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.  

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.

We have a small colony of Starlings living nearby and they seem all to have fledged at the same time - I counted 36 on the feeders this afternoon!

We had a very good walk from Bennett's Cross to Challacombe Farm, and back again via Headland Warren, today with the Exeter RSPB group. We had good views of the Great Grey Shrike, which this morning was in the valley before we reached Sousson's plantation. Some members of the group also had brief views of a Hobby and later, four Crossbills. At Challacombe Farm, the Swallows and House Martins were busy both feeding and collecting mud from the pond.  There were also at least a couple of Spotted Flycatchers, Redstart, Nuthatch and a Treecreeper carrying material to its nest.  We saw several Whinchats in both valleys, but only one Wheatear (near Headland Warren).

15 pluss ringneck parakeets central park

16.45

Further to the earlier post, the Great Grey Shrike showing well on the clearfell close to Golden Dagger Mine on the edge of Soussons.  Although mobile, the bird was perching prominently and showing well.

Also between Bennett's Cross and Challacombe Farm (and in spite of the cold, windy and showery weather):

Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Stonechat, Whinchat, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Raven, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Redstart.  2 Garden Warbler calling. Cuckoo calling in the distance towards Warren House.

No sign of the woodchat shrike this morning in less than ideal conditions - cold, breezy and misty although it did brighten up over the morning.

However some stunning scenery, prehistoric ruins, the pleasant company of fellow birders and a good range of Moor birds - wheatears, yellowhammers, linnets, skylarks, stonechats, meadow pipits, 2 kestrel, 2 raven, 3 swift, swallows, house martins, a male reed bunting and a cuckoo with willow warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff and great spotted woodpecker heard - gave a very enjoyable morning.

Still near Challacombe farm. Also 3 cuckoos, whinchat, green woodpecker, jay and spotted flycatcher

Bellever Plantation, evening: 2 Cuckoos, 2m and 1f Nightjar, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 1 Tawny Owl.

2 today at 13:00 over umberleigh north devon briefly heading n seen from private garden chittlehamholt

Woodchat Shrike still showing well at Cuckoo Ball it has moved location it is nearer the entrance to the moor from the lane by the old factory building in the gorse bushes.

Plenty of Yellowhammers Linnets Wheatears Skylarks and Cuckoos.

  
Woodchat Shrike                        Woodchat Shrike                                         Yellowhammer

Whitethroat 12, sedge warbler 5, cettis,reed warbler andreed bunting,both in pairs,common sandpiper, larks,bullfinch,chiffchaff, willow warbler,numerous swifts swallows and martins,.Butterflies,small copper,small blue and I believe a four spot broad chaser dark brown and the first large chaser we have seen, appologies to the Gaia trust warden if I got this wrong.

A male Serin this morning (08.30) feeding for several minutes near East Soar Farm before disappearing. Then seen again briefly half an hour later flying and perched, but not since. Also a Turtle Dove in the area all morning, and nearby, Spotted Flycatcher, Sparrowhawk and Sedge Warbler.

Later at South Huish: White Wagtail, Sand Martin, Whimbrel and 6 adult Dunlins. 

2 Juvenile Ravens with adult pair this morning.  1 Lesser Whitethroat calling near the Cemetery and 1 Whimbrel on the Point.

Eds: all three of these are juveniles - dull body with glossy wings and small pale gape.

Turtle Dove flew into Ash Tree above the farm allowing excellent views before speeding off along the hedge- patch tick! Also male Sparrowhawk, singing Reed Warbler.

Roe Deer male, female Broad-bodied Chaser, 2 Green Hairstreak, 3 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

The female Woodchat Shrike still this morning at Cuckoo Ball on the east side of Western Beacon,  on the moor at the top of the valley, 200 yards west of the burial chamber. Also 2 Cuckoo. Closest access from the Bittaford to Ivybridge road, turn right by old machinery farm and park at the end of the lane by the gate to the moor.

A brief walk along Marine Parade this morning, before start of a working day, produced: 2 Oystercatchers, plenty of Herring Gulls, Shag, Goldfinches, Starlings, House Sparrows, my 1st sight of House Martins of the year - 4, Wren and star of the day was a female Mallard with 8 ducklings.

First this year Hummingbird Hawk Moth on Rhododendrons next to shop.

Great-spotted woodpecker taking nectar from the red hot poker in the garden this afternoon.

Little on the water bird front this morning, but a pair of Nuthatches feeding 2 young, 2 Whitethroats and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

On a walk today from Headland Warren around Challacombe Down thro' Golden Dagger Tin Mine. Whinchats 8(m), 2(f), Spotted Flycatchers 3, Common Redstarts 3, Garden Warblers (h), Lesser Redpolls, Cuckoos 3, Bullfinch. Best of all Great Grey Shrike still around position SX 682 805. Plus many of the commoner species.

