During the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak the use of Devon Birds bird hides should be in line with Government guidelines to individuals on how to protect themselves.

Please follow NHS guidelines: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

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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.

If anyone's lost a fulvous whistling duck with a yellow ring on its right leg, it was having a great time at sunny Exeter Quay this afternoon.

Two red kite flew over Christow from the Haldon Hills direction, heading west at about 6.30pm this evening. 

Early this evening a local farmer rang me to say that he had ten Red Kite's on one of his fields near Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh.

The field in question was being used for preparing garden turf, several surrounding fields are having grass cut, on arrival all but one Kite had departed but the remaining bird showed well.

Back home at South Brent a single Swift over the house.

Watched from 16:30 till 19:25

A steady passage of Red Kite with 42+ heading west and north west also 1 hobby 

Minimum 80 Red Kites heading West over Colyton between 14:15 and 17:45. Some birds were very high so we would have missed some; total birds going over would likely have been a fair few more than the 80 recorded. Also 1 Hobby over.

19 Red Kites over Ilsington 17.25 14 May, gaining height and drifting west.

Female Merlin at Isley Marsh this lunchtime. She flew up and landed on a fence post before quickly flying off again. Sedge warblers, Whitethroat and Meadow Pipits breathed a collective sigh of relief and resumed singing!

First sighting of House Martins arriving back in Chudleigh this morning. Already checking out nest sites under the Eve's.

A Red Kite flew south over the M5 at 9.05am, c4 miles north of Exeter Services towards Broadclyst 

A stroll at dusk around the Harcombe area of Haldon Forest produced only one churring male Nightjar, plus a calling Tawny Owl. The ISS did make an impressive flypast though!

1 male garganey still present today . also several hobbies over Exminster marshes and a flock of 40 Whimbrel

Very unexpected shellduck stayed for 2 hours on an arable field in Rattery . A first for our farm.

3 whimbrel flying near elberry cove this morning.

I heard the 1st Swifts over Preston this morning, and then this evening a solitary Swift flying overhead.

 Roborough Down near Plymouth ~ Yellow Hammer 4+, two pairs of Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Goldfinch 10+, Buzzard, numerous Willow Warblers, Meadow Pipit, good numbers of Swallows and Wren 3+

Am puzzled by the reduction in the number of herring gulls in my part of Exmouth - central Victorian terraces. Usually many on roof tops, and kept awake by their noise, but this year very few around. Is this a local phenomenon or is it more wides[read?

Yet another reminder - any posts containing Devon Rare Breeding birds will be deleted. 

Please see: https://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/rare_breeding_species  if you are unsure

Saturday evening visit to Powderham Marsh. Still 2 Male Garganey, 60+ Swallow, 50+ Sand Martin, 40+ House Martin, 8 Swift, 5 singing Reed Warbler & 5 Whimbrel. Lots more hurindines over Exminister too. 

A late evening visit to the DWT reserve at Heathfield gave five possibly six Nightjar churring and seen in flight.

Before it got to dark Yellow Hammer, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, a possible Tree Pipit and numerous Swallow.

Over at Stover two Tawny owls calling but no sign of any Nightjar's. 

This morning, east of Norsworthy bridge:-

1 singing Redstart (m), 1 Green Woodpecker (m), 3 Siskin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Tree pipit in display flight, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven, 1 Roe deer amongst the pines.

At Sheepstor: 5 Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed bunting (m), 3 Stock dove, on feeders in private garden, 3 House Martin overhead.

Osprey fishing on the river this afternoon . 

Whimbrel with 6 Curlews on Blaxton Pool, Nuthatch nesting, Green Woodpecker, 3 drake Mandarins, Whitethroat singing & 12 Swifts.

A morning walk around the reserve saw, 2 Redpoll, 2 Marsh Tit, 1 Blackcap, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Chaffinch, 3 BLackbird, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Robin, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock.

