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.

Pleasant half hour from 5pm sat on Berry Head looking out to sea towards the Mew Stone. Lots of activity over the water besides numerous common gulls there were 5 black back gulls, 2 gannets, 20 crows and 40+ plus guillemots.

Two red kites spotted above Teignmouth on the north side of the estuary moving west to east at 08.15 14th May. 

Finally seeing swifts. First one last Saturday (11th May) over Rumsam area of Barnstaple and two today over Yelland.

taking a early walk from the rsbp carpark by the railway line, there were sand martins, house martins, swallows and two hobbys hunting over the marsh, and on the way back to the carpark i had good views of the lesser whitethroat.

3 Swifts, my first this year,. Yellowhammer on Yennadon Down. 

A cuckoo showing very well near Cadover Bridge Area by the old filled in clay pit, constantly getting attacked by Meadow Pipits, managed some fairly good shots

Cuckoo

Red Kite heading East over Coombe Valley 11.20 am....

Heard one Nightjar churring at 9:20, and another later on 'Kwicking' at opposite sides of the wood, but didn't see either.

I saw my first Red Kite over east Devon today at around 2pm. It was circling from the north east to the south west over the Ottery St Mary area.

Single Nightjar churring and flying in the Harcombe area of Greater Haldon at 21:10 this evening.

Walked to the estuary late afternoon.

Several Whitethroat, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit, and a few passage waders: 2 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Oystercatcher (probable resident) 3 Ringed Plover,1 Dunlin and a few Curlew. No sign of Osprey. 

Saw a single red kite flying over newton abbot this evening. First time I've see one in Devon 

First swifts of the year over garden three in number.

Two red kites over 16.00 hrs.

Two Wheatears (male & female), Grey Wagtail, 2 Stock Doves, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, the lingering Curlew & 7 Roe Deer (2 bucks).

Pretty quiet at Soar again this morning: Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 2 singing Sedge Warblers, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk & 3 House Martins.

Not one wader, later, on South Efford Marsh at high tide, but 2 Swifts, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 singing Reed Warblers & a Stock Dove.

Red Kite just (12.05p.m) flew south over my house in Braunton.

At least 12 whimbrel on the beaches plus two Bar-tailed godwits, 3 whitethroats and a skylark on the corner of the golf course.

Bar-tailed Godwit                             Whitethroat                                        Whimbrel

Our first swifts of the year over the garden this afternoon around 16:00 group of three calling high over.

Sighted over Thornbury Plymouth, Red Kite being harassed by 3 Buzzards at 10:50

Must have been a hatch because we saw at least three together and others in singles plus the colours were so vibrant! Observed near Starehole Bay.

First swifts of 2019 in Combe Martin: 2 silent at 11.50, followed by 3 screamers at 18.00.

2 ringneck parakeet

^{Sues sharp eyes produced a call of "Osprey" and we watched it flying west to east towards Frogmore Creek last seen being mobbed by gulls. I've included an extremely distant image purely for the record.} 

Dark, female type Marsh Harrier flew straight through east over the marsh at 17:10. Presumably next stop Slapton Ley.

On a glorious day Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. A number of Stonechats between Scorhill and Hound Tor harassing the Ten Tors walkers. Kestrel seen hunting and Cuckoo heard calling along the brook.

2 possible Cattle Egret seen this evening from the train whilst going past Stoke Woods, glimpse was fleeting but looked promising if anyone wants to go and check if they’re the real thing. 

Plenty of stonechat and linnet plus several yellowhammer.

8.30 a.m. River Taw- Osprey still present-being harassed by two gulls, an Oystercatcher and a Curlew. Cettis Warbler seen and heard on Tarka Trail near Instow.

Just seen one from my garden on clovelly rd Bideford drifting see probably over littleham area.3 swifts here chasing as well ????.

Grasshopper warbler - 1 reeling, dunlin 1 sp, whimbrel 1

Chudleigh Knighton Heath.
Yellowhammer, Large Red Damselfly.
Bovey Heathfield Heath.
2 x Yellowhammer (m&f), Slow-worm, Common Newt.
Yarner Woods.
4+  Pied Flycatcher, Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Stover Park.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Chaffinch, Mandarin, Mallards, Grey Squirrels

Male Ruff west over Bolberry Down, later seen on South Huish Marsh together with Dunlin, 2 Barnacle Geese, White Wagtail & several, presumably migrant, Pied Wagtails

Sherpa had 13 Pied/White Wagtails (3 of the latter) this evening. Still no Yellow ones though.

Just a few more photos, if that's ok,

Pied Flycatcher                    Common Redpoll                                      Grey Wagtail

Eds: it will be a Lesser Redpoll 

Redpoll,Willow Warbler,Pied flycatcher,Spotted Flycatcher,Redstart,Blackcap,Cuckoo,Whinchat,Grey Wagtail, Dipper,GreenWoodpecker,Larks Pipits,2 Swift ,nice numbers of swallows and martins,really pleased with the good amounts of birds especially nice to see 6 spotted flycatchers.

Redstart                                   Spotted Flycatcher                  Whinchat Eds: Stonechat

Yesterday was a lovely day to be out though few new migrants although 3 Spotted Flycatchers (my first of the year) were in the area ( the reserve, Ashpark Lane and Stallions Bite).

