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.
Thank you from
Devon Birds News site editors & members of the Records Committee
Posted April 2nd at 4:28 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News

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.
Posted March 15th at 11:56 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
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
Posted March 4th at 10:45 am by Mike Daniels in Bird News
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.
Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Tuesday 21st May 2019
Two birds churring, very intermittently, 21.35-22.15. Male and female, flying together, drifted over just above head-height.
Posted May 21st, 2019 at 10:34 pm by John Walton in Bird News
There was a group of three Swifts flying over the main car park in Honiton this morning. This afternoon around 5.30pm a single Red Kite was seen circling from east to west over Taleford near Ottery St Mary.
Posted May 21st, 2019 at 9:24 pm by Maurice Rapley in Bird News
Redstart,Pied Flycatcher,Willow Warbler ,Bullfinch GS Woodpecker,Tree Creeper,Nuthatch, Black Cap,Cuckoo,Dipper,Pied and Grey Wagtail, and Whinchat. More Swallows this week and Martins.Didnt see Spotted Flycatcher, hopefully next time.



Treecreeper Whinchat Blackcap
Posted May 21st, 2019 at 7:26 pm by john elvin in Bird News
Around 8pm last night there was a very large mixed gull flock in a narrow band just off Dawlish breakwater in a feeding frenzy apparently on whitebait. Apparently been a regular thing at high tide for a few days. Largest numbers I have seen in years. No bins with me so couldn't check for any oddities.
Posted May 21st, 2019 at 4:08 pm by JOHN PHILLIPS in Bird News
See this morning: Curlew 1,Oystercatcher 3, Whimbrel 1, GSW 3 and the best of the bunch were 3 Spotted Flycatcher.
Posted May 21st, 2019 at 11:37 am by Martin Phillips in Bird News
Monday 20th May 2019
Two Whitethroats newly arrived, Whimbrel, Curlew, Stock Dove, 3 drake Mandarin Ducks, Shag & 4 Roe deer (1 buck).
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 10:33 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Walked along the Tarka Trail to home farm this evening, no sign of the Osprey, but closer scrutiny of the shoreline at Isley showed that it was there, on the edge of the saltmarsh (about 6.35p.m.) It then flew west. Thanks to Dave P for posting about it's presence once again.
I headed over to the Skern, where, well not a lot really, max 16 Herring Gulls, 6 Oystercatchers, 13 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover 1 Shelduck, and 1 Whimbrel. A pair of Wheatears, a Skylark, a Pied Wagtail and 3 Swallows.
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 9:53 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
3 Shelduck chicks (plus 2 adults) on sea half a mile west of Start Point. Not more than a day or two old.

Shelduck chicks
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 8:38 pm by Rupert Kirkwood in Bird News
The only birds of note in the reserve today were a clutch (6) of Mallards - hatched today, as not there yesterday. On the main pond at Sherpa were a pair of Shoveler and a surprise pair of Garganey.
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 4:53 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Just found three White Winged Black Terns feeding with BH Gulls. Viewed from railway path feeding in the middle of the marsh. Probably better viewed on the road towards Turf.
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 10:57 am by Chris E in Bird News
Osprey being mobbed by gulls flew into Home farm marsh 08.30 this morning.
Posted May 20th, 2019 at 10:38 am by David Paterson in Bird News
Sunday 19th May 2019
Nightjar activity at Cann Woods is showing an increase with churring from six separate sites, from 9:25 onwards. Had good close encounters with two birds, a female and male before it got too dark.
Posted May 19th, 2019 at 10:53 pm by Chris & Janet Marcol in Bird News
FYI Martin, looks like a Pearl-bordered Fritillary - a little tatty, worn and faded, probably been out for several days, to a week. Looking at the outer/trailing edge of the wings, the orange spots are "open," with incomplete black borders. Sm Pearl-borderd has definite orange spots in fully closed borders. (Hope this makes sense & helps)
Posted May 19th, 2019 at 8:39 pm in Other Wildlife
Further to the post by Martin Rooney. The butterfly is either a Small Pearl -bordered Fritillary or a Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Hope that helps
Posted May 19th, 2019 at 8:36 pm by Michael Spencer in Other Wildlife
Walk around the Marsh, Usual species Lots of Tits Blue great Long Tailed, Goldfinches, ChiffChaff and a very vocal ringed Warbler? Two High flying Sparrowhawks was the highlight suddenly dived and were chasing another bird across the Marsh. Didnt see the outcome..
Posted May 19th, 2019 at 5:11 pm by Darrell Pattie in Bird News
Of note Pied Flycatcher, Goosander (f), Yellowhammer and common Whitethroat. No good photos sadly. Also lots of Brimstone and large and small white plus the unidentified (by me) butterfly in the last picture. Any ID appreciated.