Seawatch  from 7.45am till 1.30pm in reasonable conditions: SE 4. 4 Pomarine Skuas-2 dark and 2 pale phased; 1 Bonxie; 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Puffin. 1000+ Manx Shearwaters.Left before rain set in as lost my rain hood !

Seawatch 0920-1920 (with Pete Aley and Bill MacD). SSE-S with rain bearing front arriving1320-1800, clearance by 1830. A very strong passage of 98 Puffins (a record here, my previous highest count was 66 on 09/04/09), in groups up to four. Also Iceland Gull (presumed faded 2cy and almost certainly same bird as seen by Rupert Kirkwood 2 days ago), Balearic Shearwater (good record for May), c6300 Manx Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxies, Red-throated Diver (bp) Great Northern Diver (bp), 9 Sandwich Terns, 18 Common Scoters (8S,10N), Whimbrel and singles of Common Dolphin & Harbour Porpoise.

Got to Slapton Ley late afternoon. In the rain a couple hundred Swallows and about 100 House Martins at Torcross. Around Ireland Bay c500 Swifts. Numbers soon fell as the rain eased and the sun came out, all this fairly predictable at Slapton. A half hour seawatch from the Memorial Car Park produced 185 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Sandwich Terns heading south. Around at Beesands Ley surprised to see what I presume is the same male Garganey that was found on Monday. Also still a Pochard and a few Swifts, Swallows and House Martins dropping in and out.

Seawatch this afternoon to coincide with the poorer weather (13.20 - 18.00): highlight was a Pomarine Skua with good spoons; also Balearic Shearwater, 62 Puffins, c4,700 Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Skua, 3 Bonxies, Red-throated Diver, 4 Sandwich Terns & a Harbour Porpoise.

MD was there before and after me so update with higher numbers anticipated.

A lunchtime lots of Swifts and hirundines, and the Ruff with the Godwits, as described by Simon Bates later in the afternoon, but the surprise find was a male Garganey skulking in the reeds in the channel nearest the railway track.  Also quite a few Rook, an uncommon visitor to the marsh still.  

Generally a bit quiet on the Marsh this morning. Lots of Swift, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins. Three Ruff at the back showed quite well amongst the Black Tailed Godwits, one quite red, one with a black neck and one with a black and white neck.

Lunchtime walk to Exton - Glaucous Gull (imm) between Exton and Lympstone Commando approx 1.30.

Alan & Abbie Fielding would like to thank the person who let them look through his scope, at Bar Tailed Godwits and a Ruff, yesterday at Bowling Green Marsh hide.

Yesterday 10th May gave me my first sightings of House Martins over the village and at home at South Brent, the first and only Swift so far came over the house on Tuesday.

Soaring Sparrow Hawk put up a flock of 22 Starlings, later in the day a teircel Peregrine had a tickle at my racing pigeons but they lived to fly another day.

Last night several adult Tawny owls heard calling through the night and one mobile young bird calling, nice to know that they have bred successfully again this year.

Long Tailed Tit pair with a nest of young and a Blue Tit on eggs in one of the garden nest box's.

Up to 100 Hirundines alighting on stalks on Sharpa Marshes at 19.30 this evening.

Single Red kite over the A361 west of Tiverton at 0815 this morning. 

Plenty of Swifts (c35) and Sand Martins (30+) over Exminster Marshes with 6 Hobbies & a flock of 30+ Whimbrels flew over.

At Powderham Reserve, 2 drake Garganeys,  Common Sandpiper & 13 Whimbrels.

12 - 3pm, pick of the bunch... endless pied flycatcher, 5 marsh tit and a couple redstart 

Wood warblers in castle woods, and later, first swifts over town.

Highlights this morning were 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone (1 winter 1 summer plumage), 9 Dunlin (summer plumage), 4 Whimbrel and a Curlew. Plenty of Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat, some of each were extremely showy and gave incredible song-flights.

3 Crossbill, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 8 Pied Flycatcher, 7 Redstart, 4 Tree Pipit, 13 Willow Warbler and 7 Wood Warbler.

