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.
Thank you from
Devon Birds News site editors & members of the Records Committee
Posted April 2nd at 4:28 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News

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.
Posted March 15th at 11:56 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
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
Posted March 4th at 10:45 am by Mike Daniels in Bird News
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.
Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Tuesday 21st April 2020
Apologies for the late post, tablet battery was flat..
A walk with the dog from Ilfracombe coastguards back to combemartin didn't provide very much in the way of smaller hedgerow birds other than a melodious warbler of sorts near widmouth farm. Back home in the garden, again late in the evening a mass of about 40 + swallow accompanied with swifts although less numerous. All garden birds diving for cover when the resident sparrow hawk flew over but unusually high.(normally darting through at hedge height.

Sparrow hawk.
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 11:20 pm by Philip worth in Bird News
1 singing male whitethroat on hedge and numerous swallows and 15 houses Martins
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 6:10 pm by Hamish Johnson in Bird News
3 ravens over Totnes at 1545
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 3:56 pm by Michael Powell in Bird News
Red Kite over Roundswell at 15.40 this afternoon, heading south.
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 3:45 pm by David Paterson in Bird News
Fem/2nd calender year Marsh Harrier early this morning. Also Gadwall, 2 Teals, 6 Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 3:33 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
09.30 at the scrape, "That looks different" Raise binoculars - "Sure is - it's a GLOSSY IBIS"! It flew around for a while before returning - the Gulls didn't know what to make of this odd-looking bird! Went down to SHerpa, but tnothing mush of note. Back in the reserve, sneaked up on the Ibis and got some pics. About 11.07 a very noisy helicopter came over the the Ibis departed south.

Glossy Ibis
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 12:39 pm by jon turner in Bird News
Red Kite over Lipson at 10.15am heading Westward
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 11:12 am by Greg Bradbury in Bird News
Seen over the course of a few minutes on the shingle ridge - 3 whitethroats, 4 whimbrel, 1 gannet, 2 sandwich terns. Female Sparrowhawk over the village.
Posted April 21st, 2020 at 8:37 am by Graham Burton in Bird News
Monday 20th April 2020
At Plymbridge this morning: a pair of Mandarin Ducks, female Goosander, Grey Wagtail, G.S. Woodpecker, Blue, Great and a solitary Marsh tit, Bullfinches, Chaffinches ,Chiffchaffs, Nuthatches Blackcaps, Song thrushes, Over Boringdon Golf course Buzzard, Kestrel, pair of Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Skylarks and Linnets and a Swallow. Yesterday had my first Cuckoo and Whitethroat of the year over the course.



pair of Mandarin ducks, Wren, Pied Wagtail
Posted April 20th, 2020 at 10:24 pm by Bob Barrow in Bird News
Cuckoo calling at first light this morning on the moors just above the Peak Moor Gate towards Glasscombe Corner, several pairs of very confiding Yellow Hammer in the same area, three Raven and numerous Meadow Pipits.
My better half and daughter cycled up to the Avon dam late this afternoon and heard a Cuckoo calling in the valley below the Dam, Stonechat in the same area.
Yesterday had at least five male Blackcap in full song around my fields today only the three to be found possibly due to the very windy conditions..



Posted April 20th, 2020 at 8:26 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
My first cuckoo of the year whilst wandering around the woods surrounding Kennick & Tottiford Reservoirs this afternoon. Interestingly, heard one in this area last spring too.
Posted April 20th, 2020 at 4:53 pm by Fiona Freshney in Bird News
First House Martin of the year high over the back garden
Posted April 20th, 2020 at 2:26 pm by John Walton in Bird News
Martins and Swallows are back, Goldfinches are nest building.

House Martin Goldfinch
Posted April 20th, 2020 at 1:25 pm by Geoff Mitchell in Bird News
Sunday 19th April 2020
A short walk through Anchor woods this evening with our dog proved fruitful. Bluebell were looking great, heard a Willow warbler, a Blackcap, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Chaffinch, Great and Blue tits, the odd Robin, some Blackbirds and a Cetti's warbler near the Tarka trail. I know this is a bird site, but other people should be able to see places and other things of interest.

