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 21st November 2018
Migrants this morning were 12 Goldcrests ( 5 ringed ),4 Chiffchaffs ( 2 ringed ),and a m.Blackcap. Also present a Woodcock ( ar regular winter visitor at this site and an unusually high number of Blackbirds (20+)) Nearby 2 Black Redstarts (f/./imm.) around the cottages behind the beach.
Posted November 21st, 2018 at 6:57 pm by Alan K. Searle. in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Merlin seen twice flying low and fast over pasture, poss female/1st Winter?
Posted November 21st, 2018 at 6:52 pm by simon thurgood in General Birding
Another photo (digiscoped) of the Little Stint foraging with the Dunlin on R.Caen.

Posted November 21st, 2018 at 5:59 pm by Rob Jutsum in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Goosanders are back - 3 drakes & 2 redheads; also Wigeon, 4 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 7 Greenshanks, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 143+ Redshanks, 35 Curlews, Shag, 7 Little Egrets, 11 Grey Herons, 21 Shelducks, Grey Wagtail & 6 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Posted November 21st, 2018 at 5:03 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Quick look at the R.Caen & Horsey Island pm.
1 Little Stint in winter plumage with the Dunlin on R.Caen.
1 Avocet on Horsey.



Posted November 21st, 2018 at 4:44 pm by Rob Jutsum in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Best this morning was my first Woodcock for the site, at Middle Soar. Also: influx of 42 Song Thrush & 37 Blackbird, 5 Redwing, Snipe, 80 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1330 Skylark, 27 Meadow Pipit, 2 Blackcap, 100 Linnet, 53 Yellowhammer & 2 Reed Bunting.
Posted November 21st, 2018 at 3:03 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
Tuesday 20th November 2018
This morning, Goosander (f), Little Egrets 2, Grey Heron 4, Teal 17, Bramblings 5 in amongst flock of Chaffinces, Blackbirds, Fieldfares, Redwings, Mistle & Song thrushes, Gr Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 8:43 pm by Colin & Joyce Hannaford in General Birding
Quick visit and walk to Ireland Bay, strong SE wind but bay sheltered and birds close to shore. 2 Goldeneye, Black Necked Grebe, 6 GC Grebe,
12 Gadwall, 15 Tufted ducks, numerous Coots.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 7:31 pm by Jeremy Spooner in General Birding
This morning very early at the lake:
1 Brambling, 1 Willow Tit on the feeders, 4m 1 eclipse 3f Goosander.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 7:14 pm by Rod Mudge in General Birding
About 150 chaffinch and about 15 brambling mixed in midday.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 3:15 pm by roger jewell & mike gibson in General Birding
A Great Grey Shrike this morning at Huddisford Cross, part of Summerwell Forest, near Hartland. Grid ref: SS315206.
The bird was showing well but quite mobile giving reasonably close views..
Also 2 Kestrels, 1 Buzzard and 3 Ravens..
Harvey Kendall & Barry Bryne.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 1:46 pm by Harvey Kendall in General Birding
Red kite going north at midday.
Posted November 20th, 2018 at 12:12 pm by Gerry Hooper in General Birding
Monday 19th November 2018
A short afternoon visit to splash in muddy puddles, at a 3 year olds request, also yielded a single Cattle Egret and 4 Barnacle Geese. Otherwise 45 Golden Plover, 120+ Lapwing, 30 Fieldfare & 30 Redwing.
Lots of Redwing over house in Exeter,180 today, 220 yesterday.
Posted November 19th, 2018 at 8:41 pm by Steve Cox in General Birding
To Plymouth this morning try and catch up with the Black Redstart at Ford Park Cemetery, it was rather elusive but did show on our second visit, five Meadow Pipits and a Jay showing well.
A cat caught and killed a Magpie in the cemetery and within moments it was being mobbed and screamed at by no less that sixty Carrion Crows and a dozen or more Magpie's.
Redwings and Mistle Thrush moving around in reasonable numbers.



Over to Pounds House and eventually found around twelve Ring Necked Parakeets including a ringed blue morph, biggest surprise was a Woodcock flying out from the direction of Central park.
Back at South Brent, a friend in Brakefield reporting the first Blackcap of the winter in his garden where they usually over winter.



Posted November 19th, 2018 at 4:18 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
This morning on the Lake were:
9 Goosander 5m one eclipse, 4f, 1m Goldeneye, 4 Gadwell, 15 Shoveler, 6 Great Crested Grebe, c50 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, c80 Lapwing, 6 Tufted Duck, c200 Canada Geese, c40 Coot, 1 Mute Swan.
Posted November 19th, 2018 at 3:59 pm by Rod Mudge in General Birding
Firecrest present in my neighbour's garden this afternoon on the edge of Ham Woods. Foraging in brambles with a mixed the flock for about 5 minutes before flying into the woods.
Posted November 19th, 2018 at 7:51 am by Chris Vincent in General Birding
Sunday 18th November 2018
16.30-16.40
At least 45 Pied Wagtails overhead heading east, in the direction of Torbay Hospital.
Earlier this morning, several small groups of Redwings and some Fieldfares generally heading north in the strong wind.
Posted November 18th, 2018 at 5:29 pm by Paul Darlington in General Birding
Plym Estuary: Mediterranen Gull ad, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 105 Dunlins, 4 Greenshanks, 9 Oystercatchers, 53 Curlews, 74 Redshanks, 6+ Little Egrets, 10 Grey Herons & a Ring-necked Parakeet. Good numbers of waders now on Blaxton Meadow, many feeding well too, benefitting from the reduced disturbance thanks to access restrictions.
Efford Marsh: Kingfisher, 3 Chiffchaffs & 4 Goldcrests.
Posted November 18th, 2018 at 4:24 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Saturday 17th November 2018
4 Barnacle Geese, 6 Cattle Egret, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine Falcon

