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.

To complement the other Bowling Green postings from today, a few pictures of some of the 4 Curlew Sandpipers there this afternoon Thanks to the guys who helped locate them.

Curlew Sandpiper

Tawny owls at South Brent this evening just after 8pm, three calling and two in view at the same time at one point, Fox calling towards the village..

Two Sparrow Hawk sightings from home this afternoon, Raven and Buzzard overhead.

Apologies for the late report but thought it worth posting this. Yesterday, 13.9.17  at the Discovery Hut, Seaton, greenshank, common sandpiper, reed buntings galore, dunlin and sand martins. On Colyford Common scrape two unidentified birds which I have submitted for positive ID, common sandpiper and greenshank. Today 14.9.17  two wheatear on Seaton beack

I've been coming here on holiday for the past eleven or twelve years and every year throws up something different and exciting. Whoever said bird watching was boring has never tried it.

Mobile terns this evening off Mount Batten Pier ranging from Jennycliff Bay and The Cattewater to Devils Point - 7+ Arctic terns, 10+common terns and 20+Sandwich terns but probably many more. Also 1 gannet and 2 ad winter and 2 first winter Mediterranean gulls.

1 Juv Arctic tern resting on the Pier down to a few feet - gorgeous looking bird.

Still plenty of Blackwits at Anchorwoods bank but the highlight was a Grey Phalarope. First one I have ever seen at this site.

Grey Phalarope

Green Sandpiper this morning at BGM and the Ruff with Greenshanks on Goosemoor

Green Sandpiper                              Ruff and Greenshank                            Greenshank

Good views of a Great White Egret this morning. 

Great White Egret

3 Curlew Sandpipers from the hide this lunchtime. A few Ringed Plovers flew in with a flock of Dunlin but didn't land.

At Goosemoor, 2 Common Sandpipers.

0700-1100 Wind NW6

2 Sooty Shearwater, 7 Balearic Shearwater, 220 Manx Shearwater, 3 Arctic Skua (2 pale, 1 int), 1 Bonxie, 50 kittiwake, 9 Common Scoter, 1 juv Sabine's Gull, 1 Grey Phalarope, 3 Sandwich terns, 2 Common Terns plus 5 Harbour Porpoise.

One Osprey in the Wall Park, Halwill Wood area at the mouth of Frogmore Creek around 09:00 Thursday morning. Might have alighted in Wall Park or gone out onto the main estuary at about 09:15.

Distant record shot                             Halwill Wood in background

This mornings visit

Not sure why photos did not attach to previous post

The Osprey was seen again this morning, fishing during a heavy shower. I see there is a query regarding the ring number, I would be happy to forward the blown-up picture to anyone who wants it....message me at .....denzey1@outlook.com and I'll forward the reply I got from Tim Mackrill....thanks..!

As a follow up to Pete's post. Here are a couple of record shots of the Sabine's Gull on the Plym

A Juv Sabine's Gull on and near the pontoon opposite the Green House on the Plym Estuary before flying off high South at 12.10. Also on the Plym: Turnstone 20+, Curlew 26, Oystercatcher 9, Common Sandpiper 2 or 3, Shag 2, Little Egret 12, Grey Heron 12.

In the Sound today 9 Arctic Terns, flock of c35 Commic Terns at distance, Black Tern , c20 Sandwich Terns and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.

Vic Tucker asked me to report he had 15 Arctic and 23 Common Terns in the Sound.

Roy Dennis identified the bird as Scottish juvenile LH6. I cannot find this number on this website : http://ukospreys.uk/darvic-blue3chr.htm. Is it possible it is LH0, with the zero being mistaken for a 6 from afar?

Thanks to a call from Dave PAKES a goodly number of birders were able to view the Grey Phalarope that Dave found on the marsh, apparently it is a first fore the marsh.

Unfortunately due to the bright light record shots only. 

Others species noted were Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black Tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard and Teal.

