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.

For the first time in many weeks, visited BGM and Goosemoor this morning, just before high tide. Water level and grass v. high as expected. Hundreds each of Wigeon and Teal, 50-75 each of Shoveler and Pintail, 8 Tufted and 25 Greylags made for a fine, busy spectacle, but there were no Gadwall, Little Grebe, or Coot, and the only waders were two Curlew (how sad is that).

Seven Turnstones on the Goatwalk, thirty Common Gulls off the recreation ground, and, back in Exeter, a singing Treecreeper raised the spirits.

Small group of goldfinches, 1 siskin, 1 l. redpoll, feeding on ash keys

The Iceland Gull again this afternoon from c3pm and still present at dusk on sea in outer harbour just off Astra Zenica car park.

Little of note on a  murky & wet day but managed: 31 Wigeon, 6 Greenshanks, Little Grebe, Snipe, 3 Shags, 9 Little Egrets, 4 Stock Doves & 6 Roe Deer. 

Lone Purple Sandpiper working the rocks off Windy Corner Capstone, along with Rock Pipits and Oystercatchers

The albino Great Northern Diver still present off Island Quay. (Distant record shot from Snapes Point path).  Also 'normal' GND off Lifeboat Station.

Albino Great Northern Diver

A mid morning visit to the River Teign at Passage House, Kingsteignton on the dropping tide, large number of Black Headed Gulls inc a BTO ringed bird, three Common Gull, a few Greater Black Back Gull and lots of Herring Gull.

Shellduck, two female Wigeon, about ten Mute Swan, several of the local feral domestic geese, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Pied Wagtail.

Fifty plus Curlew, Redshank, two Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, Little Grebe and seven Avocet.

At Seal Hayne two Jay and two Mistle Thrush.

Around the feeders back home at South Brent, six Long Tailed Tit, male GSWP, M&F Bullfinch and a flyover Mistle Thrush.

Avocet

Curlew

Great views of a Pomarine Skua harassing gulls off Brixham breakwater mid-am (as photographed by Richie below), then at Broadsands a little later, single Black-throated and Red-Throated Divers and a Black-necked Grebe, all close in. At least 10 Great Northern Divers between the two sites.

A sharp increase in Common Gulls today, with 32 counted. Also 4 Shags, c30 Wigeon, redhead Goosander, 2 Snipe, Stonechat, 4 Siskins, c20 Redwings & 4+ Roe Deer. 

Some good views of a pomarine skua, possibly 2, several GN divers, Kittewakes and gannets

Pomarine Skua

Kittiwake

At 3.15 pm. a Swallow around the houses in the village.

08:57 - 10:37

Dusky Warbler showed very well.

3 Great Northern Divers just off of the beach. 10+ gannets also fishing. 

The open sea being far too choppy for me, without 'scope, to pick anything out, I concentrated on the lower estuary:

- from Cofton Steps, a G-n Diver;

- in the valley-bottom fields inland from Cockwood Harbour, c40 Cattle Egrets (almost like being in Spain);

- in Powderham Park, an Egyptian Goose (my first since the young fledged in June) and a Green Sandpiper;

- cumulatively in the estuary from various points, eight R-b Mergansers, six G-c Grebes (in the 1980s, the ratio would have been 30:0), ten Greenshanks and 50+ Turnstones;

- combinedly on Cockwood Golf Course and the flooded field on the N. edge of Starcross, perhaps 150 Curlew, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Oystercatchers and 75 Redshanks, plus uncounted, but 500+, Brents and ducks. These sites are, I believe, becoming increasingly important as high-tide refuges. 

A first winter Rose-coloured Starling in a Stoke Fleming garden has been present for almost three weeks. The second record for the garden, after one in June 2008! 

The bird can be seen from the Venn Lane playing field SX862486. 

If visiting please respect local resident's health and privacy- on behalf of Kevin Rylands 
 

3 Great Northern Divers just off of the beach. 10+ gannets also fishing. 

This afternoon between and in some of the showers I managed to get a couple of photos of: 2 of the 4 male Shovelers one female Shoveler, 2 Wigeon and one male Gadwall.  On the Scrape there were a small number of Teal 20 ish.

