Happy New Year

Many thanks to all observers that have already submitted their records for 2019, both through Birdtrack and Devon Birds. This is much appreciated.

For other records please could observers submit their sightings by 31^st January.

Guidelines and links to recording forms can be found here https://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/recording/guide_to_record_submission

Please send your records to Karen Sims data.manager@devonbirds.org and any descriptions to Kevin Rylands recorder@devonbirds.org

Best wishes and good birding for 2020

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Two birds churring, very intermittently, 21.35-22.15. Male and female, flying together, drifted over just above head-height.

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.

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

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.

See this morning: Curlew 1,Oystercatcher 3, Whimbrel 1, GSW 3 and the best of the bunch were 3 Spotted Flycatcher.

Two Whitethroats newly arrived, Whimbrel, Curlew, Stock Dove, 3 drake Mandarin Ducks, Shag & 4 Roe deer (1 buck).

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.

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

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.

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. 

Osprey being mobbed by gulls flew into Home farm marsh 08.30 this morning.  

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.

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..

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?

3 Spotted Flycatchers at Southdown Farm pm

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.

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

In among a few birds ringed this morning was the year's second Grasshopper Warbler.

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

Friday 0815 am 9 dark bellied brent geese in the duckpond at Exmouth.

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. 

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. 

7am this morning, a flock of about 15 Little Egrets , just 2 swifts, and several swallows 

Single Red Kite outskirts of Abbotskerswell 2pm today

Red Kite over going east; also swift & 3 Fulmar.

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.

Nice yellow wagtail on the marsh and 3 whimbrel, a male shoveler and 2 females.

Yellow Wagtail                                                   Whimbrel                            Little Egret

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

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.

Cattle Egret on scrape behind canal car park

Pair of Red Kite seen over Drayford, Mid Devon. One flew north, one flew south.

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. 

Redpoles showing well on Roborough Down

Redpole

Single Red Kite seen by my father and I flying west over road to Challacombe viewed from near Headland Warren Farm late afternoon.

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.

Good numbers of Meadow Pipits around the hill, plus Skylarks, Stonechat, Tree Pipits and Linnets. Three cuckoos calling from separate areas.

A single bird drifting north towards Chudleigh Knighto n / Chudleighat 15.40hrs

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

One Red Kite east over the Exe estuary and the Riverfront, Exton at 1320hrs. 

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.

A Red Kite circling over Roborough Down this morning around 10.30 this morning.  

two red kites sighted flying over house near South Molton.