If you saw any of the records below please submit a description to the County Recorder Recorder@DevonBirds.org to ensure they make the official record. Many thanks.

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 19th July 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.

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.  

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Two nightjars seen with one doing wing clap at Powler’s Piece tonight late, possibly more churring, hard to tell. Also a glow worm just by the track. 

heard a commotion while i was painting outside this afternoon and looked up to see a crow carrying  prey  followed by another crow and a red kite flying overhead at chichacott just outside okehampton

Two Red Kites over Whitleigh garden this morning.

The Mediterranean Gull (3 cy) still around; also Sparrowhawk, several Great Spotted Woodpeckers, juv Stonechat, 25 Swifts, 3 Stock Doves & 7 Roe Deer.

Red kite flying south to north (south of Dunkeswell).  14.00 hrs. 27 May 2020.

Red kite flying strongly, west to east over Luppitt.  Lunchtime 30 May 2020

Birds nesting around the house

Wren

Young wood pigeon (squab)

Red Kite low over Ideford Common 13:15.

Beautiful evening walk by river otter, white bridge. Highlights one hobby, kestrel trying to catch its supper in the grass, heard Cetti’s warbler and many Reed warblers. 

4 Swifts flying around above my house in Estover , Plymouth 12.15 -12.30 today

Watching Trinity House replace a buoy at Abbotsham Cliff this morning we were very surprised to see an Osprey fly past heading north towards Saunton at 09.15. This follows a number of Red Kite visitations over the last fortnight.

Red Kite over garden 5.45 yesterday was easting then went back west. Eds - a reminder to please include the location in posts; the general area is fine if it’s your garden. 

Around lunchtime which seems to be when  I mostly see them, a kite appeared over our Paignton house mobbed by gulls and a solitary crow. A little later a buzzard got the same treatment. Maybe the thermals are better then?

19:14 - 22:06

Linnet, Yellowhammer and 2 x Nightjar were the highlights.

2 x Grasshopper Warbler reeling but not seen well enough to claim.

Seen over Newton Abbot at 4pm. Headed towards Torquay direction being circled by Seagulls.

Red Kite low over my house in Old Torrington Road, Barnstaple this morning about 8.45  and another this afternoon much higher up at about 3.15 along with four swifts and what looked like a Buzzard. With regards my post last Thursday re the Hen Harrier, the same bird was seen by me the next morning over the north of Barnstaple being mobbed by crows again and retaliating before heading south.

Around 12.20 today a Red Kite flew low over Blaxton Meadow , Saltram , putting all the gull on the meadow up. It flew around for a bit and then went in the direction of Plympton.

Flying from Goodrington east at 1:25pm.

1 red kite over Roundswell this morning 11.45.

Spent an idyllic couple of hours beside the pond in the middle of the heath. Nightjar churred briefly in early afternoon and Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Linnet and Stonechat were singing close by. Best action, though, was from the dragonflies (and not forgetting a nice Grass Snake). An egg-lying Azure Damselfly was attacked from below by a Water Boatman (which in turn was attacked by a Palmate Newt), while others were watched trying to brush off mites from their abdomens with their hind legs. At least 4 Emperor Dragonflies and a Broad-bodied Chaser were egg-laying, while 'their' males fought each other above. Large Red, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies added to the variety.  Best of all, though, was that this took place very close to where I was sitting, often within a metre of me!

Azure Damselflies and Water Boatman       Common Blue Damselfly                 Emperor Dragonfly

Late update on yesterday's confused young blackbird in the swallow's nest (and shall we, shan't we let nature take its course). After 7 hours of harrying by the parents and intermittently crashing around making a racket, the blackbird suddenly disappeared. The swallow’s nest is looking a bit ragged at the top but from what I can now see there are 4 youngsters apparently none the worse for the experience of being sat on and are back feeding OK. Hopefully the blackbird didn’t succumb to clattering into all the stuff in the roof space and finally made it out OK.

On a very breezy day, were still able to find at least three Dartford Warblers on the heath. Down on the ponds quite an array of insects including Broad-bodied Chasers, Emperors and Beautiful Demoiselles amongst a variety of others we've yet to identify. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary & Green Hairstreak etc.  Several Palmate Newts the males identified by their enlarged webbed hind feet.

