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.

A flock of 20 Redwing on Godborough this morning. Seen during the weekly work party. Plenty of holly, spindle and hawthorn berries on the reserve for them.

This lunchtime the now semi-regular juv/fem? Marsh Harrier put up two Snipe whilst quartering the reedbed at Goosemoor.  On the rising tide off the Goatwalk the Avocet count was at least 196.

An impressive hour of wood pigeon movement over the Devon hotel in matford Exeter this morning between 07:25 and 08:25 whilst working witnessed a movement that consisted of 28500+ birds moving west with lines of birds stretching from the centre of Exeter out to the Devon hotel and of towards exminster largest group was 8500+ with lots of groups of 500+, at least 150+ stock doves was also interesting also my first redpolls for work when 2 birds dropped in by my office and to cap a good hour a Firecrest moved through with local goldcrests group.

later after work at matford park and ride another Firecrest was very vocal whilst waiting for the bus 

4 field fares in hedgerow behind my garden on Clovelly road bideford just missing out on a tick at 08:00.Lunchtime at westward Ho! Saw 1 red breasted merganser & 2 little egrets heading west

2 suspect Snow Geese with 200+ Canada Geese, these have been reported on Maer earlier in October, if I am around the lake tomorrow I'll try and take some photo's if they are still there,

Eds: possibly the hybrid birds that have been around for several years mostly in N Devon?

Watching the bird feeders at 7.50am and amazed to see a Firecrest appear flitting around in the hawthorne hedge, lovely white stripe over eye. A garden first but didn't hang around for me to get camera!

South Milton Ley this afternoon. Walked past the new extended ditch ( a pond really!) , which looks as though it will have real potential as it matures, towards South Milton. A very mobile Yellow Browed Warbler flitting through the trees was the highlight, 2 Goldcrest nearby. A male Reed Bunting at the head of the "pond". Lots of blackbirds - 20+, feeding on the well berried hawthorn hedge. Plenty of blue & great tits around. 12 Goldfinch. Only saw 3 Chiffchaff by the STW. Later South Huish Marsh was alive with Canada Geese. I counted 421 + 2 White Geese, but Mike P tells me there were even more in the morning! Not much else on show, a few teal and 1 Cattle Egret with 3 Little Egret

3 Ring Ouzel showing in hedgerow of  'top field' nearest to the car park this AM.  Also another possible 3 in Hawthorn trees at south end but these flew off and last seen over Saddle Tor.  Several Redwing and at least 8 Fieldfare also present. 

This was my first visit to this reserve and I walked around the perimeter using the way marked path which is very wet in places, particularly the mire!  For those not familiar with this Devon Wildlife Trust reserve.... park at Saddle Tor car park on right of road from Hay Tor to Widicombe on B3387 at map ref: SX748761 and head downhill in direction of Hound Tor.   To find the site using the grid reference go to:

https://gridreferencefinder.com

Foggintor Quarry 10.30.  A great surprise while leading a walking group to see a pair of Ring Ouzel, among the granite spoil heaps.

One Hawfinch flew over my garden in Topsham at 07:20 today, heading west across the river Exe.

A Mistle Thrush was in my garden this morning - perhaps trying to take ownership of the huge Holly tree just over the fence. It was being given a really hard time by a bunch of Jackdaws.

Meanwhile down at the reserve, good numbers of Goldfinch feeding on the Alder cones and a few Siskins heard too. Both Female and Male Sparrowhawks seen hunting in and around the reserve.

So as soon as I say they seem to have gone, 5 Black-tailed Godwits again by the scrape this morning.

At Moorwell Pond this morning, 20+ Goldcrests ( 12 ringed ) 5 Chiffchaffs ( 3 ringed ) 1 Firecrest and 2 Blackcaps. 4 Swallows hawking insects over the pond. Several Speckled  Woods' and plenty of Red Admirals..

Common Chiffchaff.

Modest vis mig early morning - c225 Jackdaws, c600 Wood Pigeons, 20 Stock Doves, Brambling, 4 Siskins, and 70 Starlings over. Also 7 Goldcrests around.

No Sign on a perfectly flat sea of the Surf Scoter but some other good returning wintering seabirds: 1 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Eider, 13 Common Scoter, 6 Great Crested Grebes and 1 full summer plumaged Great Northern Diver.

2-3 Firecrest right up at the back of the marsh by the road.

flushed 2 (common?) sandpipers in separate areas of moorland in this area yesterday.

Between 7 and 8am this morning over 6000 Wood pigeons heading generally west towards Plymouth and out towards the South Hams coast line, the largest of the flocks counted at 600 and 700 birds, at times the wing beat of the passing flocks could be heard clearly.

Walking to Watersmeet produced c.50 Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries over The Cleeves and 5 Dippers in and around Lynmouth.

Having only seen the very occasional report of one, two or three Avocets on the Exe over the past few weeks it would appear as though we were still awaiting their arrival.  Well they're here now.  I counted 141 from the Goatwalk, over on the Exminster bank on the lunchtime high tide. (I did count 35 on 6th October, but thought that they have moved on elsewhere). 

