We are back in Lockdown, all sightings posts from observers should only be in their very local area (town, village or part of city). Any posts where the observer is obviously travelling distances to other sites will be deleted, Devon Birds will not edit these posts.
Posted January 6th at 10:52 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
We have been informed that due to storm damage and erosion the dune path that provides access to the bird hide has been closed as it is unsafe. Access from Groyne 10 to Groyne 15 will only be via the beach and is subject to tides.
Posted December 17th, 2020 at 2:31 pm by Mike Daniels 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 August 25th, 2020 at 9:58 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
Sunday 7th June 2020
Couldn't resist the temptation to go look for the Rosy Starlings today. They were easy to find as an small gathering of birdwatchers stayed with them all day long in Eyewell Green. The male seemed to favour a holly tree in the middle of the terrace but the female seemed a bit more mobile. They both visited bird tables at either end of the street along with about a dozen Common Starlings.

Rosy Starling m. in holly
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 11:01 pm by Chris Marcol in Bird News
Lots of warbler activity on Braunton Marsh today.
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 9:19 pm by Andy Leat in Bird News
A pair of these colourful starlings has been seen on Sat 6th & Sun 7th June 2020. Male is singing from rooftops in Eyewell Green.


Posted June 7th, 2020 at 8:59 pm by Viv Keene in Bird News
Flock of 14 Crossbills flew over this morning
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 6:22 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
A short walk from Yelland to Instow and I first heard and then saw a Sedge Warbler near the Jetty.

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 5:32 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
At 12.20hrs today a Red Kite low over the A38 at Ashburton headed west, a male Sparrow hawk at Buckfastleigh.
Around the garden back home at South Brent young Greenfinch on the feed station, three sightings of Green Woodpecker and a fly past from A GSWP.
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 4:02 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News

A Willow Warbler carrying food to a nest site was good to see, plus a few other birds of the Pebblebed Heathlands.
Perhaps I may be excused for showing the new bench in memory of the late David Jannaway that was crafted and erected by Clinton Devon Estate staff this week. It replaces the log seat that had fallen into disrepair. David died in February 2015 and was a most loved Branch Committee member who will be remembered by many. Our thanks to Clinton Devon Estate for their wonderful tribute. The seat is a stones throw from the Aylesbeare Common reserve car park on Hawkerland.
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 3:56 pm by Jonathan Ruscoe in Bird News
The 'mystery' moth I posted on may 17th was identified, thanks to Devon Moth Group, as Aethes deaurana, a species from southern Europe. This is the first Devon record and only the third for Britain. The first two were found in Weymouth and there has just been another found there suggesting possible colonisation.

Aethes deaurana. First Devon record.
Posted June 7th, 2020 at 9:07 am by Peter Leigh in Bird News
Saturday 6th June 2020
This afternoon the female Pintail still present on the pond.

Female Pintail

Female Pintail

Female Pintail
Posted June 6th, 2020 at 8:07 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Pretty quiet today but saw a dozen Mandarin Ducks, at least 2 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Stock Doves & 5 Roe Deer.
Posted June 6th, 2020 at 5:41 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
A single Purple Sandpiper, in summer plumage, on the rocks below the open sea side of the pier this afternoon.

Purple Sandpiper
Posted June 6th, 2020 at 4:25 pm by Steven O'Donoghue in Bird News
late post from yesterday afternoon: Very confiding flock of 20 Sanderling (many in smart breeding plumage) and 7 Dunlin foraging amongst the seaweed along the strandline.
Posted June 6th, 2020 at 12:05 pm by Andy Smith in Bird News
around 70 ringneck parakeet at 630 am including grey one.lots of juveniles calling
Posted June 6th, 2020 at 9:24 am by barry insull in Bird News
Friday 5th June 2020
2 Sandwich Terns was somewhat unexpected; also a pair of Shelducks with 7 small ducklings, juv Stonechat, 2 Bullfinches & 8 Roe Deer including 2 small fawns.
Yesterday, a pair of Green Woodpeckers & c40 House Martins.
Posted June 5th, 2020 at 8:58 am by Pete Aley in Bird News
Thursday 4th June 2020
Posted June 4th, 2020 at 6:07 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Pete Stevens counted 51 Mediterranean Gulls on Slapton Beach today mostly fs and ss plumage.
Posted June 4th, 2020 at 4:00 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
Morning walk along the lower slopes of Sheepstor just above theBurrator treeline produced 3 singing male Redstarts, one Blackcap, many Siskins, 2 Gt. Spotted Woodpeckers, one Green Woodpecker, one immature Peregrine, three Ravens, Jay, Stock Dove and one Chimney Sweeper Moth
Posted June 4th, 2020 at 3:36 pm by roger smaldon in Bird News
Wednesday 3rd June 2020
Red-crested Pochard (female) is back with 10 drake Mandarin Ducks. Also 6+ Stock Doves, Green Woodpecker, Shag, Nuthatches feeding young, Shag & at least 6 Roe Deer.
Posted June 3rd, 2020 at 3:54 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
The first tentative churring started around 2145 last night, and by 2215 I had seen one briefly and heard five/six along and near the Gruffalo Walk. Nothing of note in the passerine supporting chorus.
Posted June 3rd, 2020 at 1:55 pm by James Camden in Bird News
Walked around Sherpa Marsh this morning - the first day with any rain for ages. Lots of House Martins - 50 or 60, 20+ Swifts, 5 Sand Martins and several Swallows, taking advantage of something. On Wrafton Pond a female Pintail has replaced the drake Tufted Duck from yesterday.

