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.

Falling tide 35 Blacktailed Godwit either side of the road. 1 in breeding plumage. Greenshank and Redshank.

A lunchtime visit produced 

20+ Sand Martin, 380 Wigeon, 95 Teal, 17 Shoveler, 100+ Chaffinch, 50+ Linnet, 200+ Golden Plover, 40 Lapwing & Male Sparrowhawk seen taking a Linnet, which flew towards me & almost over my head. 

3 Sand Martins hawking insects over the reserve this morning in a strong and cold wind. Also present at least 3 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and 5 Redwings. 2 Mute Swans on the pond island.

Signs of spring: Song Thrush, Great Tit, Robin, Greenfinch, Blackbird  Stock Dove and Wren all singing, and a Collared Dove on a nest.

On Wednesday 6th March, a Ring-necked Duck with a small flock of Tufted Duck on a privately owned site in the South Hams. Possibly the Slapton bird?

This morning at the lake
1f Goosander, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler 2m 1f, 1m Pintail, 2 Willow Tit.

4pm today, Glossy Ibis, 4 Cattle Egrets, 7 Little Egrets all by the sluice and a Little Grebe at the mouth of the Pill, along with Wigeon, Shelduck and Oystercatchers. 

The last Stuart Line birdwatching cruise of the season. The ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, as usual. The 3 immature drake Eiders were off Starcross and c30 Red-breasted Mergansers and c20 Great Crested Grebes were scattered up the estuary. 3 Greenshanks were off Powderham and c150-200 Pintail were again around the mouth of the Clyst. About 500 roosting Golden Plover, some in breeding plumage, were on the mud off Turf, with 27 Knot nearby. Quite a few of the Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits were already in breeding plumage, one group containing the male Ruff that has wintered at Bowling Green Marsh. Only c30 Avocets were left of the wintering flock. A Grey Seal was hauled out on a pontoon near Dawlish Warren.

Eider (imm drake)                            Ruff with Black-tailed Godwits                       Grey Seal

No fewer than 11 Bramblings skirmishing for food under the bird feeder in the last few days. Many more than in previous years. Unfortunately, no photos as they are more easily spooked as I approach the window with camera than the other birds and no amount of waiting brings them back until I have moved away!

11.00 am - Spent an enjoyable 10 minutes watching 27 gannets and 5 dolphins over what must have been a school of fish just 100 to 200m out from Berry Head lighthouse. The gannets provided a spectacular display against a grey sky especially when diving, from a great height, to catch a fish. Also spotted 3 fulmars and a solitary shag.

4 Blue tit, 2m 1f Great tit, 3 longtailed tit, 2pr Bullfinch, 2pr Chaffinch, 16 Goldfinch, 1pr Greenfinch, 7m 7f Siskin, 2 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 2m Blackbird, 1m House sparrow (rarity for this estate) 2 Woodpigeon & 1 Magpie

Aveton Gifford tidal road this morning ~ 5 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 40 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Little Egret, GSWP, 7 Lesser Black Back Gull, Curlew, 3 flocks of Wigeon flying up river and landing on the marsh.

South Huish Marsh ~ 2 Buzzard, 18 Lesser Black Back Gull, 1 Common Gull,  6 Greater Black Backs, 2 Barnacle Geese, smaller species included Stonechat, Pipits and Pied Wagtails.

Devon Birds South Milton Reserve ~ 2 Buzzard, 3 Yellow Hammer, Water Rail in flight and another calling, a possible Green Sandpiper, several Chiffchaff and a large mixed flock of mainly Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail.

At 1.15 this lunchtime, whilst stood at the middle car park I picked up a Crane flying over. It circled the marsh briefly before heading off high in the direction of Haldon where it was lost in the mist.

Fledged juvenile being fed by an adult male this morning around the University in Plymouth. Working back, that must have been a pretty early nesting date.

Thanks for the information on the seeds you put out at Broadsands...forget to mention had first singing Chiffchaff there today

The two Red-necked Grebes were again in Elberry Cove and a sw Mediterranean Gull in Broadsands Bay. Looking toward Goodrington, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Eider and 1 Great Northern Diver.

