In the light of the continuing Covid19 restrictions on the number of people gathering together, and the need for social distancing, it has been agreed that there will be no Devon Birds meetings or events organised until 21st June 2021, when Government restrictions are planned to be lifted. If there is any Government announcement that necessitates a change to this date an update will be posted.

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.  

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.