Female Pintail Wrafton Pond.
Posted June 3rd, 2020 at 1:52 pm by jon turner in Bird News
Tuesday 2nd June 2020
Red Kite seen flying along Haytor valley at 11:40. Last seen heading south.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 9:53 pm by George and Les Carr in Bird News
A Marsh Warbler, found by Martin Phillips was singing in the ditch beside the bottom end of Dell Walk but no sign after 09.50 as far as I know.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 6:25 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
We were sat Putsborough side of the Point checking for cetaceans when we saw three Razorbills which were regularly diving for fish. The water was so clear we could see their progress for some metres under water!

Razorbills with one diving for fish

Three razorbills
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 5:45 pm by Phil and Sue Naylor in Bird News
Corringdon Farm, South Brent this morning to check on the nest boxes that I put up in the spring, two had been used and the young fledged and gone, two unused and the fifth contains a clutch of Pied Flycatchers !!!! Seriously chuffed with this result.
Walking through the wood a pair of Spotted Flycatchers landed close by giving good views of the closer bird.
Mistle Thrush and Green Woodpecker calling
At the farm a pair of Grey Wagtail very actively taking food to a nest site.
Over home at South Brent last evening eight Swifts and this morning no less than ten over Chudleigh church.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 4:51 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Highlights were a Kestrel, good numbers of family parties of Linnets, and 2 (or possibly 3) Wheatears.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 4:38 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A couple of, apparently common, micro moths last night. The Alabonia is usually a day-flying moth, sometimes, as in this case, attracted to light. Never seen one before but what a stunning and unusual moth.

Rhodophaea formosa

Alabonia geoffrella
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 4:31 pm by Peter Leigh in Bird News
A couple of nice hawkmoths during an excellent run of moths last night.

Lime Hawkmoth

Eyed Hawkmoth
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 4:24 pm by Peter Leigh in Bird News
A drake Tufted Duck on the pond this morning was a surprise.
In the reserve a singing Whitethroat is the first for a few years. The 2 remaining juvenile Little Grebes seem to be growing apace, presumably being looked after by the male, while the female is off sitting on some new eggs. Do they start a new brood before fledging the first lot?
Also saw a Tawny Owl, a Grey Heron and a very juv Song Thrush.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 1:24 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
12.20
Red Kite over Torbay Hospital. Headed NW being mobbed by three Herring Gulls.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 12:57 pm by Paul Darlington in Bird News
On Sunday - female Goosander with at least two fledglings under her wing. She was protecting them from the strong easterly winds.
Today - First Wheatear fledglings - 3 juvs. Redstart nearby singing.
Third Red Kite of the spring/early summer over the house today (Hemerdon/Plympton).

Female Goosander and fledglings

Wheatear fledgling

Redstart
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 10:48 am by Chris E in Bird News
After a gap of over a year the Badgers have reappeared in our garden.

Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 9:45 am by Martin Overy in Bird News
A butter-side up evening! In position from 9.30 to 10.15pm during which time the churring and wing clapping was more or less constant. Many close views of singles and 2 birds chasing each other. At one point 3 birds in the bins simultaneously one obliging bird that landed on a track-side fence post in good light about 10 metres away. I estimated a minimum of 8 birds within view/earshot at any one time.
Posted June 2nd, 2020 at 8:11 am by Rob Hubble in Bird News
Monday 1st June 2020
3 ringneck parakeet in tree in garden
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 10:08 pm by barry insull in Bird News
Colour ringed Dipper on the Rv Avon at Didworthy near South Brent early this evening, left leg yellow over BTO ring and right leg purple over black.
Also spent an hour watching a pair of Spotted Flycatchers always a bogey bird for me.


A snippet of info from a member of the Plymouth racing pigeon club the remains of one of his racing pigeons that was released from Honiton on Saturday were recovered today from a North Devon nest site just shows how far Peregrines can range when hunting.
EDS: The foraging studies of nesting Peregrine show most large prey is taken within 2 km of the eyrie and few birds are captured beyond 6 km (Hardey 2007). What this instead shows is how many racing pigeons end up lost and off route.
Hardey, J. (2007) Peregrine falcon. ln The Birds of Scotland, ed. Forrester, R.W., Andrews, 1.J.,
Mclnerny, C.J., Murray, R.D., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, 8., Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C., & Grundy, D.S.
The Scottish Ornithologists' Club, Aberlady. pp 511-514
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 9:08 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
3 Willow Tit (one carrying food), 2 Marsh Tit, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Canada Geese plus 7 Gosling,
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cormorant, 1 Jay.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 8:44 pm by Rod Mudge in Bird News
Sparrowhawk over this morning 6 Swifs 3 Goldfinches good numbers of House Sparrows with young.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 8:13 pm by Chris Buckland in Bird News
A singing Reed Warbler, Green Woodpecker & one Rock Pipit this morning.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 7:35 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Crow harassing a Buzzard this morning.



Posted June 1st, 2020 at 7:33 pm by Derek Stacey in Bird News
Finally! Red Kite flying north west directly above Harberton, near Totnes. Beautiful bird.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 3:25 pm by Dan Kent in Bird News
at about 09.30 halfway to the gate on the track by the remains of the old building, a red kite flew in from the warren house area and stayed around for about 15 mins, then i found a cuckoo calling which seemed to be the only bird but kept moving around the area, good sightings, this followed with a whinchat and a reed bunting, and on closing the gate, the kite showed again, this time a lot closer and stayed longer, the plantation didn't show very much, a buzzard flying around and the usual small birds, tits etc, coming back to the car the red kite appeared again in the same area .lets hope he stays around.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 2:40 pm by roger jewell in Bird News
Decorating my utiity room yesterday and this little beauty dropped in, a first for me as I've only ever seen blue ones before and another first as, having had a wildlife pond for ten years, its the first damsel or dragonfly I've seen actually stop. May be a sign of better thing to come?.

Posted June 1st, 2020 at 1:56 pm by Philip L. Fairclough in Bird News
06:49 - 09:25
Snipe drumming; Wooodpecker drumming; good views of Cuckoo; pair of Redstart, Blackcap Skylark, Wren, numerous Stonechat and Meadow Pipit.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 12:53 pm by Paul Bray in Bird News
Red kite seen flying over Exeter at height at around 8:30 this morning
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 10:03 am by Rob Pike in Bird News
Cuckoo calling at 08.55 this morning from Piddledown Common, nr Drewsteignton.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 9:29 am by nick dixon in Bird News
A visit to Yarner yesterday morning gave a Tree Pipit that was singing and displaying well, two GSWP's, Raven and a very confiding Chiffchaff.
Two Cuckoo calling at Emsworthy Mire.
At 23.04hrs last night I heard a Barn owl call at home at South Brent and was just quick enough to see it briefly before it flew over a hedge into the next field.






News snippet from a member of the Ashburton DRG ~ on a recent night time deployment to the Mutters moor area of Sidmouth the teams reported hearing and or seeing up to six Nightjar.
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 9:10 am by Steve Hopper in Bird News
A passing Magpie and the Barn Owl.

Magpie

Barn Owl
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 1:39 am by Martin Bennett in Bird News
A trip to Fremington Pill yesterday morning where a pair of Shelduck with eight ducklings near the sluice. A Wren in bushes along the Pill road. Later a trip to Braunton in the evening. A distant fox seen hunting, a Barn Owl (the same one seen last week with the metal ring) seen hunting and with a rodent in its talons, three Mallards flew over and a Magpie passing.

Wren

Fox

Mallard
Posted June 1st, 2020 at 1:35 am by Martin Bennett in Bird News