Male Shoveler

Male Teal

A good count of 282 Dunlins (all on the wall) at high tide. Also 6 Goosanders (3 drakes), 32 Wigeon, 144 Redshanks, 1or 2 Little Grebes & 13 Common Gulls.

A good day at Brixham gull spotting, highlight was the Iceland Gull subject to previous posts that flew up the harbour side of the breakwater just after sunrise, numerous Kittiwake, being harassed once they had caught fish by Common, Black Headed, Common, Herring and Greater Black Backed Gulls of which over fifty counted.

Ten GND's around the harbour and breakwater with another four off of the Shoalstone, where a pair of Eider flew past headed west. Several Guillemot and Razorbill along with plenty of Gannet activity.

Small number of Shag and numerous Cormorants, Rock Pipit, Turnstone and Pied Wagtail.

Fourteen Seals in the harbour on one of the pontoons.

At Marine Parade, Paignton a one legged adult Mediterranean Gull with the Black Headed Gull flock, four Oyster Catcher, a Little Egret and some forty Turnstone including the Dutch ringed bird Z010032 which I note has lost the end of its centre toe on the ringed leg, but looks to be fit and  healthy.

Great Northern Diver

Iceland Gull

The juv/1w Iceland Gull still up and down the breakwater (see photos) also a single Purple Sandpiper. Now two Pomarine Skuas, one in Tor Bay the other off Berry Head. Double figures of Great Northern Divers off Shoalstone and the harbour.

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

The female Long-tailed Duck showed very well again up to 12.10 near the Leadstone.

18 Great Northern Divers between Thatcher Point and Long Quarry Point.

Also, good numbers of Common Gulls and several Razorbills.  8 Grey Seals and 1 Harbour Porpoise.  3 Fulmars about and many Gannets.  

12:30

Snow Bunting (2) by the 8th tee on the stone ‘bank’ (golf course side).

The Lower lake this morning.

10 Goosander 2m 8f (09:30), 3 Willow Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 8 Tufted Duck 5m 3f, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant.

Male Sparrowhawk garden visitor. Stayed a while having missed catching lunch.

Sparrowhawk

30 Shelducks 30 Brent Geese 150 Golden Plovers 10 Curlews 10 Oystercatchers 1 Little Egret Black headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

A single male siskin on sunflower hearts and nyjer seeds in the garden today along with goldfinch x5, greenfinch x3 and chaffinch x1. Also house sparrows, blue tits, great tits and female greater spotted woodpecker.

Berry Head: in a break in the weather Great Skua south and Sooty Shearwater (loitering outside Tor Bay, probably same bird seen by Bill Coulson on the 15th). Many feeding Gannets and Kittiwakes driven into Tor Bay, scanning from BHd picked up white-winged gull over Shoalstone.

Shoalstone: relocated white-winger, which was an  Iceland Gull looked like juv/1w.  Further out the Pomarine Skua (pale phase prob winter adult) was still harassing Kittiwakes - here for its 3rd day so seems settled.

Mansands: there was a single Velvet Scoter feeding 200m off the beach and while watching it a dark biscuit coloured juv/1st w Glaucous Gull flew past >N.

Brixham: following a call from Mark Darlaston I popped into Brixham early afternoon to see a pale  juv/1st w Iceland Gull drifting up and down the Breakwater! 

Glaucous Gull ( probable first winter ), Ireland Bay this morning.

The albino Great Nothern Diver was showing well as it dived for crabs as the tide went out this morning. Viewed from Snapes Point near Salcombe looking across creek.

Since about the end of October we have been spotting Great Northern Divers within Salcombe Harbour, with about three being present. The last couple of weeks we have spotted what looks like an albino Great Northern Diver but would like clarification.

14+ Great Northern Divers around the south end of the Bays beaches also a ad Med Gull, Black-throated Diver and a pale phase Pomarine Skua off Elberry Headland this evening and a pod of 10+ Common Dolphins. 200+ Gannets feeding off Goodrington. Long-tailed Duck off Preston/Paignton and 3 Red-throated Divers.

