In the light of the continuing Covid19 restrictions on the number of people gathering together, and the need for social distancing, it has been agreed that there will be no Devon Birds meetings or events organised until 21st June 2021, when Government restrictions are planned to be lifted. If there is any Government announcement that necessitates a change to this date an update will be posted.

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.  

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.

am - Now 5 f Common Scoters at Downend. Hoping this number will increase during the next few weeks.

Imm./sub-adult Whooper Swan On Gaia trust scrape.

Further to my post yesterday, I've just noticed the earlier posts from late October and it looks I did see the Lesser Yellowlegs after all! Nice to know you can spot a rare one occasionally.

Good views of two Short-Eared Owls hunting over the western end of Home Marsh Farm late afternoon. In fading light the lone swan on the pond was hard to I.D. 

Walked a loop Ide - Perridge - Dunchideock - Ide this morning, serenaded much of the way by the songs of larks, a Cirl Bunting (continuing their Northward expansion) and Yellowhammer. In the farmland were flocks of Linnet (two of 75+ each), Starling (250+), Chaffinch (50+), mixed corvids (700+, never seen so many Carrions together before away from the estuary, but, unusually, no Ravens), and small groups of Redwing and Fieldfare. In and over the woods were Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, Siskin, Crossbill and two Sparrowhawks. Ended with a Dipper on the stream that runs through Ide.

Whooper Swan not sure if it is one though.

Cycled out to Downend early this morning & then on to Croyde Bay NT car park & walked out to Baggy Point & back. 1 f Common Scoter at Downend on the outward journey which increased to 4 f Common Scoters  on return journey. None at Baggy Point.

Late aft - back to only 1 f Common Scoter at Downend!

Late Osprey fishing (as was I!) in the Yealm estuary at 10:30 this morning. Plunged into the river opposite me before heading downstream  towards the former Yealm hotel. Reappeared shortly afterwards heading towards Steer Point where it circled above the river for a minute or two. Not seen again.

Firecrest showing and calling well in gardens at Meadow Rise-stockton rd junction at 9am

Meadow Pipits in the lane 

Meadow Pipit

Great views of a barn owl quartering the field next to our house in west Wembury this evening. Throughout the day good passage of thrushes through the Ford valley as well as lots of warblers in the garden, presumably chiffchaffs. 

On today's low (& rising) tide: 8 Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Jack Snipe, Firecrest, 6+ Siskins, 2 Grey Wagtails, 12 Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Weasel & 9 Roe Deer.

First bunting count of the winter but in very mild conditions so not much expected. Peak were 60 Cirl Bunting, only 15 Yellowhammer (must be around somewhere) & 480 Skylark. Also 400 Woodpigeon over.

fieldfare and redwings,  14.30. this afternoon, about 300 plus birds at least 80 % fieldfare feeding on the hawthorn berries around the granulite quarry area.

The full tailed Yellow-browed Warbler still in willows by lake 2 this afternoon also 2 Chiffchaffs and 6 goldcrests.

Broadsands: 3 Great Northern Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Guillemot, 8 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park. 4 chiffchaffsand 3 Goldcrests around the various marshes.

Several chiffchaffs catching flies, a couple of goldcrests, flock of Long-tailed tits and a sparrowhawk flew over

Chiffchaff

Long-tailed Tit

Blaxton Meadow: 2 Common Gulls, Shelduck, Mallards, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, On the Plym 2 Dabchicks, I Common Sandpiper, 5 Red head Goosanders. Saltram Estate:3 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, I Sparrow Hawk, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 10 R.N. Parakeets, Goldfinches, Siskins, 20+ Redwing,2 Mistle Thrush,, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Stock Doves, 12 Jays.

Common Sandpiper

Common Gull

Over lunchtime:

- a single "drive-by" Cattle Egret feeding on Topsham flats, despite there being no cattle visible;

- from Exton Station, plenty of Wigeon, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Godwit, Curlew etc., plus 70+ Avocets, double figures of Grey Plover, three G-c Grebes, two Mergansers, a distant probable Goldeneye (no 'scope so cannot be sure), and a Grey Seal, hauled out on the mud.

Later:

- at Countesswear a Green Sandpiper, and, behind the crematorium, a singing Treecreeper;

- in the Trews Weir flood channel, two squealing Water Rails and a Kingfisher.

A bit of variety on this morning’s walk: Dipper, Kingfisher, 1 or 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 redhead Goosanders, 3 Little Grebes, Chiffchaff, 5 Siskins Grey Wagtail & c 20 Redwings.

