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.

1 Willow Tit and 1 Cuckoo calling.

Unfortunatly did not see Rich's Purple Heron, great find. Heard a Cuckoo behind Ireland Bay, first I've heard here for years. Apart from that a Whimbrel with a gammy leg ( hobbling but flying ok ) and 10 Swifts

Highlights of an enjoyable walk round the marsh early this mornng:

A Lesser Whitethroat on the railway path, 2 Egyptian geese by the Lions Rest, a Marsh Harrier heading towards the M5 bridge,  male Garganey from the canal towpath, a large gathering of Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and a few Ringed Plover in the centre of the marsh. Also Sedge, Reed and Cettis warbler, Whitethroat and a male and female Bullfinch

From this morning.

In and around the reserve this morning of note: singing Lesser Whitethroat by the bridge still. In the reserve, Tawny Owl, grey Wagtail and a smart Spotted Flkycatcher.

Last night a walk around Sherpa showed 2 Greenshank 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Gadwall, lots of (50+) House Martins, and a Swan with 8 cygnets. I suspect there may still be two nests with sitting penns on them, so it could be quite a productive year for Swans up here!

One flew west over the ley at 10.30 and appeared to land in western reedbed

Osprey with catch at Isley Marsh 10.00 , mobbed by gulls, flew off towards Home Marsh Farm still with catch. Photos to follow.

Osprey causing havoc among the migrant Dunlin and Ringed Plover soon after high tide this morning. Although fairly regular on the Taw this was a patch tick for me. Also present 1 White Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, and numerous Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat.

Newly fledged Siskins joining adult birds on the feeders; first Swift of the summer overhead.

A two-day circumnavigation of the north moor starting at Sticklepath out as far as Tavy Head and back via the western tors to Belstone. A singing male pied flycatcher and garden warbler to kick off in Skaigh Wood, then the first of several calling cuckoos. Four buzzards began rising on the thermals and Soon afterwards, a hobby, with another sighted an hour on, possibly the same bird. The core blanket bog areas held no dunlin or golden plover, only enlivened by an emperor moth. Snipe drumming in the dusk by my wild campsite. another hobby, a singing male whinchat, kestrel, several pairs of grey wagtails on the various rivers.

At least 7 Whimbrels tonight (7 at south end of estuary and 4 earlier on Blaxton Meadow). Also 4 summer plumaged Dunlins on the Meadow with 3 Oystercatchers & a single lingering, Curlew; still 3 Wheatears (1 male) about.  

Many swifts arriving off the sea this morning. Dozens around the village and more high in the sky heading inland..

Kayak from velator to fremington.

4 blackwits 20 oystercatcher 6 greenshank 12 curlew 15 dunlin  1 turnstone  5 redshank 4 wheatear and lost count of whimbrel ,so many

Spotted flycatcher from American road

Couldn't believe my eyes at first - 11am sat down for coffee in garden, thought "that's not a pigeon on the roof, it's a partridge!!"  First for my garden... Blackbird convinced it must be a new kind of raptor, flew to roofline a few feet away and gave repeated alarm calls; Jackdaw investigated closely from its nest in our disused chimney at far end of roof, decided it must be harmless. Red-Leg eventually flew off to neighbouring garden about 25 mins later.

An early walk this morning saw, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Swift, 5 Wheater, 2 Meadow, 3 Skylark.

Male cuckoo flying around the farm this afternoon, a nice Garden Warbler,singing from the bushes in front of the farm,showed well for a couple of minutes, then disappeared.

5 pearl bordered seen near new bridge hole this afternoon 

A walk from Fisherman’s Car Park to Turf for breakfast. 15+ Sedge Warbler singing, a Male Garganey & 10+ Swift. 

Still 5 Purple Sandpipers on Haldon Pier, Torquay, this morning.

Lesser Whitethroat still by the bridge to the reserve.

Single Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape - appears to have colour rings on - best I could make out was white over yellow on left leg, probable metal ring on right leg.

In the reserve first Broad-bodied Chaser.

Highlights of this mornings high tide & walk around Saltram were the following: 

Whimbrel 5, Curlew 1, Dunlin 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Wheatear 1(f), House Martin 5, Swallow c10 & Stock Dove 4.