Cattle Egret Barnacle Geese
Posted November 17th, 2018 at 4:02 pm by Colin Scott in General Birding
The Great Skua that was marauding the Landing Bay all week.

Posted November 17th, 2018 at 2:45 pm by Martin Thorne in General Birding
Great Spotted Woodpecker on Lundy Island of all places!

Posted November 17th, 2018 at 2:42 pm by Martin Thorne in General Birding
Male Brambling on the feeders at the pond hide at Yarner this morning, good numbers of both Marsh and Coal Tit with a smaller number of Blue & Great Tit, handful of Chaffinch, Nuthatch and a Robin.

The upper hide was far busier with continuous feeding by Marsh, Coal, Blue & Great Tit, female Bullfinch, brief view of a passing Chiffchaff, several Nuthatch and in the surrounding Holly trees a small number of feeding Redwing.
Haldon Forrest, not overly busy with bird life around the feed station, mostly Coal Tit and the odd Nuthatch, a walk round gave Song Thrush, at least twelve Greenfinch, GSWP two Goldcrest and a hunting immature male Sparrowhawk.



Posted November 17th, 2018 at 2:39 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
The Male Black Redstart is still showing well at Ford Park Cemetery on the Eastern side of the chapels



Black Redstart
Posted November 17th, 2018 at 2:11 pm by Greg Bradbury in General Birding
Morning highlights were Merlin and Skylark in aerial combat - outcome unknown, and significant influx of 46 Song Thrush in Soar Mill Valley. Also: 2 Golden Plover, 9 Lapwing flying east, 3 Snipe, Fieldfare, 160 Starling & 2 Reed Bunting.
Posted November 17th, 2018 at 12:26 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
Posted November 17th, 2018 at 9:46 am by barry in General Birding
Friday 16th November 2018
A nice Feathered Thorn at the outside light this evening.

Feathered Thorn moth
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 8:12 pm by Alan K. Searle in Other Wildlife
Tim Jones' Rillage Point Redstart (juv) was briefly beside the river on Combe Martin beach at 09.30, assumed at first to be a Black red.
Note from Tim Jones: Hi Jonathan, I think your sighting was too close to mine time-wise to be the same bird (my last sighting was around 09.20 to 09.25, but I don't think it moved very far). The habitat on the beach also sounds better for Black Redstart, as you suggest.
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 5:06 pm by Jonathan Nicholl in General Birding
G.B.B.Gull 18; L.B.B.Gull 21; Black-tailed Godwit 2; Redshank c230; Shelduck 18; Little Grebe 2; Rock Pipit 1; Golden Plover c700 in single flock on sandbank just off Penhill Marsh and 1 male Gadwall in eclipse plumage with 12 Mallard.
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 4:20 pm by Maurice Clements in General Birding
Brief afternoon visit in poor light gave - 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 50+ Redwing, a handful of Fieldfare, Greenfinch, small Chaffinch flock, small Long Tailed Tit flock and on Sweetbrier lane a Sparrowhawk..



Green Woodpecker Jay Mistle Thrush
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 4:14 pm by Martin Rooney in General Birding
The reported male Black Redstart showed well (once it turned up) at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth late this morning, feeding in the area above the chapels. Possibly a second bird tucked in the holly both birds could be heard calling but the second bird other than moving between tree cover stayed out of view.
Several Redwing, Song Thrush and numerous Blackbirds feeding on holly berries.
Shame that some of the visiting birders/photographers have no respect for graves and headstones, if the behaviour I saw today continues I would not be surprised if the cemetery authorities said that bird watchers are no longer to be welcomed on site.

