Happy New Year

Many thanks to all observers that have already submitted their records for 2019, both through Birdtrack and Devon Birds. This is much appreciated.

For other records please could observers submit their sightings by 31^st January.

Guidelines and links to recording forms can be found here https://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/recording/guide_to_record_submission

Please send your records to Karen Sims data.manager@devonbirds.org and any descriptions to Kevin Rylands recorder@devonbirds.org

Best wishes and good birding for 2020

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 .

A seasonally confusing walk. Goosander was the target, but none had arrived. However, several small parties of Crossbills were criss-crossing the plantations, with, eventually, an adult male seen perched in full song. Presumably the seed crop is good and breeding imminent. Half an hour later, 300+ Fieldfares, my first of the "Winter", flew over and dropped into the Bovey valley, so what season is it? Plenty of newly-arrived Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the soggy pastures. 

A walk along Saunton Sands to Crow Point this afternoon produced 150+ Sanderling a single Common Scoter and 50+ Brent Geese.

a small flock of Dunlin on Horsey Island with 30+ Lapwing

    
Sanderling                      150+ Sanderling on Saunton Beach         Common Scoter off Saunton Sands

Late report from Sunday 21st. Took the circular around the headland but found no sign of the recently reported wryneck.  Disappointment  was made up for by a brilliant close up sighting of a Short-eared Owl that landed on the path about 50m in front of us. (Not long enough for a photo though).  Other highlights were two Wheatear and six Swallows, along with probable migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Blackcap and several Chiffchaff, amongst good numbers of the usual suspects Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnets and Stonechats.

Northam Burrows: no sign of the Lapland Bunting, but 3 confiding Snow Buntings. A pale Wheatear was only a Northern.

Fremington Pill was as usual awash with Redshanks + 2 Spotted Redshank, and the Glossy Ibis was also present and showing well.

Northam Burrows: no sign of the Lapland Bunting, but 3 confiding Snow Buntings. A pale Wheatear was only a Northern.

Fremington Pill was as usual awash with Redshanks + 2 Spotted Redshank, and the Glossy Ibis was also present and showing well.

I had a walk around before the dog walkers got out in force and noted the following. Redwing, Fieldfare, Firecrest 2  and  17 Cirl Bunting . Not much on the Point, only  a few Oystercatchers with 4 Curlew before being moved on by the dogs. The only waders seen by me.

Late report for Saturday 19 October. c60 Golden Plover near Haytor, Dartmoor at 11.30am

22 Fieldfares, 4 Ring Ouzels 6 Redwings.

A morning trip on Dartmoor above South Brent gave a bird of prey bonanza, initially a juvenile Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a crow, followed by two juvenile Peregrines playing tag with another crow, a Buzzard in the distance followed by a Goshawk flying down the valley with two crows trailing behind it.

Meadow Pipit and Gold Crests in good numbers, six sightings of Ring Ouzel, one single female followed by five together flying into a Rowan tree to feed, two Mistle Thrush and a couple of Raven.

South Efford Marsh at Aveton Gifford not a great deal to see, five Greenshank, two Redshank, eight plus Little Egret, Heron, a couple of Curlew, Canada geese providing a spectacle as they were arriving in flocks throughout the visit and on leaving just over 200 birds present including a large domestic goose that flew in with them. Brief view of a Kingfisher on leaving and a female Kestrel overhead.

Up to 15 mobile Ring Ouzels early this morning N end,

Great white egret at turf Saturday afternoon 

This afternoon:

8 Little egret, 20 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 1 Great crested grebe, 1 Common sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Firecrest.

09.30-12.30 - Shipley Bridge 

3 Ring Ouzels seen separately beyond the first bridge perched in trees or bushes. A group also seen briefly in flight passing over. Four species of raptors, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Blackbirds, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Ravens and numerous Robins. 

14.00-15.00 - Emsworthy Mire 

At least 10 mobile Ring Ouzels showing well in bushes beyond the northern boundary of the reserve. Mainly juvs but also some females and a smart male. Kestrel, GSW, Ravens and several Mistle Thrushes present too. 

Highlights this morning, 3 Cirl Buntings and 2 Goldcrest. Large numbers of Finches and Blackbirds around the pines, as well as a female Blackcap and a Chiffchaff.

