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.  

As noted in the minutes of the Oct 2020 DBRC meeting, Tim Jones is standing down after serving as a member of the Committee for an extended sixth year. Tim has been an active member of the Committee, and his consistently pragmatic approach to assessing records has proved invaluable. The Society would like to thank him for his contribution over the past six years and wish him well in the future.

In the hope of maintaining a geographic spread across the Committee, DBRC approached Dean Jones to fill the vacancy. Dean grew up birding and ringing in Antrim and Lothian, before a tour of various European islands, including Lundy where he has been the Warden now for the past four years.

His experience and knowledge from ringing and birdwatching around Europe will be especially useful to Devon Birds and the Records Committee.

Unless the County Recorder receives any other applications before 15th April 2021, Dean will be formally elected to fill the vacancy for a five year period.

For more information and/or an application form please contact:

Kevin Rylands, County Recorder.   Email: recorder@devonbirds.org 

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.

4 Red Kite circling over Croyde for 15 mins this morning , were seen by Andy Cotton and a further 3 were seen on the Devon and Somerset border near Long Holcombe Cross, Exmoor, this afternoon.

Eight Mandarin Ducks (5 drakes), 8 Goosanders (2 drakes), 3 Little Grebes, 4 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, 3 Wigeon & Grey Wagtail.

A rather lovely walk around in the sunshine enjoying the burgeoning flowers, saw both Red Admiral and Brimstone.

This morning at the lake.
18 Tufted Duck, 1f Ring-necked Duck, 4 Marsh Tit, 2 Willow Tit (one showing Leucistic on the tail) 9 Wigeon, 4f Goosander, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper.

Early this morning 1f Hen Harrier 

A single Dartford warbler showing well today, seemed to be enjoying the sunshine

Dartford Warbler

Roborough Down today saw a single Peregrine Falcon, managed to take a few shots, but gone in seconds

Peregrine Falcon

The 2 Red-necked Grebes were together in Elberry Cove  for the  first half of morning (initially separate but came together c. 08:30) but had drifted further away, when I returned for a second visit at midday.

3 Common Scoter (m) flew S c.09:20.

At least 3 Gt N Divers (1 in Broadsands Bay c.08:00; 2 near the mussel beds around same time; with 1 in Elberry Cove, later c. midday on my return).

At least 7 Cirl (3m, 4f); 5 Reed (1m, 4f) Buntings; 6 Yellowhammer (2m, 4f) seen down on the seed at any one time, late morning + several Greenfinches & Chaffinches.

Grey Seal at Broadsands briefly c. 11:45.

I think a Pinkfoot Goose just south of the viaduct/bridge by the hide. But long range for my optics.

Preston: 6 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Goodrington: 1 Black-necked Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Black-throated Diver.

Broadsands: 2 Red-necked Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver

Highlights from this afternoon's Stuart Line cruise: the ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood as usual; 3 immature drake Eiders off Starcross; 5 Greenshanks, mostly off Powderham; about 20 Great Crested Grebes and maybe 30 Red-breasted Mergansers scattered up the estuary; over 200 Pintail again around the mouth of the Clyst; large numbers of waders around Turf-Topsham, especially Black-tailed Godwits (1000?), Lapwings (1000?), Golden Plover (500?), Dunlin and Avocets with smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plover. 2 or 3 Grey Seals included one hauled out on a pontoon off Dawlish Warren.

Today was one of those days when I should have stayed in bed.  Got onto the Downs about 1030 and it started with 5 or 6 Meadow Pipits which were always 50 yds ahead of me. Then I met up with a Bullfinch (m) which stayed hidden from the camera in the thickest part of a tree. Then moved onto to the Green Woodpecker site near Clearbrook only to see it fly over and head into the moors. At three o'clock I gave up and caught the bus home.

A quick early morning visit to the hide was rewarded with a Great White Egret. It flew from the far left of the Marsh (hide side) over the railway line towards Darts Farm at around 7:30am. For further details visit dixiesbirding.blogspot.com

The female Red-crested Pochard is back; also Jack Snipe, 2 Snipe, 3 redhead Goosanders, Shag, 11 Mandarin Ducks (6 drakes), 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Wigeon (1 drake), 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpeckers (heard) & 6 Roe Deer. 

At low tide yesterday no spoonbills seen, but we did see 1500 plus golden plover,. At fremington the glossy ibis was showing well with a spoonbill on the left hand side of the quay, (not ringed)

The 2 Red-necked Grebes were back at Broadsands this morning one in Elberry Cove the other in Broadsands Bay. Also 15 Cirl Bunting 9 Reed Bunting and 6 Yellowhammer on seed in 2nd car park.

Pair of Swans in the reserve at Velator this morning, and a Water Rail calling.

At the Skern this afternoon, Very high numbers of Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backs, 3 Knot, c150 Dunlin, 30/40 Redshank. at least 4 Mediterranean Gulls.

Stopped briefly at Fremington Pill on the way home where at least 34 Egrets in the roost of which at least 3 were Cattle Egrets, plus the Glossy Ibis.

The Glossy Ibis was busy foraging in the tidal channel at Fremington Pill this morning.