1Pied flycatcher 2pairs spotted flycatcher 4 Gs woodpecker,siskin ,bullfinch,black cap,kingfisher,chiffchaff,swallows,martins and 4 swift,willow warbler and good numbers of woodland birds especially blackbirds and thrush. Cover all really thick so spotting gets harder,lovely day though.

One pair of Cuckoo seen flying low over the golf course,numbers of Willow Warblers,1 f Redstart,4 Greenfinches,2 Garden Warblers,8 Pairs of Stonechates,3 Meadow Pipits,1 Skylark,1 m Kestrel,2 Common Buzzards,8 Linnets,1 m Redpoll,1m Yellowhammer,Corvoids,3 Swallows,the odd Chiffchaff calling.

3 Lesser Whitethroat near Cemetery this morning

(Late Post for yesterday) After the rain and thick mist cleared late yesterday evening I went up to Cuckoo Ball, Bittaford to see if Mike Daniel's Woodchat shrike was still there. Passing a posing yellowhammer in gorse on the side of Western Beacon the Shrike's past location came into view and on a dead tree about 600m distant I saw what could have been the profile of a shrike. Subsequent examination of distant photos shows that it was indeed the shrike. It had moved on as I got closer and started to walk up Cuckoo Ball towards the burial chamber. Plenty of meadow pipits, skylarks and two wheatear present. I was joined by Patrick Hawkins, who had walked up through the field containing the trees on which the shrike normally perches without seeing or moving it. However on my way down I again saw the shrike firstly on a barbed wire fence and then on the same dead tree where I had seen it earlier. It gave Patrick and I a quick good, distant view, before moving off as we approached. A cuckoo was seen and heard nearby on the slopes of Western Beacon.

  
 Woodchat Shrike                                       Yellowhammer                                                  Skylark 

25+ swifts buzzing around over the St Leonards Road area of Newton Abbot this morning.

A male Golden Oriole was reported in Millcombe yesterday afternoon. Click here for further info.

Please note that the "possible Bonelli's Warbler species" seen during the Devon Birds day-trip on Sunday has now been identified, from a series of very good photos, as a Garden Warbler.

Good numbers of Swifts over house North Plymouth first of the year from here,

On the pool at high tide, 5 Little Egrets and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 ads and a 3rd-s) but little else apart from plenty of rain! 

Seawatch from 6.40 until 11.20am in SSW 4-5, overcast,some mist and showers, perfect conditions yet no skuas!

Totals seen : 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrels, 1027 Manx Shearwaters ( with feeding parties of 100 plus groups seen as leaving) , 9 Puffins, 5 Great Northern Divers and 104 Kittiwakes all west. Oddities being a female Mallard that came in off the sea and a Swift tracking westwards.

Of interest still 4 Cattle Egrets at Chivelstone Cross.

Photo of juvenile long-tailed tits.

Apologies for the terrible photo taken in the rain this evening but 9 or 10 juvenile long -tailed tits being fed by the adults in the garden.. A spotted flycatcher still  present also.

Seawatch between 0600-0900: 3 Pomarine Skuas (2x ads and a 3cy), 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Storm Petrel, 30 Puffin, 293 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 'commic' Tern, 14 Common Scoter.

Hobby quartering the Northern slopes at dusk last night

Two spotted flycatchers here in the garden late this afternoon and early evening.

Sorry for late post from yesterday evening's male Eastern Subalpine Warbler seen around the trees from the back path between main pond and golf course at Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve but not seen today.

Also 4K video where it can be heard singing and best watched in the higher resolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4516qM1RWg

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

Seawatching with MD 0600-1445hrs final totals: 2 Sooty Shearwaters south at 1020 & 1405hrs (good for May!), 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 1854 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Bonxies, 5 Great Northern Divers >s  & 2 > north, 37 Puffins, 20 Common Scoter, 1 Common Gull, 100+ Kittiwakes, 13 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Sandwich Terns, 1 Whimbrel,  10+ Common Dolphins, & 3 Harbour Porpoise. 

link to some close views of some of the Common Dolphins moving South: https://youtu.be/PxjjwbGZ5Ec 

A few more pictures from the Lundy Trip

   
Guillemot                                    Grey Seal                                                              Fulmar

A great day at the fantastically organised Lundy trip yesterday. Very lucky with the beauitful weather. Lots of birds to see, even if a little bit distant to get some really good photos. As expected lots of Guillemot, Puffin, Razorbill, Fulmer, Kittiwake, Manx Shearwater, Pipits, Wheatear. Glimpse sightings of a possible Bonelli's Warbler and Red Rumped Swallow. Also a couple of Spotted Flycatcher. Plenty of Grey/Atlantic Seals and Sika Deer.

     
Manx Shearwater                                         Puffins                                               Kittiwake