Broad-bodied Chaser male

Emperor female egg laying

Palmate Newt male

After six (inc four ad males) on 6 May, then two zero counts, there were seven brown-head Goosanders roosting at the Avon Dam this morning. First seen on the water at 0445, they sat on the shore from 0500 to 0525 and flew out, unusually, east towards the Dart at 0535, also unusually calling in flight. I am tempted to think this was a female with a brood of this year's young, but is it too early for them to be adult-size and free-flying?  Also 50+ Herring Gulls roosting, and Nightjar churring on walk up to dam at 0415. 

Goosander - four of the seven roosters

Arrived at the top car park at 09.30 to be greeted by excellent views of a Red Kite. We worked our way down through the woods to the coastal path. A busy pair of Spotted Flycatchers and a smart Redstart were the highlights, but several Blackcaps and Willow Warblers singing. At the watchpoint we saw some hundreds of both Guillemot and Razorbill both on the water and flying to and from the cliffs way below. Fulmar and Kittiwake were also busy.

Late evening search for a Nightjar was successful - ish - we saw one distantly and heard it call and churring. We also had excellent views of a Tree Pipit and less that satisfactory (or no) views of a very vocal Garden Warbler. Lots of midges but a breeze did help.

One Red Kite low over my garden at 15.20 today.

Chased off by two gulls.

A 3rd cal year Mediterranean Gull with the Black-head's, 4 Curlews & 3 Oystercatchers on Blaxton Meadow. Also, juv Stonechat, 4 Stock Doves & 5 Roe Deer.  

On a windy day: 9 Stonechat, 8 Linnet among the scrub, Pied wagtails feeding juveniles on the shore, and 1 Shag on the water popping down for fish.

Last night, May 28. Churring started from 21.38 from one spotted in a birch tree, two churring with wingclapping later but not seen.

Single red kite heading east seen from old A30 at Stockley hamlets at 14.47

I have been trying hard to remember during all the years I have been monitoring the birds on Saunton Sands whether I have ever seen Canada Geese landing on the beach before. Certainly at this site it could be a first for me for this species.

Quiet morning 2 Linnet, a Yellowhammer and a bold Tree Pipit singing heartily. 2 Buzzard in valley below.

Yellowhammer

Tree Pipit

Very early morning visit to Yarner Woods, second time in a week to see the Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts. Also seen of interest were a pair of Bullfinches, Spotted Flycatchers.

Pied Flycatcher (male)                        Redstart (male)                         Spotted Flycatcher

Pandemonium in the garage this morning. A very vocal and confused young blackbird that has been fed by its parents in the garden over last couple of days, has got into the roof space and sat on the swallow’s nest containing at least 3 young. Not unexpectedly the parent swallows are highly agitated, whereas the blackbird seems to think it’s going to be fed! Wondering if this will all end in tragedy?

7 Mediterranean Gulls were off the headland this morning (3 ad s, 3 fs 1 ss Gulls

Seven swifts circling over Great Torrington this morning, consistent with recent seasons at this point in the breediing cycle, so I am glad that their numbers at this site seem to be holding up

Having heard my first Cuckoo in this area on 23rd April, I have heard more almost every day since. This week I got a close sighting of one.

Saw one Red Kite flying over the road to Jurston just off the B3212 Postbridge road. A pair of Wheatear near Hookney Tor with a Cuckoo calling nearby. Over at Stover Lake (Stover Country Park) a pair of Great crested Grebes displaying well. Not much else other than the usual contenders - Herring Gulls, a single male Mandarin, a few Coots, some Mallard and a Moorhen or two. Back at Roundswell there were a dozen or so Swifts flying around above Coopers Drive.

Wheatear                           Pair of Great crested Grebe                 Great Crested Grebe

From the Nightjar info board. 1 churring bird from 21.35 - 21.39, brief flight view at 21.41, then - nothing! Left site at 22.15 

A drive over Dartmoor this morning, 

Cator farm up to fourteen House Martin collecting mud from a wet patch of road and a juvenile Great Tit that looked as if it should still have been in its nest.

Bellever ~ Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Cuckoo and Sparrow hawk.

Warren House Inn ~ three Cuckoo.

Bennetts Cross to the Grimspound pathway ~Two Grey Wagtail, pair of Wheatear, numerous pairs of Stonechat with fledged young, onto Headland Warren three Whinchat another pair of Wheatear, female Kestrel and two Cuckoo.

Challacombe ~ Pair of Redstart and one Cuckoo.

