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.

The highlights this morning between Anchor Wood and Penhill Marsh were a pair of treecreepers resting on opposite sides of the same tree, a possible Bonaparte’s gull in the Taw by Penhill Marsh, and almost opposite were 7 cattle egrets in the field with the cows.

Treecreeper                                               Treecreeper                                    Bonaparte's Gull

Only found out yesterday while taking a break from gardening that a male wren has built a nest against the shed in our garden.Was watching again today and another wren presumably a female was happily feeding in its presence.Great camouflage using dead ivy leaves amongst the new growth.Also my first for the year and only 2/3 willow warbler for the garden feeding oblivious to my presence.

Emsworthy mire seen twice while doing the circular route last sited 200 metres north of barn very mobile

A morning walk down river produced amongst others 1 pr Goosander, 2 Gt S-Woodpecker, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Swallow, 30+ Sand Martin, Green Woodpecker (heard), Little Egret, Willow Warbler (heard), several male Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a Sparrow Hawk over.   The riverside fields have been planted with many hundreds of tree in the space of a few months which will make this a great area in years to come.

My first 2 Swallows for my village at Marsh Green were seen at around noon today.  Last year the first were sighted on 28 April.

Note: East Devon Fieldtrip programme recently circulated for April omitted to list the trip to Berry Head on Tuesday 9 April commencing at 10.am.  This is still due to take place (although the weather forecast is not good!). 

Orcombe Point - Nightingale seen briefly (not singing) in the Bristol Schools camp around 1230 this afternoon. Not seen subsequently despite searching. Also 2 Wheatear, 15+ Willow Warbler and a male Redstart (Gore Lane). Three House Martin north over Maer Farm earlier. Yesterday - singing Firecrest, Snipe and White Wagtail on Orcombe.

Garganey, wheatear, kestrel only birds of note on a brief visit today at 2pm. 

4 Teals, 2 Wigeons and 2 Snipes on the marsh. Singing Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Cirl Buntings present.

6pm 0n 6th - One of a number of Willow Warblers seen on route to Scrapes

Willow Warbler

Maer valley Exmouth 

Three new patch birds for the year - Ring Ouzel (female), Williow Warbler and Linnet (4). Also, 2 Swallows, a pair of Mandarin Ducks, Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, 5 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs & a pair of Long-tailed Tits buliding a nest.

Part 2 of my earlier post re female Goldcrest mistaking her reflection in my dining room window & brass plate of the back door handle for an intruder.

Apologies if I'm banging on about this but I'm as facinated with the bird's behaviour as she is with her own reflection. Plus it's providing some ace photo & video opportunities.

Walk from Berry Head to Brixham and back fairly quiet Greater Blackbacks, Gannets, Guillmots,a few Swallows lots of Goldfinch,some obliging Turnstones and a Chiffchaff singing were the highlights back home in Plymouth a possible Willow Wabler?

Turnstone                                           ChiffChaff                            Willow Warbler?

Multiple stops this morning:

Matford ponds - two Green Sandpipers and several Sand Martins;

Exminster Marshes - a male Garganey, two Barnacle Geese, a Peregrine, two Sedge Warblers chuntering in the ditches near the fisherman's car park, and more Sand Martins;

Starcross, Powderham Park and the Kenn outfall - an Egyptian Goose, two late Pintail and eight Greenshank and two Sandwich Terns. No Brent Geese, Mergansers or G-c Grebes visible in the estuary, so it seems the seasonal turnover has advanced quickly; 

In the lanes "inland" from Starcross - the expected Cirl Bunting and R-l Partridge.

Throughout - a sprinkling of singing Willow Warblers, perhaps a week later than normal.

Flock of 200+ Fieldfare flying east 07.30 this morning.

Around the Exe this morning, Starcross by the National laboratory services eight Greenshank, four Little Egret, a solitary Curlew and several Redshank.

Over the Powderham deer herd numerous Sand Martin, nine Little Egret, the Powderham Heronry was well occupied and several Heron around the area.

Looking over the Exe from near the Powderham pedestrian overbridge, a displaying pair of Reed Bunting, two Sandwich Tern, six Oyster Catcher two of which were ringed (yellow ring over a dark blue ring on the right legs “2A” & “6M”) four Linnet, Little Egrets, Heron and one Great Crested Grebe.

