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.

As there are already a few pics of the drake ring necked duck on Twitter, thought I would put a couple on Devon Birds! Thanks Terry Goddard for the good find! Also pleased to see the 5 pochard and a couple of little grebe! 

  
                  Ring necked duck - Beesands - 21/01/2018                       Little Grebe - Beesands - 21/01/2018

The adult Bonaparte's Gull was off Shelly Beach @1430. Also a fw Glaucous Gull on Bull Hill and a Great Northern Diver off there. The Long-tailed Duck was viewed from the Quay (off Warren Pt). Off Maer Rocks - 3 immature drake Eider still, along with 13+ Common Scoter. Six Goldeneye off Mudbank and yesterday - c30/40+ Brambling - Sowden Lane and at least 1 Firecrest still behind the cricket club. Photos and further sightings on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk.

At least 2 Firecrests still present in gardens of Millin Way, Dawlish Warren. (Don't park in Millin Way as many residents get irate, use the beach carpark at Dawlish Warren).

The images featured were photographed from my house today (21 January)

A Further Firecrest has been showing very well this morning at dead dolphin wood, Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve.

  
Firecrest in Garden Millin Way

From the hide today, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK (male) in with tufted duck and 5 Pochard

Just outside Sutton Harbour this morning a Great Northern Diver & 2 Guillemots.

Woodcock flew over the A379 on way to Plymouth last night - very crepuscular!

Firecrest showing well in Dead Dolphin Wood 9am.

Amazing 119 Hawfinches left the post roost gathering at Perridge estate Longdown this morning..Further birds were left calling in the Hornbeam woodland so the total is still unknown but certainly a new county record. 

A few pics from my Paignton garden (apologies for the quality but don't really have the camera):

This m Bullfinch has been visiting my garden for at least a year, bringing his wife and 3 kids last summer (I know it's the same one as, unfortunately, he has a fungal infection on both legs).

The m Blackcap is one of 2m coming to my fat feeders.

The pm was rounded off nicely with this stonking m Sparrowhawk (I've lived here nearly 3 years and it's only the 2nd time I've seen a m in the garden).

  
Bullfinch                                                           Blackcap                                Sparrowhawk

1 Spoonbill in to roost at South Huish Marsh late this afternoon.

The Iceland Gull showed very well off the top of the headland this afternoon - apparently it was present there all day. Can't make my mind up on age a pale juv/1w with strongly marked two tone bill - or well marked and dark eyed 2w?

A dawn count at Lower Tamar Lake for Goosander showed 25, this was to check how many were staying on the lake at night, as I thought only a few stayed and the rest flew in during the day just to feed. (Wrong again!)

Black-throated Diver east offshore.

Black-throated Diver between Flow Point and Coombe Cellars this morning 08:30 - 09:00 at least. Also on the estuary 38 Shelducks, 29 Red-breasted Mergansers, 350+ Oystercatchers, 91 Curlew, 50+ Redshanks, 42 Dunlin, 14+ Turnstones, eight Ringed Plovers, five Avocets, four Common Sandpipers, two Greenshanks and a Kingfisher.

Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Common Sandpiper, male Kingfisher, 17 Wigeon still around on the pool & 7 Little Grebes.

12.15-12.50

2 Black Redstarts.  Initially a male and a female.  Female flew off in the direction of Well Street and did not return.  Male showed well but was mobile around the rooftops, chimney stacks and aerials in the area around the old Paignton Clink.  Showed well for a period in the small tree in front of 31-49 Littlegate Road.

Several Redwings over too. 

The Iceland Gull still early afternoon circling very close off the end of Berry Head viewable from on top of the headland- also hundreds of auks , c25 Common Dolphin, 3 Harbour Porpoise.

A dawn count this morning proved that Goosanders are spending the night at Stover, with 23 (4 drakes) present at first light. When feeding commenced at 07:55, most of them headed into the inlet, outlet and other narrow channels, where close views could be obtained. I've never come across Goosanders habituated to humans before, but I assume the presence of tame Mallards has helped them to come to terms with us! Great photo opportunities to be had there ....

Other birds included 2 Snipe, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and 2 Redpolls.

The Iceland Gull was again off Berry Head this afternoon and followed a trawler toward Brixham before turning back toward the headland. Never close, this pale pale bird appeared to have an pretty much all dark bill which would make it a juv, but while it was settled on the water the bill appeared to have a more extensive pale base so it might well be a 2w, better too for plumage. 1 hybrid Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull on rocks at Berry Head too. 

video clip: https://youtu.be/Lvp8Igu5PDo 

After filling the feeders at South Milton Ley in the cold and rain, I spent some time looking at the many chiffchaffs by the STW, certainly 25 or more present. 2, possibly more, showing mainly grey plumage with pale buff breasts, no sign of yellow in flight,buff supercilium with black beaks and legs (one rung) gave clear ID of Siberian (tristis) rather than the greener (collybita) of the majority.(thanks to Alan Pomeroy for your recent hands on ID class during your ringing session) At South Huish Marsh I could only make out 3 Cattle Egret with the cattle in the kale field on the hill, whereas we have regularly been seeing a lot more at this location! Incidentally I had a Firecrest by the entrance gate at Aveton Gifford STW this week. There are a few in the village!