Late post from yesterday, 27th May, late evening: 7 churring Nightjars, 2 Cuckoos, a pair of Green Woodpeckers and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.

one male 

11.15

1 Red Kite low over the common before drifting off towards the SW.  

A walk from Postbridge, around Fernworthy, and back, produced: Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, c15 Siskins, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Wheatears & 3 Green Hairstreaks.

road to soar now closed for several days

Not a lot around, although I did get a good shot of a Buzzard resting on a branch nearby, also a nesting pair of Little Grebes on one of the ponds

Buzzard                                   Male Little Grebe

The cycle track (no 27) near the Mortehoe road was quite productive early this morning. Chiffchaffs feeding young, several singing Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, a singing Willow Warbler and a hide-and-seek Garden Warbler which sang most of the time I was there, but was typically elusive, just flight views as it changed perches. No sign of the reported Lesser Whitethroat from yesterday.

This morning about 1030 Cuckoo on electricity wires calling, occasional flight for food and back on the wire. Close views. Lots of people around. Still there when left at 1200. Also sand martins and a goosander female with 5 young on the river nearby.

Male Stonechat seen briefly this morning, another new house bird!!

Cuckoo heard from my bedroom window, and Red Kite flew over my garden. 

One red kite over Noss Mayo at around four pm yesterday 27/05/20

then either the same bird again with another or two others half an hour later.

At 5:30 this morning, a fly by of another five Canada geese heading for the Moors. In forty years never seen geese in Paignton and now twice in a week. Maybe humans are not the only ones finding current conditions strange!

While out and about I also got this photo of a Barn Owl carrying a dead mouse/rat.

Barn Owl

Kestrel and Barn Owl both with metal rings. You may email or phone me if you require details.

Kestrel in flight                    Kestrel with metal ring               Barn Owl with metal ring

More from my outing.

Cetti's Warbler                                         Cetti's Warbler                            Swallow with metal ring

Well what a collection goodies I hit upon yesterday. Sedge Warblers, Cetti's Warbler, Swallow with metal ring, Kestrel with metal ring, Barn Owl with metal Ring, Mute Swans with signets, a Grey Heron and a pipit. I'm going to opt for a Rock Pipit although Eds probably going to plaster red ink all over the shop and tell me that it's a Telephone wire Pipit or some like that! Well here goes...

Rock Pipit?                                     Grey Heron                    Sedge Warbler

Eds:  Meadow Pipit

Two red kites quartering the rough grassland between Middle Soar Farm,  and Soar Mill cove mid-morning today, near Salcombe.

Tawny owl flushed from the trees at dusk yesterday.

Three female goosanders about a mile upstream of Ottery St Mary. 

Excise with my husband, we saw. Whinchat female. 2 Linnets male, 2 Yellow Hammer male, Stone Chats, singing Song Thrush. 

Flyovers today, Hobby at 09:15, and 2 Red Kites at 10:30, clovelly road Bideford

Superb day for butterflies with a massive record count of 123 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries mainly on the eastern slopes. Also 2 Dark Green Fritillaries ( but 5 on Monday), 42 Common Blues, 3 Large Skippers, 1st Meadow Brown, 5 Green Hairstreaks (but 22 on Monday - site record) & 8 Wall Brown.. Also 2 Cream-Spot Tiger Moths & Common Lizard. Also 500+ flower spikes of Small-flowered Catchfly growing on the newly constructed overflow car park - critically endangered in UK.

Birdwise: 120 Linnet on rape on airfield, Raven pair fledged 2 young, first hatched Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Kestrel getting excited!

2 Red  Kites over Paignton at 2.30p.m.. Circled once and then drifted off North.

Brilliant weather for Butterflies at the moment.

Several Skippers & Green Hairstreaks seen this morning but too hot for me by mid - morning!

Judging from the numbers of people in Surfing at Saunton Sands probably too hot on the beach for them too.

A few of the more colourful, commoner species from last night

Brimstone                  Green Silver-lines                               Green Pug

A really good night for moths with good numbers of some common species and a few really good rarer moths including a notable 2 x  Portland Ribbon Waves coming to the light.

Portland Ribbon Wave                Ruddy carpet                         Poplar Kitten

Very Quite for birds, mainly Stonechats, a Cuckoo hear and seen but in the distance, quite a few Green Hairstreak Butterflies

Green Hairstreak

I have located a swallow nest in the heart of Great Torrington, they are bringing food to the babies. Pleasing to see as I haven't seen evidence of breeding here for a couple of seasons. 4 swifts again.

Cuckoo calling 8-8.30 this morning. 

1 circling over East Charleton at midday slowly drifting west

Male seen on a private site in Plymouth this morning.

