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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Watched from 15:30 till 18:45

A good afternoon on the marsh , 10+ curlew sandpiper among 350+ dunlin, 4 juv ruff, 15+ ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper, 200+ redshank, 5 greenshank, 25+ lapwing, 3 knot, 8 avocet, 6+ bar tailed godwits among 400+ black tailed godwits, 5+ whimbrel, 40+ curlew., 1 green sandpiper,  1 juv garganey, 20+ pintail, 50+ wigeon, 300+ teal, a few shoveler and mallards, 14+ little egrets, 1 kestrel , 1 peregrine, 2 buzzards.

1 lesser black backed gull took a juv dunlin flying across the marsh before swallow wing it in one go.

10+ Whinchat, 5+ Stonechat and 4+ Wheatear mostly on the central fences of the racecourse this afternoon viewed from the cycle path.

Nearby on the Teign Estuary; 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 71 Curlew and a juvenile Med Gull.

Saw this on the lagoon at Seaton Marshes yesterday 13.9.16, my second in 10 years, the last one at Torrington. Took loads of video footage, some enclosed. Enjoy. PLF

Lunchtime visit to the hide. The limping Curlew Sandpiper was still present. Also 7 Avocet, 1 Ruff and 1 Common Sandpiper.

A long morning out on the open areas turned up: Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Snipe, 530 Herring Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 92 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 130 House Martin, 40 Skylark, 34 Yellow Wagtail, 11 Alba Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 29 Stonechat, 90 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and 400 Linnet.

Viewed 1330-1915hrs.

From the hide in the heavy rain downpour Wood Sandpiper, 4-Curlew Sandpipers (1 limping with light feather damage above left leg), Common Sandpiper, 12-Ringed Plover, 6-Knot, 12-Bar-tailed Godwits, Water Rail, Garganey, 10-Pintail, 2-Buzzards amongst the large numbers of other waders and ducks.

A possible sighting of a probable juvenile Bearded Tit that was seen at the base of  the reeds on the far side in similar place where they have been seen previously but it did not come out far enough to get full ID during the heavy rain downpour but with it's size, movement and long tail myself and Dave Stone was 90% it was.

From the viewing platform there appeared to be twice as many Dunlin coming out from the Clyst estuary that was seen on BGM c500 with a count of 8-Curlew Sandpipers. Osprey was fishing down near Starcross but a bit later an Osprey suddenly appeared over the end of riversmeet house seawall low down and caught a fish close-by but only managed some video as it was just leaving the water before heading towards Turf at 18:17hrs. Brilliant sight close-up.

Osprey with fish:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ArLS-3bFgA

Osprey with fish

Knot

Whilst unsuccessfully trying to catch a few late Swallows this evening, a female Marsh Harrier was investigating the reed-bed about 200 metres south of the reserve. There was a Water Rail in the reserve this morning.

Those who read the article “A Hobby Story” that appeared in Devon Birds Vol 6991) in April 2016 may be interested to read that this evening the Hobby has returned.

Just on 7pm while eating my evening meal I saw what I thought was a Kestrel flash past the kitchen window at low level, on stepping outside I realised that I was looking at a Hobby making low level passes across my garden and house field, the bird responded to my whistle and went into a series of amazing acrobatic manoeuvres.

As with last year’s return it was do I grab the camera or some food? Well food came first followed by the camera the poor light levels by that time were not conducive to quality photography.

After several minutes of display the bird drifted out of sight but was back again within 15 minutes again giving a thrilling aerial display, its mastery of the air was simply beyond remarkable, it then landed in a tree across the field about 70 yards away.

Around 7.45pm I realised that one of the food items that I had placed out for it had been taken, with that the bird made a low level pass over my head and soared above the field before going into another acrobatic routine. I placed another item of food out in the field on one of my falconry posts and the bird immediately began to dive at it, my wife then joined me and we spent several minutes watching the Hobby as it made high speed passes over the post, we gained the opinion that it was not really hungry but simply “playing”, it eventually came in and took the offered food item and by that time it was starting to get dark, a wonderful way to end the day……..

Two possibly three Ospreys between 1615-1710. Two together, one a Juv, circling over lower estuary, eventually drifting over/into Powderham. A possible 3rd, a Juv, sat in tree at Powderham Church ten minutes later. Same place as yesterday afternoon. 

60+ Swallows over Powderham & 11 Greenshank.

Back in Exeter, 150+ Swallows over the house on western slope. Clearly birds are on the move. 

16.30

Single adult Lesser Black Backed Gull on the rooftops of Brixham College.  A scarce sighting at a site normally dominated by Herring Gulls and Great Black Backed Gulls.  10+ Jackdaws too.   

