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
Saturday 21st September 2019
In the very warm sunshine early this morning - well, 09.30 - a veritable storm of Dragonflies and Darters for about 15 minutes. Never seen such numbers in the UK before.
Ringed another Kingfisher on Thursday: that's 15 this year.
Posted September 21st, 2019 at 9:23 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A long overdue hightide visit to Bowling Green Marsh, the place was alive with birds, serious numbers of Curlew, plenty of Black Tailed Godwit (two colour ringed birds seen) good numbers of Redshank, 3 Avocet, Lapwing, Ruff, Knott, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, several Little Egret, a good range of duck species but not yet in their winter numbers. A Peregrine did a fly over which alarmed everything but it was not in hunting mode.
Darts Farm very poor re bird life, a flock of Linnet, at least six Chiffchaff and a few Long Tailed Tit and that was about it.
Posted September 21st, 2019 at 9:01 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
mear valley 7 ringneck parakeet including blue one
Posted September 21st, 2019 at 7:52 pm by barry insull in Bird News
Friday 20th September 2019
Flock of 20+ over short-term car park 19.30. Presumably gathering for a roost nearby.
Posted September 20th, 2019 at 8:30 pm by Richard Archer in Bird News
At Bowling Green Marsh and Goosemoor this morning were one each of Water Rail, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull, three Avocets, five Greenshanks and at least thirty Pintail (within a total of several hundred ducks, a big increase on last week). Today's bonus bird was an Osprey, seen at around 1045 flying S. over the M5 as I went back up Topsham Road.
Posted September 20th, 2019 at 7:11 pm by James Camden in Bird News
Single Chiffchaff in good voice 0820 this morning with c50 House Martins and a few Swallows overhead. 2 Southern Hawker Dragonfly in a small patch of sunlight with Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood Butterfly also present. No Painted Lady this visit.
Posted September 20th, 2019 at 12:49 pm by Derek Stacey in Bird News
Two hobbies, one vocal, circled over the Avon Dam early this morning, while below them eight goosanders sat on the beach getting ready for the day's fishing trip..
Posted September 20th, 2019 at 11:51 am by Peter Reay in Bird News
Thursday 19th September 2019
Lundy today.


Spotted Flycatcher
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 11:37 pm by Martin Thorne in Bird News
Beautiful Lesser yellow legs at South Efford marsh, Well done Eric for finding it.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 8:17 pm by Richie Moore in Bird News
I have been contacted by the White Stork release team. They informed me that over 20 juvenile White Storks were released in August at a West Sussex location in the hope that they would migrate and later return to the West Sussex/Surrey area to breed. They believe that the Devon sightings recently are from this release scheme.
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 5:49 pm by Roy Adams in Bird News
Hadn't intended to viz mig when I arrived at Prawle at 7.15am but soon engaged with the spectacle of thousands of hirundines flying into the ESE brisk breeze. Watched intensely until 8.45 and estimated at least 10,000 stretching out from over the sea to the airfields (fields just beyond Prawle village). Mostly swallows and house martins but also at least 800 Sand Martins. Also large movement of Meadow Pipits (6-700); Linnets (4-500), Skylarks (150+). And Alba Wagtails (40+) Also of note passage of Jackdaws and Magpies.
In field with Black Cattle there were 5 Yellow Wagtails. Later 6 Wheatear and 8 Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps. I White Wagtail at Horsley Cove and a Goldcrest at Stallions Bite.
I left at 1pm and popped into Aveton Gifford to see the Lesser Yellowlegs. Later Pat texted me to say he'd seen a White Stork fly in off into Pig's Nose Valley at 1.15pm and later seen high over Bolt Head !
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 5:26 pm in Bird News
2 white storks flyong north ,midday.
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 5:09 pm by Vic & Sylvia Tucker in Bird News
900 Swallows moving east in one hour - 0840 to 0940 final total 1010. Also 45 House Martin, 55 Skylark, Sand Martin, 130 Meadow Pipit, 3 Wheatear, 55 Goldfinch, 8 Greenfinch & 360 Linnet.
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 3:18 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
This morning, 20 Yellow Wagtail (in two cattle fields), Golden Plover over, 4 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 500+ Linnet, Peregrine, 2 Yellowhammers and 1m Cirl Bunting. Hundreds of Swallow, House Martin and a few Sand Martin over between 0800 and 0900.

