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.

Please follow NHS guidelines: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

Thank you for your co-operation and stay safe.

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.

First churring Nightjar at 21.38.  First Nightjar on the wing 21.44.  2 males and 1 female in flight,  individually and all together.  Some wing clapping and perching out in the open.  2 other birds churring from cover in just the small area that I visited. 

On the way home, a Tawny Owl on a telegraph pole along Claddon Lane, Maidencombe.   

Nearly matched rogers total of med gulls last night with 93  this evening with no doubt different birds as the first juveniles appearing.55 ads 7 2s,24 fs and 7 juvs.17:15-18:45.

Not often seen Female Dartford Warbler on Dartmoor

Eds - its actually a juvenile (so could still be a juv female!)

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Brixham this evening, just north of Astra Zenica car park with several juvenile Herring Gulls

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Yellow-legged Gull - juv                                              Left Herring Gull juv, right Yellow-legged Gull juv            

Lots of Linnets and Yellowhammers at Aylesbeare yesterday and lovely if fleeting views of a Dartford Warbler.A Carrion Crow killed and ate a duckling at Darts Farm....hard to watch. Egret lifting a stone on the Clyst near the Bridge Inn....interesting behaviour.

As regular visitors will know, Dawlish Warren is in the midst of a extensive programme of sea defence and beach works. This programme has now reached the area known as "The Neck". This means there is currently No Access to the Bird Hide or Warren Point. This situation may last for a couple of weeks. Safety Marshalls will on duty at both dune path (groyne 9) and Beach (groyne 6). 

The rest of the reserve is open as usual.

Our apologies if this affects your visit, for more information visit the Environment Agency website (Dawlish Warren Beach Management Scheme). We will keep you posted.

Dawlish Warren NNR Rangers

Mediterranean Gull numbers continue to increase on the Skern. At pm high tide there were 97, of which the highest proportion were breeding plumage adults. A few in juvenile plumage, and some already moulted out into first winter. Otherwise 100 + Black-headed Gulls including 4 juveniles. The only wader was an Oystercatcher.

Nightjar calling briefly at 4pm near obelisk. 

Couple of white admirals also present. 

First thing this morning trying to get pictures of swifts in flight when this sequence of pics happened. A swift and House Sparrow clashing, never seen it before and after talking with Mike Langman could well be sparrow defending nest site. 

At least 30 med gulls.16 ads,6 ss,8fs.Could have been more as most birds were lying down so heads were partially obscured. 17.30-18.15.

A large amount of swifts are swarming way up high over Ilfracombe. Could be 500 + birds.  

A quick check of the beaches this morning:

Broadsands: 5 Mediterranean Gulls (2 fs, 2 ss 1 ad)

Goodrington: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (1 ad 1 ss) and noted my first fledged juvenile Herring Gull on the beach (early) - beware any Yellow-legged Gull watchers! 

A morning spent laying the stone on the track ways was rewarded with a wander around the reserve. A pair of Green Woodpeckers sitting on the fence posts and a family of Jays.

A really good showing of Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Large Skippers and Small Copper butterflies. Several dragonflies and damsels around including Golden ringed and Ruddy Darter and apossible Southern Hawker.

Kayak trip Plymouth sound to Eddystone (and back)

2 Storm Petrel (both 9 miles offshore)

8 Sandwich terns

11 common Scoter

c90 Manx Shearwater, all in small groups

1 interview with UK Border Force, 7 miles offshore, the first kayak they have stopped!

regards Rupert

18 Curlews, Mediterranean Gull (adult summer), 3 juvenile Black-headed Gulls, 9 Little Egrets, 2+ Green Woodpeckers including a juvenile (my first here for some time) and Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

2016 Dawlish Warren Ring Recovery Report

This report has recently been uploaded onto the Dawlish Warren website. It’s a detailed account of Lee’s efforts during last year and worthy of posting something on the DBWPS website in acknowledging his work in this field of birding

Here is the link-

http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/2016%20Dawlish%20Warren%20ring%20report.pdf 

One of the aims of writing such a report in his own words is to promote an aspect of birding neglected by many and encourage others to find and submit discoveries of birds found.

Driving on Seaton Road between A3052 and the Hare and Hounds had clear sight of a single Red Kite flying round, along with several Buzzards.

The summer plumaged Spotted Redshank was at Goosemoor this lunchtime.

Work has started on digging out the scrape in front of the hide at BGM and will continue for the next couple of weeks.

My photos of the med gull seen from the boat just off Berry Head yesterday show that the colour ring is unfortunately damaged. It appears to read 2E1 followed by a damaged numeral, 6 or 8 (more likely 8 as far as I can see).

 
Med gull, summer adult                  Med gull, detail of colour ring

Ed. - Med Gull with Yellow 2E1? will be Irish ringed, might be worth contacting Sean Kingston (email is medgullring 'at' gmail.com) with photos - he might be recognise it.

Just to add to Nigel & Simon posts. Whilst looking at photos from Sundays boat trip I had a photo of the Med Gull we say as it took off. It was ringed metal on right leg, yellow with black letters on left- all can make out is either F or E1? Anyone info appreciated. Also amazing how close to water Shearwaters fly! 

  
Med gull taking off                           Med gull rings                             Manx Shearwater

Some photos from todays trip - most notable was the close storm petrel, photograph able in calm conditions at last. An adult summer plumage Mediterranean gull just off Berry Head on the way back in was a nice surprise to end on.

 
Storm petrel

Here's some pics from a very successful boat trip with Nigel out into the bay

  
Manx Shearwaters                                Storm Petrel                                 Mediterranean Gull

This morning was the first of the Lyme Bay boat trips in beautiful sunny calm conditions. A very good trip with 30+ Common Dolphin around the boat to start. Other sightings 32 Manx Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 27? Shearwater, 1 Storm Petrel, Skua sp, Gannet, 60 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill and a Med Gull. While I was chumming a small shark came a took some of the fish parts. Some pictures will be posted later by people on the trip. Running every Sunday morning, last trip 2nd September. Contact number  if interested 07866202576 

Two Cattle Egret resting on estuary below DB hide on east side at 11.00 hrs.  Unfortunately they took off with flock of gulls and I lost sight of them.  Probably gone up Otter valley but may still be around south of Whitebridge. 

Otherwise not a lot around and the scrapes have greened over with only small pools of water left.  A few Black headed and Gt Black-backed Gulls on the estuary.

In with 170 Canada Geese today were 5 white domestics and one Barnacle Goose.

2 juvenile Wheatear, 1 male Redstart with 1 juvenile, 2 pairs of Stonechat feeding juveniles. . Pair of Swallow

  
Juvenile Wheatear                         Juvenile Redstart

High tide roost this lunchtime on the Plym:

7 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, 1 Greenshank. 9 Shelduck on the river, including 2 fledglings.

Blaxton meadow: 10 Little egret, 16 Curlew, 60 Black headed gull, 1 adult Mediterranean gull in breeding plumage, 2 Buzzards overhead.