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.

11 Waxwings feeding on poplar buds by the tile factory at midday

The Pacific Diver was again back in the bay best viewed from the end of Brixham Breakwater but still fairly distant looking toward Torquay. 7 Great Northern Divers counted from here too.

Also in bay around Broadsands: 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Eider, 2 Black-necked Grebes and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

2 Yellow browed still, at least 8 Chiffchaff including the tristis, 10 Goldcrests, 20 Redwing, 3 Teal (all males) on floods in field below the WTW and 2 Marsh Tit in Staverton Woods. 

As soon as I pulled up by the recently cut kale field opposite Bowden House on the Totnes to Ashprington road I could see it was full of Egrets - Now 7 Cattle Egrets and 18 Little Egrets- all still there at 450pm

This is actually a long-distance shot of the 5 Cattle Egrets at Weare Giffard this afternoon.

Aveton Gifford ~ Male Yellow Hammer just outside of the village, on the tidal road, Common Sandpiper 3, Greenshank 3, Redshank 5, Black Tailed Godwit 2.

Frogmore Creek ~ Greenshank 3, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret 3, Shellduck 5, Redshank.

Slapton ~ Not overly busy with birds on the Ley, Pochard 4, good numbers of Tufted and Gadwall duck, Long Tailed Tit 2, Goldcrest 2.

Sea watch from Torcross 30 plus Gannet, one Seal and several Harbour Porpoise.

From the memorial car park a small flock of Shag with a Red Throated Diver keeping them company.

Five Cattle Egrets and three Little Egrets roosting in the Oak tree at the top of Fremington creek.        One Spoonbill on Isley marsh.

Still over 100 Common Scoter and 6 Long-tailed Ducks in the bay. A little further out 20+ Great Crested Grebes.

Long-tailed Duck

Just heard a Chiffchaff in the garden but not sure whether this is an overwintering bird or a new spring arrival.

The Snow Bunting which has wintered on the Burrows was still present this morning, unobtrusively feeding with 4 Linnets around 100m west of the 8th green. At least 10 of the wintering Eider were on the estuary but difficult to count in a particularly choppy area. No sign of any Wheatear as yet.

I think consensus on the unusual looking wigeon with the white face is that it's a hybrid with a chiloe wigeon; if you look at pictures of chiloe wigeon it actually does share more features with the Bowling Green bird :)

A post rain afternoon visit in the vain hope of finding Wheatear. Did manage 60 Golden Plover, 4 Lapwing & 30 Cirl Bunting.

Following Steve's earlier post re Iceland Gull on Saunton Beach, I cycled there(!) and at first glance thought it looked a bit big. Had to move quickly. as several walkers (most with dogs) creating disturbance. Managed a few record shots before more dogs and walkers put it right off. Not much doubt that it is a Glaucous Gull I think.

There's been an unusual looking female Widgeon on Bowling Green Marsh for some time now.  It has the typical plumage of a female but with the addition of a white band around it's neck extending on to the cheeks. Steve Waite says  that if it was a hybrid it would show more features of the other parent. So just a freak Widgeon.

Eds. This bird has been around for most of the winter see here

Went out to the memorial car park for an hour this afternoon. Did not see the whale though it has been reported today. Still a few Porpoises around and a Grey Seal just offshore. Birding highlights 2 Great Northern Divers and a Great Skua.

Little of note on the estuary itself this afternoon, but just up river between Coypool and Riverside Caravan Park, 13+ Siskins and a pair of Mandarin Ducks.

2nd or 3rd year bird on Saunton beach, approx 1 mile south of beach car park.  Bird at tide line feeding on dead Conga Eel and present 12.30 to 12,45 at least.

1 male and 2 female Goosander from the garden this morning, on the Bidwell Brook at Week.

Goosander on Bidwell Brook

Two sand martin hawking over the Exe flood relief channel in Exeter this morning, just a few tens of meters south of the Station Road bridge. 

Sand Martin

A Chiffchaff was in full song at White Bridge on Friday morning, in the sunshine - but had stopped on our return an hour later in dull conditions. Doubtless an over-wintering bird, but even so - signs of spring!  Sorry for the late post.