Yellow Wagtail
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 2:14 pm by Chris E in Bird News
Spoonbill flew down river 7pm, Osprey or two fishing
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 1:52 pm by Gerry Hooper in Bird News
4 cattle egret in flight over towpath car park at end of station road at 12.30pm. Came down into cattle field to the NW. Also 1 juv hobby over.
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 1:27 pm by Olly Mears in Bird News
Hobby, Tree Pipit, 10 Wheatears, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 300 House Martins, Sand Martin, 27 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, 8 Stock Doves, 2 Clouded Yellows & 2 Roe Deer.
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 12:31 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
White stork perched on buildings at Teignmouth community school yesterday lunchtime!
Posted September 19th, 2019 at 10:42 am by Stephen Edwards in Bird News
Wednesday 18th September 2019
Crossbills on the cones of Spruce trees at Wistlandpound Reservoir today. Extremely difficult to find because of the location and bright sun however two definitely seen.

Posted September 18th, 2019 at 5:36 pm by Margaret Phillips in Bird News
A good tally included 200 Gannet fishing off West Soar, 2 Sparrowhawk, Hobby, migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 150 Swallow, 170 House Martin, Sand Martin, 300 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, 14 Stonechat, 4 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff & 520 Linnet.
Non-avian: 4 Red Deer (first ever record & not the usual Sika), mature female Red-veined Darter, 6 Common Darter, Clouded Yellow, 158 Red Admiral, 41 Painted Lady, Comma & 9 Wall Brown.
Later back at Harleston: Hobby overhead, male Emperor over pond and Wall Brown - quite a day!
Posted September 18th, 2019 at 3:27 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Small Tortoise Shell butterfly, Warleigh Point
Posted September 18th, 2019 at 3:04 pm by Greg Bradbury in Other Wildlife
At least 12 Great Crested Grebes showing well on the Ernesettle side of the estuary. Osprey seen at a distance on the river Tavy by the railway bridge. Other wildlife was mainly butterflies, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Common Blue, Small Tortoise Shell.

Posted September 18th, 2019 at 3:02 pm by Greg Bradbury in Bird News
Good selection this morning - Hobby, 3 Whinchat, 7+ Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 17 Wheatear, Peregrine, Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap and flock of 500+ Linnet.

Yellow Wagtail

Wheatear
Posted September 18th, 2019 at 1:36 pm by Chris E in Bird News
Eight brown-head Goosanders on res this morning, the first roosters since Jun, apart from one record in Aug. Initially on the water, they then spent about 30 minutes preening on shore before flying out over dam at 0735, 40 minutes after sunrise which is later than usual.

Goosanders at Avon Dam 18 Sep @ 0645h Goosanders at Avon Dam 18 Sep @ 0730h
Posted September 18th, 2019 at 12:33 pm by Peter Reay in Bird News
A visit to the Avon dam yesterday, below the dam was the scene of most bird activity with Stonechat, Linnet, Goldfinch, a lone Swallow, two very pale alba type Wagtails, Chiffchaff, Dipper, Raven and Buzzard.
Posted September 18th, 2019 at 7:31 am by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Tuesday 17th September 2019
A Dotterel over Woodbury Common @1910 this evening, before heading very high west.
Yesterday evening off Mudbank - 360+ Wigeon, 40+ Pintail, 14 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck and a Garganey.
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 8:43 pm by Matt Knott in Bird News
Mid-afternoon found the curlew sandpiper that was reported by JT yesterday. Luckily it posed with the dunlin for a comparison. Later witnessed it again with Alan Denzey. Also there were a couple of wheatears near the ramp leading to the Horsey Island “breech”. A great white egret was also present on Horsey Island mud flats.

curlew sandpiper in the middle

curlew sandpiper again
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 8:34 pm by Colin Dracott in Bird News
One of two very photogenic Wheatears....

Wheatear
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 8:24 pm by Alan Denzey in Bird News
A juvenile Little Stint feeding with 11 Dunlin this evening on Budleigh Beach.

Posted September 17th, 2019 at 8:14 pm by Chris Townend in Bird News
Curlew Sandpiper, as seen by JT yesterday, thanks to Colin Draycott finding it today....!