Good views of at least four Curlew Sandpipers and a Whimbrel with the Curlew

  
Curlew Sandpiper and Redshank       Whimbrel and Curlew              Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit           

A single Ruff was with a small group of Greenshank & Redshank at Goosemoor this lunchtime.

Quick detective work from Roy as usual! If that is correct it should be possible to identify the nest it was from it's gender and when it fledged.

Further to my enquiry to Roy Dennis, it seems that the ring number is LH6...

Further to my earlier post, Roy Dennis has initially confirmed that it seems to be a Scottish bird, hatched this year....I'll update if he can work out the ring ID.......

Lots of waders feeding in the mudflats on a receding tide Including:
70+ Blackwits, 2x Ruff, 6x Pintail and 40 odd Dunlin.

  
Black-tailed Godwit                                        Ruff                                               Black-tailed Godwit

Driving back across the Braunton Marsh, I stopped to see if any Cattle Egrets had appeared, and I'm pretty sure I saw an Osprey flying fast east towards the Caen river mouth over the Horsey Island area. Looking carefully at Alan's great picture (below) it clearly has a blue ring on. I think this designates it as a Scottish bird. Alan, can you blow up any pictures to see if you can read the ring number?

An osprey on a post in Horsey Island early afternoon then again later on a sand bank adjacent to Chivenor Camp.

Fairly busy at the Dawlish Warren hide for the high tide today.

On entering the reserve steady passage of House Martins with a few Swallows, several mixed flocks of Goldfinch and Linnet.

Approaching the hide a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover later joined by a few Sanderling.

From the hide a single Black Tern that came in and left without landing, Common and an Arctic Tern in with the more numerous Sandwich Terns.

A single Wheatear, then a reasonably low flying Spitfire came down the river and over the hide which moved a good number of the birds about. 

Osprey fishing in the Horsey Island lagoon this morning. 

Osprey

Walked to the reserve this morning, still recovering from hernia operation, so not allowed to drive or use bike! Today 85+ Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape (only 39 yesterday) a Mediterranean Gull amongst the Black-headed Gull flock. Still Swallows, Sand Martins and mostly House Martins feeding in the lee of the reserve.

Fremington Pill this morning ; 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers , 1 Glossy Ibis , 1 Spotted Redshank , 2 Greenshanks , 2 Dunlin

11/09.   At least 60 House Martins and c. 12 Swallows feeding over the lake this morning - no sign of the Black Tern.

Harvey Kendall

Went to the hide to see the spotted redshank but found instead this lonesome sanderling. What a beautiful little bird. Also a kingfisher sat within twenty feet, allowing me to film it.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND

Cattle egret flew past towards the marshes 5.30ish. 

1st seen last Thursday but didn't post as I wasn't 100% sure, but the Spotted Flycatchers were still present this afternoon at Occombe. At least 2 if not 3. And this is the 1st time I've seen this bird here. Also, a small flock of c20 Goldfinches, several Jays, both Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Buzzard, and numerous House Martins.

From Bowling Green Marsh Viewing Platform - An Osprey flew out of Powderham Park below the sailing club at c2pm and watched for 20 minutes circling the river distantly in the Powderham / Starcross area- it was joined by a second Osprey mid river - one of them watched across the river before starting to fish off the Imperial Ground , Exmouth. Later at least one of them returned to Powderham . 

On the dropping tide 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Kingfisher both showed well.

I did send this report in this morning but it seems to have got lost in the high winds! A juvenile Sabine's Gull flew along the line of the pebble ridge at Westward Ho! this morning at about 9.15. I could not relocate it at Westward Ho! looking out from the Lifeguard lookout at the end of the promenade.

At Skern there were 13 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1Kittiwake, 2 Black Tern and a juvenile Gannet with a length of orange nylon cord around its legs. I managed to rescue a Manx Shearwater which was exhausted on the beach. It is now with the North Devon Animal Ambulance service via the vets in Bideford!