As well showing very well by wooden country side post in line with green shipping marker buoy northam burrows

A lovely sunny morning at Dawlish Warren produced flocks of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet. A lone Blackcap, plenty of Stonechat, a well camouflaged Cirl Bunting and I believe a Cetti's Warbler 50m from gate to dunes. Rusty brown but sadly a poor photgraph . Ed’s - this looks like a Wren.

Cirl Bunting

Chetti's Warbler

Whilst watching a mistle thrush, 12 ring ouzels gathered around stayed together for several minutes, approx 11am today.

2 still showing well now at North end of northam burrows

Just visiting from Sussex, so this is probably well-known, but there was a Glossy Ibis at Fremington Pill yesterday afternoon.

Among the many Redshank lining the Pill, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank and surprisingly a male Ruff

2 Snow Buntings this morning at the north end of the golf course on the sea defences. Also of interest 50 Brent Geese of which 2 Pale-bellied, 8 Wigeon, a late Arctic Tern, c350 Golden Plover and a Raven.

They took their time in showing up this morning, and only one in any way ventured close to us, but eventually the first of eleven Ring Ouzels seen today up at Shipley showed up.

Until they arrived entertained by numerous Blackbirds and a small number of Mistle Thrush.

Three Raven over, M&F Kestrels, slow but steady movement of Chaffinch down the valley and a very active flock of 15 plus Long Tailed Tits.

Nine Ring Ouzel seen in the area  of the first bridge on the road from Shipley bridge to the Avon dam, mostly singles, three in flight at one point circled and went over Black Torr.

Raven and Kestrel, no sign of the numerous smaller species seen earlier in the week.

late afternoon: c250 Golden Plover (one flock) overhead, heading SSW.

We have had frequent sightings of Reeve’s Pheasants over the past couple of weeks and including today, around the Langdon Court area and north of the village. Presumably these are all released birds.  

This morning at the lake.

8 Willow Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 17 Coal Tit, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Nuthatch, 1f Tufted Duck, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Wren, 12 Blue Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail.

10 members of DB (East Devon Branch) attended the morning fieldtrip before the weather deteriorated at 11.30.  Target birds present including: Ring Ouzel (3), Mistle Thrush (c20), Redwing (c50), Golden Plover (20), Raven(1), Kestrel (1), Willow Warbler (1), Meadow Pipit(s), Skylark (heard over), and did someone say Fieldfare?  Most birds seen at a distance feeding on Rowan trees or passing south up the valley.

A report of a Hoopoe at Staddon Green, Plymstock this morning on a site called Nextdoor Lipson & Lara, apparently was seen yesterday on or near this road. Details at scanty.

Cirl Bunting and Rock Pipit

15 Ring Ouzel,  very skittish and mobile, seen after the bridge.

15 Ring Ouzel , very skittish and mobile, seen further on from the bridge.

Ring Ouzel

This afternoon there was a large movement of Thrushes on Emsworthy Mire, I counted 8 Ring Ouzels and there could have been more judging by the amount of calling,approximately 100 Redwing and about 20 Mistle Thrush.
The flock was very mobile and moving along the valley, curiously accompanied by a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Male Bullfinch!

This morning: 1 Merlin in protracted chase after a Skylark over the stubble fields by the airfield; 8 or 9 Ring Ouzels in Stair Hole and the Yellow-browed Warbler still in the willows (early pm) but elusive.

Walked Shipley Bridge - Avon Dam 11.15 -13.15 today, but only got as far as just past the 1st bridge. Numerous Ring Ouzel moving down valley and feeding on rowan trees to right of bridge. I sat up amongst the trees and at one time saw 24 Ouzel flying over to the pine trees by the ruined hotel, with more left feeding on the rowan. Constant movement and I would estimate there were at least 30+ Ouzel present. Mostly female/juvenile birds and have yet to check my record photos for any sign of ringing. Most I have seen in the area during the past 6 years!

Two redhead Goosanders were new in on Blaxton. Also: Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Greenshanks, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Sparrowhawk. 

Just outside the patch, a Yellow-browed Warbler in Tothill Park (in sycamores near the tunnel under the railway).

2 male and 2 female Ring Ouzels this morning at around 10.30. At least 1 Redwing with around 20 Mistle Thrushes.

Nice comparison to have both Green and Common Sandpiper feeding together on the Caen Estuary this afternoon. Green Sandpiper not so common as the Common on this stretch so nice to see.  

      
Green Sandpiper                             Green Sandpiper Tail                       Common Sandpiper Tail