back and forth over the village. Marsh tit on feeders as well as Great, Blue, Coal and LTT. Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch they are now scarce in the area. Great spotted woodpecker and Nuthatch as well as Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird. Sparrow Hawk and Buzzard over. Song Thrush are now scarce and Blackbird numbers reduced. On Newton Creek at half tide Curlew , Redshank and Shag.

Killing a couple of hours at Slapton with my wife, whilst her car was serviced, we were treated to my best views ever of a female marsh harrier. Seen flying over the reedbed at Torcross before alighting in the reedbed about 40m away. Remained static there from 11.30 - 1200, giving superb views, before being forced further into the reeds and out of view by the proximity of a pair of swans.