The Pathway through Anchor woods Bluebells
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 10:42 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
I cycled out to Berry Head today, on the Headland: 1 Redstart (male), 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Yellowhammer, 4 Wheatear. Overhead: 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 House Martin several Swallows and my first Swift.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 9:36 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
First 2 House Martins over the garden this evening. Brings our lockdown list to 48. Not bad for an inland area, with not a great variety of habitat to explore.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 8:20 pm by Nick Potter in Bird News
One Red Kite over the village heading west at 1.45.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 8:07 pm by Ray Hamilton in Bird News
Had a walk in the wood today quite a few new blackcaps and chiffchaff. Saddened to see a couple of robins nest I've been watching have been destroyed im not sure who the culprits are but the wood is much busier than normal and probably double the amount of dogs are being walked there too
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 8:04 pm by Mike Williams in Bird News
With my lock down garden bird list stuck on not very many, just had a Swift over!
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 6:42 pm by Simon Bates in Bird News
Started off this morning's ride with our regular Dipper on the Tory Brook. Then on Shaugh Moor our first Cuckoo of the season, followed closely by a pair that made off towards Wigford Down, then unbelievably a fourth landed in a hawthorn 50 yards away at Cadover Bridge. Four Cuckoos in under 10 minutes must be something of a record. Continuing to Burrator Wood our year list was again boosted by a pair of Pied Flycatchers amongst the regular woodland species. Despite the tip off from Chris E we failed to find the sedge warbler or any house martins as yet.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 6:05 pm by Chris & Janet Marcol in Bird News
Walked the lanes from Ide to Perridge via Windy Cross and back this morning:
- in the hedgerows 4/5 Yellowhammers and 8/10 Whitethroats singing, with plenty of Larks and a few Swallows above;
- in the mature conifer plantations two pairs of Crossbills;
- in the newly re-planted areas two Tree Pipits and several Willow Warblers;
- in and around the deciduous woods Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, 4/5 pairs of Mistle Thrushes (they certainly love something about this area), and today's bonus bird, a Redstart singing from a hedgerow Oak, a first for this year and this location.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 4:58 pm by James Camden in Bird News
A walk around this cemetery provided a Chiffchaff and a two Green Woodpeckers



Posted April 19th, 2020 at 4:55 pm by Greg Bradbury in Bird News
Saturday Eveening. Following on from Grahams post . At 6 pm. 350/400. Swallows feeding over the Lower Ley ,with 25/30 House Martins. This morning 1 m.and 4 f. Wheatears on the rocks. Torcross. Photo's of some of last night's moths.



Garden. Carpet. Brimstone. Moth. Pebble. Prominent.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 4:35 pm by Alan K. Searle. in Bird News
This mornings exercise, Little Egret and Grey Herons on the estuary, finches, Blackcaps,Chiffchaffs all singing well, 6 House Martins and 3 swallows my first this year, 2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk overhead. Several butterfly species including Peacock, Holly blue and Speckled wood.



Little Egret Wren Speckled Wood
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 3:24 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
5 Sandwich Terns plying the coast
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 1:18 pm by Abraham Cutajar in Bird News
On my bike ride with my little camera (Eos 60d with 18mm-300mm Sigma lens) today along the Tarka trail and had a close encounter with a Swallow near the Bob Tucker memorial bench (it's between Anchor woods and Fremington). It sat quietly for some time and allowed me to get quit a few good shots.