Warbler sp seen moving through hedgerow by side of lake, close to bird hide. Pot bellied bird suggesting possible Booted Warbler 

Inadvertently disturbed the Short Eared Owl today which had been concealed on the long grass of the flood bank but which then took off as we approached,  unaware it was there. It circled out over the estuary and came back to settle,  possibly in bushes somewhere up river of the westerly border of the Marsh. Four Glossy Ibis together at the reach of the tide in Fremington Pill. 

Short-eared Owl

Four Glossy Ibis in silhouette

30 Shelduck 15 Wigeon 60 Brent Geese 50 Oyster Catcher 30 Golden Plover 20 Redshank 10 Curlew 2 Pied Wagtail 3000 Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull. 

Is there another wader with yellow legs? Could have sworn I've seen a Lesser Yellowlegs today at the above reserve. It was with 2 redshanks in good visibility - around 1400hrs. Would love someone to confirm if still around.

6 Goosanders in front of Anchor woods this afternoon , 2m & 6 f/juv.

Male Kingfisher showing very well at Radford Lake, Plympton

A great northern diver off the yacht club and three more off the Ness. One yesterday @14:00 as well, off the yacht club.

Comments sent in just now - hope it goes ahead.

Not much at East Soar this morning - migration over. Best 35 Cirl Bunting, 4 Goldcrest & 700 Woodpigeon over.

Imm. Whooper Swan On Gaia trust scrape in front of hide.

Two male Bramblings seen on the 11th Nov 2020 by the feeders by carpark.

A single male seen on the 12th but not seen since so possibly moved on

On the sea and beaches: 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Around the marshes and car parks: 1 Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 12 Cirl Buntings (on seed in 2nd car park)

This morning at the lake,

1 Green Sandpiper, 1m (eclipse) Goosander, 3 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron.

Overnight at home (South Brent) a Barn owl calling and at least three very vocal Tawny owls, today Green and GS Woodpeckers and Jay.

On the river at Tuckenhay between the two pubs, spotted a Dipper as I drove by and while sneaking a bit closer saw a female Goosander and then a second Dipper.

Hunting Sparrowhawk and two soaring Buzzards.

Eight Little Egret in the cattle field opposite Bowden Pillars.

Dipper

Goosander (female)

Highlights from this morning ; 4 Glossy Ibis , 1 Spotted Redshank , 3 Greenshanks , a couple hundred Lapwings , 25 ish Golden Plovers , 10 Dublin & 1 f Red-breasted Merganser .

10:00

At least three Purple Sandpiper.

Can I back up Chris Townend's appeal?  There is a well-organised and, presumably, well-funded group utterly opposing this wonderful development for the4 natural world, posting glossy leaflets through every door in the area, claiming, amongst other things, that "the green landscape will be replaced by mud flats; trees will be felled:....species such as owls, otters, bats and beavers will be lost."  So please do drop a line to East Devon supporting these proposals, which have been in the pipeline for several years.  Thanks!  

11/11  marsh tit, community woodlands

Four males among the 17 Goosanders roosting at the Avon Dam this morning included two that had not completed their moult (photo). A late departure just after 0800 was in a SE direction rather than S down the Avon valley and the group was later found feeding at a small fishing lake about 4 km away.

Goosanders - the four males

2 Woodcocks flying around at dusk.

Large Swift seen at Sheepstor Hamlet at around 1315. Also in the area big flock of Fieldfare's with some Redwings

The drake Green-winged Teal showed well this afternoon on the lagoon between the Fisherman’s car park and the middle car park, also the American Wigeon was seen on the marshes this morning and a Yellow - browed Warbler near the Swan’s Nest Inn early morning. Also a Guillemot below the turf locks on the river.

Cattle Egret from hide at one o'clock.

Highlight today, a Snow Bunting in the NT office car park and very tame, prob.1st winter male. Also: Black Redstart, 4 Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 46 Blackbird, 31 Robin, 15 Dunnock, 13 Blue Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 160 Carrion Crow, 450 Skylark & migrant Mistle Thrush.

Two Dippers showing well at Longbridge this morning, where there was also a dozen Siskins, Chiffchaff & Grey Wagtail. On the river, 1 Kingfisher, & an adult Mediterranean was amongst the Black-headed Gulls on Blaxton Meadow. Around the Park, 3 Fieldfares, Redwing & Great Spotted & Green Woodpeckers. 

This morning  , apart from the usual suspects ,at least 15 Snipe along with 4 male Teal and 6 Widgeon.