A single Firecrest in car park in Brixham and 12+ Cirl Buntings at Broadsands car park

Black-throated Diver

Great Northern Diver

On the river alongside Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge this morning two Dipper and two Grey Wagtail.

At White Oxen early afternoon a flock of 21 Stock Dove, 31 Starling, two flocks of 20 plus Woodpigeon, several flocks of Redwing, GSWP and a couple of low soaring Buzzards.

Around home several small flocks of Redwing and one of 40 birds, five Long Tailed Tit on the feeders one being BTO ringed. In the morning one of my racing pigeons killed by a female Sparrow hawk.

Derisory farmland bird count in spring temperatures  with 440 Skylark, 23 Cirl Bunting, 15 Yellowhammer, 16 Meadow Pipit, 2 Sparrowhawk, 100 Jackdaw, Chiffchaff, 24 Stock Dove & seven Long-tailed Tit.

Just one Spoonbill on the scrape this morning, which flew off as I approached (about 09.30).

Small group of 3 Redwing in a neighbour’s field at 09:00 this morning on the SW edge of the village. 

A visit on this afternoon’s rising tide produced: 7 Goosanders (3 drakes), 33 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes,  67 Curlews, Treecreeper, 12+ Redwings, Siskin & a presumed escape Barnacle Goose.

A run round some of the Totnes rivers this morning, due to high water levels and fast run off virtually nothing to be seen at Staverton, Dartington or Totnes.

Bow Bridge to Tuckenhay ~ 16 Mallard, two Mute Swan, Moorhen and a Little Grebe.

South Brent two female Siskins on the garden feeders, the first females of the winter season, one being BTO ringed, female Bullfinch, 28 House Sparrows at one point, good numbers of Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

(Re the Siskins~ a friend in the village had a male and a female on his feeders)

This evening a Tawny owl sat just outside the house.

Tawny owl

Tawny Owl

We have only a modest garden, so I was very pleased with today's tally of 18 species.
Woodpigeon   4
Magpie   1
Jackdaw   1
Coal Tit   1
Blue Tit   4
Great Tit   2
Long-tailed Tit   5
Blackcap   1
Firecrest   1
Blackbird   2
Song Thrush   1
Robin   2
Black Redstart   1  (often favouring the end of Hill Close)
Dunnock   1
Pied Wagtail   1
Chaffinch   5
Greenfinch   6
Goldfinch   13

Black Redstart

Greenfinch

A number of pintails on the Skern 11th December. Sorry to be so late posting.

Pintails among shelduck

This bird was photographed by a fisherman off Snape's Point, Salcolme on the 15/12/20

The two Spoonbills were out on the scrape again this morning, having a bit of a preen.

Spoonbills, preening.

4 Glossy Ibis on the Pill as i drove down to the quay around mid day today

7 goosander on irrigation pond at wash farm buckfastleigh ( Riverford Organics) 9 a.m. today.

1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 37 Goosander 8m 29f, 8 Tufted Duck 5m 3f, 3 Great Crested Grebe.

A late afternoon stroll resulted in the normal Widgeon, Shelduck, Redshank etc on Blaxton a flock of mixed Tits around the hide, A Kingfisher, Little Grebe numerous Mallard and Nine Gosanders on the Plym

Blue Tit

Gosanders

Late afternoon I popped into Wrafton Pond that again was very quite.  Three male + three female Shovelers, one male Wigeon, one Little Grebe and a small number of the usual suspects

Malr and female Shovelers

300 Golden Plover over A388, 7 miles south of Holsworthy at Chapmanswell.

9 Goosander swimming together yesterday upstream from Blaxton Meadow 3 M 6F

1stw drake Scaup still at Goodrington this morning and the Yellow-browed Warbler still at Clennon Lakes also just 1 Chiffchaff present.

Large numbers of Canada geese, Shelduck and Brent. Godwits in field between wall and railway line. Dunlin, redshank, oystercatcher and single Avocet. Kingfisher feeding from wall. Pair of Stonechat in hedge top.

Goosander . ! male with 4 females flew in at midday. Also 1 male Gadwall

The now regular Dipper was still singing above the roar of traffic below Longbridge late morning. Around the treatment works outfall were a drake Goosander, Little Egret and a Kingfisher.