Ringing again today, among 34 ringed: 3 Redwings, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, and at last a Firecrest!

Looks like all the Godwits have moved on.

Lower Tamar Lake.
10 Great Crested Grebe, c300 Canada Geese, 6 Wigeon, 8 Moorhen, c32 Coot, 3f Shoveler, 4 Bullfinch, c30 Mallard, 3 Coal Tit, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Robin.

Upper Tamar Lake.
 24 Fieldfare,  3 Grey Heron, c30 Black-headed Gull, 2 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 2 Dunnock, 1m Stonechat, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Wren, 1 Marsh Tit, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Robin, 1 Bullfinch.

Around the car parks and marsh today, 3 siskins and a redpoll with goldfinches in the alders along the ditch; goldcrests, wren, great spotted woodpecker & usual common birds. A flock of 2-300 starlings were at the top of the stubble field, and flocks of woodpigeon totalling around 150 over. 2 buzzards, 1 sparrowhawk overhead.

Redpoll

1in private garden today lustleigh nr mortonhampstead.

A big movement of Wood Pigeons with c43k (mainly east), the vast majority between 07.00 - 09.30. Other vis mig included 2 Hawfinches, 24 Chaffinches, c70 Goldfinches & 95 Stock Doves all east, plus a late House Martin, 32 Fieldfares, Brambling, 6+ Siskins and 19 Golden Plovers.

Also - still 2 Firecrests, 10 Goldcrests, Chiffchaff, 4 Bullfinches, 4 Redwings, Grey Wagtail and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

1m Common Scoter at Downend am. 2 fm Goosanders on the Taw Estuary late pm.

Late morning on 28 October a Siberian Chiffchaff in tall bushes just to the west of the stone barn below East Soar farm and about 100m north of the dipping pond. 

4 ring ouzels together in one walled field. Another further off. c. 40 Fieldfare, 1 redpoll and a briefly calling tawney owl.

1 Glossy Ibis , 1 Green Sandpiper , 6 Greenshanks & 1 Red-Breasted Merganser ( female / redhead )

To add to earlier post: 9 Brent Geese NW over airfield - very unusual here!

At least 12 Firecrests;probably several more in the thick cover. ( 8 caught and  ringed ) and 15+ Goldcrests ( 6 caught and ringed )  Otherwise very quiet.

It's. Yr. male

A morning on the heights watching vis mig from 0730 to 1200: 21,500 Woodpigeons moving east, 272 Stock Doves moving east, 2 Dunlin in with woodpigeons, Snipe, 350 Skylark on/around airfield, 15 Fieldfare, Redwing, 40 Meadow Pipit, 200 Starling & 40 Jackdaw north.

Non-avian: 31 Red Admirals

I don't know whether anyone will want to read this but...

I had spent an hour (in company of Stan Davies) looking at the Chaffinch flocks for Brambling but without success. Returning to the car park to the west of the castle I heard Bullfinch and then found 1 Brambling, 3 Stonechat and a few others. 

A woman walking a Cocker Spaniel approached me having walked up the hill from Woodbury Wood (an area I don't know). The dog was carrying a dead bird which attracted my attention and the woman said she was not sure if her dog (Molly) had caught it or whether it was already dead. The bird was about the size of a Moorhen or smaller, brown with barring on what was left of the feathers.  The legs were of a water bird, long yellowish- green as were the large feet.  I only got a quick look at the head before the dog chewed and swallowed it and ran off with the remains!  The bill was an orange- red, short and Crake like. 

Having returned home and looked at the books Spotted Crake is the only bird that matches the remains.  Sorry no photo or further evidence.

Very quiet, no vis mig. Waited around the farm for Hawfinch but nothing, did see Fieldfare, 10 Redwings, 3 Bramblings, 5 Lesser Redpolls and 3 Reed Buntings.

An estimated 3500 Wood pigeons counted this morning from home at South Brent, mostly between 7am and 8am, the initial flocks were very low and gave the impression of only recently having  taken to the wing and I suspect that they had roosted locally over night.

A few of the flocks headed towards the moors but the vast majority were headed for the direction of the South Hams coast, one low flying flock attracted the attention of a Peregrine falcon.

A small number of Redwing and Mistle Thrush in the area, several Jays, Raven and a singing Wren.

Two firecrests in the trees in the grounds of Reed Hall. Also down the hill at the T junction (Streatham Drive/The Queens Drive), these fungi (ink caps?) were drawing a lot of attention at the side of the road . The tallest being about 20 cm tall

Six fieldfare flying over crediton station sunday afternoon.

There were at least 2 (male) Ring Ouzels at Emsworthy this morning at around 10.00. Also Redwing and Mistle Thrushes.

East Soar, am. Pretty quiet overall. Of note: c300 Skylarks in the airfield area,  4 Firecrests in the willows around the barn pond and 1 Snipe.