Posted November 16th, 2018 at 3:16 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
Once again a complete contrast between S & N coasts of Devon, with no visible Redwing or Fieldfare migration up here on the N coast and precious little movement at all this morning... Totals were 35 Meadow Pipits, 6 Siskins, 25 Goldfinches, 7 Linnets and only 24 Chaffinches. The scrub yielded a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests, 16 Blackbirds, 6 Song Thrushes, 3 Stonechats and the highlight by some way an exceptionally late female or first-winter Common Redstart.
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 2:52 pm by Tim Jones in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
I live at Yelverton, Devon PL20 6BN. Two Willow Tits have returned to my garden following an absence of at least 20 years. Submitted for information.
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 1:27 pm by Dave Peake in General Birding
Mostly impressive overhead migration today 0710-0910hrs: 5000+ Redwing, 950 Fieldfare, 11 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 345 Chaffinch, 8 Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting, 19 Siskin, 4 Bullfinches, 80 Goldfinches, 25 Stock Doves (in one flock), 65 Meadow Pipits, 7 pied Wagtails, 30 Starlings, 2 Skylark & 1 Snipe.
Around the headland: 7 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest and 3 Chiffchaff
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 12:51 pm by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
15th November ~ Lots of Redwing movement over Hillside, South Brent during the earlier part of the day over 1500 birds counted largest flock of some 500 plus birds, most flocks ranging from 50 to 70 birds.
Two sightings of soaring female Sparrowhawks no doubt attracted by the Redwing numbers.
Notable movement of Wood pigeons as well with about 200 birds seen early in the morning.
Pied Wagtails trickling over for most of the day in one's and two's.
GSWP, Nuthatch and male Greenfinch on the feeders and a Wren around the garden today.

16th November ~ Thrush migration noted from 8am to 9.30am, very overcast misty conditions, 1300 plus Redwing largest flock being of some 400 birds, the odd Mistle Thrush noted and several flocks of Fieldfares amounting to about 150 birds, all Thrush flocks headed north while several smaller flocks of Starling appeared to be feeding locally and moving in the opposite direction.
Small flocks of migrating Wood pigeon continue to pass over and two flocks of what I believe to have been Chaffinch the light being to poor to see any plumage detail.
Other birds of note were a Green Woodpecker, two GSWP, four Bullfinch and fifteen Pied Wagtail.
Posted November 16th, 2018 at 10:34 am by Steve Hopper in General Birding
Thursday 15th November 2018
,A small influx of Chiffchaffs (8),and Goldcrests (9). 3 Goldcrests ringed,all'Continental' birds. Also a flock of 50+ Redwings and a flock of 20+ Fieldfare alighted in the tops of the tallest White Willows, before flying off westward.

1st.Yr.m. 'Continental' Goldcrest.
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 4:53 pm by Alan K. Searle in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
A multi-stop day which produced around 80 species. Of note were:
From the sea wall - 4 Kittewakes in a mixed gull/Gannet feeding flock of 400+, and 1 R-T Diver.
From Starcross - 2 R-B Merganser (at last) and the Slavonian Grebe.
In Powderham Park - 1 Green Sandpiper and a mixed Redwing/Fieldfare flock.
From Turf - several thousand mixed waders, including 300+ Golden Plover.
On Exminster Marshes - just the Cattle Egret in the fields near the canal. Diggers were dredging some of the ditches, so very disturbed. More Redwings/Fieldfares feeding in the hedges.
At Matford ponds - several Gadwall, which I don't always see here, and 4 feeding Snipe.
Finally, at King James Weir - Dipper, Water Rail, another Green Sandpiper and more Redwings/Fieldfares, heading West.
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 4:48 pm by James Camden in General Birding
Visit to Bicton Park today - very dull & misty but loads of winter thrushes - Fieldfare, Redwing & Mistle Thrushes - flying about.

Posted November 15th, 2018 at 4:44 pm by Chris Bollen in General Birding
This Black Redstart showed for a short time this morning, always at a distance on the eastern side of the chapels.

Posted November 15th, 2018 at 2:56 pm by patrick hawkins in General Birding
1 Great Northern Diver flying south close in to Baggy point this am.
Also 5 female Common Scoters present.

Posted November 15th, 2018 at 2:01 pm by Rob Jutsum in General Birding
Fantastic overhead migration was noted between 07.30-09.30 with: at least 8400 Redwing, 150 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Trush, 8 Song Thrush, 230 Chaffinch, 16 Brambling, 29 Siskin, 300+ Wood Pigeon, 3 Skylark, 30 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 22 Meadow Pipits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Around the woods and top of the headland: 1 Pallas's Warbler, 4 Firecrest, 18 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff.

Some of the Redwings Firecrest

Pallas's Warbler
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 1:51 pm by Mike Langman in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
A Great White Egret (a patch tick!) flew E along the clifftops at 08.30. Visible migration did not include the large numbers of thrushes being seen on the south coast, but was instead dominated by Starlings, with some 934 counted before 09.00. Also 134 Chaffinches, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, 4 alba wagtails, 9 Meadow Pipits, 14 Goldfinches and 5 Linnets. One Red-throated Diver W. In the scrub, single Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, plus 4 Stonechat. It will be interesting to learn if the Chivenor Great White Egret seen at 07.45 this morning stuck around, or if it could be the same individual that I saw 45 minutes later – though even a direct line between the two locations is c 15km.
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 11:27 am by Tim Jones in Scarce / Rare Birds & Passage Counts
Mixed flock of 4/500 redwing/fieldfare feeding on holly and travelling south above Rattery this morning (a sign of cold weather to come?) Female black redstart yesterday.
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 9:56 am by Ian Samuel in General Birding
First field past Bovis on the left towards Braunton at 7:45 this morning
Posted November 15th, 2018 at 9:30 am by Robert Cudmore in General Birding