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.

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

Black-necked Grebe ( Ireland Bay off viewing platform ), 2 Little Grebes,  ( Graveyard Pool ), 21 Wigeons ( Ireland Bay, came in from the North ), 2 Scaup ( still present, between Slapton Bridge and Ireland Bay ), 10 Teals, Peregrine ( male attacking flock of c150 Starlings coming in to roost at Stokeley Bay ), 18 Swallows, 2 Kingfishers   and Wheatear. First 3-400 Woodpigeons/Stock Doves flew south early on. In the bay an Arctic Skua chasing Kittiwakes, 6 mobile Common Scoters and a dark-bellied Brent Goose ( flying north ).

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.

Start of pigeon migration this morning generally moving SE with 4400 Woodpigeon and 420 Stock Dove. Also moving Starling 52E ,Jackdaw 300 (280W 20E) & 18 Alba Wagtail over. Also: 5 Ring Ouzel, migrant Mistle Thrush, 31 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 15 Blackbird, migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2m Bullfinch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & 30 Yellowhammer.

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.

1 Cattle Egret on the scrape am. Also c150 BH Gulls & 3 Black tailed Godwit.

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.

Pretty much as Dave’s tweet, but for the record....

15 Pomarine Skuas (all juvs), 57 Arctic Skuas (various ages), 10 Pom/Arctic Skuas, 13 Bonxies, Grey Phalarope, 6 Balearic & 1 Manx Shearwaters, Arctic & 4 “Commic” Terns, drake Common Scoter, Curlew, 250+ Kittiwakes (mainly adults), ringtail Hen Harrier (south over the sea), 3 Siskins “in off” & at least 6 Harbour Porpoises showing well throughout the day.

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.

Lapland Bunting. One seen late afternoon Oct.16th and 17th in same spot on coast path around the estuary...opposite green navigation buoy in river and close to coast path sign. Park at Skern. 

Snow Buntings. Oct.17th...Two adults and two juveniles feeding between  8th green and makeshift sea wall. No camera!

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.

Seawatch today 8am till 12 in SSW 4-5 with little rain tho forecast. 

Skuas : 1 Immature Pom, 2 Arctic ( pale and dark phase) and 1 Bonxie.

4 Balearic Shearwaters; 6 Puffins; 1 Merlin ( chasing the 100+Meadow Pipits flying west) . 12 Common Scoter west, 1 East. 2 Med Gulls adult winter plumage.2 Sandwich Terns.2 Great Northern Divers ( Adult summer plumages and a 1st year).

constant stream of 898 Kittiwakes; 1295 Gannets and 533 Auks all west. And a breaching cetacean.

Yesterday Pat saw and photographed a Wryneck behind the car park. And today he saw a Yellow- Browed Warbler on private farmland and a Whinchat. So, still passer ones out there to find.

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.

Despite the wind, in a few sheltered spots were 2 Firecrests ( caught and ringed ) 13 Goldcrests ( 7  caught and ringed ) At the beach 2 Woodlarks   low overhead moving west into the wind.

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!

Five raptor species included a Merlin while another highlight was a late Whitethroat. Noticeable influx of 43 Robin (41 at East Soar yesterday). Also: 250 Skylark, 7 Alba Wagtail, 14 Stonechat, 24 Blackbird, 8 Chiffchaff, 100 Carrion Crow, 47 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting & 4 singing male Cirl Bunting.

At Moorwell Pond this morning, a Firecrest. 6 Goldcrests. 4 Chiffchaffs ,2 Blackcaps and 8 Robins ( a high count for this species here. A male Blackcap ringed at this site on the 7th. Sept.2018 was recovered ( caught by a ringer ) near Seville in southern Spain on the 12th. Oct.2018. More British ringed Blackcaps are recovered in Spain than any other location abroad ,closely followed by France and then Morocco.

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!

Late post for yesterday thanks to internet failure: Yellow-browed Warbler (found by PA), 2 Ring Ouzel, Ringed Plover, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (migrants), 19 Swallow, 10 Alba Wagtail, Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 2m Bullfinch and first Reed Bunting of the autumn.

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

A Yellow-browed Warbler first thing in East Soar willows, 3 Ring Ouzels & a Firecrest in Starehole. Also in the area: Redpoll (presumed Lesser) over, 8 Siskins, Wheatear, White Wagtail, 15 Goldcrests, 9 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 8 Song Thrushes, Water Rail, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 12 Swallows & a Jay.

Pictures of Ring ouzel at Starehole valley, East Soar yesterday