Cold wind but in the sheltered bit of the quarry in Ireland bay quite a few insects. Had my first species of Odonata with a large red Damselfly and 11 species of Hoverfly

female Syrphus ribesii             Male Rhingia campestris            Male Episyrphus balteatus (marmalade hoverfly)

Cold wind at Slapton but great views of Whitethroats along the front, and some really close views of cetti's warblers near the bridge. Lots of house martins over the ley and swallows.

Whitethroat                          Great Crested Grebe                              Grey Heron

Very quiet birdwise.Female yellow wagtail and 9 white being the best.3 whimbrel,2 each of ringed plover and dunlin.17:45-18:20.

Good amounts of Swallows today,6 Whimbrel,sedge warblers, willow warblers,whitethroat,busy with nesting,cetti calling not seen.Very cold wind off the river but nice in the sun.

Whitethroat.          Sedge Warbler                                                  Willow Warbler

Single Hobby flying over in (unsuccessful) pursuit of House Martins.

1 female rider, 8 distant sandwich terms and gannets

6 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Redpoll, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Tree Pipit displaying, 3 Buzzards, 1 Skylark, 1 Dunnock, c.100 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 3 Stonechats, several Chaffinches.

Harvey Kendall & Barry Bryne.

White Wagtail, Wheatear & Whimbrel.

a Spotted Flycatcher amongst the Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Bullfinches and Wheatears around Beer Head this afternoon

1 Small Copper & a pair of Wall Browns which mated.

While perched on blades of grass she vibrated her wings to signal to the male she was ready to mate. I have never seen this behaviour before.

As a follow-on to yesterday's comments about the absence of House Martins, there were twenty plus over the Trews Weir flood channel and Gabriel's Wharf flats this morning, despite the wind. Better late than never.

There were also Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat singing outside the goods entrance to Alphington Sainsbury's!

James Camden

13.00 - Still 4 x Cattle egret in clampits field with cattle - these birds have been around this area for some 4 months now!
Also in the estuary off Anchorwoods 6 x Whimbrel 

Lesser Whitethroat singing by the bridge to the reserve this morning.

Yesterday: Wall butterfly in the reserve. Today: Blue-tailed Damselfly.

6am -  10.30 At least 3 Cettis, lots of Sedge Warblers and a few Reed Warb, Reed Bunting, 2 Swifts, Numerous Sand, house martins and Swallows, Whimbrel, gadwall, Blackcap (M) A Field mouse. a Shrew and a puncture DOH!

Sedge vid - 

https://youtu.be/zDO0AyiVprc

Sedge Warbler                                       Swallow

House Martins are back in the Exwick and St. David's Station area; good numbers of Greenfinches and Siskins at my garden feeders, plus the first of the newly-fledged Goldfinches and House Sparrows.

Whimbrel, black and bar-tailed godwits on the marsh and several rock pipits.

Black-tailed Godwit & Bar-tailed Godwit               Whimbrel                                      Shellduck

On the outward walk, two Cuckoos were calling from the West bank of the Erme. In the wood were a Tree Pipit, a Pied Flycatcher and several Redstarts, with Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the river. The commonest bird was Coal Tit despite the wood being pure Oak; some of them were filling the Marsh Tit niche by pulling the moss off the branches. On the return walk, a Willow Warbler was singing from the gorse at least 500m from the nearest tree. Willy no-mates?

An earlier post referred to the absence of House Martins. None yet on Gabriel's Wharf in Exeter either.

James Camden  

Minimum 6 Sandwich terns  around 16.50

Juvenile Siskin feeding on bird feeder, plenty of adults Siskins around the garden. 

Good and bad news

Dead unringed Barn owl on the A38 central reservation at Marley Head, South Brent.

But on a positive note since late on Tuesday night (30th April) I have had a very "very" vocal Barn owl visiting my place at South Brent each night, no doubt courting my captive bird and my wife discovered it roosting in our field shelter this morning.

Late News for yesterday (Friday)

A Yellowhammer on wires by the back road between Croyde (Forda) and North Buckland. Yesterday evening at about 7.45 p.m.

10 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-Tailed Godwits, 2 Black-Tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper on the sea weed. Lots of Swallows and a beautiful Song thrush singing it's heart out.