Curlew Sandpiper
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 7:48 pm by Alan Denzey in Bird News
A visit by the E Devon group today was very productive for the 11 members who came - varying from some very experienced birders to a couple who are very new to it all. About 2 dozen species were seen, including a Sparrowhawk hunting through the myriad Meadow Pipits (several 100) in front of us, 2 Peregrine overhead, a Kestrel and several Buzzards. A flock of Yellow Wagtail, numbering at least 20, were with the pipits in a clover field, not with cattle, and in the same field were at least 1 Tree Pipit and several Skylarks. An excellent close view of a perched Raven, 50+ Swallows, c 10 House Martins, several Wheatear and Chiffchaff wee also of interest. (We missed a Redstart, seen earlier in the day.) Several of us saw an unidentified seabird, possibly an Arctic Skua, but distance and bright sun behind prevented confirmation.
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 5:53 pm by Colin Randall in Bird News
Blk t godwit 26 . 600+ swallows .5. Stock doves. 8 Cl.yellows.
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 5:21 pm by Vic & Sylvia Tucker in Bird News
Blk t godwit 26 . 600+ swallows .5. Stock doves. 8 Cl.yellows.
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 5:21 pm by Vic & Sylvia Tucker in Bird News
Just returned from a few days camping in South Devon.
On Saturday aft at 15.00 an Osprey flew south over the Otter Estuary spooking all the gulls (including the ones on the Cricket field) then heading west over the pebble ridge along the coast towards the mouth of the Exe Estuary. Yesterday aft there were 2 very vocal Avocets on the Otter Estuary.


Posted September 17th, 2019 at 4:16 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Seen this morning. Med Gull 26 mostly adults, Whimbrel 1, Wheatear 2, Whitethroat 3 and 16 Cirl Bunting
Posted September 17th, 2019 at 12:44 pm by Martin Phillips in Bird News
Monday 16th September 2019
Nice to have a Barn owl back in the house field this evening just on 8pm, looks as if it had just bathed, no idea where but it was sat on a post drying itself, Tawny owl calling loudly close by and a sizable bat flying around as well.

Posted September 16th, 2019 at 8:46 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Not birding today but a Kingfisher Old Pinn Lane (Pinn Brook) Pinhoe and a Raven over Beacon Heath Exeter about 3 pm.
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 8:18 pm by Martin Rooney in Bird News
A few dragonflies at South Milton Ley, lots of Common Darters, a couple of Migrant hawkers and a southern Hawker. Also a Small pearl bordered fritillary at Soar and a clouded yellow at south Milton.

Common Darters

Southern Hawker

Smal pearl bordered fritillary
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 8:15 pm by Richie Moore in Other Wildlife
My first Firecrest of the autumn along the west cliffs at Budleigh this morning and two Avocets on the River Otter this afternoon.
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 8:05 pm by Chris Townend in Bird News
At the Bere Ferrers end of the railway bridge, 1 Osprey perched in a tree eating a fish, at 1700.
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 7:06 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
At about 2p.m. amongst about 30 Dunlin a 100 yards past the Toll House, was a smart Curlew Sandpiper. It was still there when I returned at about 3.45p.m. but then everything was flushed by an unseen bird of prey.
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 4:38 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A curious dearth of scrub migrants (just one Chiffchaff) but 210 House Martin, 80 Swallow, 3 Wheatear, 550 Linnet, 13 Jackdaw east & Carrion Crow with white primaries.
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 2:50 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
2 Great White Egrets at Wistlandpound 0830 today
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 1:13 pm by Jonathan Nicholl in Bird News
Five Redwings flew into the berry laden hedge of my house field just before 11am this morning
Posted September 16th, 2019 at 10:55 am by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Sunday 15th September 2019
Just back from a late afternoon visit to Black Hole Marsh with the Exeter & district RSPB local group. There was a good mix of waders on the marsh, including a couple of Green Sandpipers, Snipe, Ruff and Little Stint. We stayed late to look for the Barn Owl, and were surprised to see a couple of Cattle Egrets on the marsh in amongst the gulls. Then a Great White Egret flew over! And, finally the Barn Owl did make an appearance.
Posted September 15th, 2019 at 8:46 pm by Richard Swinbank in Bird News
A male Cleopatra butterfly on buddleia on the far side of the 4th (top) pond. There have been a few (genuine?) British records but given previous odd butterfly records in the area this is sure to be a release. Other butterflies included red admiral, painted lady, comma, small copper and assorted whites. Many migrant hawker (mostly on the first pond), southern hawker, common darter and a late blue tailed damselfly. Best of the birds were kingfisher, dabchick, tufted duck, chiffchaff, sparrowhawk.

Cleopatra, male

migrant hawker, also male.
Posted September 15th, 2019 at 8:04 pm by Chris Proctor in Other Wildlife
Sorry for the incorrect location on my post (thick fingers). So Cattle Egret, Osprey, Knot 3, Sandwich Tern 3 & 2 Black Swans.
Posted September 15th, 2019 at 2:10 pm by Martin Phillips in Bird News
Seen this morning. Western Cattle Egret & Osprey.
Posted September 15th, 2019 at 10:45 am by Martin Phillips in Bird News