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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.

Hoping that the North/East winds might have blown in some Purple Sandpiper, I was pleased to find a group of 6 halfway up the breakwater.

Also 14 x Turnstone and 2 x Rock Pipit

 
Purple Sandpipers

Today the Godwit flock has increased to 10 on the scrape. Although early yesterday there were none 'coz it was frozen! Later in the day 9 appeared.

Ringing in the reserve yesterday was very busy - 87 birds ringed, mostly Finches, 37 Greenfinch and 18 Chaffinch plus 4 Gold and a lone Bullfinch. Also ringed 2 more Cetti's Warblers bringing the total to 14 for the year - the highest total yet.

A very obliging Water Rail

Water Rail

I Mute Swan, c250+ Canada Geese, 37 Coot, 3 Shoveler, 2 female Scaup, , 1 male Goosander,, low numbers of Teal and Wigeon, 1 Cormorant.

Harvey Kendall

Black redstart halfway up clock tower. Same area where peregrine is seen, so enjoy it while we can...

Thought I'd post a couple of dragonfly photos as we won't be seeing any for much longer this year. A common darter and a migrant hawker at Slapton 30/10/2018

Common Darter                               Migrant Hawker

Pectoral Sandpiper showing well at South Huish marsh also a water pipit spotted by David Pakes, A couple of Buzzards one with a snack can't quite make out what it's got, could be a frog.

  
Pectoral Sandpiper                         Water Pipit                                             Buzzard

A late afternoon visit. Lots of common stuff around, including a very obliging Buzzard on a fence post by the car park. The best birds were a Kingfisher, Little Grebe and Little Egret on the river and 5+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 of which flew off towards central Plymouth. 

 
Buzzard                                          Mistle Thrush

Red kite being mobbed by crows 

Pectoral Sandpiper Spotted By Dave Pakes This Afternoon On South Huish Marsh.A Peregrine Flew Low And Scattered The Teal, Snipe & Sandpiper!!

I Re Found The Sandpiper Further Up The Marsh,  It Was Feeding Well In The Low Autumn Sunshine.

Small flock of approximately twenty five common scoters 500 metres off Sprey Point.  They appeared to favour this spot throughout last winter.

Red Kite interacting with rooks south east of Brayford at 13.20 today, perhaps a juvenile as pale underwing lacked definition.

2 Yellow-browed Warblers one at top lake by gate to Roselands and other down near the YMCA, in trees along the stream behind the Golf driving range. Cetti's Warbler still present and at least 17 Gadwall.

                          Top lake bird                                                                         YMCA bird

Amongst a flock of Long tailed tits, Coal tits and Goldcrests a single Firecrest in a pine tree in garden, second ever garden sighting almost a year to the day.

A Yellow Browed Warbler ringed this morning. Very few  other migrants present. 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Grey Wagtails ( possibly migrants )

Y B.Warbler

Small flocks of Brambling feeding on Beech mast on roads around east Anstey Common and Hawkridge

Raw N wind keeping things cool. Started off with a look at Start Bay and rewarded at 06:55 when a young Whooper Swan flew south, keeping going. Bit sad as I guess it's become detached from it's family. Also one fcy Med Gull amongst the now commoner Common Gulls.Vis mig from Slapton Bridge 07:35-08:45 was good with highlights of 10500 Woodpigeons south and Brambling, Lesser Redpoll, 54 Siskins, 92 Chaffinches and 16 Crossbills north. Firecrest and Kingfisher around the bridge.Ring-necked Duck and male Scaup still present along with at least one different female Scaup to yesterday ( light terrible for looking at the ducks in Ireland Bay ). Yellow-browed Warbler calling around the boardwalk below the sewage works. Black-necked and Little Grebe viewable from the pond dipping platform and watched an Otter swimming with it's fish across the ley.

Over at Beesands Ley late afternoon there was a juv. Great Crested Grebe, 5 Gadwalls, 2 Shovelers and 12 Teals. Lastly thought I had a storm driven petrel new to science flying around but it was probably a Daubenton's Bat.

On this morning's high tide, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Greenshanks, 13 Dunlins, 42 Curlews, 145 Redshanks, Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Egrets, 13 Grey Herons & at least 1 Ring-necked Parakeet.  