Red-necked Grebes

On holiday from the Wirral...went to Broadsands today saw 7 Cirl Buntings  and 8 yellowhammers( great to see these rare bird on the Wirral these days)....male Sparrowhawk causing chaos there...on the shore Little Egret and  offshore distant Diver... probably Great Northern....what seed do you put down do attract the Buntings by the way kind regards Steve

Eds: the seed is Canary Grass and Millet - effectively Budgie seed (courtesy of the RSPB). Don't use pet shop 'wild bird' seed, with all of its maize and wheat, it attracts too many crows, pigeons and rats which put the buntings off coming down to feed.

Male Partridge, Male Pheasant, Kestrel nest building and a Barn Owl in flight no photo.

      
Male Pheasant seen near High Bickington. Kestrel nest building    Partridge, Chittlehamholt.

Powderham Castle

Early this morning the 3 Egyptian Goose were at the lake in Powderham Castle grounds as viewed from estuary road.

Exminster Marsh

Also early morning the Snow Goose was in the field before the Swans nest, Exminster.

For more info please see dixiesbirding.blogspot.com

A few good birds along the river this morning including above Water Rail.  Others were:  2 Long tailed Tit, female Goosander, 26 Fieldfare, 3 Gt spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming), Treecreeper and a Buzzard.

Around the Exe this afternoon, with storm Freya providing some very strong winds.

Matford Marsh a good number of Wigeon but not a lot else.

Exminster Marsh flocks of Wigeon just about everywhere, good numbers of Shoveller and Shelduck, two Little Egret and a flock of around 100 Brent Geese.

Powderham Estate two Egyptian Geese with a small number of Canada Geese by the lake, two Buzzard flushed a flock of some 20 Fieldfare.

RSPB Bowling Green Marsh was simply alive with waders, good numbers of Redshank, Dunlin and Black Tailed Godwit, one being a regular colour ringed bird. Twenty plus Curlew including two colour ringed birds, seventy plus Pintail duck, at least twelve Snipe, eight plus Knott, two Avocet,one Ruff, three Greenshank, Buzzard, Heron,  Little Egret, Common Gull, LBB Gull, Starling and Pied Wagtail.

Very little to be seen at a windswept Stover, five Mandarin, the single female Goosander is looking rather unwell and I suspect is a sick bird and twelve Tufted duck.

A very wet and windy Stuart Line birdwatching cruise today: not very spring-like at all! A Peregrine showed briefly around Exmouth church tower and the ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe was near the wreck off Cockwood, where we saw the first of at least 30 Red-breasted Mergansers. Great Crested Grebes were present in good numbers, a group of 19 together contributing to a total of at least 26. The 3 immature drake Eiders were out on a sandbank off Starcross and 4 Goldeneye were nearby. At least 25 Sanderlings were on the central sandbanks and at least 4 Greenshanks off Powderham (plus another later at Topsham). Up to 200 Pintail were still around the mouth of the Clyst. The mudbanks around Turf-Topsham held c300 roosting Golden Plover, lots of Dunlin and smaller numbers of Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover. Most of the Black-tailed Godwits must have been feeding in the rain-sodden fields, as only about 100 were on the mud. Avocet numbers are down; many have presumably departed for breeding areas during the recent fine weather.

Late morning. 1 Water Pipit, 35+ Pied Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 165 Wigeon, 65 Teal, 73 Blackwit & 28 Curlew. Too windy for too many small birds. 

Lots of Lesser black-backed gulls at South Huish Marsh, Also a Med gull and a common gull. I managed to pick out 6 species of gull with Black headed, Herring and Great Black-backed being the others. Also 2 Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Goose  Mediterranean Gull, Common gull and Black headed gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

A number of Red Shank, 2 Curlew a dozen or more Oyster Catchers, a couple of Crows and 4 + Shelduck.

Red Shank

A number of assorted gulls common, GBB, some Lesser BB? and a couple of Bh. not sure of numbers.

20 + Cormorants on a sand bank just down stream of Barnstaple's new down stream bridge. 30 - 40 GBB gulls and others.

