Many thanks to all observers that submitted their records for 2019. However there are still a number of records that require descriptions before they can appear in the Bird Report.

If you were fortunate enough to find (or see) any of these birds below please could you submit a description to the County Recorder recorder@devonbirds.org Many thanks, stay safe.

Please be aware that in line with Government guidelines on non-essential travel and social distancing, the Devon Birds hides at Beesands, Fernworthy and Roadford, in addition to hides elsewhere in the County including Bowling Green Marsh, Dawlish Warren and Seaton Wetlands are closed until further notice. Whilst some people may be fortunate enough to be within walking/cycling distance of these sites, others should not be making special journeys to visit these areas at this time. Thank you for your co-operation and stay safe.

Please follow NHS guidelines:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/staying-at-home-to-avoid-getting-coronavirus/staying-at-home-and-away-from-other-people/

We welcome contributions from Devon Birds members and the general public. Please follow the guidelines on this page if you have something to post on the blog, remembering to use the relevant subject.

Please post responsibly, never post details of rare breeding, or winter roosts of vulnerable, species. If you are unsure of what to - or not - to post, there are guidelines on the restrictions  here.

Please note:-

1. That Wood Warbler in probable breeding areas should also not now be published

2.  Posts which breach these guidelines may not be published at all. Editors do this job on a voluntary basis and cannot commit to editing out rare breeding bird information in posts which which include wider sightings. Please help us to avoid the need to delete or not admit posts. Thanks.

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6 med gulls this evening.3 ads,3fs 18.30 

Another hot one with the first High Brown Fritillary on the wing at 06:25. Birds included: 3 singing Garden Warblers; at least 2 singing Tree Pipits; a singing Whitethroat; a singing Yellowhammer.

                High Brown Fritillary                         Dark Green Fritillary                             Dark Green Fritillary

An evening walk along the Dart produced 5-6 Grey Wagtails, 2 Dippers, numerous Swallows, Swifts, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Mallard, Wren, House Sparrows, Greenfinch, Jackdaws,Chaffinch, Blackbirds and several Goldfinch.

Red Kite circled over Yelverton this afternoon.  (Mike Beales)

dozen swifts over Whipton Exeter

Red Kite circling over the new solar farm at Moreleigh ( South Hams ) 16:20 pm.

Sitting in my back garden at Bovey Tracey, at 17.20, alerted by the cries of Herring gull - flying low over the garden came a peregrine clutching a downy gull chick with two adul tgulls in pursuit. Not something you see every day!

Just seen a Red Kite circling on a thermal above County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter. Then it headed off eastwards.

The summer plumaged Spotted Redshank was showing well for a while this lunchtime. It flew to Goosemoor briefly before settling back down out of sight in the far right hand corner of the marsh. 1 juv Black-headed Gull in amongst the adults.

Herring Gull around the University that got me going a bit today as it had one white wing so from one side looked like a Glaucous/Iceland. Then as it turned, the other side was normal. Just as a word of caution to Plymouth birders!

Red Kite 8-30am high over the valley but some lovely photos.

One red kite flying low over shirwell.

Red kite,, behind Barn owl pub/kingskerswell bypass...11.09am.. Heading towards Abbotskerswell

spotted redshank full s/plum med gull 2nd winter/is sandwich tern 8 

It was fairly quiet this lunchtime at Bowling Green Marsh until a Great Egret dropped in at about 2.05. It was still there when I left about 2.25. Black-headed Gull numbers are starting to build up. A male Pochard also. 

Yesterday lunchtime a group of at least 7 Sandwich Terns dropped in.

Both female juveniles have now fledged, with the second one leaving the nest this morning.

Cycled via Plym Bridge to Princetown and back via Burrator. A total of 19 Wheatears, 3 Marsh Tits, 2 female Mandarin Ducks each with 2 ducklings, Spotted Flycatcher, 6 each of Siskins and Lesser Redpoll, Dipper, 3 Grey Wagtails, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoos heard, 3+ Tree Pipits, Reed Bunting and 2 juv Peregrines with an adult at the Cann Quarry nest watch point.

3 red kites hanging out on the thermals in the Umborne valley as I type (2.50pm) .  1 flew by on Friday and must have told his friends ! 

Two red kites over village at 11.45 today.

11.15 this morning, a solitary Red Kite wafted serenely high over Combe Martin (1000ft), floating gently eastwards.

Tawny Owl just appeared in the garden tonight. Have heard them before but not seen them.

                                            Tawny Owl

Spent a pleasant couple of hours on Ideford Common looking for Nightjars. Around 21.45pm the churring started and by 22.30pm we had counted 5 in total. Plenty of wing clapping and whistling. One flew very close and around us, then perched on the very top of a nearby tree and. churred for a good while. A very magical experience, thanks to the generosity of Mark Bailey with his spot on directions 

A pair of wheatear with four young two of each. A visit from a peregrine and sadly a herring gull with a broken wing.

                   Wheatear                                         Herring Gull                                            Peregrine

Red Kite over Sourton Down by the A30 at 1000hrs this morning.

Took the cycle track from Plymouth to Clearbrook and back this morning. Two Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Marsh Tits, 4+ Lesser Redpolls, 5 Mandarin Ducks with 2 ducklings, 5 Siskins, Blackcaps and Bullfinches both feeding young, a male and juv Grey Wagtail, 4 Tree Pipits and adult plus one juv Peregrine at the Cann Quarry nest watch point.

Saw this Kingfisher this morning at Mansands, this is normally a winter visitor, first time I've seen one at this time of the year! Also Cetti's Warbler still singing and quite afew Reed Warbler around the reeds by the beach.

Red Kite over Mamhead Obelisk car park 1348 hrs

Red Kite over the A381 at North Park Corner between Harbertonford and Halwell at 1.45pm, heading west.