We have had a good response to the request for missing descriptions for a number of ‘A’ species reported in 2018. Thank you to those who have made the effort to provide these.
However some descriptions remain outstanding meaning, as things stand, they will not make the official record as part of the 2018 Devon Bird Report. It would be a great shame to lose these records but the report deadline is pressing.
If you saw any of these birds (you don’t have to be the finder) please can you submit a description and/or photos asap to Kev Rylands: Recorder@devonbirds.org Thank you.
Cory’s Shearwater (2) Ilfracombe 28 July
Cory’s Shearwater Thurlestone 26 August
Glossy Ibis Exe Estuary 21-27 October
Golden Oriole Blaxton Meadow 18 April
Great White Egret Exminster Marshes 30 March
Great White Egret Exmouth 06 May
Honey-buzzard Dartmoor 21-22 May
Pectoral Sandpiper Upper Tamar Lake 13 August
Rose-coloured Starling Beesands 27-28 August
Tree Sparrow Haldon 20 May
Posted September 24th at 8:44 am by Pete Aley in General Birding
Please take extra care when visiting Dawlish Warren. We have been informed that due to the recent bad weather there has been significant erosion from Groyne 10 eastwards. This means that access along the site, to and from Warren Point (and the bird hide) will be via the beach only, with a risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water! Signs have been put up to alert people to the hazards, but people need to be aware that access routes that they have become used to may not be available and they need to exercise extreme caution, with the possibility of being cut off by the tide, and people are strongly urged not to try climbing the sand cliffs. Further information is available on the Teignbridge District Council website.
Posted November 9th, 2018 at 11:08 am by Mike Daniels in General Birding
If you follow our Blog but are not currently a member of Devon Birds please consider joining Devon Birds to help us with the upkeep of running the website and this service as well as our valuable conservation work .
Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am by George & Julia Harris in General Birding
Acting on comments to Devon Birds some changes have been made to this page. To the right of this header post you'll see there are now several subjects for you to choose to read and post on. Just click your chosen subject and use as previously.
Please be careful not to post under the wrong subject. If you do, you can still easily go back to edit and change the subject yourself so it appears on the right page.
Please try and keep posts short, particularly in the Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts page. Photographs are still very welcome.
For help with ID email photos to id@devonbirds.org.
Posted June 30th, 2016 at 9:24 pm by George & Julia Harris in General Birding
Wednesday 7th November 2018
Late Post :- 4 of the 7 Goosanders seen yesterday at low tide.

Posted November 7th, 2018 at 5:10 pm by Rob Jutsum in General Birding
Purple Sandpipers x4. 3 Red Throated Divers flying down the channel. 60 Oystercatchers, 2 with Coloured leg rings and a small influx of 11 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Posted November 7th, 2018 at 5:06 pm by Martin Thorne in General Birding
Yellow-browed Warbler at the bottom of Woodcombe Valley ( just west of Lannacombe ) this morning.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 5:04 pm by Perry Sanders in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
To add to Mike’s post, additions to seawatch (up to 12.15): 7 Great Northern Divers, Diver sp, 2 Bonxies & a Harbour Porpoise.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 4:54 pm by Pete Aley in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
A summer plumage Great Northern Diver off Shoalstone Pool at lunch time and another GN Diver off mouth of Brixham Harbour, RT Diver and BN Grebe at Broadsands with 9 Common Scoter further out.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 4:40 pm by Steve Cox in General Birding
Second-winter Caspian Gull off Mudbank @ 1540.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 4:30 pm by Matt Knott in General Birding
Ring-necked Duck still at Torcross. 10 Common Scoter offshore.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 2:24 pm by Rob Macklin in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Seawatch 07.10-09.10Hrs: 3 Pomarine Skuas (all juvs), 1 Manx Shearwater, 861 Kittiwakes, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Mediterranean Gulls.
Posted November 7th, 2018 at 10:23 am by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Seen on 28/10/18 on Birdfeeders at Knoightshayes National Trust ,Tiverton.