The northerly winds must have encouraged most of our migrants to desert the shelter of Starehole, so not many remained by this afternoon.  Best though were two juv. Ring Ouzels with a group of four Song Thrush and my first Redwing of the season, a male Blackcap, a Chiffchaff (but no 'crests seen in the valley, but a Goldcrest in the farm willows), then to top it off a single juv. Swallow looked set to spend the night.

Glossy Ibis and Great White Egret within a few metres of each other on the common this afternoon.

1000-1415 

After the drizzle cleared up:

16 Stonechat (11m, 5f) 5 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 1 Skylark, 7 Cirl bunting (5m, 2 Juv's) 2 Blackcap, c20 Linnet, 50+ Goldfinch feeding on blackberries, 10 Meadow pipit, 15+ Rock pipits on the seaweed, 9 Pied wagtails, 1 Buzzard. Several Red admirals and Speckled woods still around, together with 1 Large white, 2 Clouded yellows, and 2 unidentified dragonflies.

Nice midday walk to the fisherman's Hut and back provided flocks of golden plover and lapwing. Kestral, numerous oystercatchers, cormorants,  2 curlew,  4 whimbrel 3 ruff,  4 shelduck, several little egrets and a pied wagtail.

 
Lapwing                                            Golden Plover (Eds: the larger waders are Ruff and the smaller birds are Dunlin)

Highlights this morning included: Pair of Green & GSW each, Jay, Buzzard, 2 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, small flock of Goldfinches, Bulfinch & a distant 3 thrushes, possibly Redwings.

A Barnacle Goose off Mudbank this morning - 0930 onwards. Also at least 9 Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Orcombe Pt - drake Pochard on the sea before flying towards river mouth. Also 9 Eider and 17 Common Scoter. On the point just 1 Firecrest and 2 Brambling of note. Some rubbish photos and more details on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk later.

Very quiet this morning. Only highlights Firecrest ( lighthouse ), Brambling and Leser Redpoll. No vis mig and after yesterdays excess just one woodpigeon in the farm !

whooper swan on estuary off Home Farm Marsh

Two Firecrests amongst Blue and Great Tits working through some buddleia

Over Lipson early morning, c540 Redwings (west), c1,300 Wood Pigeons (south). Two Chiffchaffs & 3 Goldcrests in the bushes.

Budshead Wood produced 2 Firecrests & a Marsh Tit.

Vis mig highlights this morning included a massive Woodpigeon movement, 94000 going south-south west. Between 08:00-09:00, 55000 went through, almost 1000 per minute. Other counts included 66 Starlings, 22 Siskins, 8 Bramblings, 21 Bullfinches and a Reed Bunting. Elsewhere Merlin, Golden Plover, 12 Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, Blackcap and 2 Firecrests..     More details here http://charletonbirding.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Large woodpigeon migration moving SW over village 7000+ between 8.30 and 11.00am also seen a great white egret flying NE. 

Lucky to catch fairly distant views of the Ring Ouzel on the cafe side of the headland but on the bushes towards the lighthouse.  Managed a couple of dodgy record shots with my bridge camera before it flew overhead and back towards the rocks below the cafe, followed shortly afterwards by a Peregrine low under the cliffs. Other than that, a couple of Skylarks overhead, a Firecrest in the hedges above the cow field and a cold-looking Swallow on a telephone wire down near Shoalstone carpark. Sad to have missed the SEO - by a couple of minutes apparently! 

Ring Ouzel

nice wander around the quarry area at Berry head this morn, catching up with the remainder of this years autumn movement.. a sunny start meant vis-migging was pretty decent; highlights included: 6 reed bunt, 1 swallow near brixham, 20+ skylark (in off sea), a total of 42+ bullfinch (mostly males SE) (never seen such numbers moving before), many goldcrest (grounded), 1 brambling, 4 gsw (in off sea), 50+ long-tailed tit (in several large flocks), 40+ robin, 2 siskin, 2 redpoll, 12 linnet, 3 jay... 

15.00

At least two Firecrests in the main clump of scrub adjacent to the main path. Mobile but less vocal today. 

Later, at 17.45, 9 Redwings over the car park at Lidl, Torquay. 

Dartford Warbler's 5 in all were seen, they appear to be the most common bird at the moment, and a shot of a Goldcrest

Dartford Warblers showing very well

Large numbers of Golden Plover with Grey Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, L Egret, G Heron, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Kestrel, Buzzard, Barwit, Blackwit, Ruff, Teal, Shelduck, Pintail, Wigeon, all the regulars and a Short Eared Owl from the Fishermens Huts over to Chivenor.

Rob and I spent a few hours at Berry Head today, firstly looking for the Ring Ouzel by the cafe, with no luck. We  did find 5 Song Thrush, 5 or 6 Blackbirds and a Sparrowhawk instead. After meeting up with Bob Bailey, Pete Dennis and (briefly) Steve Hopper we proceeded around the Headland in search of Firecrests etc. Not much doing so headed to the quarry, on the way were 5 Bullfinch and a large flock of Long-tailed Tits, complete with the required Firecrest.  Down in the quarry were maybe a different, larger flock of Long-tails with a coiple of Goldcrests thrown in. On into the woods where we discovered 2 more Firecrests with the Long-tails, and interestingly, a Barn Owl leapt out of a bush not more than 6ft away from us and flew down towards the road, while we were all stood looking at a Goldcrest. On the path past the Wardens Cottage Pete shouted Short Eared Owl, and there it was flying in off the sea and over the car park, on down over the woods. A good days birding at Berry Head. Sadly no camera with me today.