Large flocks travelling up the valley, fieldfare, redwing, pigeons, linnets, chaffinch, mixed tits, plus one solitary Egret a bit off track. 

Red-throated Diver off Morte Point 0930 this morning, also Short-eared Owl around the Point between 0830 and 0930 eventually flying over the Bay towards Woolacombe. 40+ Gannets fishing around the buoy with Razorbills and Guillemots present.

  
Red-throated Diver                                          Short-eared Owl

Very .ittle around the Burrows early afternoon at low tide, but a Short-eared Owl, roosting in long grass near the 8 th green was a surprise.

A JACK snipe flushed this morning. An unusual sighting here. Still poor for common migrants, just 6 Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcaps. No Crests.

Sightings for the Lower Lake this morning.

1m Goosander (first this winter), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Goldcrest, 2f Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 17 Moorhen, 48 Wigeon, 25 Mallard, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Black-headed Gull, c150 Canada Geese, 9 Shoveler, 34 Coot, 1 Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Teal, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron.

Best today was a Short-eared Owl over the fields plus continuing easterly migration of 4140 Woodpigeon & 242 Stock Dove. Also on site: 12 Golden Plover, migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 680 Skylark, 28 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 31 Blackbird, Redwing, 13 Song Thrush, Blackcapo. Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 115 Starling & 22 Magpie.

A canopy feeding long billed Willow Warbler gave me the run around this morning before eventually giving itself up and showing in well scrub. Also 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest. 6 Blackcap.

Overhead proved fairly successful to in 1 hour the following was the pick of the bunch: 14 Crossbill, 4 Brambling, 42 Siskin.

Willow Warbler

Siberian Chiffchaff 

A flock of about 50 Golden Plover flying together whilst walking on Dartmoor this morning.

My first Red Kite in Devon. Flying over North Devon Link Road. Friday afternoon (no internet ‘til tonight). 

Aft -  On the reserve 1 Ross's x Barnacle Goose in amongst a flock of Canada Geese.

On Wrafton pond 5 Wigeon & 1 female Pintail. On the scrape 8 Black tailed Godwits.

News from Friday of a white rumped ring-tailed harrier seen just inland whilst walking coast path from Coleton Fishacre to Kingswear. Seen up the valley from cliff above Kellys cove. Very floaty actobatic flight. I assumed hen harrier but would love to know if others have seen and could confirm id

Good views of the male Scaup as well as the Ring-necked Duck. see my blog for more http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp

  
Ring-necked Duck and Tufted Duck                      Male Scaup and Tufted Duck

Plenty of birds sheltering to the left of the hide out of the wind, counted 52 Mute Swans as well as a Black Swan, 46 Canada Geese and up to 100 ducks with Tufted, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler. Probably more around the corner.

Black Swan

Great start to the windy day looking at Start Bay when a fcy Black Guillemot flew north off the Memorial Car Park at 07:05. Could this be the same bird Dave Cope saw on 23rd September ? In Ireland Bay a male Ring-necked Duck, probably the bird that was at Beesands Ley earlier this year returning to the area. Also 2 Scaup ( fcy female and a male ), 92 Tufted Duck, c250 Coots and 2 Wigeons. Offshore heading north 7 Teals, 11 Pintails and 2 Common Scoters. 5 Brent Geese the other way.

At high tide this morning:

52 Curlew, 186 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 20 Grey heron, 6 Dunlin, 6 Black tailed Godwit, 6 Little egret, 3 Little grebe.

Sunny walk along the Tamar / Kingsmill Lake an hour after high tide. 30+ Avocets, 2 Grey Plovers, 4 Dublin, 6 Lapwings, 1 Great Crested Grebe not quite in full winter plumage. 2 Greenshanks, numerous Blackwits, Widgeon, Curlews, Redshanks, Canada Geese and 4 Grey Herons.

Highlights yesterday with Pat Mayer : a Barred Warbler found half-way down Pig's Nose Valley at 12.30. Showed well until it flew down the valley at 12.55pm but could not be relocated. Earlier at 9.35am a Harrier sp. seen flying from below the village, over Bunkers and around the point mobbed by Jackdaws. Reported on Twitter as a Hen Harrier but photos might indicate this bird had 4 'fingers' ! More news later.