Bar-tailed Godwit & Whimbrel            Common Sandpiper              Whimbrel

Reaching the quiest time of year here, but managed: Whimbrel, Curlew, Red-crested Pochard (female), 6 Mandarin Ducks (5 drakes), 14 House Martins, 2 Stock Doves & 6 Roe deer (1 buck).

From Torcross car park, this evening 28 Swifts, 60+ House Martins,50+ Swallows and 8 Sand Martins.

am - 10 Swifts over Horsey this morning.

On the Pond my first sighting of the 5 signets.

If you take into consideration the time involved on the part of the adult pair, 2 to 3 weeks to lay all the eggs & a further 6 weeks of incubation once all the eggs have been laid.

2 small grebes seen this morning in cove ( both by 3rd buoy), both dived and not seen after.  didn't have my bins with me and although eyesight iffy they looked a bit "stumpy" (little grebes maybe). 

Plenty of Redpolls on Roborough today along with Linnets, Yellowhammers, a Cuckoo Heard but not seen, and an amazing catch of a Skylark having a mud bath

Redpoll (M)                               Skylark's Mud bath

A Cattle Egret was found (by Marc Millman) resting up on the lower lake with a Little Egret this afternoon.

Cycled to Barnstaple and back this morning. 1 Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape. A smattering of Whimbrel between Ashford and Barnstaple. 7 Black-tailed Godwits with a Knot at Potting ton + an adult Mediterranean Gull.

At Sherpa marsh last night 7 Greenshank, and 8 Gadwall, 3 Little Egrets and at last a fair few Swallows.

Hoped that change in weather might bring in some new passerine migrants at Prawle-not so in misty,overcast cool easterly breeze. Lots of Whitethroats on territory and Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. So tried a seawatch from 7.15am to 9.15am. 5 Puffins west, 2 Black-throated divers east and a Skua sp likely Arctic east. 4 Common Scoter west and a few Manxies.

In the area 3 Wheatears, 4 Whimbrel and a moulting Grey Plover.

At South Huish 14 Whimbrel, 5 Bar-Tailed Godwit (2 in breeding plumage) a Dunlin and 2 Barnacle Geese seen mating. Also in reeds to right of fence a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler singing. A few Swallows and House artins (collecting mud) and 3 Common Swifts through (my first for the year)

Bar-Tailed Godwit                                Whimbrel                                                  House-Martins

 Barnacle Geese                                                    Mixed wader flock

Three Divers off the memorial car park this afternoon, one Great Northern but the other two too far out to ID properly (but probably Red-throated). Swift, Hobby and Yellow Wag yesterday but very quiet for hirundines. I can't beleive that I have still not seen House Martin this year!

Very little sign of migrants at Soar this morning; just single Wheatear (female) & Willow Warbler. Also 2 singing Sedge Warblers, a Stonechat with 2 recently fledged young and a Painted Lady.

Slapton Ley this afternoon, was - however - better with a Hobby hawking over Higher Ley, a drake Ring-necked Duck & 2 Swifts at Torcross, 6+ Sandwich Terns, a pair of Gadwall with 3 ducklings & a Brimstone. 

Lesser Redpoll f feeding with several Siskins on sunflower feeder.

Late aft / early eve:- 5 Wheatear, 5 Swifts, a single House Martin, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank & 1 Common Sandpiper.

Brixham to 2 miles off Berry Head by kayak this am:

8 Puffins (plus about 20 more probable...no binos). All in flight.

2 Red-throated Divers

4 Sandwich terns

20 ish Manx Shearwaters

plus

7 Harbour Porpoise

Red-throated Divers                                   Harbour Porpoise trio

a single swallow seen this morning on the green at the elberry end

cuckoo heard yesterday afternoon from my garden on nearby farmland 

Thanks to Facebook I learnt of Rockbeare residents reporting 3 Ring-necked Parrakeet in and around the village.  A large oak tree in parkland at the rear of Cranbrook Veterinary Clinic seems to have been their roost but this came down in recent high winds.  Following a short visit this afternoon I managed to locate one bird very hidden in a cherry tree in Parsons Lane.  Absence of neck markings suggests it's a female.  Thanks to 'Susan W' for helping me with location.

Redpolls are back again on Roborough Down, showing a bit shy, but managed to get 1 shot of a male