Swallow
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 1:08 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Common Sandpiper still on the scrape. Walked to the main estuary, where 2 Whimbrel flew across. On the way back by the runway lights at least 5 Wheatears. Around Sherpa 2 Swallows and another Common Sandpiper. Reed Warbler singing in the reserve and 6 Butterfly species.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 12:31 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Most of yesterday’s new arrivals have departed, and only a trickle of passing Swallows a single House Martin where seen .New arrivals were 9 Whitethroats and a f. Pied Flycatcher. A Chiffchaff was seen nest building.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 12:24 pm by Vic & Sylvia Tucker in Bird News
Pair of redstart near small bird hide. Long tailed duck last seen here 21st March.
still with male tufted duck with 3other pairs of tufted. Close into North shore by the dam wall
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 10:01 am by Steve Phelps in Bird News
Sedge Warbler singing from scrub nr Furzeacre Wood. Dipper on Tory Brook. Single Skylark singing from field. 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallow, 3 Chiffchaff and 7 Blackcap also around.
Posted April 19th, 2020 at 8:59 am by Chris E in Bird News
Saturday 18th April 2020
Further to yesterday’s swallow sighting above Kennick Reservoir, about 100 seen this evening (plus a small number of house martin); many drinking. First seen at approx 19:45; gone by 20:20.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 9:35 pm by Fiona Freshney in Bird News
Highlights on a mid-afternoon exercise walk along Fremington Pill to Home Farm Marsh – 20+ whimbrel, 1 bar-tailed godwit, a mixed flock of 12+ grey plover and dunlin, 2 cattle egret, 1 house martin, 1 sandwich tern, 6 common sandpipers.

whimbrel with crab
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 9:33 pm by Colin Dracott in Bird News
This morning more Red Kites, up to 4 in view at same time gathering up over Cairn. None to be seen later in the day though. Photos look like the same pair from Thurs. A Cuckoo heard again near Score.



Red Kites
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 9:01 pm by Martin Thorne in Bird News
1115 A single Sandwich T following the coast at low tide. Very Calm sea. Dived once.
Also 4 Wheatears, singing Linnets and Goldfinches. Meadow P., Stone chats, Song Th, Chiffchaff, Daws and Crows and the commoner Gulls. Robins, Dunnocks, Wren, Game birds.
Swallows along the the cliff's heading ENE about 1/minute. 6 Sand Martins (strange no House M's)
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 7:37 pm by Abraham Cutajar in Bird News
30+ house Martins and swallows in a feeding frenzy half way between the Avonwick and diptford Lane just after Old Station.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 6:01 pm by Hamish Johnson in Bird News
Exercise walk late morning produced 4 Whimbrels low on rocks with a further 10 flying north just offshore. 5 Sandwich Terns, 5 Swallows over, Whitethroat, Blackcap, cracking summer plumaged Razorbill, 6 Gannets, Fulmars, Stonechats, multiple Chiffies.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 4:33 pm by Paul Darlington in Bird News
3 ringneck parakeet in garden in whitleigh plymouth
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 4:20 pm by barry insull in Bird News
Substantial influx of swallows this morning on lower ley. Tried counting but stopped after 200; I could see shapes flitting across the water stretching into the distance. A handful of house martins amongst them.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 1:58 pm by graham burton in Bird News
A modest migrant arrival included fresh Blackcaps 10+ Garden Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 2 Whitethroat 2. A steady Swallow passage was the first such this year also 2 House Martins .
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 1:57 pm by Vic & Sylvia Tucker in Bird News
Cycled out to Sandy Lane and on to Crow Point then up the Toll road and finished with a quick look around the reserve. Too cold! So the birds weren't singing much, but did see a cracking close Whitethroat. Lots of Gulls in the channel at Crow. Bumped into (or perhaps met at appropriate distance) Rob along the Toll road, inspecting a good sized flock of sum plum Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Further along the toll road a Grey Heron dealing with an Eel, which disappeared as I groped in my rucksack for the camera....
In the reserve a decisive Sedge Warbler and on the scrape a Common Sandpiper. Sand Martin and Swallow also seen along the way.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 1:40 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A early morning cycle ride up from crownhill to clearbrook produced good numbers of stonechat goldfinch nuthatch buzzard and a cracking male greenfinch the first I've seen for sometime.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 1:33 pm by Mike Williams in Bird News
Gannet seen fishing close to shore by the bovisand holiday cabins. A group of 5 potential Whimbrel in amongst some Curlew also, calls in flight were noticed as well as size differences.
Posted April 18th, 2020 at 12:43 pm by Matt Clark in Bird News
Friday 17th April 2020
Walking to work along the river this morning, looked up to see a red kite being heckled by gulls
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 9:12 pm by Julie Rinder in Bird News
While working in the Exeter area I spotted this Tawny owl poking its head out of a hole in the top of a tall oak.