Following Steve Hopper's directions we stood in the biting wind and sleet looking for Brambling. 3 were located with a large flock of chaffinch at Warren Road, Dartington, feeding on the beech mast and on the ground. Also a a single Yellowhammer in beech tree. Not easy to photograph due to hideous weather.

DW: Long-tailed Duck offshore plus 4 Great Northern Divers & 118 Great Crested Grebes. Slavonian Grebe off Cockwwod.

Haldon: Superb male Brambling on the feeders in car park plus 3 Siskin. No sign of any Crossbills on the trails.First Red Admiral of the year!

A single Med Gull near the ferry crossing on Mount Batten side, showed very clearly, then flew of towards the coast

3 Great Northern Divers in the bay this morning .

The forecast for Sunday 21st is wet to very wet and so we have decided to postpone the reed cut planned for that day.  We hope to be able to carry our the cut in February and will let you know the date and soon as we fix it.

Nick Townsend

A look at first light from the quay provided me with distant views of the Long-tailed Duck off shore from the Warren Point. Also 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Eider, several Common Scoter and Slavonian Grebe near Cockwood.

More details http://dixiesbirding.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

For most of this winter we have had 40-50 Goldfinches roosting overnight in a bay tree in the garden; they tend to arrive as it is starting to get dimpsy, and emerge as soon as it is reasonably light the following morning. Siskins are back at feeders earlier than usual this year, also this week we have had 1 Fieldfare, feeding on Crab Apples, plus a pair of Blackcaps.

The Long-tailed Duck present again late afternoon (1630hrs) off the mouth of the Exe, viewable from near the Rockfish restaurant. Also 3 Great Northern Divers there.

Good day at Haldon Forest, 9 Crossbill near the Forestry Commission building, Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Siskin, and one male Brambling briefly by the feeders (scared off by dogs and didn't return.

  
Common Crossbill                        Female Bullfinch                                           Siskin

Spoonbill flying high over the A381 between Kingsbridge and Marlborough heading towards the coast, 16:45 today.

A short look late afternoon - 31 Turnstones & Kingfisher on Blagdon’s Meadow, 16+ Wigeon & 7 Goosanders (3m) at top end.

Powderham marsh RSPB - 450+ Golden plover, 200+ Lapwing, 200+ Black-tailed godwit, Kingfisher, 30+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 20+ Cirl bunting, 10+ Stonechat, 35+ Linnet...

Some of the 40/50 Siskins regularly visiting feeders outside my office window in Broadwoodwidger. Woodpeckers,Nuthatches,TisandFinches also. 

The over wintering male Black Redstart ( originally found by Andy P in November) still present this morning on the roof of 31-49 Littlegate Road. It has also been seen on Well Street and Churchward Road)

South Huish Marsh / South Milton beach ~ Stonechat, Black Tailed Godwit, Oyster catcher, Little Egret, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, a small number of Pipits moving around certainly Rock and Meadow and possibly a Water Pipit as well, Teal, Wigeon, Great Black Backed Gull and Buzzard.

On the rocks 3 Ringed Plover and 5 Turnstone.

Aveton Gifford ~ Common Sandpiper 3, Greenshank 4, Redshank, Oyster Catcher, Buzzard, Curlew, Little Grebe 3, Kingfisher, Song Thrush, Stock Dove and Grey Wagtail.

On the way back home to South Brent several Buzzards and a Sparrow Hawk near California Cross.

On the garden feeder this morning a female Siskin.

Berry Head was alive with_f sea birds this morning off the headland,Many Fulmar,Gannett.Fulmer,Kittiwake,Guillemotf,Razorbill  and Shags.The highlight was a adult Icelandic Gull mixing with the Kittiwakes.Also a Mediterranean Gull flew past.

Belated news from yesterday afternoon's Stuart Lines cruise. After a Great Northern Diver off Exmouth sea front, there were two more inside the estuary, around Bull Hill. A Guillemot was lingering near to Exmouth marina, the usual Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood and c8 Great Crested Grebes were mainly in central parts of the estuary. Approx 290 Pintail between Lympstone Barracks and the mouth of the Clyst is the largest number I've ever seen on the Exe. A drake Goldeneye was at Topsham and 5, including 2 drakes, were off Cockwood. Good numbers of waders included 50+ Knot, 4 Greenshank, 100+ Grey Plover, c300 Golden Plover, c300 Avocets, c100 Bar-tailed and 500+ Black-tailed Godwits.