Goosemoor eight Little Egret.

RSPB Bowling Green Marsh ~ singing Chiffchaff and Wren in the hedgerow, three Buzzard overhead, two Heron, Little Egret, three Greylag Geese, large numbers of Redshank with a few Dunlin and Knott mixed in, good numbers of Black Tailed Godwit, one Lapwing and a single Avocet that flew away from the marsh during the visit, a single Sand Martin and a Great White Egret being the highlight.

Exminster marshes two drake Garganey was unexpected bonus and hovering Kestrel on leaving.

DWT Heathfield a hunting Kestrel which took what appeared to be a Lizard of some kind and a vocal Chiffchaff.

Late afternoon a single Swallow at Cornwood.

Back home at South Brent two Tawny owls calling well outside (8.20pm). Yesterday two seen taking shelter in a holly tree during the afternoons heavy rain.

This female Goldcrest has been trying to see off her own reflection at my house in Paignton. She comes around the middle of every day, either to the brass plate of the back door handle or at the dining room window. Today she came to both.

Pics below & Youtube vid link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95j8hl7R2ZI&t=24s

Lots of Willow Warblers in the reserve the last three or four days. Looking South towards Sherpa, a female-type Marsh Harrier over the reed-bed, landed and a little while later was mobbed in flight by a pair of Crows. This was at about 10.a.m.

Walked around Sherpa early evening - a fine drake Garganey on the ponds - the same as last week, or another bird?

A single Sandwich Tern flying around, then went down river towards the Warren.

Cold easterly wind making viewing the bay and ley from the line difficult. Offshore just 3 Sandwich Terns and 2 second calendar year Mediterranean Gulls, Highlights around the Ley included the 3 Ring-necked Ducks seaward side of the Lower Ley opposite the Cormorant roost. Also a male Goldeneye. At least 500 Sand Martins present in the morning with a few Swallows and a House Martin. Good arrival of singing Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler likewise singing back of Ireland Bay near the Quarry.

Several Bee flies at the quarry Slapton, one of my favourite spring time insects. It's a bumble bee mimic. The eggs are flicked by the adult female toward the entrance of the underground nests of solitary bees and wasps. After hatching, the larvae find their way into the nests to feed on the grubs. 

The large bee-fly (Bombylius major)

The large bee-fly (Bombylius major)

Male pied flycatcher close to notice about coppicing by track uphill to viewpoint. Also male blackcap

The Great White Egret was still on show from the viewing platform at 16:00 more info http://part-timebirding.blogspot.com

1 Water Pipit at the side of the smaller scrape late aft / early evening. Also 1 Little Grebe.

My first Swallows (6) and Blackcap (singing male) here this year; also 4 Common Sandpipers (indicating some movement), 9 Snipe, redhead Goosander, 7 Greenshanks, Turnstone, 10 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Wagtails, 7 Chiffchaffs, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch nest building. 

Wet and windy on the Skern mid afternoon. On the plus side not many dogs. Around 200 Golden Plover still present on the salt marsh but little else. A Little Ringed Plover by Greysands Lake was showing well until flushed by one of the few dogs there. Just before leaving a Merlin flew over the lake. 

A Great White Egret found by Bob Bailey on Exminster Marsh at 1040am promptly flew off, was seen briefly at Goosemoor and then was refound by Bob at Darts Farm at 1145am on the pools in front of the viewing shelter- still present mid afternoon. Also several Sand Martins and a Swallow

A Great White Egret popped into Goosemoor this morning, for more on my travels go to http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp

Great White Egret

3 Knot foraging amongst 34 Black tailed Godwits & 5 Bar tailed Godwits.

Nice to add Red Kite to the garden list! All the gulls were calling.

The 3 ring necked Ducks were at the south end of Slapton Ley at 7.30 this evening but no swallows or sand martins were flying in the hail !

A walk along the Teign near Dunsford produced some noteworthy birds including Green Woodpecker, pairs of Mandarins, Dippers and Grey Wagtails, as well as the more usual resident and summering woodland birds..   