1 Woodcock late afternoon.

Amongst a wealth of wildfowl this morning at Bowling Green Marsh, in addition to 80 Avocet, large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and a flock of  20 Pintail I saw my first Sand Martin of the year. Also spotted an unusual hybrid Wigeon, showing all the plumage features and characteristics of a female Wigeon, but with a russet head and a distinctive white band across the head. Any suggestions?

Whale showed at about 15:15 way down off Torcross. Slowly worked its way up and was still off the Strete Gate car park area at 16:30 and seemed quite happy circling (feeding) in that area where the majority of Gannets had been all afternoon. Someone had told me that the Little Gull was sitting showing nicely at Torcross but all the gulls had dispersed by I made it there at 17:00ish.

Humpback Whale showing tail markings.

Humpback whale was off the memorial car park between 17:00-17:45 at least. Also Harbour Porpoises and feeding Gannets. The whale does seem to be showing best mid afternoons onward.

Very wet at Slapton Ley today. No whale off the beach or a little gull in the duck feeding area.

Other birds that we saw today include: Black-headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebes, Coots, Tufted Ducks, M Goldeneye and Mute Swans.

At 11:20 ish (extra high water), the 9 Spoonbill roosting in a fairly neat row, well onto the marsh.

Even better, just off the marsh, a duck and drake Red-breasted Merganser on the river Taw, diving often and tricky to view in high winds/waves. I love the unpredictable birding in N Devon.

6 Cattle Egret still at Caulston Farm Stoke.

Following Rupert Kirkwoods post last week I checked out the fields near Weare Giffard.

Just north of the church close to the river I found 20 egrets. 5 Cattle Egret and 15 Little egret. Birds very mobile and often obscured so numbers may not be absolute.april

At Landcross bridge 2 Common Sandpiper

The leucistic adult Black-headed Gull and 2 adult summer Mediterranean Gulls amongst the Black-headed flock this morning. Also: Lesser Black-backed Gull (23), Greenshank (4), Wigeon, Shelduck (46), Common Sandpiper and Little Grebe (4).

Later, a Blackcap singing in Lipson. 

Leucistic adult Black-headed Gull

I was at Beesands Ley yesterday and a gull flew in with some odd wing markings. After double checking with Kev R its a Lesser Black-backed Gull with an odd pattern of albino feathers matched on each wing. Quite distinctive!

This is just for the romantics amongst you!

A couple more pics of the Little Gull at Slapton today. Nice to see the humpback again this evening.

Amazing views this evening also Balearic shearwater

Balearic Shearwater south at 1230

3 Great Northern Divers

Humpback whale and 20+ porpoises

Balearic Shearwater

At least five male Stonechats plus one female searching the newly restored section of Devon bank between our garden and the adjacent field in Barton Lane.  Occasionally coming within 15 feet of us searching newly cleared earth and immitating the resident Robin by perching on the fork handle!  Present for most of the afternoon.

The Grebes would appear to have a varied diet, as well as the pike already posted,  I saw the grebes eating tench & perch - although this was spat out, too prickly?

To add to the posts already submitted, a Balearic Shearwater flew south at 12:40; 18 Grey Plover flying around offshore mid-morning; 5 Great Northern Divers and 10+ Harbour Porpoises inshore; and c65+ Gadwall on the Ley.

Slapton Lay, small pond other side from Torcross, near the bridge, enjoying a fish dinner

Eds: the Great Crested Grebe has caught a small Pike!

A lone Gadwall duck at Torcross this morning, I think it's a male still in winter colours

Went out to the memorial car park at 17:45 and the whale was showing superbly about 100 metres offshore. Equally close were several porpoises and feeding gannets. Whale still showing when I left at 18:20

Drake American Wigeon still present; busily grazing amongst one of the large flocks of Eurasian Wigeon, early pm.

Road flooded this morning, just passable! 1 Barnacle Goose still in with 43 Canada Geese in fields near Hatch Bridge. 3 Meadow Pipit and 8 Mallard in same fields. Dipper on river, Treecreeper moving between trees near Bridge, 1 Sparrowhawk flew by and 2 Buzzard perched together in same tree.

Desert Wheatear singing from  the roof of the small building between the golf club house and Leasfoot Beach early afternoon, also Black Redstart nearby. The 2 White-fronted Geese hiding away at the back of South Huish Marsh.