Goosander Whitethroat Butterfly?
Posted May 19th, 2019 at 3:57 pm by Martin Rooney in Bird News
Saturday 18th May 2019
3 Spotted Flycatchers at Southdown Farm pm
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 9:26 pm by Roger White in Bird News
Watched from 07:30 till 11:30
started at Bowling green marsh but as usual these days very quiet with only 2 greenshank , 1 whimbrel , 1 common sandpiper, 1 black tailed godwits, 2 common gull, 5 little egret, Lots of house Martin and swifts moving through
Moved onto the goatwalk quickly became apparent that there were large numbers of house Martin and swifts moving through from powderham heading north over exminster and on a broad front all the way up towards Haldon following them were at least 4 Hobby’s, but the best birds of the day were 3 Red Kites the first At 09:25, the 2nd At 09:37 and the 3rd At 10:40 all heading south west towards Haldon, as the tide dropped 12+ grey plover, 3 knot, 20+ Dunlin, 12+ whimbrel.
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 7:58 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
At least 10 whimbrel and some Bar-Tailed Godwits on the two beaches, 8 small waders which I think consisted of 7 Dunlin and 1 Sanderling although it could well have been 6 & 2. Went back later with Steph & Rob Murphy and got cracking views of 4 Bar-Tailed Godwits on Yarmer beach one in summer plumage. The Barwits appeared to be feeding on sand hoppers, you can just about make it out in one of the photos



Bar-tailed Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit Sanderling
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 4:53 pm by Richie Moore in Bird News
In among a few birds ringed this morning was the year's second Grasshopper Warbler.
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 1:25 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Interesting sighting of what I'm 80% sure was a Sparrow Hawk sitting on the South Fort wall next to a Magpie. The Sparrow Hawk flew away in the direction of Brixham and was harried in flight by a Magpie and a Common Gull.
2 Swifts, 2 Goldfinch's, a Coal Tit and a Chaffinch showed well in the hedgerow by the car park. The best sighting was of a Robin which landed close by a posed long enough for the attached picture
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 12:39 pm by David Roper in Bird News
Friday 0815 am 9 dark bellied brent geese in the duckpond at Exmouth.
Posted May 18th, 2019 at 7:12 am by eric in Bird News
Friday 17th May 2019
Dank murky conditions around 6pm pushed three groups of manx shearwater into Start bay totalling 66 along with 2 and kittiwake and a first summer, plus five sandwich ten. At 9pm a large group of around 300 Swift screamed higher and higher as they disappeared into the low cloud.
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 9:17 pm by Nik ward in Bird News
Today whilst out walking with the dog, I was delighted to see Little Egret, Shelduck and Canada geese on the waterfront and in and around the woodlands: bluetits, great tits, Robins, goldfinches, bullfinch, long tailed tits, Jay and most surpringly of all a pair of ring-necked parakeets.
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 8:38 pm by P Flowers in Bird News
7am this morning, a flock of about 15 Little Egrets , just 2 swifts, and several swallows
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 7:56 pm by Beth Woollam in Bird News
Three or 4 Red Kites circling over the lower fields and then 3 gliding off NW (c9 - 9.30am). Also, on the beach, 2 partial sum-plum Grey Plovers, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits (2 in partial sum-plum), Whimbrel, Curlew & Dunlin.
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 4:33 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Single Red Kite outskirts of Abbotskerswell 2pm today
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 3:38 pm by Jon Pring in Bird News
Red Kite over going east; also swift & 3 Fulmar.
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 2:28 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
More Swifts this morning, (about 15). More House Martins too (about 50). Looking around for Swallows I was surprised to find them (about a dozen) perched on the reed-bed. 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, and an odd male Tufted Duck.
Posted May 17th, 2019 at 12:36 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Thursday 16th May 2019
Nice yellow wagtail on the marsh and 3 whimbrel, a male shoveler and 2 females.