There is a single Grey Heron nest (with a very large youngster stretching its neck this morning) in the thick willow scrub behind the pond west of Yelland's old power station site.

My recollection from chats about the old heronry with more long-standing birders in Devon, is that although there used to be nests in the scots pines around the station perimeter, this colony had 'gone bust' and no herons have bred there in years. If this is the first nest in a while then it has made my month! Eds/others please confirm.

PS - I'm also delighted to report that despite long-running disturbance from construction on the power station's footprint, a breeding pair of Raven remain: A nest with large youngsters was spotted in the scots pines this morning.

Fleeting views of  a pair of Wood Warblers at Dunsford Wood today.

Wood Warbler

2 Greenland Wheatears - very approachable! Many Cirl Buntings still in flocks, looks like a late season.

Sea Watch from Berry Head, 06:30 - 12:00:

• 300 - 400 Manx Shearwater (Hard to keep track of nos as many birds doubled back, > S, then < N, with many landing in rafts ranging from c.20 - c. 60 strong no discernable Balearics);
• 4 - 8 Arctic Skua (2 > S; 4 < N; 2 > S ?);
• 1 Pomarine Skua < N; 
• 1 R-t Diver > S; 
• 2 Arctic Terns < N (+ 3-4 Commic Terns >S);
• 1m & 1f Wheatear between point & quarry.
• 1 Man (Homo Sapien) in a Kayak - we've not met but hi Rupert!

photos from this am

  
Manx and Berry head                          Iceland Gull                        Purple Sandpiper

Part 1,

120+ Manx shearwaters

20+ Razorbills

Guillemots , many

2 Great Northern Divers flying across the neck of Berry Head at Shoalstone.

1 Sandwich tern

1 White winged Gull near Berry head at 0900, Iceland I think

1 Purple Sandpiper at Brixham Breakwater

(note: just in case anyone was, justifiably, worried  I didn't go anywhere near the Guillemot colony and photographed the auks 2 miles offshore)

further photos

  
Manx Shearwater                            Razorbills                                         Guillemot

During Part 1 of my BBS this morning:-

4 Yellowhammers, 1 Raven over and 1 Buzzard,, 2 pairs of Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, only 1 Willow Warbler but 4 Chiffchaffs, House Martins and Swallows plus the 'commoner' species.

Harvey Kendall and Barry Bryne.

The Red-backed Shrike was still showing at Dawlish Warren this afternoon. The only other bird of note was a Cuckoo.

  
Red-backed Shrike                                          Cuckoo

At Soar first thing, no signs of migration but c18 Whitethroats around.

Later, Slapton produced 15+ Swifts, Common Sandpiper & Tawny Owl.

Red Kite over approx 11:30 this morning. Quite a few warblers around including a lots of Whitethroats.

11am - 13pm x4 hobby feeding across marsh directly opposite Turf.

A few whimbrel dotted here and there, along with usual warblers.

A Red Kite flew south over the road by Haytor at 11.05am and watched circling the moor for 10 minutes

A Red Kite over the estuary towards Exton/Clyst Estuary drifted off over Exminster Marshes at 1330hrs. Also, a distant Hobby high over the marshes. 

The Male Red-Backed Shrike showing around Greenland Lake still 12.55 at least. 

Male Red backed shrike near the car park (edge of nature reserve near copse known as the Cuckoo's nest). From inner car park, pick up gravel path that leads into nature reserve - bird seen in bushes near copse.

Late entry - 7th May.

Gloriously sunny day on the moor produced a pleasing array of birds:-

2 Whinchats, 1 female Redstart, 1 Tree Pipit, at least 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cuckoos, Meadow Pipits, Swallows and a House Martins nest at the farm, 5+ Wheatears and several Linnets, 1 Buzzard soaring.   Moderate numbers of Orange Tip butterflies.

Harvey Kendall and Barry Bryne.