Broadsands beach this morning gave four Lesser Black Backed Gulls and fifteen Greater Black Backs but very little else, on to Berry Head where a host of birders were in situe but the venue apart from the Guillemot colony was not as busy as most would have hoped.

Brixham town gave a solitary Swallow sat on overhead lines, the harbour car park gave a large floc of Long Tailed Tits and a Seal eating a flat fish.

Another visit to Broadsands (the left hand closed car park) gave numerous Wrens. Nine plus Long Tailed Tits, several Goldcrest, at least three Firecrest, three small birds dropped briefly into the Alders near the far corner and were almost certainly Redpoll but a hunting Sparrow hawk scattered everything and they did not show again.

Back at South Brent flocks of Wood pigeons in all directions looking as if dropping to feed, nothing like the numbers being reported along the coast but enough to be not worthy.

Starlings, Redwing and Mistle Thrush no doubt attracting a hunting Sparrow Hawk.

Comment from a friend at Aish (South Brent) who had a Ring Necked Parakeet in her garden at the beginning of the month looks as if the Parakeet has been taken by a female Sparrow hawk.

Short-eared Owl. Flew in off sea behind car park, over cow field and on towards quarry.

Following Audrey's sighting yesterday, David Turrell and I went up to Emsworthy this morning.  We were rewarded by seeing 4 Ring Ouzels (1 male, 1 female, 2 juvenile), also 3 Fieldfare (my first for the winter) and a couple of Mistle Thrush.

Apologies for late posting, viz mig with Pat (from 8.10am: with me frorm 8..40 till 10.40am) in overcast, NE slight breeze, cool conditions.

Highlight, a strong passage of 30,000 Woodpigeons mainly SE including a minimum of ; 52 Stock Doves; 9 Siskins (I settled in sallows), 15 Song Thrushes,2 Redwing, 1700 Starlings, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Lapwing, 2 Brambling, 5 Bullfinches in flight (later 4 seen feeding in PIg's Nose valley),Goldcrests (in flight and at least 20 in area), Goldfinches, Linnets,Greenfinches, Meadow Pipits,Skylarks,105 Jackdaws, 3 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk. Also parties of  LongTailed Tits (min 23 in area), I Firecrest in car park. 8 Blackcaps in area, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Also I Clouded Yellow, Red Admirals, Peacock and Speckled Wood butterflies in flight as the sun broke through the cloud.

So no rarity ( I still need YBW for Prawle this year-unlike Pat) but plenty of birds on the move.

Another large movement of Woodpigeons with 10770 east/south-east between 0815 & 1040hrs. Also on the move Short-eared Owl, 5 Golden Plover, 8 Lapwing, 56 Stock Dove, 700 Skylark, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 390 Starling, 144 Jackdaw, 36 Goldfinch & 10 Siskin.

Re.J.Ruscoe post many flocks of Woodpigeons seem to head out to sea and are soon lost to sight but I have seen some come back inshore!

2 photos from different angles showing the extent of the sea water inundation on a spring tide at Horsey Island as a result of a breach in the sea wall between the R.Caen & Horsey Island.

First photo taken by the White House looking towards Braunton in the background & the other from Crossbanks (near the breach) looking in the opposite direction towards the White House.

A Great White Egret north upriver @ 1045. On Orcombe this morning c35k Woodpigeon west/north-west by 10am - biggest movement pre 9am. Yesterday - Short-eared Owl on Orcombe Point, late pm. Also 7 Egyptian Goose and a fw Yellow-legged Gull off Mudbank. More details on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk.

around 40 ringneck parakeet all flying together on their way somewhere

Big movement of Redwing here at dawn as I took the dogs out on Freedom Fields. Probably over 1000 birds in about 15 minutes flying very low over the houses and park into the north westerly breeze. Lots of Song Thrush, my first 4 Fieldfare of the autumn and about 20 Blackbirds accompanying them.

Exminster Marshes - at 11.16am Glossy Ibis on newly dug scrapes to South of Station Road between Middle Car Park and Main Car Park. Moved about a bit mostly due to presence of Marsh Harrier and Peregrine, but watched it for over an hour.   

Blackbirds, Fieldfares, Mistle Thrushes and a male Ring Ouzel early afternoon.

A visit to Staddon Heights for the first hour-and-a-half of light produced a vis mig first for me with 5 Ring-necked Parakeets heading high north! Also c700 Wood Pigeons, 115 Jackdaws, 6 Siskins, 11 Redwings and Brambling over. 

At the Plym Estuary & Saltram, later, a Rock Pipit (scarce here) my first Jack Snipe of the autumn, 5 Little Grebes, 2 Greenshanks, 4 Dunlins, Common Sandpiper, 32 Curlews, 6 Oystercatchers, Kingfisher, 2 Stonechats, 3 Goldcrests and 2 Roe Deer.