Also good views of Green Hairstreak and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary (plus lots of Orange Tips)

Spotted Flycatcher                             Green Hairstreak

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary

4pm yesterday, 6 Whimbrel on beach.

Late afternoon, of note: 4 Whinchats (3 males), 1m Cuckoo, 2 Redpolls, usual Willow Warblers and Stonechats, Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the river, Buzzard and Kestrel  etc

Spotted Flycatcher seen and observed for approx 10 minutes this afternoon. Only seen once.before 2 years ago in September. Plenty of Blackcaps calling. Song Thrush, Jay, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, nesting Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Buzzard.

Delighted to report the arrival of 6 new mowing machines in the reserve this morning. In the form of Canada Geese goslings. They were already in the meadow when I was leaving.

Lots of Swallows House and Sand Martins around Sherpa this evening, But still no Yellow Wagtail. 3/4 Swift. 4 Grey Herons and 3 Cormorants flew off.

Nice spotted flycatcher at South Milton and a few Sedge warblers, 5 whimbrel on the rocks and a ruff on the marsh at South Huish

Spotted Flycatcher                      Sedge Warbler                                 Ruff

Distant views of a male Ruff in fine breeding colours at South Milton Reserve today. Was feeding almost constantly. This is a first for us having only ever seen the female (reeve?) years ago on Chivenor airfield! 

Male Ruff

A morning walk, ending just before the rain came, produced a Cuckoo, a Common Redstart, many Pied Flycatchers, several Garden Warblers and Tree Pipits, two pairs of Redpolls busy with display flights, and most of the commoner woodland birds, but no Wood Warblers, alas.

Seen near venford today. 7 PB's

pearl bordered fritillary near venford resevoir

Great Crested Grebes with chick.

Short video

https://youtu.be/P9mGTY3IquU

Great Crested Grebe

saltrum 9 ringneck parakeet by cafe

My first Spotted Flycatchers (2) and Swifts (3) of year, here. Also 6 Mandarin Ducks (5 drakes), 2 Whimbrels, Stock Dove, 3 Wheatears (1 male), 3 Roe Deer & Small Heath.

Whitethroat,Blackcaps,Redstart,Willow Warblers,Tree Pipit,Linnets, Goldfinch,Fulmars,stonechats,Wheatear,greening up nicely and really lovely early morning chorus. Not quite dawn!!!!

Black Cap.                     Willow Warbler                             Whitethroat.

0650 - 1125. 60+ Manx Shears flying W, 2 Canada Geese flying E (my 107th species for this site), 1 Whimbrel (first this year), 1 Sedge Warbler in full song, 1 Common Gull, 2 Gannet, 7 Willows, 1 Chiff, 8 Whitethroat, c25 House Martin, 10 Sand Martin, 18 Swallow plus 22 other Species. 1 Orange Tip the only butterfly.

Canada Geese                           Whimbrel

This evening walked round Sherpa accompanied by the inquisitive cattle which actually help as a sort of mobile hide! In the centre field with a small strip of mud/water at last a few Wagtails: 5 Pied and 2 White. Also a strange record of a very muddy-footed male Whinchat! Good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins and several Swifts too. First set (of 3) Canada goslings.

In the reserve caught a modest 5 Swallows and a Sedge Warbler. Plus a Reed Warbler which I ringed in July 2014 as a 3J so now near 5 years old.

A morning stroll up to Clifford Bridge and back produced two Common Redstarts, at least six Pied Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler, two pairs of Dippers and a small flock of Crossbills, plus most of the expected common species. A pleasantly-sheltered place to visit on a windy day.

Quick afternoon visit. Hobby at least 2 maybe 4. Spoonbill. Common Lizard, god numbers of hirundine including a few Swift.

Spoonbill video

https://youtu.be/IzJNJQF8Fgo

Common Lizard video

https://youtu.be/xg2yfgiDWWE

Spoonbill                                              Hobby - distant                   Common Lizard

Two heading west 6am this morning. Just kept going.

The adult Spoonbill was showing well this lunchtime. Good numbers of House Martins, plus a few Sand Martins and Swifts. 1 Hobby and 1 Peregrine. Also a Weasel and some kind of Shrew.

Single Swift off the very end feeding last night

Hooray the Swift's are back.7 over Stanhope terrace/northdown rd and more importantly 4 on clovelly rd/Waterloo terrace area close to my boxes.May get to lure them in come the weekend.20:20-2030

Seawatch 07.45 - 12.15: 97 Manx Shearwatewrs, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Gadwalls, 2 Swifts & 1 or 2 Harbour Porpoises.

Disappointing!

Seawatch 06.30 -07.30hrs  produced 31 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Puffins, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Fs Mediterranean Gull, 5 fs Common Gulls, 6 Swifts over the sea and 2 Harbour Porpoises. Also virtually no grounded migrants on the headland.

Male Garganey, Ad Spoonbill, 215+ Dunlin, 10 Whimbrel, 25+ Swift, c10 Sand Martin, 15+ House Martin on Exminister Marsh early this morning. 

Lunch time Adult Spoonbill still present, 120+ Swift, 70+ House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat along railway line & Little Gull 2nd Summer, flew over from Powderham Marsh.