An update of the Black Redstart at Lipson, this morning a Male showed up so now there is a Male & Female Black Redstart

Short Eared Owl  quartering over the field with the sheep in at Gaia Trust Home Farm Marsh this lunchtime. 

Short Eared Owl at Home Farm Marsh

The ‘tail-less’ Yellow Browed Warbler still Clennon Valley in Willows over the stream below the weir calling repeatedly and showing well 1140am-Also 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest 

44 Starlings on wires.

After picking up the bird on Saturday and after a couple of visits Over the successive days all with very brief views. Had good views of the bird Yesterday alongside blackcap to confirm ID as Garden Warbler. A late record for this species. Also in same location opposite entrance to Derwent Close a Firecreast feeding in same area of scrub both yesterday and on Sunday. Thanks to the local birders for assisting in clinching the id with me.

An afternoon visit which included the tide dropping from Turf Hotel. Duck numbers very low, with no more than 45 Teal, 30+ Wigeon & 6 Shoveler incl on the lagoon. On the marsh were 450+ Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, Ruff and 1 Cattle Egret. 

On the estuary from Turf, as tide dropped. 130 Dunlin, 24 Knot, 12 Grey Plover, 250 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Pintail, 30+ Wigeon and 250 Brent Geese. 

Lower Tamar Lake this morning,

3 Goosander 1m(eclipse) 2f, 3 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2m Tufted Duck, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Jay, 2 Cormorant.

Initially quiet, no feeders out at Car Park bird hide, walked past Office just prior to path which leads up to reservoir excellent view of Treecreeper, also Marsh/Long Tailed/Great/Blue Tits they were all in one area where the woodland was less dense. 

The waders this morning (on the wall & Blaxton Meadow) included 6 Greenshanks & a Common Sandpiper but no numbers of significance. Also around the site: Little Grebe, 2 Shags, 2 each of Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 8 Nuthatches, 2 Stonechats, Siskin & 8 Roe Deer.

08:30 - 10:03

GN Diver still present this morning on the rising tide. Initially further out and then closer in at boat yard area.

2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Clennon this lunchtime - one with a tail the other without. Also 1 Firecrest, 7 Goldcrests and just 1 Chiffchaff.

                                                                2x Yellow-browed Warblers

The Ring Ouzel showed well today in the quarry having a good preen after a down pour this morning. Still 40+ Goldcrests around the woods and 2 Firecrests. Overhead there were 3 Brambling, 22 Chaffinches, 1 Redwing, 7 Siskin, 5 Bullfinch and little else of interest.

                           Ring Ouzel                                                                          Firecrest

Yet another good raptor over the garden, a ringtail Hen Harrier. After consulting "Forsman" have concluded adult female. Bird being harassed by Carrion Crow all the time as the harrier headed for Slapton.

Very nice to see a female Black Redstart on the roof of my house in Lipson, Plymouth, very friendly didn't seem to bothered about the camera clicking away. First year a female has been here, the past 3 years I have had the pleasure of males.

Back on furlough for the next 4 weeks so more time for my local patch in exeter between the  mill on the Exe and start of flood relief channel at st David’s a summary of last 3 days excellent birding 

Friday 6th Watched from 07:00 till 11:30

11000+ wood pigeon south mostly before 09:00, amazing  thrush passage all north/ north east mostly viewed at Exeter st David’s end of flood relief channel totals 8000+ redwing, 2500+ feldfare, 80+ mistle thrush  30+ song thrush , great views of a Great egret flew in low from the west and headed up river at 10:15 and earlier a merlin headed north also 2 redpoll, small numbers of Siskin and skylarks, 1 peregrine , 2 sparrowhawk, 2 kingfisher, 2 dippers, 2 grey wagtail, 6 chiffchaff, 4 little egrets

Saturday 7th watched from 07:00 till 10:30

only 600+ redwing and 12+ fieldfare again all north east , 3 little grebes on the river and brief views of an otter actively fishing before putting the little grebes into a panic as it headed into the far bank and disappearing , 1 water pipit flew south calling a new patch tick , 10+ meadow pipit, 6+ chiffchaff, 1 kingfisher, 2 dipper; 1 grey wagtail, 3 little egrets

sunday 8th watched from 07:00 till10:00

132+ redwing 12+ skylark all east most surprising was a male red kite flew in low from the West 08:32 being harassed by local crows before gaining height and heading east over the river at st David’s before being lost to view, 1 peregrine, 1 buzzard, 2 sparrowhawk, 2 kingfisher, 2 dipper, 2  grey wagtail , 3 little egrets

A few linnets, stonechats, greenfinch and goldfinch. Great spotted woodpecker, shoveler and 'singing' little grebe on the lake. By the pond near the golf course, an ace view of a firecrest, two chiffchaffs and a group of fortyish long-tailed tits flying through. 