Finally, a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Plym Bridge Woods.

Home Farm Marsh and estuary .whooper swan with ten Mute swans off Chivoner .Hundred plus Greenfinch along hedgerow and feeding on sunflowers.Twelve hundred Golden Plover over towards Chivoner.Photo of Whooper  swan hopefully arriving soon.Forty species seen .

3 X cattle egrets in field at Saltram liunch time.

A single Brambling (male) seen with the Chaffinch flocks before I got to look for Hawfinch when I joined Dave Stone.  Calls heard and then 3 Hawfinch seen in flight at tops of beech trees at north end of the area around 10.00am.  They remained elusive until I left and maybe others had more success later. 

Moving on to Budleigh I went in search of Crests along the coastal footpath and within a few hundred yards of the Golf Club had Gt -spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Firecrest, 2 Treecreeper, Long tailed tit flocks and 3 Bullfinch among others.

Having an interest in Woodpigeon movements could I be pedantic and ask observers to state whether they actually saw birds heading out to sea.  Large movements are now taking place along the coast and to me it is important to know not only the direction of flight but more importantly whether they left the coast and were seen flying out over the sea and did any come back? Also are any seen west of the most southerly points (Prawle, Bolt Head etc).Thanks.  

The probable hybrid Snow goose (mainly white with some dark grey feathering) was with 84 Canada geese on the midday high-tide.  Duck numbers increasing with Eurasian wigeon and Teal being joined by a few Pintail. A possible water pipit was too distant to be sure, both godwits were joined by a single knot and a few dunlin plus about 60 redshank and lapwing. A female sparrowhawk hunted overhead but very few passerines seen.

10.00AM - Hawfinch flew over Bowling green marsh road, towards Goosemoor...

13.00PM - Exminster Marshes RSPB - Glossy Ibis showing nicely from Station road (thanks for the tip off Jo King), until flushed by Marsh harrier. Also Peregrine over and plenty of Wigeon, Pintail, Blackwit and Redwing...

Lots of movement this morning highlighted by 16,770 Woodpigeons east/southeast between 0815 & 1205 hrs! Also on the move: 6 Golden Plover, 38 Stock Dove, 600 Skylark, 40 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 49 Blackbird, 13 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 11 Long-tailed Tit moving north, 145 Jackdaw, 140 Starling, 60 Chaffinch, 40 Goldfinch & 7 Reed Bunting. Five species of raptor inc.male Sparrowhawk, Peregrine & Merlin. In the scrub 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Firecrest & 15 Goldcrest. 

To add to Perry's post.Around the farm, c.20 Goldcrests ( 12 ringed,including 3 'continental' ), only 1 Firecrest (ringed ), 4Chiffchaffs ( 2ringed), 3 Blackcaps ( 2 ringed )

The Wood pigeon autumn migration kicked up a gear this morning despite another start to the day with low cloud and overcast conditions at South Brent, a count of in excess of 3,200 birds headed west, the largest flocks containing 300 plus birds, flocks could be seen high over head moving west and well out towards the coast.

Redwing numbers up with flocks of 90 plus and 50 plus birds moving around the area.

The Garden Firecrest's were a bit more elusive today but three seen up until early afternoon. Also around the house Wren, Mistle Thrush, Raven, Buzzard, soaring female Sparrow Hawk, numerous Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The mature Yews and pine trees in South Brent church yard are attracting good numbers of winter Thrush sp and small numbers of Goldcrest.

Can't compete with the posts from South Devon! In the reserve this morning a Nuthatch - only the third record. Finches beginning to build up now and lots of 4 species of Tit. Goldcrests but as yet no sign of any Firecrests. The Buckthorn berry crop is attracting a few Thrushes too. Little Egret in the field outside, but again no Godwits on the scrape.

Lots of calling pre dawn Song Thrushes and Redwings and during the morning saw 47 and 108 respectively.Healthy overhead movement of birds but directions random in the fresh northerly. Highlights on the move were 3500-4000 Woodpigeons, 2 Swallows, 26 Starlings, 15 Bullfinches, 12 Bramblings, 40 Siskins and 4 Reed Buntings. Elsewhere Merlin, Golden Plover, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Firecrests at the light.

Some good overhead migration today:350 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 5 Brambling, 103 Chaffinch, 12 Bullfinch, 33 Greenfinch, 40 Linnet, 80 Goldfinch, 6 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Song Thrush, 27 Skylark, 26 Meadow Pipit, 33 'alba' Wagtails.

Around the headland 1 very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler ( video link here https://youtu.be/mcChiYjp1eU ) on north side of the main meadow, 1 Ring Ouzel on slope below the cafe lots of Blackbird including several black billed 1st winter birds, 6 Stonechat, 1 Firecrest, 9 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap & 4 Chiffchaff.

