Please do not post any information about scarce or rare breeding species. They may be vulnerable to persecution or disturbance.
The exception is information on these species at well known sites (e.g. Broadsands for Cirl Bunting and Aylesbeare for Dartford Warbler) or birds which are obvious migrants away from breeding sites.
If in any doubut, please don't post but report your sighting to the county recorder asap. Site editors cannot commit to editing posts which breach these guidelines, and the whole post may be removed or not admitted.
Further details can be found in the link below, but note, Wood Warbler is now also included as a scarce breeder:-
https://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/rare_breeding_species
Posted April 15th at 3:02 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
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Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Sunday 7th July 2019
Yes, it is a Mediterranean Gull. Large, bright red bill and black cap extending much further down nape than the brown cap of the Black-headed gull are diagnostic. Please give location. Which cricket pitch - where?
Posted July 7th, 2019 at 4:29 pm by Chris Proctor in Bird News
Seen near the cricket field on Sunday morning 11.00 am ish.
This might be a Mediterranean Gull standing near a black headed gull. It appeared to be very different to the BHG standing next to it.

Mediterranean Gull?
Posted July 7th, 2019 at 1:27 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Saturday 6th July 2019
1 Knot foraging amongst the BH Gulls am.

Posted July 6th, 2019 at 7:34 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Birds nesting in doorway opposite.
Not great images, but can anyone confirm it is a spotted flycatcher nest?

Eds: yes a Spotted Flycatcher - please use the above link to help with bird identifications
Posted July 6th, 2019 at 6:27 pm by Alun Sherwood in Bird News
Highlights of a day 'dragonflying' at Stover were male Lesser Emperor and Red-veined Darter over the lake, plus both Large and Small Redeyes and many Black-tailed Skimmers. No sign of Scarce Chasers - checked the fringes from boat with Jon Avon - but one photographed away from water yesterday.
Posted July 6th, 2019 at 6:13 pm by Dave Smallshire in Bird News
27 med gulls.17 adults,2 ss,7fs& probably my earliest juvenile.50 bhg's,2 whimbrel,39 curlew 1dunlin.07:40-08:15
Posted July 6th, 2019 at 4:02 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
Whimbrel heard at 08:00 this morning with members of the Axe Estuary Ringing Group.
Posted July 6th, 2019 at 2:50 pm by T. M. Mylett in Bird News
Kayak trip to Eddystone yesterday:
1 Balearic Shearwater,
100+ Manx Shearwater
1 Common Scoter
plus 15 Common Dolphin (10+4+1)
4 Harbour Porpoise (3+1)

Manx Shearwater and Common Scoter Common Dolphins Harbour Porpoise
Eds: All pelagic birders with the season upon us, please remember to send your seabird records in. Records such as these which are within 12 nautical miles of Devon do count for the county now. While posting on Devon Bird News is great the records do not automatically go into Devon Birds database.
Posted July 6th, 2019 at 7:23 am by Rupert Kirkwood in Bird News
Friday 5th July 2019
First flock of returning Redshank I have seen so far this summer on the north side of the Taw Estuary.

Posted July 5th, 2019 at 10:28 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
First returning med gulls this evening.6,2 adults,2nd summer,3 FS.40 bhg's only one juv.20 curlew,14 dunlin.19:20-1945.
Posted July 5th, 2019 at 8:57 pm by Robert Marshall in Bird News
around 100 ringneck parakeet inc 3 blue juvenile babies along with blue adult
Posted July 5th, 2019 at 7:45 pm by barry insull in Bird News
My first juvenile Redstarts of autumn, presumably dispersing away from natal areas - two near Aish Ridge this morning and one on Brent Hill on 3 July.
Posted July 5th, 2019 at 12:11 pm by Peter Reay in Bird News
On this mornings high tide the following were seen.
Curlew 24, Redshank 62, Greenshank 2, Common Sandpiper 5, Little Egret 11, Grey Heron 4, Med Gull 1 1st sp, Shelduck 2 with 2 juv, Stock 9, Green Woodpecker 3, GSW 2, Peregrine and Whitethroat 2.
Posted July 5th, 2019 at 11:05 am by Martin Phillips in Bird News
Thursday 4th July 2019
3 Black tailed Godwits on R.Caen early evening, 95 Black headed Gulls including 5 smart juv's & 75 Starling consisting of mainly juveniles on the Jetty.