Tawny Owl
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 9:08 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
About 30 swallow seen feeding over Kennick Reservoir this evening at 18:50. Might have been house martin amongst them but couldn’t spot any.
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 7:34 pm by Fiona Freshney in Bird News
Three terns (not sure which species) off the east end of Seaton beach at around 18.00 today, plunging into the water and being harassed by Herring Gulls. Also a Gannet not too far out.
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 7:08 pm by Paul Hilder in Bird News
Drake Ruddy Shelduck beside Upper Torridge Estuary today

Ruddy Shelduck (drake)
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 6:46 pm by Rupert Kirkwood in Bird News
My daily walks over the last 4 weeks have regularly taken me past the heronry in Powderham Park. This year there are 31 occupied nests, an increase from 27 last year, but still well short of the peak of 43 in 1981. Little Egrets are very vocal this week, with probably 14 nests, similar to recent years, compared to the peak of 33 nests in 2010.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcap are present in good numbers, but so far only two Swallows on one day and no House Martins yet. Single very brief sightings of Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat. One pair of Yellowhammers and two pairs of Stonechat are clearly on territory.
Other taxa, mainly in my garden, include a very early Beautiful Demoiselle on 8 April, 10 species of butterfly, 16 species of moth trapped, Dark-edged Bee-fly, Marmalade Hoverfly and an Oil Beetle sp



Beautiful Demoiselle Dark-edged Bee-fly Oil Beetle sp.
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 6:20 pm by Nigel Hewitt in Bird News
While we walked over part of the Burrows this aft for our daily exercise a Green Sandpiper flew over calling & landed out of view in one of the numerous scrapes.
Also 5 Swallows & several Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap.
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 5:48 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
One Snipe on the scrape when I arrived shortly after 9 this morning in the COLD wind. Down at Sherpa 2 pairs of Teal, 2 Little Egrets, and great close up views of the Little Ringed Plover, which has been moved to the main pond opposite the Toll House by the farmer releasing about 30 cattle. it should substantially reduce the brigade of dogs and their walkers who have taken over ownership of these fields of late. The Plover waited till I raised the camera before flying off....
It started raining as I walked back towards the reserve from where I took another look out over the scrape - where there were now numbers of Sand Martins a few House Martins and at least 2 Swallows - it must be summer!
Spent at least 3 hours with an eye on the sky above Braunton yesterday, but still no sign of a Red Kite....
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 11:56 am by Jon Turner in Bird News
I was sitting in the garden iat 11.20 in Crownhill ,Plymouth, and looked up when gulls were making a fuss.There were three quite low , and with them, a drifting Red Kite. going NW with the wind. A new bird for the "House List"!
Posted April 17th, 2020 at 10:39 am by Peter Goodfellow in Bird News
Thursday 16th April 2020
This afternoon's bike ride gave us our first three Swallows for Plymouth over Saltram House and pairs of Wheatears and Blackcaps nearby. On the Tory Brook the 7:15pm Dipper was joined briefly by another changing positions on a regular perch. In over a month this is the first time we've seen two here. Let's hope they're a pair and we can look forward to seeing breeding here again this year.

