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.

Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Wigeons, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, 212 Tufted Ducks, 12 Pochards, 2 Goldeneyes, 245 Coots, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 108 Common Gulls, 280 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest. Plenty of Water Rails calling. In the bay Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and a Common Scoter flying north. Lots of Auks sp distant flying south early morning.

From the reserve this morning a male Marsh Harrier over Sherpa Marsh, and a flock of 20 or so Fieldfares heading west. 2 water Rails calling.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

16 Goosander 9m 7f, 6 Tufted Duck 3m 3f, 11 Willow Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 15 Coal Tit, 16 Blue Tit, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Magpie, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 28 Mallard, 1m Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Cormorant, 3 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 4 Marsh Tit, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Robin, 6 Long-tailed Tit.

Two Bearded Tits (male and female) at Riverside Valley Park from the first viewing screen by the cycle path north of the Countess Weir canal bridge.

This mornings low tide at Ernesettle creek:-

128 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe.

Later at Mountbatten:-

4 Rock pipit, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Raven feeding on carrion.

Two Black necked Grebes,singles of Black throated and Red Throated Divers,four G.N.Divers and the Velvet Scoter was with a group of at least eight Common Scoter all females.

Bittern seen wading in the far reedbed at 10am, to the right of the wooden gate. Also male Pochard

Target bird found this morning, 2 Jack Snipe in Starehole Valley.

3 ringneck parakeet and 1 blue one

Late afternoon - 3 Barnacle Geese amongst large flock of Canadas seen from the railway footpath at the last gate of 'Agricultural Access'.   Marsh Harrier active, putting up large flocks of Wigeon and Lapwing

A series of Goosander counts at a small private fishing lake near South Brent started with seven seen by Mike Goss on 1 Dec. This morning at 08:00 there were 14 (5 m) busily fishing, but only three on the previous two days. Birds have been seen coming in at dawn and leaving at dusk, and are presumed to be some of the Avon Dam roosters. Departure times have varied from 16:12 to 16:55.

I had a Red Kite overhead at 1600 on Wednesday December 4th, flying over Burrator Reservoir towards Sheepstor. This is the first I’ve ever seen here on my local patch. Judging from its direction of travel, it probably had flown over my house and would have been a garden tick....had I been at home!

Stover Lake was partially frozen and foggy this morning. Highlights were 1 drake Goosander and 3 Pochard.

This morning at the lake,

1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Goosander 5m 4f, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Wigeon, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 9 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1m Gadwall, 2 Nuthatch, 1m Reed Bunting, 2 Tufted Duck 1m 1f, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Jay.

In Kiln Lane this morning. 5 Firecrests feeding in Laurels. InVicarage Lane ,8 Goldcrests among the tit flock.

Scanned the bay for 45 minutes this morning in almost perfect conditions as the mist cleared. Results: 3 Great Northern, 1 Black-throated and 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black-necked and 4-5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Guillemot, 1 Velvet and perhaps 10 Common (all female) Scoters. The Velvet spent part of the time apparently displaying to two of the Commons, and a third Common was struggling with what looked like a 3 inch diameter scallop or similar. 

As a bonus, one of the Cirl Buntings was singing near the railway viaduct.

A productive visit this morning: 2 Water Rails seen, 30+ Goldfinch mainly feeding on Alder cones, a Treecreeper, and out on the scrape a Black-tailed Godwit briefly, a Lapwing, 2 Pied Wagtails and 3 Redshank. Also a Grey Heron which took a quick look around inside the reserve. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew off one of the feeders.

1 chiffchaff 2 firecrest this morning 

At the field by the EA Lab, at 1600 a Great White Egret flew SW. at 1628, 24/5 Cattle Egrets flew low over the site, flying N to roost. Also 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew in and a Green Woodpecker. 37 Teal on the wet field.

Very light breeze and gentle swell.  BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers,  3 (possibly up to 6) Great Northern Divers but rather mobile around the bay, VELVET SCOTER, & 7 Common Scoter

 4 Firecrests  , 5 Goldcrests , including 2 ' continental' birds and 8 Chiffchaffs this morning, Nearby 15 Redwings in the tops of the Alders.

1. 1st. Yr. m.    

2. A particularly smart ' continental' Goldcrest.    

3. Note the extent that the pale grey side crown and nape extend on to the mantle. A diagnostic feature of 'continental' birds.

Among the Canada Geese this morning were 3 Barnacle Geese. Also, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Greylag and the Snow Goose is back.

A good sighting of the Ring-necked Ducks 3m (one first winter) 1f.

This woodpecker, one of a pair, is a regular visitor to our back garden feeders.  Yesterday he landed on the bottom pole, which is rusty and he can climb up, but instead he remained absolutely frozen for between 15 and 20 minutes as if there was a predator around. None of the other birds, including this robin, seemed at all concerned.  What was he doing? Not so obliging was a Firecrest that stayed for about 30 seconds and didn't stay for a photo.

No sign of the 5 Scaup on the pond yesterday aft but the Goldeneye still present. 1 Siberian Chiffchaff 'tristis' in the vegetation close to the boardwalk, very close views.

At Baggy Point on Sunday last c90 Common Scoters including 3 males. (not all visible in the photo, several diving)

Also 1 female Black Redstart near the NT car park

The Common Scoters are finding food at Baggy point (blue mussels) which is why they have remained at this location & not Downend so far this winter.

Cracking male Hen Harrier flying across the road ahead of me near Two Bridges this afternoon.