About 130+ Golden Plovers sighted this morning near Cox tor car park nr Tavistock..

We finally caught up with the Little Gull at the duck feeding area late afternoon. You can see how small it is in the photo, with the black headed gull for comparison. Also of note today were male and female scaup, female goosander, common gull adult and juveniles, 2 "manky mallards"  plus 2 firecrests in the bushes along the path around the Ley.

  
Little Gull at Torcross                                      Little & Large!                          Firecrest around the Ley

Falling tide so a large expanse of mud. 50 Wigeon, 8 Greenshank, 14 Redshank, 3 Dunlin,12 Curlew, Oyster Catcher, !4 Shelduck, Goosander redhead, 4 Little egret,  Greater, Lesser Blackback, Herring and Blackheaded gulls, Kingfisher and Song thrush singing.

2 adult Med Gulls offshore plus Fulmar.

Marine Parade Paignton ~ 32 Turnstone including the over wintering Dutch ringed bird.

Berryhead ~ 18 Fulmar, Great Northern Diver, numerous Shag, Cormorant and Gannet with 5+ Guillemot and a similar number of Greater Black Backed Gulls.

Three Pipit sp flew in from the sea, I suspect Meadow Pips but landed or flew on to far away to be certain.

Harbour Porpoises showing really well.

The Little gull still down at the Torcross end, on the water with Black headed's. Also: 1 Cetti's warbler, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 12 Pochard, Skylarks singing, Robin's nest building, and a 7 spot ladybird on a leaf, Spring is coming!

3 ringneck parakeet bodmin road whitley woods

Yellow-browed warbler still the first bird I see when checking the WTW, also present today were chiffchaff, goldcrest and grey wagtail 

Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Yarner Wood this morning - also c8 Redpoll

Nearby , the 5 Cattle Egrets and 16 Little Egrets still 10.30am around entrance fields of Blatchford Farm , Teigngrace 

late pm - 1 Cattle Egret still at Waddeton 

Three Jack Snipe, Snipe, a leucistic adult Black-headed Gull, 23 Turnstones, and 2 Stonechats.

A single colour ringed Spoonbill (one of the yellow flagged birds) feeding in the low tide pools just below the Torridge Bridge on the incoming tide at about 4.45pm. This is the second time I have recorded this bird from my bedroom window!

Located the Humpback Whale around 1100hrs distantly north of the 'bell buoy' (around 2+ miles out), it worked its way north and gradually came closer during the afternoon early evening, when seabird feeding activity increased indicating fish moving closer to shore. Glad many who had missed it before were able to see it in the afternoon, although elusive at times. Also 2-3 Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal, 2 Bonxies & an ad Mediterranean Gull came through during the day and there was a Velvet Scoter off Strete Gate.

5 Cattle Egrets and 16 Little Egrets around entrance fields of Blatchford Farm late afternoon but mobile between fields 

Whales showing from memorial car park from about 4.15 -5.00. When i left at 5.00 it was till there

6 Cattle Egret just west of Caulston Farm Stoke.

15.30hrs - Returning from the boat at Brixham came the back road from Galmpton - Stoke Gabriel. Just prior to Waddeton,  2 Cattle Egrets + 1 Little Egret in field on right with cattle. Easily viewable from road.

Late post for yesterday morning, with Rod Bone, 1 Barnacle Goose with 43 Canada Geese in fields by R. Avon at Knapp Mill, viewable from road ( flooded at times) near Hatch Bridge. Has been seen here or lower down on the Avon for a week or so.

Juv/1st w Iceland Gull Brixham, flew toward Berry Head at about 3.10pm. Also 5 Great Northern Divers from Shoalstone shelter.

Perched on telephone wires between A399 and Stoke Rivers, near to the hunt kennels turning. Wary of the light traffic and the flew towards fields by Stoke Barton. returned with camera but could not find again.

Following on from Jon's post below, I was at Isley Marsh at the same time ~10:30 and the other five Spoonbill were roosting there. By Yelland Power Station site a collybita race Chiffchaff feeding in a hedgerow willow.

Only (!) 4 Spoonbills on the scrape this morning when I arrived - still there when I left at 10.30.

Around Sherpa Marsh small flocks of both Wigeon and Teal, along with about 20 Curlew.