Ring Ouzel                                                        Blackbirds

Yellow-browed Warbler with a very pale grey centre crown stripe (not uncommon)

Come along and learn more about migration, identification and a full breakfast.. https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/events/details/441/autumn-migration-watch 

Merlin (fem), Marsh harrier (imm) and Peregrine still being seen daily at high tide, from the Canal path.. 6+ Stonechat on the reserve, Cetti's warbler singing by the canal car park, lots of Redwing passing overhead, 8+ Bullfinch along Turf path. Also Green Sand and 30+ Pintail

Spent a pleasant hour or so down by the lighthouse - an abundance of birds in the tamarisk trees and surrounding scrub including 3 Blackcaps (2m/1f), at least 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests and 2 Firecrests, at least 3 song thrushes and several stonechats.  The highlight was a Yellow-browed Warbler showing really well - but strangely virtually silent.  Great to see. 

Spent all day ringing in the reserve today. Every time I walked around, took a look over the scrape: No Godwits at all. One Grey Heron (briefly) one Little Egret. Ringing was very good: 51 birds ringed of 16 species. 35 retraps. Best were 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Goldcrest, 14 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Siskin - first I've ringed for 3 years! 48 Species recorded in over or near the reserve.

Following this mornings post the visible Wood pigeon and Redwing migration continued until around 10.30, the largest single flock of Wood Pigeons being of some 200 plus birds and 46 Redwings, given the abundance of low flying pigeons in the area I suspect that a good number of migrating birds dropped off in the area to feed.

Another afternoon of Firecrest's at home with one seen to fly across the garden, a search soon found two feeding in evergreen cover, checking another area of garden another two Firecrest with possibly another that came in with a small flock of Goldcrest, of this second pair one bird was displaying its crest on a regular basis.

(Click on images to see at full size)

At least 3 Hawfinch feeding on Beech masts in Woodbury Fort late this afternoon. Also c10+ Brambling and good numbers of Chaffinch.

The Black Brant still present off Mudbank and a late Whinchat, 2 Brambling and the Ring-necked Parakeet on Orcombe Point this morning.

Photos and more detais on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk

Found this 1st winter Surf Scoter about 1/2 km off the seawall at Broadsands - being a 1st w it's not the bird from Mansands last year!

Some good overhead migration today: 2 Hawfinch, 8 Redpoll, 16 Siskin, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer, 200+ Redwing, 19 Starling, 7 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 15 Meadow Pipit, 13 Bullfinch, 70 Goldfinch, 8 Linnet, 2 Greenfinch, 15 Song Thrush, 62 Chaffinch, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 8 'alba' Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Around the head 6 Chiffchaff 22 Goldcrest and 4 Firecrest.

At Moorwell  pond during this morning's ringing session, 25+ Goldcrests ( 13 ringed) 5 FIRECRESTS ( 2 ringed ), 4 Chiffchaffs ( 2 ringed ) and 3 Blackcaps ( 1 ringed ). Also present at least 25 Blackbirds, presumably a mix of passage and local birds, attracted to the site because of the abundant berry crop.

Kayak trip Teignmouth to Torbay.

4 Arctic Skuas. Juv and 2 pale adults off Teignmouth. 1 dark adult off Hope's Nose

22 Common Scoter

1 Eider duck (female) off Teignmouth

plus 2 Harbour porpoise

A morning visit to Saltram and a walk around the river side walk way gave several Little Egret, good numbers of Curlew, Greenshank and Redshank, a soaring Buzzard had many of the waders making alarm calls.

Plenty of Goldcrest,s and one brief sighting of a Firecrest a large flock of Long tailed Tits and later another mixed tit flock good numbers of LTT's and several Goldcrest.

Plenty of Jays and on the small pond by the house 11 Mandarin Duck.

Best bird was a Yellow-browed Warbler this afternoon in the willows at West Soar. Otherwise - Ring Ouzel, Brambling, Siskin 19+, Firecrest 7, Goldcrest 32, Redwing 5+, Redpoll (presumed Lesser) 2, Song Thrush 5, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 4, plus c1,200 Wood Pigeons & c60 Jackdaws over.

On the picnic area in front of the car park, a Ring ouzel feeding with black birds. certainly unlooked for in this location!

At long last, not one but 2 Firecrest in the garden this morning.

09.40

Whilst sifting through an apparent influx of Blackbirds (12+) and Mistle Thrushes (8+) in the trees at Cadewell Park, I was stunned to drop on to a cracking lone Hawfinch.  It was perched out in the open at the top of the beech tree at the top of the hill, calling occasionally.  I watched it for ten minutes before it flew off SW. 

A large mixed tit flock then arrived, followed by a marauding female Sparrowhawk. 

Despite the low cloud and poor visibility there were signs of autumn migration over South Brent this morning, initially a flock of 100 plus Wood pigeons headed west.

Several flocks of Redwing a flock of 31 soon followed by a larger flock of 76 also headed west but several sightings of smaller numbers feeding or perching in tree tops.

Several small flocks of Starling and two flocks of what may have been Fieldfare headed out towards the moors with the poor light unable to make a positive ID other than to say they were a large Thrush sp.