Dipper, Tory Brook
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 11:35 pm by Chris & Janet Marcol in Bird News
Cold easterly died down a bit this p.m. More reed warblers singing around ley, 1 fulmar and 6 sandwich terns off shore.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 10:01 pm by Graham burton in Bird News
Daily walk to and up Tews Lane and back to my house. 4 Long tailed tits, 6 Blue tits, 10 - 12 Blackbirds, same number of House sparrows and 15 -20 starlings.


Male House sparrow Male Blackbird
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 8:27 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Sorry have only two usable long distance shots of the gull, this is the second. It was not possible to get close to the gull and dog walkers, children throwing stones into the river and a family having a BBQ nearby didn't help. However, when I first saw the gull I could see that it was different from the other gulls around it. I knew it wasn't a Herring gull and I was sure it wasn't a juvenile Great Black-backed gull so I did some research on Google and the closes match that I could find was the Caspian gull. It swam off towards Instow so I don't have any flight shots.

Possible Caspian gull
Eds: Thanks for that.. As suspected it is a 1st summer Herring Gull. Caspian Gull (a rare bird in Devon requiring a full blown description of all aspects of its plumage) would have a longer looking bill, longer primaries, almost unmarked undertail coverts, tertials usually only pale tipped (not edged like this bird) and greater coverts on wings would be darker centred and not so chequered.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 8:05 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Two garden ticks today; an Osprey east at 13:50 and - perhaps more unexpected - a Whitethroat in the newly-planted hawthorn hedge. Nearby, three Whimbrels on the Teign estuary off Passage House this morning.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 7:01 pm by Will Salmon in Bird News
Just to inform... I've just heard my first Cuckoo.. At Broadwoodwidger. Devon
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 6:52 pm by Richard in Bird News
Daily exercise to the Tamar: Still several Shelduck on the mud, Herring Gull, Chiffchaffs, Greenfinch and House Sparrows showing well. A Marsh tit on the return journey, male and female Grey Wagtails, Peacock and Holly blue butterflies, and a Brimstone moth on the ivy.

Blackbird House Sparrow (male) Brimstone moth
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 5:24 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
Several very vocal & active Common Whitethroat on Braunton Burrows this morning.
Just before returning home a Red Kite flew past at low level approx 150 metres away but by the time I got the camera out the bag & switched on there were two heading south 500 metres away! (see record shot).
Several Early Purple Ochids.
Forget to mention yesterday lunchtime, our fist ever sighting of a Grass Snake in the garden basking in the sunshine on the pond liner at the edge of the garden pond (It is only a small pond)
Reached for my bins & identified it, then reached for my camera & it vanished & have not seen it since!
It would be useful to have a built in camera that one could switch on & off so when one blinks the eye a photo is taken.



Posted April 16th, 2020 at 2:55 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Now 2 Common Sandpipers out on the scrape. We also walked down the Toll road where the best bird was a Black-headed Gull!! First I've seen for a few weeks.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 12:59 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Red Kites up high in ones & twos drifting east every half hour or so this morning. The Park Grey Wagtails now constantly have beaks stuffed full of insects.



Red Kites Grey Wagtail
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 12:59 pm by Martin Thorne in Bird News
at 1120. followed the Kenwith valley as far as Kingsley School. Mobbed by 6 crows. Then veered back and soared high above the resereve.
Also:1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzards 1 Stock Dove, 1 male Grey Wagtail, GSW'pecker, 1 Linnet, 3 singing B'caps.
The reserve is looking good. Thanks to all who worked.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 12:48 pm by Abraham Cutajar in Bird News
The Firecrest comes regularly to the french windows on our verandah; perches on one of the handles and taps its beak against the window. It flutters its wings against the window too. We are in Galmpton, in the lower part of the village.


Firecrest Galmpton pic1 Firecrest Galmpton pic2
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 12:14 pm by Kevin Wright in Bird News
.During the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak the use of Devon Birds bird hides should be in line with Government guidelines to individuals on how to protect themselves.
Please follow NHS guidelines: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/
Thank you for your co-operation and stay safe.
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 12:04 pm by Mike Daniels in Bird News
Taking an early morning walk today at Wembury, spotted stonechats, linnets, chiffchaffs, a pair of kestrels, and a black redstart.