Another fantastic Sand Martin day. Certainly more birds than on Tuesday,but difficult to get an accurate count. Possibly 450/500+. Whether al lot of them are those of the last  two days,that have halted their northward movement ,due to the drop in temperature;or are fresh birds in ,is impossible to tell. Whatever the answer they are a spectacular sight.

Lots of singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps on arrival at Prawle. Walking from Bunkers to Horsley Cove I saw my first House Martin here and my first Wheatear. At Horsely Cove a party of 7 Shelduck.

At Slapton Ley from Stokeley Bay hide I also saw the 2 male and 1 female Ring-Necked Ducks in some ways eclipsed by the sight of hundreds of Sand Martins ,which at 1pm covered the whole of the Ley visible from the hide.

Wheatear

Blackcap                                                      Shelduck

Heavily cropped record shot of the 2 male and 1 female Ring-necked Ducks

5 sand martins and 3 swallow at the Culm midday

A female Redstart was a surprise visitor to our garden in Chudleigh this morning. It didn't hang around for long though.

Little ringed plover at South Huish marsh, and lots of Chiffchaffs and Cetti's warblers singing at Slapton. Nice blackcap flitting about in the blossom.

Blackcap                                              Wren                                            Little Ringed Plover

For the passed two months we have had a pair of Cirl Bunting feeding on Finch seed on the back lawn in South Knighton

Seen lunchtime at Battisborough Cross , South Hams , Wednesday 3rd April 2019 .

The Royal Mail are issuing a set of new stamps on 4th April (Thursday) illustrating British Raptors. They look good and may be of interest to some members.

Slapton Ley again pretty lively today with c350 Sand Martins with single Swallow and House Martin, a fine summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe on the sea (around Memorial Car Park), 3 Ring-necked Ducks (2 drakes + female), drake Scaup, 1 or 2 drake Garganey (Ireland Bay), 8 Sandwich Terns & 2 Willow Warblers.

Earlier at Soar, just: Wheatear, 4 Blackcaps & 2 Bullfinches.

One Hobby and one Swallow over also 2 C Buzzards 11 Goldfinches.

Best was Red Kite over farm late morning with 2 Buzzards. Also 12 Chiffchaffs & 3 Blackcaps.

Good to see the LRP again this morning from the reserve, which was heaving with Sand Martins and a few Swallows plus a bonus House Martin. Chiffchaffs all over the place, and several Willow Warblers.

Slapton Ley ~ Cetti’s Warbler calling and showing all around the Ley along with Chiffchaff, huge numbers of Sand Martins coming in off of the sea and over the Ley, simply swarms and not realistic to even try counting, two House Martin and a small flock of Swallows in with them and possibly my first Red Rumped Swallow, briefest of views but distantly pale and pink rumped.

Several pairs of displaying Great Crested Grebe, duck species included Tufted, Ring Necked (pair) drake Golden Eye and Gadwall.

Hovering Kestrel and off of the beach several Sandwich Terns.

Two Red-legged Partridge on bungalow roof this morning. 

Little Ringed Plover still present on the scrape this morning.

I was hoping the break in the weather might produce a few more birds, but a morning at Start resulted in little more than 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, a female Wheatear and a Coal Tit.

However Slapton Ley proved much more productive with 3 Ring-necked Ducks (2 drakes & a female) towards the Torcross end, 2 drake Garganey (which flew into Ireland bay), Black-necked Grebe (half way down the lower ley on the seaward side), 190+ Sand Martins (there could have been more or others might have arrived later as per Alan's post), 4 Swallows including 2 "in, off", a single House Martin and 29 Sandwich Terns (which seemed to be circling the bay and ley).

It felt like Spring! 

I am a new member and this is my first ever post. I saw many of the birds listed in Dave Pakes report on an afternoon of blustery showers. I witnessed the solitary Avocet and Little Ringed Plover. A flock of Black Tailed Godwits and another of LBB and GBB gulls. 3 Swallows passed through. Pairs of Shellduck, Teal, Mallards, Stonechat and Canada Geese were in evidence. Carrion Crow, Heron, Little Egret and Coot were also seen.

Black tailed Godwit                                     Stonechat                      Distant Little Ringed Plover

A large arrival of Sand Martins today.  300+ counted this evening from the Torcross car park, no doubt with a lot more over the rest of the Ley. A few Swallows among them.