Late post from yesterday. 1 Woodcock and 5 Goosanders.

Little Egret 1, Kingfisher 1, Common Sandpiper 4, Little Grebe 4, Moorhen 12+, Mallard 19, Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 9, Buzzard 4, Raven 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Redwing 13, Goldcrest 2. Scores of Pheasants  in the area including one group of 12 at the junction with the driveway to Maristow House.

2 Jack Snipe, 19 Snipe, 39 Turnstones, Ringed Plover, 199 Dunlins, 2 Common Sandpipers, Dipper, 10 Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Goosanders (1 drake), 7 Wigeon, 2 Kingfishers, 12 Mandarin Ducks, Mediterranean Gull (Polish-ringed adult), 2 Shags, 2 Great Spotted & 1 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Bullfinches, Grey Wagtail & 6 Roe Deer.

Further to the previous post by Peter, I'm prompted to report the sighting of a single Red Grouse about half a mile south of Ryders hill. Not far from where I flushed five birds some five or six years ago. Also just five Golden Plover.

2 more Chiffchaffs ringed this morning plus another Cetti's Warbler. Most of the rest were Green, Gold, and Chaffinches.

Out on the scrape a Lapwing and a Redshank, following 2 there a couple of days ago.

Four Great Northern Divers around the Harbour this afternoon, three close in off Breakwater Beach and the bird in the pictures that was feeding on crabs close to the wall between the Marina and the Inner-Harbour.

An adult pair and a juvenile seen flying around the Tunnel Beaches and then perched for 10 mins on our telephone wire. Looking cold. Light too bad to get a good shot with a compact.

Blue winged teal showed at 12.45 and stayed feeding around the reeds for about 1hour before going to sleep on top of a clump of reeds in the sun,. 

A Chiffchaff in a hedge below Brent Hill this morning was not particularly unusual, but it was on Dartmoor, and in December 2018 only one Dartmoor Chiffchaff record was submitted - according to the Dartmoor Bird Report 2018. In the apparent absence of any other announcement, some readers may be interested to know that the report is available on this website, tucked away under Birdwatching/Articles/Dartmoor Bird Reports. Hopefully it will stimulate submission of more Dartmoor records for 2019.

There were 5 Firecrests scattered around the Zoo grounds this afternoon - 3 singles and a duo. One of the photos shows a typically minute prey item gleaned from a Yew twig; it looks like an insect egg of some sort.

Firecrest at Paignton Zoo: note the tiny prey item on the right - an insect egg?

A snipe in one of my mist nets this morning was a suprise. A lovely bird in the hand with its intricate camouflage ,and incredibly docile. No sighn of yesterday's Yellow Browed Warbler , and the Chiffchaffs had also moved on , with only 2 present today. Very few other migrants ; just 5 Goldcrests.

Snipe.

A very early look at the lakes this morning.

Upper Lake.

5 Ring-necked Duck 3m 2f, 6 Tufted Duck.

Lower Lake.

1 Green Sandpiper on the weir, 1m Shoveler, 7 Goosander 4m 3f.

Eds.

The Ring_necked were diving with the Tufted which made sexing them very difficult, they all flew south but not the the Lower Lake.

A lively morning in superb conditions brought Black Redstart, a significant influx of thrushes, 58 Blackbird & 27 Song Thrush, an increase in bunting numbers to 71 Yellowhammer, 42 Cirl Bunting & 3 Reed Bunting, 700 Herring Gull, 27 Stock Dove, 370 Woodpigeon, 170 Carrion Crow, 74 Jackdaw, a winter's peak of 1050 Skylark, 125 Starling, 7 Buzzard, 25 Greenfinch - species showing signs of recovery, 90 Canada Goose & 100 Linnet.

Late Red Admiral.

This morning (high tide) produced: 3 Goosanders (2 drakes + redhead), Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebes, 25 Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 6 Wigeon (3 pairs), 2 Kingfishers & a Great Spotted Woodpecker..

A lone Whimbrel in amongst a small flock of Oystercatchers and Curlew just off Cockwood steps. No sign of Slavonian Grebe. 

Seen a snow Bunting in the same spot today as I did 2 weeks ago in Woolacombe 

Long distance shot of a Great Northern Diver, Curlew and Dunnock at Instow this morning.

Long distance shot of a Great Northern Diver.

Curlew three of ten.

Dunnock

Driving home we saw today this female kingfisher was perched on barbed wire overlooking the dike around the Great Field. Having driven by without disturbance we were able to park up some 20 metres further on & watch and photograph her successfully catch this fish. John Turner please note....she was sporting a ring on her right leg but unable to read the number. One of yours no doubt.

Two adult Mediterranean gulls on the rocks at the north end this afternoon. One was colour ringed green RLN4, ringed as a chick in Jablines, Seine-et-Marne, France in 2015. This is now its 3rd winter in Torbay. The other bird was unringed. Well over 20 turnstones, also 1 rock pipit.

French ringed Mediterranean Gull, green RLN4

Solo Female Black Redstart present in Coombe Vale garden all morning...

A YELLOW BROWED warbler this morning  ( not caught ) 11 Chiffchaffs. a big increase on the2/3 of the last week ; 3 Firecrests , 4 Goldcrests , including a ' continental ' bird and a female blackcap.

' continental ' Goldcrest. 1st. Yr.f.

Plenty of redwings still at FPC, but no signs yet of the Black Redstarts

Redwing

Around 70 ringneck parakeet this morning