1 kestrel seen, but no goosanders.

7 L Redpoll feeding on alder cones, 1 siskin

Solitary Swallow heading South West low over the edge of the Golf course @ 09.10 

At 0830 this morning the tailless Yellow-browed Warbler was calling persistently and showing reasonably well from within the willow below the bottom weir. A second visit at about 1400 produced not a sign or sound of it.

am: 1 Black Redstart below the lighthouse and 1 Merlin which headed purposefully out to sea (!).

30 Starlings on wires.

At Moorwell Pond this morning ,13 Goldcrests ( 5 ringed ,all with the plumage characteristics of ' continental' birds ) Very few other migrants present ; 2 Chiffchaffs and 15+ Blackbirds .

1st. Yr.m. ' continental' Goldcrest.

A rather sorry-looking tailless Black Redstart was on the rocks in front of the houses at North Hallsands, also a Great Northern Diver offshore.

This morning's count between Starcross and Dawlish Warren golf course was messed up by a boat emerging from Eales Dock - many Wigeon and some Teal went to sit on the sea. Highlights were Slavonian, Little and 4 G C Grebes, 11 Little Egrets, only 574 Wigeon, 169 Teal, 2 Mergansers, 34 Snipe and 10 Greenshank. A bizarre surprise was a Cetti's Warbler calling as it sat on the top of a gorse bush on the edge of DW golf course! Also 6 Cirl Buntings there.

There were at least 47 Cattle Egrets near Cockwood on the NW slope of Easter Hill - only really viewable by scope from Warboro Plantation. They're sticking like glue to the large outwintered herd of dairy cattle, which are frequently moved around the Easter Hill fields.

The Snow Bunting was still at the end of the Pebble Ridge this afternoon feeding on seeds and grass heads. For a couple of hours it moved around the pebbles oblivious of people and dogs.

Black Redstart on the white storage tanks at Green Energy Wharf seen from South West path at the end of Cattedown Road

09.40-11.20

Brambling flew in and landed in one of the taller trees towards the entrance gate. It gave brief but good views, then flew off inland. Firecrest, 2 Bullfinches, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 15+ Goldfinches, 5 Common Scoters flew south, 3 Greenfinches, 2 Stonechats, 6+ Rock Pipits. Female Kestrel over, Sparrowhawk. 3 Song Thrush, fall of Blackbirds. Redwing calling from deep cover. 2 Grey Seals. 

This afternoon, 3 Goldcrests and a Firecrest close to Torbay Leisure Centre. 

Seven Greenshanks represented the best wader count on Blaxton Meadow at high tide & 3 Snipe also dropped in. Elsewhere, Firecrest, 2 Siskins, Blackcap,Stonechat, Kingfisher, Shag, 4 Wigeon, 13 Turnstones & 9 Roe Deer. 

An almost constant stream of Redwings coming into the garden to feed on holly berries today with two Song Thrush and handful of Blackbird.

Plenty of Wood pigeon activity with dozens of birds dropping down to feed on acorns.

Redwing

Female Sparrowhawk sat cleaning herself up after she had killed one of my racing pigeons.

Sparrowhawk ~ female

Sparrowhawk ~ female

45 Shelduck 20 Lapwing 20 Golden Plover 5 Wigeon 5 Teal 1 Starling 2 Pied wagtail a few Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull.  

Around Berry Head today: 38 Goldcrests, 4 Firecrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Stonechat. In the quarry 1 Ring Ouzel (video here: https://youtu.be/-BA_Y9UFBOg ), 1 Black Redstart.

Overhead migration a little disappointing but of interest: 3 Brambling with 24+ Chaffinches, 2 Siskin, 11 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 4 Bullfinches, very low numbers of Wood Pigeon just 19 counted.

Torbay: 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Northern Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes.

                                                                Ring Ouzel, Berry Head

Best today were 2 Firecrest, an influx of 19 Goldcrest, Black Redstart, 31 Robin, White Wagtail, 10 Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, 7 Redwing, Sparrowhawk, 17 Blackbird & 25 Cirl Bunting.

On Friday 6th Nov , At Meldon Reservoir Dartmoor National Park in a hawthorn on the  left just past the gate, after crossing the Dam; 20+ field fares, 2 redwings and a ring ouzel feeding on the berries

Snow Bunting still present at 9.45 this morning