Vizmig from the Hump starting at 7.45am  in cold ,breezy northerly wind : 3/4 Crossbills, 2/3 Brambling, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Fieldfare, 9 Siskins, Skylarks 26,Chaffinch 30, Meadow Pipits 27, Woodpigeons 500+, Stock Doves 121, Starlings 300,  Noteable that  few Goldfinches and Linnets moving this morning.

Elsewhere a couple of Goldcrests (fewer numbers than last year), Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. 1 Song Thrush. Also 6 Golden Plover over PIg's Nose Valley and 6 Kestrels locally and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Barred Warbler, 27 October 2018 Pig's Nose Valley, East Prawle

Late post 11 am yestrrday. Golden Plover,  about 20 flying.

6 Cattle Egrets passing over Mountwise at 8.05. Heading north. 

Numerous Fieldfare 30-50 ...at Badgers Holt around lunchtime today. They were spread between 3 Hawthorne trees.

Highlights were 8 Whooper Swans on the sea that swam past Maelcombe House heading east then later on rocks just east of Lannacombe Beach. Also 1 Yellow-browed Warbler in willows up from  Woodcombe beach and a Ring Ouzel there too. Just 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrest seen and heard on the entire walk!

Left my camera at home today so here a hand held iphone to binoculars photo of the Whopper Swans!

Really large flocks of Fieldfare all around this area. 

Away for a few days so quite pleased to find a Little Grebe back in the reserve after an absence of several weeks. Also in there a Red Admiral out during a sunny spell between showers.

Out on the scrape:8 Black-tailed Godwits.

Great views of a Bittern out in the open in the higher ley from the bridge mid-morning. Also 2 Goldeneye, 3 Wigeon, 2 Firecrest and 20+ Siskin this morning.

Clearly overlap with earlier posts but....

Soar - Ring Ouzel, 12+ Song Thrushes, 3 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Siskin, Water Rail, Redwing, Goldcrest, plus c175 Stock Doves & 500+ Wood Pigeons over.

Slapton Ley - the Yellow-browed Warbler at top end of Ireland Bay still present  early afternoon, 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Little Grebes & 4 Goldcrests. 

Hobby late this afternoon, twisting and turning low over the fields in Kennerleigh, probably driven south by today's cold weather. 

One, possibly 2 Yellow-browed Warblers around the boardwalk leading to Marsh Lane. 20 flighty Teal in Ireland Bay may have arrived today.

2 Yellow-browed Warblers still present outside-right, top corner of top lake & bushes top of rec (2 heard, 1 seen on two occasions) this am.

3 Med Gulls (ads) amongst Black-headed Gulls on rugby pitch c.08:00.

Also: 1-2 Kingfishers; 2-3 Chiffchaff; several Gadwall; 1 Migrant Hawker.

Best were 2 Ring Ouzel in Starehole and Merlin overhead. Vis mig easterly in the shape of c.1520 Woodpigeon & 620 Stock Dove, all mixed in together so these are my best estimates!

An after work visit produced a brief Woodlark. Seen just south of the farm and it flew off towards the football pitch. Could not relocate. More info at http://dixiesbirding.blogspot.com

Two Firecrests in Lipson this afternoon.

1 Great White Egret on Horsey late afternoon.

1 Yellow-browed Warbler, Start Farm. 1 Ring Ouzel, on hawthorns above coast path, east of Lannacombe. 3pm.

Yellow-browed Warbler & 2 Firecrests on Marsh Lane footpath near Deer Bridge.

Ruff showing well this morning

Ruff

Noting the Torquay Hen Harrier (HH) post yesterday we today saw a HH in the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliff NNR. The white uppertail-coverts clearly seen as the HH flew east under the cliff after , we assume, being chased out by a screeching Jay.London

A pleasant walk in the sunshine was enlived by a marsh harrier and peregrine close to the RSPB car park from the road down to the canal

walked up to the dam looking for ring ouzels, but couldn't see any, only fieldfares about 25,   on the way back we had a ringtailed hen harrier working the ridge on the left hand side, this sighting was confirmed for us by a young lad who had took a photo of the bird showing the white ring just before its tail.  thanks for that.