There was much more activity today, Mid morning after the rain had stopped a walk down the valley revealed 4 Skylark heading east, 22 Robin, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat. 14 Wheatear at Southdown Farm 

Viewed 1300-1930hrs.

From the hide 3-Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3-Ringed Plovers, 2-Yellow Wagtails, Garganey, Avocet, 12-Pintail amongst good numbers of other waders and ducks.

From the viewing platform 2-Knot, 2-Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper left of platform with another flying out, Kingfisher on scaffolding to riversmeet house, the 2-Yellow Wagtails amongst the cattle seen earlier and 3-Osprey with 2 catching fish heading towards Powderham and one dropping into trees behind the cycle bridge out of view and lots of Swallows over the fields. A quick look at the goatwalk was able to relocate the Osprey in old tree between cycle bridge and Powderham Church.

Another look at the viewing platform with Gary saw Sparrowhawk was almost on the tail of one of the Yellow Wagtails before it managed to escape and both flying off over the platform. Another 3-Ospreys with 2 catching fish and heading off high towards Powerham and Haldon with the other flying high over marine camp and out of site.

Yellow Wagtail                                                        Common Sandpiper

Kingfisher

One, possibly two juv Ospreys on Exe this afternoon between 1635-1715. First fishing off Lympstone & lower down estuary, until it flew over and behind trees at Powderham Castle at 1705. At 1715 the same or another sat in tree at Powderham Church. 

11 DB members attended the morning fieldtrip although a strong southerly wind kept birds to a minimum.  3 Wheatear, c 50 Linnet, a gathering of Herring Gulls,  Lesser and Great black-backed Gulls and 2 Hobby flying south were the sum total of interest.   Even common species were absent. Just goes to show its all in the weather but thanks to Geoff Green for leading us.

Seawatch with Dave Holloway this morning 06.45-0815: 20 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua,1 Little Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 500+ Kittiwake (mostly lingering)2 Common Scoter, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 2 Grey Wagtails and 1 Yellow Wagtail. 

From the hide this lunchtime, the highlights were 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Avocet and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Sea Watching with Mike Langman this morning. Wont duplicate his report but stayed a while after he left: 12 more Balearic Shearwaters; 1 more Manx Shearwater; 1 more Bonxie; a group of 7 more dark Arctic Skuas shadowing Kittiwakes.

Osprey on the Taw this morning at 09.00 , approx 1/4 mile up river from the mouth of the Caen , on a roost in front of Chivenor .

Viewed 0930-1630 hrs from Exton railway station.

Watched Osprey drop into trees behind Powderham Church before the Torbay Express steam train went down towards Starcross. Another 3 Osprey's catch fish at lower end of estuary before heading towards Starcross/Haldon. Osprey being pursued by 5 gulls close-by the cruise boat travelling up river. Osprey catch fish near Powderham corner and flying up towards Turf. Another 3 Osprey's catch fish near Riversmeet House with the last one flying over Turf Hotel possibly the same one Steve saw on his post. Video footage here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdTarq6exOo

Osprey carrying fish                                                         Osprey diving for fish

A midday walk from Crow point today provided plenty of birds,  egrets, kingfisher, a peregrine feeding on the shoreline by the fisherman's Hut,the osprey as mentioned before, egrets,  herons, goldfinches in large numbers black headed gull in winter plumage also bar tailed godwit in small flocks around a reserve type area by the white house. I did get photos.  Also met some very nice and helpful people. Who have also posted here.

A few more photos from this mornings boat trip. Also had a large Grey Seal close in in front of the astra zeneca car park. 

Purple Sandpiper                                                        Kittiwake

Common Dolphin

This mornings trip was notable mainly for the very large number of kittiwakes and a close encounter with a pod of common dolphins, also a very obliging bonxie for the photographers. Examination of photos of the tern noted by Nigel shows that it was a juvenile common tern.

Kittiwakes, a few of the big flock.                                                                                     Bonxie

Common dolphins, mother with small calf

Two Whinchats and 2 Chiffchaffs. Also, on the high tide, 20 Little Egrets, 21 Curlews, 4 Oystercatchers, and 12 Grey Herons.