Late evening visit gave us a count of 11 individual Nightjars, with 6 seen in flight in really good light.  Also pre-roosting were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush and Jay.  Heard Tawny Owls. Roe and Fallow Deer

A trip to Emsworthy on a day, when the Plymouth Branch would have visited, gave us good views of singing Redstart, Willow Warbler and a family of four Stonechat.  Wheatear took on their erect posture on the stone walls and Meadow Pippit parachuted down, vocalising on descent. About five sightings of Cuckoo occurred with one being the bubbling voice from a female. A Common Snipe was flushed out of the damper heathland.The bluebells, for which the area is well known, appeared to be sparce in the fields, possibly effected by the very dry condition of the Moor.

6 ringneck parakeet  6 am going over to playing fields can woods of aylesbury crescent

On my walk with a friend, having our lunch, we had 3 Cuckoos flying around with the female bubbling, they were chasing around the area for nearly an hour. Love was in the air. 

Re Seagle-Thanks Eds, excellent wit. Completely agree.

am:- Cuckoo calling several times for several minutes at Pine Heights east of Pine Slack but not heard during return journey so probably moved on.

Grass Snake swimming across Flagpole Pond & under the water but only visible for approx.7 seconds & not seen again.

Photos - Flagpole Pond, Early Marsh Orchid & Southern Marsh Orchid.

Red Kite circling and moving south to north over Estover , Plymouth , this afternoon at 3pm.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers, 16+ drake Mandarin Ducks, 4 Curlews, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

7 Green Hairstreaks & 8 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries this morning but little on the bird front. 

Aylesbeare Common yesterday 

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat

Dartford Warbler

A chuckling female Cuckoo along with a male upsetting all the smaller birds by visiting each copse of trees and shrubs this morning.

Over Manor Drive Chagford 6.10 pm heading east at about 70 ft great view for a few seconds from my garden

A chance shot of a fox passing some foxglove plants

One Common Eider on the beach with a couple of herring gulls. 

Short walk at dusk around the Harcombe area of Haldon (until the midges became impossible) produced three Nightjars and one Tawny Owl.

Seen high over my garden in Chagford. Possibly the bird reported earlier.

Not a Buzzard in my opinion

Eds: No not a buzzard it's a 'seagle'!  - Herring gull.

Tawny Owl hunting in daylight this morning and Garden Warbler singing this afternoon. Both a couple of hundred meters from Cully Higher Street. Nice.

1 imm Puffin (five miles offshore, at halfway reef)

2 Common Scoter

(only) 12 Manx Shearwater

plus 5 Common Dolphin, 2 Harbour Porpoise

Puffin

For those interetsed, I have now added the sound recording of the now departed Blyth's Reed Warbler on my blog with a little more detail: https://creamteabirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/singing-blyths-reed-warbler.html

Over Manor Drive Chagford 6.10 pm heading east at about 70 ft great view for a few seconds from my garden

Red Kite flying south at 17.30 today.

11 pairs of Stonechat, 4 pairs of Pied Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, a dozen or so Meadow Pipits, 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and 2 male Reed Bunting halfway along path. 2 Cuckoo still around Headland Warren farmhouse. $ crows and 2 Buzzard. 3 Swallows around farm buildings.

Reed Bunting                                      Reed Bunting                                     Stonechat

Cuckoo heard calling but not seen. Good mix of birds on view including a meadow pipit, 4 tree pipits, 4 greenfinch, 2 yellow hammers, numerous willow warbler, linnet and stonechat the latter visibly with young.

Three swifts over exmouth town this morning.

4 swifts over Great Torrington today, easy to see in the clear sky. 3 house martins too. 

A few moths from last night with two new species for me and another Poplar Hawkmoth - good year for this species it seems.

Least Black Arches                     Homeosana sinuella                           Poplar Hawkmoth

a  golden Eagle gliding high over farmland in Ashwater. Heading South

Eds: Either an escaped bird or if it was indeed an eagle possibly a White-tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight introduction. 

Wistman's Wood today gave a juv. Pied Wagtail being fed by it's mum.  Probably three Cuckoos, a pair of Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, a pair of Grey Wagtails high in the canopy, Redpoll and Willow Warbler and Gt Spotted Woodpecker.  Several Wheatear and Stonechat on the moor and heard Grasshopper Warbler by the river. Green Hairstreak, Small Heath and a Fritillary sp.

Pied Wagtail juv                            Pied Wagtail fem                                 Redpoll

This morning on a sheep track near Two Bridges I found this clutch of egg shells, presumed to be Mallard (60mm long and duck egg blue) in a neat pile.  They all appeared to have been bitten through, maybe by a fox?  It's clearly not a nest as there's no down.  Could a fox carry four together?  Or why would it make four separate trips to exactly the same spot before eating them?