The 10 Cattle Egrets were on Penhill Marsh again.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time, witnessed two Male Dartford Warblers trying to attract a Female. Unfortunately couldn't get all three in focus.

Dartford Warbler

2f Scaup reported yesterday still present on the river at 4.30pm.  1 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Grey Plover 

60 Fieldfare on the move over the garden with several Redwing.

Small Tortoiseshell in garden.

A very pleasant morning fieldtrip for 23 members of DB (East Devon Branch).  We divided into two groups under our new policy to split the group where members exceed 15 and walked in opposite directions around the circular paths of the lower estuary led by myself and Tim Channon.   

A combined total of 49 species was counted with equal numbers (but some different species) being seen by the two groups.  The scrapes were generally lacking in bird species and numbers with a few Teal and a single Shoveler.  Of interest were 3 Water Rail in ditches along the road, 4 Snipe in the field near Whitebridge and good views of a Firecrest 100 yards down the west path from the cottages.  2 Gt spotted Woodpecker were seen drumming and courtship behaviour was noted for Stock Dove, Robin, Blue Tit and 5 Shelduck.  A Magpie was seen carrying nesting material.

Some belated picks from a visit to the "Emberiza Hide" at Broadsands, 12.2.19.

1                                                                    2                                                                 3

4                                                                   5                                                                  6

1. Reed Bunting [f]
2. Reed Bunting [m]
3. Yellowhammer [m] (Cirl Bunting [m] in background)
4. Cirl Bunting [f]
5. & 6. Cirl Bunting [m]

13.15

Male Black Redstart showing well on roofs and balconies of Windward Court and Leeward Court, Shelly Beach. 

Later, 70+ twittering and wheezing finches in trees around the car park at Ideford Common. Predominantly Siskins, but also Chaffinches, Goldfinches and a few Redpoll. 

Lone Greenshank at Passage House. 

2 Black-necked Grebes & 1 Slavonian Grebe (with one of the Black-necked). 8 Reed Bunting and 13 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park also 1 singing Chiffchaff.

Highlights from today's Stuart Line cruise: Great Northern Diver off Exmouth seafront, Slavonian Grebe off Cockwood, 3 immature drake Eiders on Bull Hill, at least 22 Sanderlings scattered along the sandbank fringes and at least 6 Greenshanks, mostly off Powderham. Five Goldeneye (2 drakes) towards Lympstone, c12 Great Crested Grebes and c30 Red-breasted Mergansers scattered up the estuary; again 200+ Pintail, mostly around the mouth of the Clyst. Many waders again around Turf-Topsham, especially Black-tailed Godwits (1000+?), Lapwings (1500+), Golden Plover (700), Dunlin and Avocets, with smaller numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot (c50).

Finally getting mobile enough to get back to the reserve today, 3 1/2 weeks after hip replacement. My son and daughter were in the reserve yesterday and reported a pair of Swans present on the pond - not seen any for 3 years. Today, a pair of Little Grebes (male trilling) and a smart pair of Mallard. A few Finches and Tits (including a Coal Tit) and a Treecreeper. Reed Bunting and a couple of Redwings flew over, and a Little Egret was with a  few Teal out on the scrape. 2 Kingfishers in the river.

Spotted Redshank again this evening.Also 19 med gulls,15 adults 6 of which were full bp,3 2w and 1 in fs plumage.3 knot 3 grey plover 1 barwit 148 wigeon 255 oystercatcher 3 curlew 100 dunlin 6 common gull 300 bhg  19 Redshank. 17:00-17:30.

A Lesser Whitethroat seen briefly three times in my garden (Mount Gould) today. Presumably the bird I saw nearby on 3rd Jan.

A brief look at Blaxton Meadow tonight produced 2 Snipe, 165 Redshanks, 6 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper & 56 Curlews. Also around Plym Estuary: 10 Little Egrets, 5 Goosanders (1 drake), 11 Wigeon (5 drakes), 25+ Turnstones & Chiffchaff. 

Glossy Ibis at Fremington Pill and Cormorant on Ilfracombe Pier.

Glossy Ibis                                     Cormorant Eds - This is a Shag

Glossy Ibis at Fremington Pill today at low tide.

Glossy Ibis

2 Black-necked Grebes in Broadsands bay this morning (I didn't check if the Red-necked Grebes were over at Elberry Cove today).

Berry Head: yesterdays fw Glaucous Gull from Broadsands was lingering on the sea with Herring Gulls lunch time today - straight out from the top of the headland. 

Firecrest in scrub just below Lower Soar.

2 f Greater Scaup / 3 SpoonbillJune

Glossy Ibis dropped on to far 'island' around 4pm, similar reports from Saturday 16th. Also female Ruff, 10+ Snipe and a few more Avocets than of late, owing to lower water levels 

A max this winter of 296 Dunlins (all on Blaxton Meadow) and my first Mediterranean Gulls of the year here - 2 adults and a 2nd winter. Also: 6 Goosanders (2 drakes), 11 Wigeon (5 drakes), 2 Common Sandpipers, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Greenshanks, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk & 3 Roe Deer. 