Several Jays seen and heard scalding, Raven overhead, several Mistle Thrush and small flocks of Goldfinch.

Three Hawfinches and a Firecrest between Hexworthy and Dartmeet yesterday.

A very late Common Whitethroat was in scrub near the dune pond this morning. Several large flocks of Woodpigeons went SW in mid-late morning, not counted but must have been well over 1000 in total.  Water Rail seen at the main pond, where there was a Cetti's Warbler calling and singing.

Fairly quiet around the farm this morning. At least 6 FIRECRESTS in the sycamores ( only 1 caught and ringed ) Also on site 8+ Goldcrests, ( 3 ringed ) ,3 Blackcaps ( 1 ringed ) Small flocks of Goldfinches, west overhead. Also woodpigeons west (but not counted ).

It's.yr. fem.

2 Cattle Egrets present on side of estuary, just south of the railway station until 1330hrs at least.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling and showing occasionally in the lane up from the Berry Head Hotel at about this morning, the other good warbler was a really crisp looking Siberian Chiffchaff with collybita Chiffchaffs just east of the navigation beacon. Also around site 6 Firecrests, 16 Goldcrests, 3 Blackcap & 8 Chiffchaff.

                            Yellow-browed Warbler                                                   Siberian Chiffchaff                                                    

Now the murk has cleared the first meaningful Woodpigeon movement of the autumn with 4450 moving SW in 2.5 hours this morning plus 7 Stock Doves. Also: Great Spotted Woodpecker west over the airfield, 6 Swallow and 100 each of Skylark & Meadow Pipit.

Non-avian: 11 Red Admiral.

From the reserve this morning only two Godwits (45 yesterday 70+ the day before). In the reserve, the first Greenfinches for several weeks, 4 Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, 6 Long-tailed Tits, Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail. Red Admiral and Speckled Wood on the wing. By the river a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the ivy.

Birding at home in South Brent between 07.30am and 9am this morning started with a Raven overhead, a flock of 6 plus Long Tailed Tits, Mistle Thrush and Redwings.

At 8am the first of four flocks of Wood pigeons all headed west and progressively higher 67, 71, 79 and 50 plus birds counted.

While looking for yesterdays Firecrest's steady movement of small numbers of Redwing's coming to feed on Holly berries, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and a hunting Sparrow hawk.

On the point of giving up I heard "crest's" calling and after a while two Firecrest's appeared while watching them four "crests" flew into an oak canopy, one identified as a Goldcrest and another two Firecrest's but difficult to see in the still dense oak canopy.

Prawle Pt. this morning. At least 7 FIRECRESTS around the Reserve and car park. Also 4 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs.  At S. Hallsands, 8 FIRECRESTS ( 3 caught and ringed ). Also on site 4 Goldcrests and 5 Chiffchaffs..

The adult Black Brant present on the dropping tide this afternoon. Viewed from c500 yards north of Mudbank, along the cycle path. Also off there 1 Cattle Egret, 3+ Pale-bellied Brent Goose, c8/900+ Dark-bellied Brent Goose, c1500+ Wigeon and 7 Red-breasted Merganser. More details and photos on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk.

Just on 3pm this afternoon I saw from the kitchen window a small bird flit into a wild rose bush it took some time to get a clear view of it but sure enough it was another Firecrest only a very brief clear view and no time to grab the camera.

So despite the rain and general murk I took a walk around the garden this time with the camera but failed to re locate the bird.

But checking another area about 50 yards away I heard a bird calling and sure enough I got that teasing tantalising glimpse of a Firecrest in deep cover.

12.00-14.30

Working in the garden and at 12.00 overhead,  3 Redwings (one calling as it went) and a Mistle Thrush. Over next couple of hours, a noticeable trickle of Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrushes and Blackbirds overhead. All birds headed generally south west. 

Last November (bear with me!) we ringed a Chiffchaff - 8th November to be precise - which was very grey and exhibited many of the features of a Siberian type Chiff. Fortunately, it dropped a couple of feathers, and following a conversation with Nik Ward, I sent these off to him to see if we could get them DNA tested. Well, after a long wait confirmation has been received that it was indeed a Tristis Chiffchaff.

REDWING's ~ single Redwing put up from a field hedge at home at South Brent this morning then around midday a flock of 17 dropped out of the fog and circled around followed a few minutes later by another 9.

A bit earlier 3 Goldcrests in with a small mixed Tit flock working down the roadside hedge.

Several Pied Wagtails overhead.

And a Jay in the garden this morning.

Two Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Ruff and Avocet, amongst the 100's of usual waders. Also c65 Pintails and female Marsh Harrier.

Later, a Common Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh.

A Short-eared Owl unintentionally flushed from stubbles this morning. Great birds!

Cirl Buntings showing very well around the reserve at Labrador Bay, counted 15 but probably more.

Cirl Bunting

Thanks for getting the news out Richard and Andrew. Great find. Bird showed well late afternoon and still perching on top of the bracken at 17:45. I would be surprised if it is not there tomorrow. For anyone thinking of going it was showing on both sides of the lighthouse road about halfway between the car park gate and the wooden shed.  Nice male Ring Ouzel briefly dropped in and Lesser Redpoll over.

