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
Tuesday 31st July 2018
Apologies for the poor quality of this record shot, taken through double-glazing. This bird is a first for me – I'm wondering if it's a Lesser Whitethroat but those aren't brown legs. I'm very happy to be corrected...
Eds - Yes, a Lesser Whitethroat. Greyish legs is fine for that species.

Posted July 31st, 2018 at 9:08 pm by Helen Evans in General Birding
Great White Egret still showing well today. Instead of heading for the hide, turn right out of the carpark, walk along the common and look back towards the hide.
Posted July 31st, 2018 at 3:36 pm by Bruce Stewart in General Birding
At Saltram today the Kingfisher (could be this years juvenile) showing for about an hour on the River Plym by Blaxton Meadow, also a cute juvenile Wren was showing very well



Posted July 31st, 2018 at 3:01 pm by greg bradbury in General Birding
A 2018 hatched Peregrine Falcon recovered near Vixen Tor on Dartmoor this morning close to overhead wires with a broken wing, it is ringed with a BTO ring and a yellow tag ring "FP", a bit thin and infested with flat fly but all being well this one will recover to be released in due course.

Posted July 31st, 2018 at 1:01 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
Monday 30th July 2018
Among the 100s of juvenile and adult Black-headed and Herring Gulls were 3 Common Gulls;
6 Mediterranean Gulls; 7 Whimbrel and yellow ring B.H.Gull (2H99) from Pitsea Landfill site.
The Grey Heron total is still slowly rising and now at 35. All seem to favour the Penhill Marsh side of the river.
Posted July 30th, 2018 at 7:11 pm by Maurice Clements in General Birding
Great White Egret, best viewed from the common just beyond the hidejuly
Posted July 30th, 2018 at 6:13 pm by Terry Goddard in General Birding
Lots of young birds in front of the hide this morning, juv Redshank, Dunlin, Terns and Gulls, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatchers and Canada Geese.

1st summer Common Tern and Juv Sandwich Tern
Posted July 30th, 2018 at 5:02 pm by simon thurgood in General Birding
Three Black-tailed Godwits in summer plumage, flew down river, 3 Whimbrels, 3 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, 45 Curlews, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (ad & 1st-s), 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Dunlins, 3 Greenshanks, 102 Redshanks & 14 Little Egrets.
Posted July 30th, 2018 at 1:31 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Reported escaped male Brazilian Teal with ring on leg.
Posted July 30th, 2018 at 9:53 am by Jeremy Spooner and John Adams in General Birding
Sunday 29th July 2018
Afternoon watch, 18.20-20.00, sewer flowing and attracting smaller gulls. At least 13 Mediterranean gull (11+ juvs, 1 1st summer, 1 adult), 1 small pale phase skua (arctic?) and 12 manx shearwater.
Posted July 29th, 2018 at 11:01 pm by Chris Proctor in General Birding
At around 17:00 from the train as it passed powderham the osprey which has been around the estuary over the last week was being harassed by the local gulls.
Posted July 29th, 2018 at 6:52 pm by Keith Birchall in General Birding
Sea watch from 09:00 till 16:45
10 storm petrels ( included a group of 9), 1 sooty shearwater , 20+ Manx shearwater, 3 Arctic Skua ( 1 very dark phase ) 2 great Skua, 43+ Mediterranean gull nearly all juv’s, 3+ common tern and lots of sandwich terns
Posted July 29th, 2018 at 6:21 pm by Keith Birchall in General Birding
Saturday 28th July 2018
At high tide:
5 Grey Heron, 111 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, by the old wreck.
40 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, c300 Black Headed Gull, 8 Mediterranean gull including one with a leg ring, and 11 Little Egret. Wind picking up.
Posted July 28th, 2018 at 7:30 pm by Alan Livsey in General Birding
Singles of Ruff, Green Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull. Peregrine over, creating havoc for around ten minutes. Little Egret chasing and catching dragonflies in front of the hide.
Posted July 28th, 2018 at 1:37 pm by Simon Bates in General Birding
Friday 27th July 2018
An afternoon visit to Blaxton Meadow on the incoming tide, a flock of 40 plus Goldfinch including a large number of juvenile birds on the fields to the front of Saltram House.

From the hide over looking Blaxton Meadow 12 plus Little Egret, 150 plus Black Head gull including one bird with a yellow plastic tag ring TV7E, one Mediterranean Gull, a possible Yellow Legged Gull, one Oyster Catcher, a flock of some 30 Curlew and at least four Whimbrell.

Posted July 27th, 2018 at 9:25 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
At least 50 Meds tonight.Couldn't do an age count due to birds moving though 80% were adults with many more fishing the estuary.17.50-18.40.
Posted July 27th, 2018 at 9:24 pm by Robert Marshall in General Birding
Thursday 26th July 2018
Lunchtime from R.Clyst viewing platform a very distant Osprey perched on channel marker off Lympstone.
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 11:55 pm by Chris Marcol in General Birding
2 little ringed plovers briefly in flight who flew around for some time but didn't alight.Masses of gulls having an anting frenzy but didn't come to land.Also 2 whimbrel 4 dunlin 6 redshank and 2 sandwich terns.17:50- 19:00.
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 9:13 pm by Robert Marshall in General Birding
Over the high tide this evening, of note, 9+ med Gulls, moulting Ruff, 30+ Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Gull, GBB Gull, LBB Gull (Psycho), Little grebe and young, Tufted duck and young and the presumed escaped Snow Goose (first time I've seen it on BGM).
Ruff video.
https://youtu.be/OnIilB61TU4

Ruff Common Gull Snow Goose
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 8:31 pm by Martin Rooney in General Birding
Whilst passing darts farm (near bridge inn) on my morning commute to Exeter, I noticed a white bird in amongst the Canada Geese. On closer inspection it was one of the Snow Geese that have been hanging around the Exe. Pictures on http://dixiesbirding.blogspot.com/?m=1
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 6:51 pm by Spencer Dicks in General Birding
Migrants - 6 Willow Warblers in/around Starehole Valley. 380 Linnet with most on rape stubble - indicates very successful breeding season (usually 80 - 100 pairs).
Mammals: Pod of 17+ Common Dolphin off Bolt Head.
Bflies: 37 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary & 47 Small Copper.
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 2:06 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
An early morning visit to Broadsands before the beachgoers arrived resulted in a Torbay record count of 83 Mediterranean Gulls -mostly juvs around the beach also 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull on the beach at the north end.