Martin Unwin sent me a message that he had seen a juvenile Sabine's Gull along the pebble ridge. It was lost to view and he is still on site looking for it.

Certainly one Curlew Sandpiper in with 480 Dunlin, 200+ Redshank, 20+ Greenshank, 239 Curlew, 470+ Blackwit, 1 Barwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 138 Teal, 48 Wigeon& 10 Shoveler.

Seawatch 11.30-4.30, watching binocular range only. Very, very quiet with a slow passage of gannets (difficult to count with many birds circling and going back north), a few fulmars and one or two kittiwakes behaving likewise. 2 common scoter, 1 knot, 2 razorbill and 1 great skua all south, and 1 balearic shearwater briefly seen under a flock of gulls. 

Juvenile Sabine's Gull flew along the pebble ridge from Sandymere towards Westward Ho! at about 9.30 this morning. I couldn't relocate the bird from the promenade at Westward Ho! and then had to rescue an exhausted Manx Shearwater!

later at Skern on the ebb tide there were 2 juvenile Black Tern, 13 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and one juvenile Gannet with orange nylon cord around its feet!

Osprey over sea seen from near Teignmouth pier 11:25 Sunday 10/09/17

Three Black Terns flying around in front of hide, also landing on posts in front of hide 

Little Stint in with the other small waders on  beach right of wooden boarding as you go down bank to hide

Grey Phalarope showed well by the hide

1 Osprey late afternoon and 5+ Mediterranean Gulls in with a large flock of Black-headed.

Having, for many years seen on film, and read about, the migration habits of swallows and martins, today i was privilege to finally watch the real thing. an event made more special by the inclusion of several sand martins (photos enclosed) which allowed me to get within fifteen feet taking photos. They were using the wooden boardwalk of the hide as their staging post. 

One Black Tern over the lake this morning.

80+ Gannets midday in the bay at Outer Hope.

A Grey Phalarope briefly by the lifeboat station @09.45,  3 Black Terns, 15 Sandwich Terns, Common Tern, 5 Common Scoters, 2 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

bonapartes gull showing well by groyne 7 at 9.50 and then much closer in on dawlish beach not far from train station 10.50 then flew towards teignmouth... also dark arctic skua by and yellow legged gull by station...

Grey Phalarope Dawlish Warren 10.09.17

video -  https://youtu.be/bh891KdBcGQ

Grey Phalarope

This stretch of the Exe WeBS count was almost birdless today. Highlights were 10 little egrets feeding in a group and 2 common sandpipers. The sea wall was more productive with 2 wheatear, 1 reed bunting and small flocks of linnet, greenfinch and goldfinch. Overhead a steady stream of house martins south. On the marshes - 3+ blackcap, c20 chiffchaff and one reed warbler

Yesterday (Saturday) osprey over marshes towards motorway at 13.00.

 A visit to South Efford Marsh, Aveton Gifford gave a Cattle Egret ( the first one I have seen here) six Greenshank along with a single Redshank.

Four Yellow Wagtails feeding alongside Pied Wagtails amongst the cattle on the hillside opposite the hide.

Six Dunlin flew up the length of the marsh.

2 curlew sandpipers in frount of the hide. Also at the hide redshank, curlew, shoveler, mallard, black-backed godwit, magpie, cormorant, little egret, dunlin, moorhen, greenshank, coot, grey heron, shelduck, canada geese, little grebe, house martin, lesser black-backed gull and swallows.

At the platform: sandwich terns, gulls, cormorants, flyover canada geese, blue tit, cetti's warbler and some black terns but to far away for me to see!

A few good birds up the valley along the western path towards near to the aqueduct with a family group (?) of 3 Spotted Flycatcher, numbers of Chiffchaff, a Gt spotted Woodpecker and 2 Bullfinch in the same area.

Moving on to Blackhill Quarry on the commons the lake produced a Cackling Goose (at rear of picture) together with c100 Canada Geese and a Little Grebe and Mallard. Green Woodpecker seen and heard several times here previously.