Wednesday around midday, both the male and female Blackcap were on our feeders in the garden, along with the sparrows and bluetits.

Bullfinch with a mixed finch flock 10.30 am today 

I braved the strong wind at the end of Brixham breakwater this morning (about 11 am) and was rewarded by the spectacle of large numbers of Gannets (about 200), with many diving into a shoal of fish not far off the oysterbeds.  As I watched, there was a flow of Gannets coming into Torbay to join the throng. Also, 7 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the derelict structure, in their usual place, and 2 Great Northern Divers just outside the harbout entrance.

After lunch, I went on to Broadsands, though I missed most of the birds mentioned by Mike.  There were 2 or 3 more Great Northern Divers, but all the Cirl Buntings seemed to have eaten the seeds and disappeared! Scanning the sea confirmed my estimate of the number of Gannets, with over 200 Gannet-shaped dots counted. There were also some distant (common) dolphins, perhaps also brought into the bay to feed on the shoal. 

Brambing Siskin regular visits this week, . some 300 plus fieldfair / redwing flock in field 

Three Brambling still with the Chaffinch flock on Deer Park Road, Dartington Hall.

Buzzard, Song Thrush and Jay also on site

hawfinch seen at Topsham Cemetery this morning only one bird, and a waterpipit seen with several others at Colyford marsh, elsewhere around the site it was very quiet.

One bird present again this afternoon in solar panel field with sheep

Wigeon have increased to 18 on Plym Estuary. Also Dipper showing well and  2 Kingfishers but only saw one Goosander today.

Firecrest , 10 Teal & Chiffchaff in Efford Marsh.

On the sea: 1 Black-throated Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers, 15 Great Northern Divers, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 35 Cormorants, 40+ Shags, 200 + Auks

1 Firecrest in the masrh between the car parks, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. 

33 Cirl Buntings, 3 Reed Buntings on seed in the 2nd car park.

I had a female hawfinch feeding in my back garden in Woolwell on the outskirts of Plymouth.

The 3 Firecrests reported from my garden on Saturday, came back on Sunday and briefly on Monday.  Not seen them today. 

Walking on footpath south from Plymouth Road alongside River Plym under Devon Expressway flyover. Firecrest alone feeding in hedges, a finch/tit flock consisting of Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Great and Blue also contained at least five Siskin (2 males, 3 females). Birds were dropping down on to the footpath. Also excellent views of Dipper feeding in shallows of dropping tide.

Wembury Bay: Firecrest, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), 8 Chiffchaffs & 4 Cirl Buntings.
Plym Estuary & Saltram: Woodcock, Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, 14+ Wigeon & 2 Green Woodpeckers.
Cattewater: 2 Great Northern Divers & ad-w Mediterranean Gull.

Group of a least 7 Purple Sandpipers with some Turnstones & Oystercatchers on Maer Rocks at around 2pm - also a Great Northern Diver in the channel opposite The Ocean

Goosanders now reached (record?) count of 9 (3 drakes). Also 52 Curlews on the pool, 8 Oystercatchers, 15 Wigeon, Great Northern Diver, Kingfisher & 5 Little Grebes.

Probably should have posted this earlier, so apologies. Rode along to Wrafton Pond this morning before visiting the reserve, and spied a large flock of Canada Geese in the field between the scrape and Chivenor. Closer investigation revealed a Greylag Goose amongst them, and then further into the flock a PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. Still lots of Tits and FInches in the reserve.

Ringing yesterday produced a further 6 Reed Buntings amongst the usual suspects.

Successful run down to Slapton on Sunday, Slav. Grebe, Gadwall, Goldeneye, 3 x Water Rails, Kingfisher, Cettis, and a report of a Bittern flying across the Ley,...not seen personally.

Pair of Goosander just downstream of the new bridge, plus another male close by. About 90 Brent Geese grazing in the marsh nearby next to the Tarka Trail.

A SLAVONIAN Grebe at Torcross. A typical cleanly marked individual, but confusingly in the same location as the 2 Black. Necks that have been present ,on and off for at least a fortnight.

The drake American Wigeon still present on the second pool up showing very well at 1300hrs.

Good turnout of members arrived at Darts Farm to see large flocks of Brent geese, and black tailed godwits spooked by a peregrine. Chiff chaff down by the hide. Then a hawfinch (or possible second one) at Topsham cemetery. Good selection of ducks at Bowling Green Marsh including wigeon, shoveller, tufted and pintail. A posing kingfisher and then large gatherings of avocets and golden plover from the Goat Walk plus red breasted mergansers.

Firecrest & Blackcap seen this morning in the garden.