Posted November 7th, 2018 at 10:10 am by Stuthridge in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Male brambling seen at Bird Feeders at Knightshayes National Trust ,Tiverton on 5/11/18

Posted November 7th, 2018 at 10:06 am by Stuthridge in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Tuesday 6th November 2018
Female type Marsh Harrier this lunchtime, mobbed by crows and then a Buzzard so it headed off in the Exminster direction.
Ruff again at Goosemoor.
Posted November 6th, 2018 at 8:39 pm by Nick Potter in General Birding
On the meadow at this evenings high tide were the following;
Oystercatcher 9, Curlew 37, Dunlin 30. Redshank c102, Greenshank 6, Black T Godwit 7, Wigeon 1(f), Common Gull 2 & Whimbrel 1!
Posted November 6th, 2018 at 8:21 pm by Martin Phillips in General Birding
4 red kites spotted together this morning at 07:05 flying north, approximately 1km from the Aller Cross roundabout in the Brayford direction.
Posted November 6th, 2018 at 4:37 pm by Sam Aston in General Birding
A drake Pochard (scarce here) at the lower end of the estuary at low tide, Jack Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 7 Little Grebes, 2 Stonechats, 2 Greens & a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Wigeon & 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Posted November 6th, 2018 at 2:31 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Dawn sightings this morning.
1m Goosander (eclipse), 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 9 Shoveler, c60 Wigeon, 12 Fieldfare, c30 Mallard, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Nuthatch.
Posted November 6th, 2018 at 1:09 pm by Rod Mudge in General Birding
Monday 5th November 2018
This morning c.20 Goldcrests, a welcome increase in numbers after the scarcity of the last fortnight. 8 ringed of which 5 had the plumage characteristics of 'continental'birds.Also present 1 Firecrest, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 6:45 pm by Alan K Searle in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Bursdon Moor 5pm Monday - 3 Hen Harriers (one male, two ring tails) mobbing a barn owl that just wouldn't give up patrolling the territory. Brilliant! (Thanks to Rod Mudge for directions).
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 6:15 pm by Tim Williams in General Birding
Great White Egret roosting high up in one of the fir trees near Arlington lake this afternoon at 3:30 pm.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 5:54 pm by Margaret- Phillips in General Birding
Took this in my Barnstaple garden this afternoon - I was amazed that the Starling somehow got free after it had been in the hawks clutches for several minutes.

Posted November 5th, 2018 at 5:54 pm by Roy Churchill in General Birding
Greenshank 6, Black-tailed Godwit 7, Curlew 51, Dunlin 20, Redshank 152, Common Sandpiper, Shag, Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper (my first here for over a year), Stonechat 2 & Ring-necked Parakeet.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 5:28 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
A male Black Redstart @ Ford Park Cemetery showing very well by the two chapels

Black Redstart Black Redstart
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 4:17 pm by greg bradbury in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
The Red-necked Grebe was again tucked into Elberry Cove, a Black-necked Grebe was in Broadsands bay also 1 Great Crested Grebe and a Common Scoter there. 10 or more Common Scoter out in Torbay and a single juv Pomarine Skua harassing the kittiwakes.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 4:05 pm by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Quiet apart from Ring Ouzel & Firecrest in Starehole. Also 3 Snipe & 27 Yellowhammer.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 12:41 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
One, possibly two, Red Kite over the link road at the concrete bridge over valley NE of Filleigh. 10.45 on 4th Nov.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 11:54 am by Lowell Mills in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Visible migration this morning dominated by Chaffinches, with 1,007 looged by 09.30, in flocks of up to 70, all heading E into the wind. Also 3 Skylarks, 6 alba wagtails, 20 Meadow Pipits, 4 Siskins, 7 Goldfinches, 1 Linnet. One Crossbill yesterday (4th).
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 11:08 am by Tim Jones in General Birding
Mid-afternoon yesterday (Sunday 4th)
1 male Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker over, 2 Stonechats.
Harvey Kendall & Barry Bryne.
Posted November 5th, 2018 at 9:27 am by Harvey Kendall in General Birding
Sunday 4th November 2018
Sat in the car for an hour and watched South Huish marsh. Good views of Meadow pipits and pied wagtails. A kestrel landed on the fence post quite close. 4 snipe and 1 Mediterranean gull on the marsh.

Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Kestrel
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 10:26 pm by Richie Moore in General Birding
Cattle Egret Braunton Marsh at 14.30 today;Flying short distances and landing between groups of cows in fields just after the toll house.
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 7:59 pm by Fiona Moffatt in General Birding
My sister sent me a photo and a couple of videos of a hoopoe, present on the moor just above Wotter near Shaugh Prior.

Hoopoe. Wotter 1/11/18. Image resized 4/11/18
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 7:29 pm by Christopher Vincent in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
A White-billed Diver was just of the sea water swimming pool at Shaolstone, Brixham this afternoon - probably a 2nd winter bird rather than a poorly marked 1st w. Video clip here: https://youtu.be/pV-OXUoGMrA

Posted November 4th, 2018 at 3:36 pm by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Many thanks Harvey. Sounds a bit like a needle in a haystack job!
Only about a dozen Godwits on the smaller scrape visible from the reserve this morning. Probably driven there by the 117 Canada Geese monopolising the larger scrape.
3 Gadwall in the reserve, they are very welcome - they actually eat duck-weed!
Lots of Finches mobbing the hovering and then perched Kestrel. Later it was chased off another perch by one of the 'anting' ? Black-headed Gulls making a really peculiar call.
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 2:12 pm by Jon Turner in General Birding
Stoke, near Hartland.
Answering Jon Turner's query concerning the Lapland Bunting in the Hartland area. It was seen and watched yesterday (Saturday) morning at Stoke near Hartland by Ian Kendall, also 330+ Chaffinches migrating at Hartland Point and 1 Brambling..
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 10:49 am by Harvey Kendall in General Birding
Bittern seen briefly in flight first thing just north of Slapton Bridge. Ring-necked Duck and Scaup still present at Torcross until 09:30 when they flew south, probably to Ireland Bay. Reasonable nos. of Gannets and Kittiwakes south. 8 common Scoter settled on the sea off the Memorial Car Park.
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 10:31 am by Perry Sanders in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
A Lapland Bunting was shown on the RBA map yesterday out near Hartland, but no report on here. Any clues anyone?
Posted November 4th, 2018 at 9:49 am by Jon Turner in General Birding
Saturday 3rd November 2018
Five Purple sandpiper on the seaward side of Haldon Pier, Torquay harbour this morning.

Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 9:32 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
Seawatching from 08:00-15:30. Slow but quality rather than quantity. Little Auk (@14:38), Black-throated Diver (headed into Tor Bay), Sooty Shearwater (@13:39), 3 Manx Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua (juv), 5 Great Skuas, Mediterranean Gull (ad) and 15 Common Scoter (either N or into Tor Bay).
Also very good showing of marine animals with 6+ White-beaked Dolphins (breaching at times), 3+ Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (breaching), 5+ Harbour Porpoise.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 6:17 pm by Mark Darlaston in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
I think I counted 25 Black-tailed Godwits out on the scrape from the reserve this morning, But I may have overstated that slightly!
5 Gadwall in the reserve and one of the ringed Treecreepers showed really well. A Kestrel was being given a hard time by the resident Crows.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 5:53 pm by Jon Turner in General Birding
On Blaxton: 22 Dunlins, 5 Greenshanks, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Curlews, 8 Oystercatchers & Kingfisher. Also Jack Snipe, Snipe & Goldcrest.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 4:49 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
1010 - 1400:
Approaching high tide:- 350+ Oystercatcher, 200+ Dunlin, 223 Brent geese, 96 Great BB gull, 20 Turnstone, 8 Grey plover, 6 Ringed plover, 1 Sanderling, lots of Teal and Wigeon. A Peregrine sent everything up at 1330.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 4:23 pm by Alan Livsey in General Birding
Rather cool and blustery at the lake today.
1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Grebes, 1 female Pintail, 1 Brambling, 100+ Fieldfares, 1 Willow Tit, Long tailed, Blue and Great Tits, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Tree Creeper, Wigeon, Teal, good numbers of Mallard and Canada Geese, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Harvey & Ian Kendall.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 3:33 pm by Harvey Kendall in General Birding
17 Black-tailed Godwit; 1 Dunlin; 20 Redshank; 1 Kingfisher; 21 Sanderling and just 4 Golden Plover in large flock of Lapwing.
Bradiford Reserve:- c250 Canada Geese plus the Barnacle/Ross hybrid; Teal; Mallard; Moorhen and 1 male Stonechat.
Yesterday at Ashford Strand were c100 Wigeon and 7 Pintail.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 3:23 pm by Maurice Clements in General Birding
A Red-necked Grebe was tucked into Elberry Cove this afternoon (video clip here: https://youtu.be/EeEcdTMQp90 ), also in Torbay 7 Common Scoter, 2 ad w Mediterranean Gulls and a Black Redstart on rocks between Broadsands Beach and Elberry Cove.