0755 to 1420hrs: Yellow-browed Warbler in willows west of Soar Mill Cove; Vis mig in the shape of 1100 Woodpigeon & 190 Stock Dove mainly south & east; 100 Jackdaw & 66 Starling going all ways; autumn peak of 800 Skylark, most grounded some moving west. Also on site: 17 Blackbird, Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 22 Blue Tit moving through Soar Mill Valley, migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tit, first Snipe & Reed Bunting of the autumn, 200 Linnet & 43 Yellowhammer.

Non-avian: Holly Blue, Speckled Wood & 19 Red Admiral. Later at Blackpool Sands 3 Clouded Yellow.

Yesterday afternoon there were a fem/imm Merlin and a Wheatear at Wembury Point, followed by about 8 Ring-necked Parakeets at Saltram House (initially 4 chasing a Buzzard, then 5 together, then c8 whizzing around the trees).

At last the small waders are beginning to show :- 8 Golden Plover; c30 Dunlin and 1 Ringed Plover. Black-tailed Godwit had dropped to only 8. About 400+ Curlew and 500 Lapwing.

2 Yellow-browed Warblers between the upper and middle lakes, calling and chasing each other. One located later between lower and middle lake. Cetti's Warbler still present, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Swallow at least 17 Gadwall, 2 Snipe and kingfisher.  

Great Northern Loon

During a lunchtime visit, I bumped into a local who asked me to check out/ID a photo of a raptor that he had taken at 10.30 today. Camera image was clearly a Ringtail Hen Harrier flying across the site's lower slope. No further sign though. 

Later, close to the entrance gate, a lone Fieldfare and a large number of ladybirds! 

Took a group out to the Mewstone on a boat trip and was very surprised to see a Crane fly overhead towards Plymouth. All neck and legs, no photo sadly but have seen them before so positive in my ID.

Yellow-browed Warbler (East Prawle Wood), Black Redstart, Firecrest, 6 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap & 7 Goldcrests grounded. Overhead, c500 Wood Pigeons, 15+ Stock Doves, Golden Plover, Dunlin , c150 Jackdaws & 3 Siskins.

Sightings for Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

1 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 5 Tufted Duck 3m 2f, 15 Wigeon, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe, c200 Canada Geese, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Teal, 5 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch,1 Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit.

Sorry forgot the picture!!!

Eds - Reed Bunting 

Is this a Reed Bunting or a Linnet. Am hoping it's the Bunting. Seen today on Roborough Down, and if it is the Bunting then others seen a few days ago as well.

Flew over my head towards the river as I walked down the path alongside the railway-line at around mid-day today

Great White Egret

Yellow-browed Warbler still at Lower Soar, 5 Ring Ouzel in Starehole & Merlin over airfield. Vis mig easterly: 7760 Woodpigeon, 280 Stock Dove, 23 Golden Plover (inc.19 grounded), 1 Lapwing, 40 Starling & 10 Siskin W. Also on site: Great Spotted Woodpecker - migrant, 12 Pied Wagtail, 7 Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap & Chiffchaff.

Non-avian: Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Copper, Speckled Wood & 13 Red Admiral.

Pleasant stroll along Budleigh Salterton front this afternoon to the estuary. 6 pied wagtails, 3 linnet, 5 rock pipit and an obliging single dunlin. 15 wigeon near the entrance to the sea and a pair of little grebes. 

Three Cattle Egret in field close to Cockwood bridge at 10am. Up to six have been feeding among herd of cattle over past few days.

After an evening out with friends, I stood outside the house admiring the night sky having a quick look up and listening for any Owls or migrating birds, there were flocks of small Waders flying around over the town. I'm guessing Dunlins, Plovers and or Oystercatchers. I was then gobsmacked to hear and see this late in the year six or seven Manx Shearwaters calling heading down out over the town toward the sea. Will be interesting to see if the date coincides with any calling heard on Lundy. 

Eds - This is very odd Manx Shearwaters have all but migrated south now, just the odd individual lingering, to get a group over the town at this time of year would be incredible in its own right  - for them to be calling too even more so.