Watched from 11:15 till 15:15

from the hide at bowling green marsh to start with , 1 juv curlew sandpiper in with 40+ dunlin, 3 ringed plover , 2 bar tailed godwit, 700+ black tailed godwits included a new arrival of juveniles, 1 greenshank, 200+ redshank, 15+ lapwing, 16+ pintail, 40+ wigeon , 300+ teal, 1 common sandpiper, 18+ little egrets.

then watched from the goatwalk 14:25 till 15:15

3 Ospreys , the first flew from starcross eventually catching a fish then flew over Powderham , 1 flew over the west side of the estuary from Powderham before heading towards  Haldon , another flew from lympstone around by turf before heading back down the estuary. Only a brief watch today had reports of at least 3 more Ospreys from the goatwalk before 1 got there this afternoon so still plenty around the estuary.

Two Ospreys between 1500-1615. The first flew into the trees at Powderham Estate, the second was high over Turf Hotel, then banked across estuary to be finally watched flying over Clyst. 

From velator went right hand path.Rail by first large drain.Femail Marsh Harrier,peregrine on beach,Osprey on usual post.Plenty of waders and godwits' from a distance in flight. Large flock of goldfinch on way back.Earlier at velator a swan flew into a power line and it was broken when we arrived,didn't see the swan.

Today we ran two trips out of Brixham. This mornings trip the sea nice and calm, off Berry Head a large flock of Kittiwake, estimated 600 +, not seen these numbers for many years, Artic Skua, 2 Great Skua, Tern sp, 4 Balearic Shearwater, Guillemots, Fulmar, Gannets, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. Brixham Breakwater also gave us 4 Purple Sandpiper. 12 Common Dolphin visited the boat with two very young ones.

The second trip this afternoon with the Plymouth group proved to be rough and not that productive for birds. Many more Gannets and Great Black-backed Gulls than the morning trip and a lot of searching gave us 200+ Kittiwake and at the last moment 2 Balearic Shearwater. 4 Purple Sandpiper was a good start to the trip but the sea state made things difficult.

These trips are the last this year, make sure you book early for next year starting mid July!!

Three Osprey this evening watch two catch fish and fly to tree to eat there catch.

07:00-13:00. Soar Mill Cove/Warren/Starehole/East Soar.

Mainly bright, still first thing but a moderate southerly by late morning. The following counts are just for the Warren and Soar Mill Cove so not duplicating Rob's sightings.

Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, 12 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 21 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher. Additional to Rob's at East Soar were 5 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat.

Early to mid-morming southerly movement across the airfield of 320 Swallow & 50+ House Martin. Other migrants: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 9 Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat in Starehole Valley, 3 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff & 4 Spotted Flycatcher. Also: 3 Kestrel, 18 Cirl Bunting, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady & 2 Roe Deer.

Todays osprey sightings at Lopwell, then flew over to Bere Ferrers where for the first time I saw it dive with a splash into the river, but alas no fish. You would have had such a great view of this on the waterfront at Bere Ferrers.

Two distant Ospreys up and over Lopwell dam this mornig.

West Charleton Marsh/Wareham Point, mid-pm, of note: 17 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, c80 Curlew, c75 Oystercatchers, 4 Sandwich Terns (2 ad and 2 juvs), 7 Med. Gulls and 5 Whinchats. 

Thanks for that, although I don't think it was Marks bird. This was amongst 4 birds, shame I couldn't get them together to show the different size, as it was a  bigger bird. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered you.

Eds: If you check pattern of median coverts, pale edges in greater coverts, tertials, slightly loose secondary under tertials, spot on primary covert, slight flick- up on pale lores, slightly grey smudge in supercilium behind the eye and pale feather spot just above the bill all of these correspond to Marks bird making it the same individual.

Osprey Warleigh point.

Ospreys

A good session with Osprey, Juv Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, about 400 Canada Geese, 12 Greylay, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sand, Wheatear, Swallows  and all the estuary regulars Also a Juv BT Godwit I think? 

Saw 3 Ospreys in the space of half an hour just off Turf Lock mid day today.

Amongst 4 Wheatears 1 seemed a lot bigger? Its not a Greenland race bird is it?  Any experts out there??

  
One of 3 Ospreys                                                            Wheatear, Greenland?? not sure

Eds: not very orange, dark, upright or big billed for a Greenland Wheatear.  It is the same bird M Darlaston photographed check plumage details on Thursdays post which looks even less 'Greenland' Whetear like in colour. 

A morning visit timed to start just after the rain, produced very few migrants. However managed - Hobby,  3+ Tree Pipits, Yellow Wagtail, Turnstone, 7 Chiffchaffs, 6+ Whitethroats, Blackcap and Yellow Wagtail.

5 Whinchat, 3 Redstart, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Green Woodpecker and 200+ Sand Martin this afternoon

Seawatch 06.45- 09.00hrs after a very foggy start! 1 Sooty, 12 Balearic & 10 Manx Shearwater, 1 juv Arctic Tern , 2 Common Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Scoter, 368 Gannets, 9 Kittiwake & 22 Fulmar.