Distantly digiscoped Red-necked Grebe
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 3:20 pm by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Ring-necked Duck still present but now at Torcross.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 8:59 am by Perry Sanders in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
At about 15.00, a Short-Eared Owl over the sea, being mobbed by Carrion Crows. After they broke off it flew towards Noss Mayo.
Posted November 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 am by Joe Higman in General Birding
Friday 2nd November 2018
As per Chris’s post. Ringtail Hen Harrier sighted at close range on 2 occasions from late afternoon to dusk. More details http://dixiesbirding.blogspot.com
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 9:32 pm by Spencer Dicks in General Birding
An early morning on the cliffs above Budleigh Salterton today produced some quiet visible migration with the highlight being Brambling and several hundred Woodpigeon. However, biggest surprise was a Cattle Egret that was sat on the top of a tree on the cliff before heading inland.
This afternoon a ringtail Hen Harrier hunting around Woodbury Common and a Merlin too.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 7:39 pm by Chris Townend in General Birding
Lower Tamar Lake sightings from dawn.
5f Goosander (very skittish), 21 Fieldfare, 4 Willow Tit, 1 Barnacle Goose amongst 200+ Canada Geese, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch, 9 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Cormorant, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 2f Tufted Duck, also plenty of Coal Tit on the feeders.
Upper Lake.
4 Grey Heron, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Cormorant, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Wren, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Snipe, 2 Raven, 1 Song Thrush, c100 Starling, 1 Fieldfare,1 Redwing, 7 Mallard.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 7:31 pm by Rod Mudge in General Birding
A superb sunny, mild & calm day.
Three or 4 Firecrests, Ring Ouzel (Starehole), 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a good total of c55 Yellowhammers.
Overhead, 65+ Stock Doves (also c50 grounded), c750 Wood Pigeons, Redpoll (presumed Lesser), Brambling & 3 Siskins.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 6:58 pm by Pete Aley in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Shoveler Duck showing well by the hide also 6 Black-tailed Godwits, around the marsh, Dunlin, Red shanks, a single Greenshank, Curlew & whimbrel, Oystercatchers and Little Egrets