Black redstart
Posted April 16th, 2020 at 10:12 am by Clive Woodyear in Bird News
Wednesday 15th April 2020
More from my walk.



Six Whimbrel three more out of shot Sandpiper and Shelduck Whimbrel landing
Eds: Common Sandpiper
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 9:49 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Out today for a walk with my camera down to Fremington Quay area. Not a lot to see along the Pill but the beach area around the kilns proved fruitful. Nine Whimbrel, two Shelduck, two Sandpiper, one Caspian gull, five Oyster catchers One Chiffchaff singing in the trees.



Whimbrel Oystercatcher Caspian Gull
Eds: Could we see some more pictures of the 'Caspian Gull' - especially any flight shots...
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 9:29 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
First ever view of whimbrel(4) on the farm today, plus wheatear and blackcaps .
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 7:46 pm by Ian samuel in Bird News
On the bike again am for daily exercise to Saunton & Downend which turned out to be most rewarding.
The car has not been used for several weeks since the lockdown & remains in the driveway. My only concern is the battery will discharge if it remains in position for several more months!
At Saunton I was surprised to see a Merlin, reached for the camera but gone in a flash before I had even got it out of the bag.
On the rocks at Downend 2 Whimbrel, 1 female Bar tailed Godwit & a flock of Sanderling having a well deserved nap in the sunshine.

Posted April 15th, 2020 at 4:10 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Late morning at Fremington Pill was fairly quiet with 3 little egrets in the trees, 3 greenshanks roosting with the redshanks on the far bank, 1 whimbrel. There were a further 9 whimbrel on the beach towards the Gaia Trust, along with 5 common sandpipers.

Whimbrel Whimbrel
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 3:02 pm by Colin Dracott in Bird News
The Cattle Egret was replaced by a Common Sandpiper out on the scrape this morning. Walked around Sherpa again and heard a couple more Reed/Sedge Warblers but all remained deep in the reed-bed. Best was a Little Ringed Plover.
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 1:30 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
An early morning walk out onto the moors above South Brent to Glasscombe Corner gave me my first Cuckoo of the year, initially heard calling then seen at close quarters as it flew past, thereafter seen and heard periodically as it moved around the moor.



2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 plus Meadow Pipits, Skylark, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Great Tit, 10 plus Herring Gull, 3 Raven, Kestrel, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Jay, a pair of mating Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch sat on a nest box, male Yellow Hammer and two Roe deer M&F


Posted April 15th, 2020 at 12:14 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Cattle Egret seen from my office window at home just now, heading towards the estuary. Lots of Swallows around now and c10 House Martins seen by Carole over the Dawlish CP yesterday.
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 11:37 am by Peter Leigh in Bird News
My understanding of these two birds apart from their different but very distinctive songs and the points mentioned in red is that Chiffchaffs have black legs and Willow warblers have light brown legs. The two photos posted are the same bird although it was singing in the sunlight in one photo and it also had light brown legs. Whilst I agree with Ed's addition to my post that it does look like a Chiffchaff it was singing like a Willow Warbler.
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 10:23 am by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Just had a Beeeater arrive in our back field. north Devon. Thought you might be interested.
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 9:54 am by John Delbridge in Bird News
Cettis warbler still present singing from dipping pond next to bottom pond.First Reed warbler on bottom pond as well.2 swallow upper pond +7 moorhen, kingfisher,08:00-09:00
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 9:37 am by Robert Marshall in Bird News
Long distance record shots of one of a pair of Skylarks. Not out on a jolly I was working. I was called out to re-establish the Private water supply to a customer's property in South Devon. On the approach to a property their driveway crosses a field where I spotted the Skylarks, they were about 30 metres from the drive.

Skylark Skylark
Posted April 15th, 2020 at 1:49 am by Martin Bennett in Bird News