The Leucistic plumaged Rock Pipit is still present around the Putsborough Sands Café & Shop looking in good condition feeding on scraps left by customers. For a short time it was joined by another Rock Pipit but there was a size difference between the two!

Spotted Redshank with a group of 11 Redshank on the Skern over high tide at 4.15. A flock of c400 Black-headed Gulls we’re tidying up before going to roost, with 8 Mediterranean Gulls and 30 Common Gulls

On today's Stuart Line cruise, the ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood and 3 immature drake Eiders were on or near Bull Hill. Several Goldeneye (1 drake) were seen distantly towards Lympstone and 4 Greenshanks around Powderham. Around 20 Great Crested Grebes and maybe 30 Red-breasted Mergansers were scattered up the estuary, with some 200 Pintail around the mouth of the Clyst. The mudbanks around Turf-Topsham had spectacular numbers of waders, with large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits (1000?), Lapwings (1300+) and Golden Plover (700), with smaller numbers of Avocets, Bar-tailed Godwits (100?) and Knot (50?), plus a large flock of Brent Geese. Gulls included 10+ Lesser Black-backed and 380 Common Gulls. A female Goldeneye passed us as we returned towards Turf.

Some pics from the Torbay Boat Trip

   
Red-necked Grebe                            Purple Sandpiper

On the sea off of Marine parade, Paignton, a Great Northern Diver and a fly past from an Eider duck that then landed on the sea off of Paignton Green. Around the rocks Oyster Catcher and Turnstone.

Broadsands ~ Cirl Buntings showing well in the back car park, along with female Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock and a growing number of House Sparrow.

Last boat trip this winter from Brixham around Torbay was in dull and wet conditions. South Westerly winds which kept us well into the Bay. 10 Grey Seals in Brixham Harbour, the sea was too rough to go around Berry Head. A list of birds seen from the trip. 8 Mute Swans Brixham Harbour, 3 Purple Sandpiper, 12+ Turnstone, 35+ Fulmar, Common Gull, Kittiwake, 2 Heron, 1 Little Egret, Gannets, Great Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants, Shag and 3 Peregrine on our journey.

1 Woodcock, Hembury Woods, early am.

Approx 11.45hrs this morning a first winter Glaucous gull off of Broadsands, flew off towards Brixham. It was a bit distant so only record images.

Rock pipit seen on Croyde beach.

Rock pipit

Thank you so much for the publicity you recently gave to the TBNS meeting when the speaker was Dominic Couzens !  We had a very successful time with over 100 in the Hall. I really am most grateful , Thank you so much .

The Devon Birds Blog is terrific , both informative and educational !

Roger Brooks 

Glossy Ibis feeding well near the top of the tidal reach today at about 15:50 in Fremington Pill. 

Glossy Ibis

10-12 Cirl Buntings in field to west of Prawle Pt on ground near troughs.

At an undisclosed location yesterday we were excited to observe at least two Dartford warblers. The images are taken at a range of about 75 to 100 metres using the 83x zoom of a Nikon Coolpix P900 meaning there was absolutely no disturbance. We watched for about 15 minutes. They were a delight to watch! Guidance WAS sought from Devon Birds about posting the images and the go ahead was given provided no location was disclosed. 

Dartford Warbler against blue sky                          Dartford Warbler on gorse

Seen today on rising tide at about 15:30 at the Fremington Pill outfall was this Scaup Tufted hybrid keeping company with five Widgeon. Just down from the pill outfall were two pairs of Goosander. 

Two male and two female Goosander                      Scaup Tufted duck hybrid

Eds: Phil this looks to be a female (Greater) Scaup - certainly doesn't appear to be a hybrid.

The two Red-necked Grebes were again over toward Elberry Cove this afternoon also 1 Great Northern Diver. 4 Mediterranean Gulls (3 ads & 1 sw) in the evening Gull roost also 148 Common Gulls and 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Incredibly, a Swallow flew up our valley and perched in the top of a tree, this morning. The earliest I have ever experienced.

Male Scaup on Beesands Ley, Ring-necked Duck still on Slapton Ley at Torcross this morning.

Glorious sunshine for today’s Blaxton event where volunteers & a National Trust Ranger showed 67 visitors birds on the Meadow including Kingfisher, 2 Stock Doves & a Common Sandpiper. The usual Curlew and Oystercatcher flocks were present, but the bulk of waders (including over 200 Dunlins) did not leave the wall on the far side of the estuary. Thanks to everyone involved. Earlier, also 7 Goosanders (1 drake)  on the estuary.

Beautiful spring like day here, a singing Songthrush, a Buzzard displaying over the marsh, this Grey Wagtail was having a good wash and saw this one of 14 Snipes flying around the marsh. There were also 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and 6 Chiffchaffs around the marsh.

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

6 Willow Tits at three different locations around the lake.

The male Black Redstart Still showing well on the East side of the Chapels, nothing much else around, except the usual small birds, and a Goldcrest showing fairly well 

                Black Redstart                                                             Goldcrest

A lot of Brent Geese activity, lots and lots overflying. Also a Red Kite over 11:30ish.