Shoveler Duck Black-tailed Godwit
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 6:57 pm by greg bradbury in General Birding
c.15,000 Starlings over the reeds at dusk plus Bittern in the north ley seen from bridge. Grey Heron caught an enormous rudd right under the bridge! Offshore 3 Great Northern Divers & 10+ Common Scoters.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 6:26 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
Ringing in the reserve again this morning. Another 55 birds ringed, once again majoring in Finches - 18 Green, 9 Gold, 3 Bull and 5 Chaffinch, and Tits - 9 Blue and 3 Great. Best was a Grey Wagtail, which conveniently hopped up from the side of the pond into a net as I approached. Retraps included 2 Goldcrests and 3 Treecreepers.
Out on the scrape the Godwit flock increased to 15, but only present early, before the Shooters arrived (grrr) Later a Redshank appeared and later still a Lapwing. There were also a few Curlew nearby. As I was packing up, the shooters reappeared for another session over Sherpa Marsh. (double grrrr!).
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 5:20 pm by Jon Turner in General Birding
The first chance to visit my local patch since mid-Sep saw some modest late-autumn movement in the hour or two from dawn, with 134 Chaffinches heading WNW (towards Pembs and then Ireland?), plus many more heard calling from high up, beyond range of vision, 2 Bramblings, 30 Goldfinches, 2 Redpolls, 2 Siskins, 1 Greenfinch, 8 alba wagtails and 2 Skylarks. In the scrub, minima of 28 Robins (a high count for this site), 14 Song Thrushes, 18 Blackbirds and a female Blackcap.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 4:51 pm by Tim Jones in General Birding
Male hooting 13:00 today,top of gardens.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 2:46 pm by Denis Doy in General Birding
Best was male Ring Ouzel in Soar Mill Valley. Also 260 Stock Dove moving east, small influx of 18 Song Thrush, Lapwing, Blackcap & 2 Bulfinch.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 2:20 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
Two Eider North of the pier this morning.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 12:17 pm by Simon Bates in General Birding
Red-throated Diver feeding close to the shore opposite the R Sid
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 11:59 am by Ian Pearson in General Birding
Heavy frost around Occombe this morning, winter is arriving as witnessed with at least 9 Robins and 6 Blackbirds. A flock of at least 22 Blue Tits were around a cattle feeder in one of the higher fields. 2 Buzzards, 2 GSW's, Pheasant, 2 Coal Tits, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, 5 Wrens, 4 Great Tits. As well as large numbers of Wood Pigeons and Magpies.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 am by Stephen Huggins in General Birding
Nigel Bastin - please send your records for the Moor into the Data Manager for entry in the records for 2018. The record sheets are on website along with the mail address.
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 8:30 am by John & Karen Towers & Sims in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Late post from yesterday quiet day at Slapton until late afternoon when sightings of Bittern , Firecrest, Waterail , Yellow browed Warbler all seen by bridge and on the sea 8 common Scoter and 3 Great Northern Divers
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 8:13 am by Roger Backway in General Birding
Short-eared Owl flying briefly at 3.15 south of the firing range
Posted November 2nd, 2018 at 7:30 am by Ian Pearson in General Birding
Thursday 1st November 2018
Please let me know if you would updates from Bursdon moor as I monitor most days for Sterling university (BTO), during the winter since moving back down to Bude.
Eds - anyone can send in sightings to be published on these web pages, so your updates would be very welcome..
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 11:23 pm by Nigel Bastin in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Wave after wave of thousands of Starlings passing over Challacombe, Exmoor this morning. Too many to estimate total numbers. 6 Redwing at Moles Chamber.. A further huge flock of several thousands of starlings gathering and feeding in an old stubble field of pheasant farm above Heasley Mill before going to roost and 4-5 Short -eared Owls near Kinsford Gate.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 8:07 pm by Margaret- Phillips in General Birding
25 Pintail on the Ridge late aft + 6 Goosander on the Strand.

Posted November 1st, 2018 at 6:13 pm by Rob Jutsum in General Birding
at south huish the pectoral sandpiper was showing well, also a merlin was sat on the post near the carpark, then moving on to slapton and looking out to sea we had 3 great northern divers and 8 common scoters, but no sign of the blackneck grebe on the ley.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 5:57 pm by roger jewell & mike gibson in General Birding
A Velvet Scoter this afternoon off Dawlish town just beyond the northern most breakwater, viewable from grass area opposite East Cliff Road.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 5:46 pm by Mark Bailey in General Birding
At Moorwell Pond this morning ,a small arrival of Chiffchaffs (10+) and 2 ''Continental '' Goldcrests. Also on site 20+ Blackbirds. 8 Song Thrushes, 2 Blackcaps and 1 Grey Wagtall . Chiffchaff numbers have been poor this autumn; Goldcrests even more so. With ''Continental' birds now arriving on the East Coast,hopefully more will make their way westward.

1st.Yr.M. ''Continental'' Goldcrest.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 3:39 pm by Alan K Searle in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
This morning,
2 Redwing, 1 Kingfisher, at the car park feeders 2 Willow Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Goldfinch. At the hide, 2 Marsh Tit, 1 Willow Tit.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 2:08 pm by Rod Mudge in General Birding
Scant rewards for checking the bay at the moment.. 6 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver & 1 Brent Goose.
Posted November 1st, 2018 at 9:45 am by Mike Langman in General Birding