During the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak the use of Devon Birds bird hides should be in line with Government guidelines to individuals on how to protect themselves.

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This page was initially set up to give a concise news summary of birds of interest seen in Devon. Anyone noting interesting species, passage and counts could post the details to inform other birders what was going on around the county. Photos could also be added for interest and to enliven the posts. It was accepted that because other wildlife was of interest, this would also appear especially when included in a birding post.

However, in the last year, more posts have been appearing purely on subjects other than birds. Whilst of interest to some observers, this is detracting from the aim of the pages, i.e. principally bird sightings.

Devon Birds has therefore taken the decision to require contributors of other wildlife to post this in the Other Wildlife subject. However it’s accepted that occasional, exceptional, other wildlife seen during a birding outing justifies inclusion in the bird sightings post. This should, however, be a minor part of the post.

Photos are often appearing as a gallery, or even acting as a personal photo blog, rather than of county-wide sightings of interest. Devon Birds has a Gallery which members and other birders are welcome to submit their often stunning photos to, for others to see. Many of these photos need not then appear on this page. From now on, only two photos per post will be accepted to help keep posts more concise.

Devon Birds very much welcomes posts that already meet these criteria and those that will continue to do so. It would also be great to widen the input from keen birders who currently don’t contribute, including some old friends who have dropped out. Hopefully the changes will encourage wider participation, so if you look at the site but don’t post, please consider doing so.

Our aim is to provide a concise daily news summary of bird sightings around Devon, and these changes should fulfil this goal.

Below is a summary of the changes:

• Bird News (bird sightings of interest, with added occasional other wildlife) will be the default subject when visitors arrive at this page.
• Other Wildlife posts therefore won’t initially be shown unless visitors click Other Wildlife under Subjects on the right-hand side.
• Only two photos can now be submitted per post.
• General bird photos should be posted in our Gallery please.
• Co-authors should now only use the Submit a Blog Post form, to ensure a more consistent format for posts.

The deadline for the 2019 Bird Report is rapidly approaching. If you found (or saw) any of these birds please could you submit a description to recorder@devonbirds.org to ensure your records are published. Many thanks. 

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