EDIT ( Perry Sanders 21:30 ) These excellent photos were taken by Alan Doidge. Unfortunatly the bird shows great similarities to recent birds seen at Dungeness ( Kent ) and Richmond Park ( London ). These were originally thought to be of the eastern races but proven through DNA to be only , albeit very unusual Common Stonechats. The light was shocking today so in that respect these photos are superb and different light might make the bird appear different tomorrow ( if still there ). Whatever it is ( my view now has to be Common unless someone can prove otherwise ) it is worth seeing and a very interesting bird .

The Dungeness Stonechat DNA'd to be Common Stonechat http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/Belvide84/2017/01/08/belvide-8-1-17-stejnegers-stonechat-dungeness/ 

Siberian Stonechat https://birdingfrontiers.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/siberian-stonechat-age-and-race/ 

Every one has a "bogey" bird that they have never seen and up until a couple of years ago one of mine was the Firecrest but thanks to posts on Devon Birds I eventually caught up with one at Broadsands and have seen the odd one since.

Last Friday having lived in South Brent for over 30 years I saw my first ever South Brent Firecrest by the old pump house at Shipley and today I managed to find one in my garden, not the greatest of images but given the weather more than happy with a record shot of this stunning little bird.

Still a few Firecrests around 5 today at the head (and 2 in the breakwater car park) also 18 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff and a treecreeper.

Just can't get enough of the run on Firecrests - they are simply gorgeous little birds

Rotten weather but sheltered on east side. Siberian stonechat on bracken slope down to lighthouse 2.30. 

A Leach's Petrel flew southeast through the bay this morning at 08:50. 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Mediterranean Gulls on South Huish Marsh.

Wryneck along SW coastal path c300m east of Bolberry NT car park at around 11am Sunday 22nd October

Ring-billed Gull seen at Broadsands today at 11oclock.  Could you please confirm or put in a correction.

Eds: its actually a 3rd winter Herring gull, among the differences a Ring-billed with brown in the wing coverts would have a pink based bill and dark tertials and of course a lot smaller in size and structure - but difficult to judge size in this picture. 

Took two friends visiting from Aberdeen to see the Cirl Buntings and were delighted to find twelve in a single tree in the shelter of Horseley Cove.  Also there at least seven Firecrests, two Goldcrest and six Chiffchaff, two Blackcap.  A flock of 500+ Woodpigeon was closely followed by two Peregrines whilst a Sparrowhawk chased 50 Goldfinches. Two Kestrels patrolled the cliffs.  Also small flocks of Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and about 24 Swallows.

15.30-16.45

3 Firecrests.  1 towards the top of the site in the bushes on the right, 50m down the slope from the second gate.  2 together around the main track towards the middle of the site.  All three were mobile and vocal. 

Also, male and female Stonechat, 5+ LT Tits, major Robin influx and 8 Gannets.  No Goldcrests at all.

Quite a few Meadow Pipits now showing at Ford Park Cemetery today 22-10-17

John, further to your post on Saturday 21 Oct, it is a young female, very fast & has a moustache! Another casualty between 16.00 & 16.15 this aft.(see photo).

22 Ruff on Horsey today. Could only fit 13 in the photo through the scope!

The adult Black Brant present off Mudbank this evening. It has been getting off there daily since the 17th with the large Brent Flock. First movement of Woodpigeon on Orcombe this morning with c1500+ north between about 0915 and 1000. Also Merlin and Brambling over. See www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk for more details.

On the lake: Black Headed Gulls (20+), Herring Gull, Tufted Duck (5+), Goosander (1F), along with many Mallard and Coot and a few Mute Swans. Cormorants (3) roosting in a dead tree over the lake.

In the woods: Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch (2M, 1F), lots of Blue, Great and Coal Tits, and 3 Marsh Tits

Female Goosander

Highlights in the reserve this morning: female Blackcap and a Kingfisher. From the reserve on the scrape: 100+ Black-tailed Godwits and a single Ruff.

1000-1310  In high winds:

40+ Oystercatcher, 2 Great crested grebe, 7 Little egret, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 4 Teal (3m, 1f), c30 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 9 very active Jays in the trees.

0800-1200 Wind NW6 decreasing

68 Bonxie

11 Arctic skua (7 pale, 2 int, 2 dark)

6 Pomarine Skua (all adult, including two with full spoons passing very close)

1 Unidentified skua

1 Manx Shearwater

45 Common Scoter

2 Great Northern Diver

1 Spoonbill

Berry Head at first light this morning, light but steady passage of small birds moving over the head land and out to sea, only species identified being Goldfinch and Meadow Pips, high light was a Hobby passing low overhead and heading directly out to sea.

Enough Wood pigeons moving west down the coast line to make you consider is it time for their autumn migration to begin.

Gannets feeding with a small pod of Porpoise just off the headland.

At least three Firecrests in scrub and sycamores on the path just south of White Bridge, on the east side of the river, 8am