Late yesterday, I was shocked to find a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler on farmland bordering the East Devon Commons. The bird was in an area with restricted viewing, but I managed to get a sound recording which I will try and share on my blog/here tomorrow. Despite at least 7 hours spent listening for the bird today, sadly it seems to have moved on! Poor photo taken last night at 9pm!

My money was on the Pipit

Meadow Pipit giving a Cuckoo more than he expected

I think that these are reasonably common, but it is the first time that we have recorded one in the garden.

Out at Yelland again today and some more of the Reed Warblers.

 
Reed Warbler

14:15 on 22 May 2020 Flying east, high over Mardon Down, near Moretonhampstead 

Rock Pipits all busy feeding young. 

Rock Pipit

Today and yesterday good numbers of various seabirds were heading up and down channel in the strong SW wind. Lunch time off the Pier nice to watch a dark phase Arctic Skua tagging along with a team of Manx Shearwaters. Not many gulls around but finally since about 2016 I actually managed to get the metal bto number of this Herring Gull, taken through my car windscreen.  

Gotcha !                                      Rock Pipit with beak full of Sea Slaters

No lockdown for the birds of Yarner, parent birds working very hard to feed their expectant young.

Male feeding Female by their nest box. incubating at the moment.      Great Spot feeding young.

07:34 - 10:36

Highlights: Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Buzzard x 3, Adder

Nuthatch                              Meadow Pipit                                    Adder

Found these feathers on Teignmouth beach. The primary feathers are about 10 inches in length. Could anybody identify them please.

Eds: looks like female pheasant tertial feathers.

First time visit to Yarner Woods this morning. Plenty of Flycatchers and Redstarts, also Tawny Owl, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and managed to startle a Nightjar sat on a fence post at 08:45am, which abruptly flew  off and down into the bracken and disappeared from view.

Pied Flycatcher (male)                Pied Flycatcher (female)                                 Redstart

14:15 on 22 May 2020 Flying east, high over Mardon Down, near Moretonhampstead 

Getting a few hawk moths visiting the garden

Lime hawk moth                              Poplar hawk moth                             Privet hawk moth

A fly by yesterday afternoon of a pair of Canada geese.over my Paignton garden. If they hadn't honked would never have known they were there. Never seen Canada's in Paignton before.

Just a few moths last night before the drizzle set in but a couple of nice species including a new species for me - Sand Dart

    
Small Elephant Hawkmoth            Sand Dart                               Cream-spot Tiger

Poor conditions for moths during the night. But the first Lychnis of the season.

Lychnis.                                       A darker individual.

A single Barnacle Goose at Darts farm this morning sharing the field beyond the hide with a flock of Canada Geese

Several (at least 6) Nightjars churning at various points along the bikepath

Pair of Mute Swans with three cygnets by the dam, numerous Canada Geese in area. 14 Shelduck off Maristow, Raven family very noisy near dam, and singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff

2 Cuckoos chasing each other around Headland Warren and one calling from the hawthorn behind the farmhouse. A few Stonechat and meadow Pipits but the windy conditions, completely different to yesterday. A handsome Whinchat at side of road by path to Grimspound.

Cuckoo                                  Cuckoo                                          Whinchat

I found a zebra finch in my garden on May 20th. I didn't know what it was till I googled it.

Swift spotted today entering nest site which they have used for several years in the St Thomas area of Exeter

A seawatch at this morning 0600-0900: 22 Puffins, 64 Manx Shearwaters >S, 9 Common Scoter, 3 sum plum G N Divers >N, 1 Sandwich Tern, 180 Razorbills, 103 Guillemots, 39 Kittiwakes, 6 Dolphin 2 Harbour Porpoise.Black-h Gulls 3 Swift, 4 Common Dolphin & 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Photos distant Puffins..

Plenty of bird activity this morning..among the many species that you would expect here it was good to see lots of of fledglings including goldfinch,stonechat ,linnet,robin,and a cracking family of 4 chiffchaff being feed by the non stop working parents 

On Tuesday19th, I became aware of an unusual bird song in my suburban garden. Initial thoughts were reed or sedge warbler but surely not in my garden. I was unable to get a sighting in the thick hedge but did record the song. I subsequently sent the audio file to Mike Langman who confirmed it was indeed a sedge warbler Thanks Mike..Just goes to show birds can turn up anywhere !