Grounded migrants included 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Flycatcher,  1 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Blackcap mostly up around the farm.

Osprey fishing off Bassett Ridge 11.15, first year Manx Shearwater off the quay on water midday. Not looking unhealthy but definitely a little lost.

0700-0830

12 Manx

1 Balearic Shearwater

2 Arctic skua (pale + dark)

1 Bonxie

23 Common Scoter (19 + 10 + 4)

plus 3 schools of Harbour Porpoise

Watched from 09:45 till  15:30

A wet and windy look around the marsh this morning was another good day from the hide first produced 

6+ juv curlew sandpiper among 250+ dunlin, 3 ringed plover, 600+ black tailed godwits, 6+ juv bar tailed godwits, 180+ redshank , 12+ lapwing, 1 common sandpiper, 4+ whimbrel, 60+ curlew, 450+ teal, 100+ wigeon, 8+ pintail, 3 Mediterranean gulls( 2 adult, 1 2nd winter) among 600+ black headed gulls.

from the viewing platform 12:30 till 15:30

the continued good showing of Ospreys continued with at least 8+ seen most successful in catching a fish before heading of to roost up, from other reports received looks like we missed at least another 2 birds ( 1 before we got to the viewing platform and another that was seen from exton over turf which we couldn't see) , also received another report of 3 osprey of the goatwalk at 16:50, hard to say how many are around the exe at the moment but must be at least 10+ and probably more it is a great sight to see multiple birds fishing the estuary this week has been amazing and the best time has been on the dropping tide.

09-09-16 On the way from Lopwell Dam, came across 3 Red-legged Partridges on the road, they weren't afraid and was able to get quite a few photo's

Female Marsh harrier over river near Topsham. 

1 juvenile Sabine's Gull, 8 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 9 Arctic Skuas and 1 Great Skua, despite seemingly less than favourable conditions for seawatching! Nothing in the way of migrants on the headland. 

Three (possibly four) immature ospreys South West of Turf Hotel at 10.30 am. Saw two catch small fish and fly offf  North towards Haldon.

Later, 11.00 am - no sign of them. 

Cloud after rain with a brisk WSW wind.

1 Osprey quite low over the Lower Lake heading towards the Upper Lake.

2 Ravens..

Also: 18 Mallard,4 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan,3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 3 Grey Herons,Coal, Great and Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatch,1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow,2 Wrens, a few Robins and Chaffinches, good numbers of Black headed and Herring Gulls as well as corvids all put up by the Osprey with an uproar of alarm calls.

Harvey Kendall.. 

Two Ospreys this evening on the Dart Estuary one flew up Bowcombe Creek the other (seen at the same time) drifted off toward Galmpton.

Watched from Powderham Corner most of the falling tide, saw a minimum of seven Ospreys (3 ads, 4 juvs) possibly more! At least five on view at one time. Two of the adults took fish and headed over towards the Haldon ridge (in the past we used to see Ospreys sometimes carrying fish passing over the ridge!). Also a couple of Wheatears.

Viewed over the morning high-tide.

From the hide 5-Curlew Sandpipers,  3-Spotted Redshank, 3-Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean Gull, 6-Pintail amongst the usual large numbers of waders and ducks. Osprey was over the marsh which all the birds up.

From the viewing platform on the dropping tide with Gary at least 6-Osprey's still fishing around the Exe, 2-Common Sandpipers, Kingfisher and Great Spotted Woodpecker. From the goatwalk Osprey on the usual tripod post middle of estuary towards Turf with 3 drifting high eastwards over marine camp mid afternoon. Male Tufted Duck on BGM on walk back to car.

Osprey

Pictures take Wednesday 7th September

Meadow Pipit                                                                        Glossy Ibis

Three Brent on the high tide, seal,10 Wheatear,7Larks flocks of goldfinch,linnets and starlings,small waders etc again on the Northern edge.

Distant record shots of the Black Stork this morning at Roadford above the viaduct.

At 11.30 it took off, circled and disappeared high over the tall conifers heading south.

record shots by Brian Craven.

Walking along the cycle track just past Lympstone marine camp, was very lucky to spot an Osprey hunting - swooped into the water, huge splash and seemed to drag a fish into the air. It was on the opposite side of the estuary to me, near the Turf Hotel - so some distance, and I was observing through low power binoculars. It was accompanied by two other birds, but at that distance it was hard to see if they were other osprey or mobbing gulls - probably the latter.

1 in tree from train along the river teign at 10:43