Flock of 20 Fieldfares and 3 or 4 Redwings came out of a hedgerow near the weirdly named Bloody Pool Cross on the Marley Head to Shipley Bridge road this afternoon.

It was there early (about 10) when I arrived, and still out there when I went home at about 3p.m. Another early record - my recollection is they usually turn up in about mid-to-late April.

And in the reserve, loads of Sand Martins feeding over the pond, a few Swallows among them, several each of singing Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. A few more Blackcaps than yesterday. 2 calling Cetti's Warblers.

Raven, flying and calling in the wood.

Star of a lunchtime visit to South Huish Marsh was a lone Avocet. first sighting at this location this year. Also present 1 Ruff, 33 Black-Tailed Godwit ( Only a couple showing signs of summer plumage), 1 Little Egret, 2 Water Pipit developing nice pink breast plumage, + a couple of linnet and other species.

Red-rumped Swallow today, while I was there apart from several Sand Martins there was at least 1 House Martin

Red-rumped Swallow

Lee Collins found a Red Rumped Swallow over the main pond at Dawlish Warren with 2 Sand Martins this morning / still showing on and off mid afternoon .

Jon Turner phoned Sue Bruce am to say a Little Ringed Plover had shown up on the scrape so I cycled down to digiscope it.

Several black-tailed godwits and a single ruff, 2 distant Little ringed plovers. Saw my first wheatears of the year with 3 of them near the carpark. A small flock of Linnets landing on the barbed wire fence and feeding on the grass

Ruff                                                       Black-tailed Godwit                          Linnet

After a few days away, a late afternoon visit to the reserve: lots of Sand Martins feeding over. An influx of Chiffchaffs, at least three  singing Willow Warblers, and 6 male Blackcaps seen.

Later still while looking at the scrape from the Tarka Trail, a small wader took one look at me and flew off towards Sherpa, slowly gaining height. Not Common Sandpiper, and almost certainly not Green Sandpiper... Will look again tomorrow.

Upper Lake.

4 Willow Tit, 1 Treecreeper.

Lower Lake,

3 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 1m Reed Bunting.

Had to go into town today - walked back from the City Basin to Matford and back along the canal. Single Redshank in the Basin (unusual) about 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Two Cattle Egret ( one by the Matford roundabout at the back of the farm with 14 Little Egret, the other in the fields by the path near the canal). Chiffchaff singing along the canal (dropped as soon as I got the camera on it DOH!) At least 4 Buzzards overhead. Nothing much on Matford Marshes or on the Northbrook.

Redshank                                   Lesser Black-backed Gull               One of the two Cattle Egret

Black-tailed Godwit 31; Bar-tailed Godwit 1; Common Gull 2; Shelduck 16; Common Sandpiper 1. 3 Willow Warbler feeding on insects in the Blackthorn bushes hanging over Bradiford Water.

At 1355 while sat on the sea wall by Ashford Sewage Works picked up 2 very small gulls on the foreshore. Initially thought that the first may have been the Bonaparte`s Gull seen at Wrafton last week. After picking up the second and observing them for just over 1/2hr decided that both were late first winter Little Gulls. Both disappeared at about 1430 but one returned at 1505 and was still there at 1515 when I left.

Following on from my post, 21.3.19, regarding a female Goldcrest apparently trying to feed around my windows; later she caught her own reflection in the glass and, like many birds, seemed to mistake it for an intruder and proceeded to attack it.

She is now doing the same with her reflection in the brass plate of the back door handle, raising her crest, posturing, then flying off in frustration.

Pics below and Youtube vid at this link:

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0XIi1PZVeQ&feature=youtu.be

She also left me her calling card (pics below).

Sorry for this late posting from Saturday and Sunday morning , Brixham Breakwater.  Saturday morning on coast path from Berry Head to St Mary's Bay, Cettis Warbler calling and then seen. Brixham Breakwater 7 Purple Sandpiper, 5 Turnstone on old fuel jetty, many more Turnstone in Harbour area. 

Two Adult Med Gulls flying over the Teign estuary at Coombe Cellars. The birds were vocal and showed full black hoods