After getting up at silly o'clock we arrived at Tower Hide, Seaton Wetlands in anticipation of seeing the Osprey. After a couple of hours it showed briefly, around 9.30am, only to be seen off by 4 buzzards. It resurfaced again a couple of hours later, around 11.18am, and spent a good five minutes right in front of the hide scouting for fish. The rain was pouring and it was overcast, so photos are grainy. It then exited right, gained height and was reported heading in an Exeter direction. 

We travelled on to the Powderham area, where we located another Osprey, between Starcross and Exmouth. I watched it make two dives and came up successful on the second. A huge flock of gulls persued it relentlessly and it flew towards Powderham to consume its dinner. I did manage a series of photos, but it was so distant it could only be a 'record shot'. I am wondering whether this one could be the Osprey that left Seaton that morning.

Two Osprey below 17 arches bridge today.

A great morning at the Warren, all the usual stuff with Osprey, Artic, Black and Sandwich Terns with the Little Stint with the other small waders.

  
Black Terns with Sandwich Tern in the middle.   Artic and Sandwich Tern   Little Stint with Dunlin and Ringed Plover

This pm had a Swift over the house in Exeter. 

At Soar Mill Cove and Southdown Farm this morning, of note: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 25 Blackcaps, 15 Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear and 2 Sparrowhawks.

At South Efford Marsh, early pm: 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 1 Cattle Egret, c8 Yellow Wagtails, 2 White Wagtails and 1 Hobby.

First thing this morning the Hobby came in for food and was given a serious mobbing by Jackdaws an Carrion Crows that made every effort to force in down to the ground but despite the odds it out flew them and collected its food.

While this was going on Green Woodpecker calling near by, two Ravens overhead and light passage of Swallows.

And shortly after the Hobby had left a low flying Peregrine passed over flying towards the village.

Wryneck seen at same point as reported on 06-06-2017 in small bare elder bushes near to pines, 08:15.  Bird seen nearby 35 minutes later from track leading down to lido beach, low in gorse.

Wryneck 09-09-2017

06:30-10:00, mod NW.

Ringed Plover, 10 Tree Pipits, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, 3 Whitethroats, 16 Blackcaps, 18 Chiffchaffs and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Wryneck seen at same point as reported on 06-06-2017 in small bare elder bushes near to pines, 08:15.  Bird seen nearby 35 minutes later from track leading down to lido beach, low in gorse.

Wryneck 09-09-2017

1 curlew sandpiper, 1 ruff and 1 green sandpiper at Bowling Green Marsh this morning along with the usual waders on the high tide. A female marsh harrier also showing well hunting over the back of the marsh.

From the River Clyst viewing platform on the dropping tide presumably the same curlew sandpiper and 2 kingfisher.

Slavonian grebe off Cockwood (from the train).

At Dawlish Warren 2 black terns on the sand banks offshore with Sandwich terns

Just had juvenile green woodpecker on my front lawn again. After ants as usual, came very close to the front porch.

Seawatch 06.40-13.40: Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater 19, Manx Shearwater 6, Pomarine Skua, Artctic Skua 25, Bonxie 10, Skua sp 15, Common Scoter 18, Storm Petrel sp, "Commic" Tern, Sandwich Tern, Yellow-legged Gull juv, Mediterranean Gull juv, c200 Kittiwakes, Harbour Porpoise 3+, Common Dolphin c12 and 2 Grey Wagtails around the rocks.

Osprey.  Maristow Quay.  Came flying down river from Lopwell Dam and headed towards Warleigh.

Adult winter Boneparte's on beach at Groyne 1 this morning. 1st winter Med gull also present.

This morning over the house in Exeter was 80+ House Martin's. A good number but eclipsed by 1500+ over Powderham Estate. Another 200+ over Shaldon. 

Yesterday 6 Greenshank & 2 Common Sands at Passage House Inn on the Teign. 

And Wednesday 5 Green Sandpiper at Matford Pond.