Yellow Wagtail Whimbrel Little Egret
Posted May 16th, 2019 at 9:27 pm by Richie Moore in Bird News
Afternoon hunt for Yellow Wagtails continues! Instead of which I found this tired looking Wood Sandpiper and then a view of a female Marsh Harrier. 7 Pied Wagtails. (1 White among them). up to 7 Swifts.

Wood Sandpiper
Posted May 16th, 2019 at 5:23 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Great views of a closish red kite 30/40' above the A39 heading north just before the milky way theme park North Devon at 08:24.
Posted May 16th, 2019 at 5:15 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
Cattle Egret on scrape behind canal car park
Posted May 16th, 2019 at 1:16 pm by Nick Workman in Bird News
Pair of Red Kite seen over Drayford, Mid Devon. One flew north, one flew south.

Posted May 16th, 2019 at 1:03 pm by C Boyles in Bird News
Wednesday 15th May 2019
As I dropped into the village I saw a Nightjar floating above the rooftops disappearing behind a house only to reappear as I got further down the lane towards the church. Only my second for Slapton....the other being an autumn bird.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 10:38 pm by Nik ward in Bird News
A few waders on the rocks at South Huish, at least 5 Grey plover, some sanderling, oystercatchers, a Kentish plover and on the marsh 7 Dunlin and a whimbrel



Grey Plover Kentish Plover Sanderling
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 10:03 pm by Richie Moore in Bird News
Redpoles showing well on Roborough Down


Redpole
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 9:38 pm by Greg Bradbury in Bird News
Single Red Kite seen by my father and I flying west over road to Challacombe viewed from near Headland Warren Farm late afternoon.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 9:31 pm by Perry J Smale in Bird News
Blaxton Meadow attracted a few waders at high tide - Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrels & Curlew. Also Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, 8 Mandarin Ducks & female Red-crested Pochard.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 9:05 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Good numbers of Meadow Pipits around the hill, plus Skylarks, Stonechat, Tree Pipits and Linnets. Three cuckoos calling from separate areas.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 7:52 pm by Nick Walter in Bird News
A single bird drifting north towards Chudleigh Knighto n / Chudleighat 15.40hrs
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 6:25 pm by JDA in Bird News
Two Cuckoo's (Males) over the filled up China Clay pit near Cadover Bridge, gave a good display at chasing each other


Cuckoo No 1 Tail feathers missing 2nd Cuckoo, full tail feathers
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 4:03 pm by Greg Bradbury in Bird News
14 May 13.00: Red Kite drifted low over Peverell, Plymouth and heading East. All the nearby Herring Gulls up and calling in alarm.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 3:46 pm by R Hurrell in Bird News
Two Red Kites high over the garden at 1500hrs heading towards Marsh Mills & Plympton.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 3:05 pm by Martin Phillips in Bird News
One Red Kite east over the Exe estuary and the Riverfront, Exton at 1320hrs.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 2:11 pm by Terry Smith in Bird News
Red Kite seen over Western Beacon Dartmoor today
Wednesday 15th May at 11.00am. Single bird
took off from the lower slopes of the beacon
heading towards Moorhaven.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 11:49 am by Rob Dudley in Bird News
A Red Kite circling over Roborough Down this morning around 10.30 this morning.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 10:35 am by Andy Brown in Bird News
two red kites sighted flying over house near South Molton.
Posted May 15th, 2019 at 10:26 am by Mary Anne in Bird News