Late post for yesterday: 2 Red-throated Diver offshore at memorial & Little Gull at Torcross.

Spotted just below weir at Plymbridge today Thursday 2nd March 2017 at 13.30 hrs

Eds: Just to avoid any confusion, "Common Merganser" is another name (mainly used in North America) for Goosander (as opposed to Red-breasted Merganser). Great photo! 

Little Gull at Slapton Ley today seen and photographed by Barry Rankine

30 plus Gannets feeding close in, along with 5 Harbour Porpoise. At least 4 Fulmar and large numbers of Guillemot

  
Guillemot                Fulmar                                                  Harbour Porpoise

For those who missed it, there are reports again today of the Humpback Whale feeding in Start Bay, seen at Strete Gate at 17:30.

Med gull in the stream on woolacombe beach.longtailed tits collecting nesting materials,three pairs of stonechats

A quick early evening walk along the Northbrook - at least 2 (possibly 3) Dipper, between 4 & 6 Grey wags, Green Sandpiper and a Redwing. Sadly no Kingfisher or Water Rail today.

Short video link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8wETqkpFj8

  
Dipper                               Green Sandpiper                                 Grey Wagtail

I saw the Spoonbills from the field gate as I arrived this morning, and thought there were quite a few! Sadly when I got to that side of the reserve they had gone! I thought they would be bird of the day, but maybe the red visitor (pic below) might qualify? Kingfisher by the pond again.

High tide on the Plym Estuary produced an adult Mediterranean Gull, adult sinensis Cormorant, Common Sandpiper, 8 Manadarin Ducks, 9 Little Egrets, 128 Redshanks, 124 Dunlins, 6 Greenshanks and 6 Oystercatchers.

At Efford Marsh, a Dipper, Chiffchaff and 3 Bullfinches. 

Took the coast road from Modbury  via Membland to Noss Mayo. As I turned down to Membland noted a large herd of cattle on the right by the hedge 1 Cattle egret and on further detailed observation by John the number rose to 11. Also a number of Herring gulls.

Noss Mayo Marsh tit, Goldcrest, Tawny owl and Green woodpecker.

4 Cattle egrets and 10 Little Egrets in field beside river at Weare Giffard church.

8 Common Sandpiper

2 Green Sandpiper

3 Mandarin

9 Spoonbills on the scrape early this morning.

In the 2nd car park on seed were 13 Cirl Buntings, 2 Reed Bunting 1 Chiffchaff in the Marsh

On the sea: 2 black-necked Grebes, 1 eider, 1 Great Crested Grebe. On a worrying note it looks like some nets have been set just of the headland, there was a voluntary agreement between fishermen and TCCT not to set nets in this area between 1st November and 1st April. This seems to have been ignored and with the forecast of more strong winds the numbers of wintering divers and grebes will again pick up in the area these nets will put them at risk.

Mixed weather. Highlights were approx 10 Goosander, a pair of which were seen mating. Male Kingfisher fishing for over 45 minutes on the pool by the raised boardwalk. Also a Buzzard landed within 20 ft of the boardwalk. 

  
Mating Goosander                          Male Kingfisher                                                     Buzzard

A38 Heathfield while on the way to the Haldon birding survey gave the flock of Waxwings sat in the trees alongside the road opposite BCT.

At Haldon the team that I was with recorded Green Woodpecker that showed well at the beginning and end of the route covered, GSWP, Yellow Hammer (2), Siskin, Mistle and Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, numerous Goldcrest, Snipe (12) Woodcock (6) Stonechat (pair) Crossbill (4) two sightings and a Raven to mention a few of the species seen and recorded.

Both Roe and Fallow deer.

Back by the feed station one of the team picked out the reported female Brambling.

A divert to Teigngrace on the way home gave double figures of Little Egret and five Cattle Egret and a very pale Buzzard.

Two Sparrow hawks seen while driving on the A38, one at Chudleigh and the other near Dean Prior.

2 Spoonbills seen over Sherpa Marsh from the reserve this morning. Both settled by the reed-bed near to RMB Chivenor.

A female Kingfisher paid a visit to the pond later in the morning.

Little Gull

Little Gull

Little Gull in admonst Black Headed Gull at Torcross