Coromrants and gulls                 Goosander                                Little Egret

Good views of a male Scaup at Slapton, several Goldcrests and heard a chiffchaff singing. several lesser Black-Backed gulls at South Huish marsh, nice comparison with one next to a Great Black-Backed gull

Scaup                                        Grey Heron    Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull

0830-1250 

In addition to Stuart's post:  400+ Black tailed Godwit, 11 Snipe, 10 Tufted duck (6m, 4f) 2 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's warbler, Dunnocks displaying. 2 Foxes at the back of the marsh.

Thanks to Greg Bradbury for the initial harrowing post raising the issue of swaling on Dartmoor. However a reminder these pages of the Devon Birds Website are for bird sightings (and to a lesser extent other wildlife). Over the years a small group of volunteer administrators with an expertise and interest in Devon's bird sightings and identification have kept these pages going with daily edits and comments. Over the years the team have made alterations and additions to this page to keep it up to date keeping our members and others informed of the bird sightings around our county. As far as we know there are not any Devon Birds council members on the bird sighting pages administration team to respond to other issues.

With great respect, other subjects or issues should go through Society News or use the Society contact details  https://www.devonbirds.org/contact  in this instance also http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us  .  

Pink-footed Goose with the Canada Geese also in separate group two Barnacle Geese viewed from hide by bridge. Pair of Goldeneye from hide.

A House Martin with 2 Sand Martins over Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon

About 10.30 to 11.30: 4 Canada Geese on the island pond this morning, at least two had rings on. 4 Mallard (three drakes) 2 Teal, 2 Little Grebes. A second pair of Long-tailed Tits nest-building. 4 Bullfinch. Looking South towards Sherpa, a single Sand Martin feeding over the reed-bed. As I was leaving a pair of Swans flew in. Also 2 Buzzards and a Kestrel.

14.30 - 3 Sand Martins over the pond

Ring-necked Duck, 7 Pochards and 3 Goldeneyes in the middle of the Lower Ley just south of the Cormorant roost. In Start Bay Red-necked Grebe and c25 Common Scoters off the Memorial Car Park. Also one Great Northern Diver flew north.

Yesterday evening 1st March, Nine Mandarin ducks most of which were displaying, eleven Tufted duck, a single female Goosander, 30 plus Redwing coming into roost and two calling Water Rail.

Back home at South Brent a Tawny owl.

18 Goosander on the reservoir at dawn (6 males) plus a Woodcock overhead then lovely views of a vocal Green Woodpecker in the woods. 

A good selection of birds in the reserve this morning, with at least 3 Goldcrests seen, and another pair of Long-tailed Tits nest-building.3 Pochard on Wrafton Pond, and when I went back this evening, a single Sand Martin at 17.20 over the field between the pond and Velator Close.

It looks as if there will be energy generating Kites being flown from the large barn between the reserve and RMB Chivenor (right by the Tarka Trail). Apparently there is no need for planning permission for these ventures (?). If you access Facebook, there is a debate on the  'Friends of Braunton Marsh' page.

From the viaduct at Roadford this morning the Pink-footed Goose still present, feeding with Canada’s. Also feeding on the weeds a flock of c200 Chaffinches, which included at least 5 Brambling.

At Lower Tamar the female Ring-necked Duck as with 12 Tufted Duck and a female Goldeneye was also present. The areas around the feeders and the canal path were also productive, with six species of Tit including Marsh and Willow, Treecreeper, Jay, Reed Bunting, and Nuthatch.. A Blackcap was heard.

This morning at the lake,
3 Wilow Tit, 1f Ring-necked Duck, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Redwing, 1 Reed Bunting,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay.

Pink Footed Goose still at the neck end of the lake, viewed from the viaduct at 1130hrs today with the Canada Geese. Also a Brambling found amongst a large flock of chaffinches, 150+, feeding on the mud flats. Amongst the geese a cross barhead/greylag ? and a non descript farmyard goose.

The two Red-neckked Grebes were still present this morning, also 1 female Eider and one Great Northern Diver. 4 singing Chiffchaff around the marshy bits. At least 10 Cirl Buntings and 2 Yellowhammer with 2 Reed Buntings on seed in 2nd car park. 11 Great Crested Grebes off Goodrington.