Posted July 4th, 2019 at 7:27 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
I've nurtured suckering Elms in my Chudleigh garden for over 30 years and this afternoon my efforts were rewarded with brief sightings of a White-letter Hairstreak. The species has been assumed to breed in the Wych Elms in woodland over 500m away (Simon Mitchell showed me an egg there about 25 years ago!), but this is my first adult here. (Only known from a few locations elsewhere in Devon.) While I was waiting with camera for it to re-appear (which it didn't).

Buzzard
Posted July 4th, 2019 at 6:28 pm by Dave Smallshire in Bird News
4th July 2019
The long-staying Slavonian Grebe and 15 Sandwich Tern were the highlights.
Also Buzzard, Kestrel, Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Linnet and Reed Bunting.
Later at Flow Point were 18 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron and 2 Shelduck with 3 young.
Posted July 4th, 2019 at 5:30 pm by C L North in Bird News
Near Turf this morning at high tide 3 common sandpipers flew north, 4 common terns flew south and two family parties of shelduck (2 & 10 yn) stayed put.Single sandwich tern in channel.
Posted July 4th, 2019 at 5:24 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
First signs of autumn migration with 33 Sand Martins and 3 Swifts moving east along the cliffs.
Non-avian: 2 male Red-veined Darters, one giving cracking views perched up in the sun. Also Beautiful Demoiselle (new record for the Bolt Head to Bolt Tail site) and first Southern Hawker.
Posted July 4th, 2019 at 2:19 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Wednesday 3rd July 2019
3th July 2019
8.15-8.50pm
Short but sweet visit this evening
5 Common Scoter were the highlights
40 Manx Shearwater
C.140 Guillemot were on ledges on Ore Stone
5 Gannet, numerous Cormorant and Shag
2 Oystercatcher
A pod of c. 12 Common Dolphin were distant and seen heading towards Berry Head
Posted July 3rd, 2019 at 9:57 pm by C L North in Bird News
My first Whitethroat of the year since Spring migrants, here; also Green Woodpecker, 23 Mandarin Ducks, Black-tailed Godwit (summer plumage), Greenshank, 46 Redshanks, 1st-s Mediterranean Gull & 4 Stock Doves.
Butterflies included a good count of 80+ Marbled Whites & my first Gatekeepers (3) of the year.
Posted July 3rd, 2019 at 7:03 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
14 members of DB attended the East Devon Branch Nightjar evening yesterday. A perfect evening with the bonus of a distant Hobby and Stonechats before we reached our viewing position. First calls of Nightjar were heard at 9.45pm and a pair showed well during the time we were present. The pair settled on the path and a tree giving great views. It was agreed that calls and churring on the common were noticeably less than might be expected.
Posted July 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 am by Jonathan Ruscoe in Bird News
Tuesday 2nd July 2019
Juvenile and adult Black-headed gulls near Barnstaple long bridge.
Posted July 2nd, 2019 at 11:00 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
56 Shags on the Mew Stone inc.18+ freshly fledged juvs - a very good result. Looks like a bad year for breeding Cirl Buntings not helped by some very questionable management by NT.
Non-avian; Red-veined Darter by Goat Rock.
Posted July 2nd, 2019 at 3:16 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Waders are starting to arrive back, on this mornings high tide the following were seen :
Redshank 52, Curlew 22, Greenshank 1, Black Tailed Godwit 1, Common Sandpiper 4, Med Gull 2, Little Egret 8 and 10 Stock Dove.
Posted July 2nd, 2019 at 11:24 am by Martin Phillips in Bird News
Monday 1st July 2019
Red kite seen going over the Plessey roundabout at Roborough, Plymouth at about 15:30, Sunday.
Posted July 1st, 2019 at 10:19 pm by Andy Quest in Bird News
On this afternoons high tide the following were seen:
Grey Heron 8, Little Egret 8, Curlew 20, Black Tailed Godwit 1 sp and Med Gull 3 all 1st sp.
Posted July 1st, 2019 at 9:13 pm by Martin Phillips in Bird News