Photo of some of the Mediterranean Gull close to the car park seawall - I've counted 20 in this shot..
Posted July 26th, 2018 at 12:54 pm by Mike Langman in General Birding
Wednesday 25th July 2018
The juv Yellow-legged Gull still around and showing well this afternoon; photos at:- https://twitter.com/Plymbirding/status/1022225000470900736
(There are possibly 2 around). Also - 4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 ads, 2nd-s & my first juv of the autumn), 18 Little Egrets, 2 Whimbrels, 42 Curlews, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlins, Greenshank, 7 Mandarin Ducks & Grey Wagtail.
Posted July 25th, 2018 at 10:07 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Western Osprey off Exton Station around 4pm today more info and pictures at dixiesbirding.blogspot.com/?m=1
Posted July 25th, 2018 at 5:46 pm by Spencer Dicks in General Birding
Little Egret 15
Heron 3
300 + Black Head Gulls with more coming in a steady stream.
3 Mediterranean Gulls
30 Curlew
2 Whimbrell
1 Stock Dove



Posted July 25th, 2018 at 5:45 pm by Steve Hopper in General Birding
Tuesday 24th July 2018
Highlight on mid-tide this afternoon was a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Also adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Sandpipers, summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Mandarin Ducks, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Blackcap, Fox & Clouded Yellow.
Posted July 24th, 2018 at 8:54 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
This Painted Lady alighted only a metre away from where I was standing while out bird watching this aft.

Posted July 24th, 2018 at 6:48 pm by Rob Jutsum in General Birding
At Hooe Lake, Plympton, on the rafters of the old boats, a Sandwich Tern and young, we watched the parent tern fish and feed it's young for several minutes then they flew off not to be seen again.

Posted July 24th, 2018 at 4:30 pm by GregBradbury in General Birding
Osprey feeding on mudbank between Turf and Royal Marine Camp.
Accompanied by two wary crows hoping for the left overs.
Still there resting when we left at 1.30.
Posted July 24th, 2018 at 3:32 pm by Patrick Case in General Birding
Monday 23rd July 2018
At least two med gulls over our garden on Clovelly road late afternoon.Adult and 2. Plenty of gulls anting but only got onto these.On private farm today at doccombe at least 6 silver washed frittilaries on large buddliea with 1 hummingbird hawkmoth.Several other bushes to check this week.
Posted July 23rd, 2018 at 9:14 pm by Robert Marshall in General Birding
On Bowling Green this afternoon, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 3 Tufted Duck ducklings and plenty of Black-tailed Godwits. From the viewing platform, Peregrine & 13+ Whimbrels, and at Goosemoor, adult Spotted Redshank, adult Common Gull & good numbers of adult Dunlins.
Very little on Matford Ponds.
Posted July 23rd, 2018 at 9:09 pm by Pete Aley in General Birding
Grey Heron 31
Little Egret 8
Med Gull 5A
Black-tailed Godwit 3
Kingfisher 1.
Black-headed Gull - Yellow ring on left tarsus. code 2H93. Metal I/d ring right tarsus. I/D EZ709046. This bird was first ringed on 25/3/2017 by the North Thames Gull Ringing Group at Pitsea landfill site, Essex. Seen on 2 previous occasions just off Ashford sewage works on 9/7/18 and 19/7/18.
Posted July 23rd, 2018 at 1:06 pm by Maurice Clements in General Birding
Hobby over Higher Soar, sub-adult Common Gull on the Ham Stone, 3 Swifts over Southdown Farm and another family party of 6 Wheatears east of Soar Mill Cove.
Posted July 23rd, 2018 at 12:30 pm by Rob Macklin in General Birding
Sunday 22nd July 2018
Aerial display of Swifts 30+ over Bridestowe, quite a sight.
Posted July 22nd, 2018 at 9:56 pm by Colin Hannaford in General Birding
One of Two Green Sandpipers that flew in, good views from the hide.

Green Sandpiper
Posted July 22nd, 2018 at 5:12 pm by simon thurgood in General Birding
Trip out from Brixham this morning in calm conditions. Just out from Berry Head a Sunfish sighted and then 6 Common Dolphin with young. Birds seen during the 4 hour trip 20+ Manx Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 400+ Herring Gull, 2 Fulmar, 2 Razorbill, 6 small groups of Guillemots, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Kittiwake and in the distance a Skua sp. Returning back to Brixham 8 Bottlenose Dolphins. Looking good for next Sundays trip.
Posted July 22nd, 2018 at 2:53 pm by Nigel Smallbones in General Birding
After many attempts I went to Matford Marsh this morning from 8.30 - 9.30 - no sign. Then went to St Davids for a steam train. Returned to Matford for another look at the steam train and one last look for the Ibis. It duly flew in dead on noon. Hurrah. Good morning! Ibis still there when I left.
Ibis video
https://youtu.be/gprOHI4Szmw Steam train video if interested. https://youtu.be/GKhXmEnlLms



Glossy Ibis Glossy Ibis Glossy Ibis
Posted July 22nd, 2018 at 1:33 pm by Martin Rooney in General Birding