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
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
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Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Saturday 22nd August 2020
Cadover Bridge this morning, 2 Goosander, many Sandmartins, Grey Wagtails, Meadow Pipits,Stonechats, Mallards and a solitary Raven, Yesterday there were 6 on the river before the crowds arrived.
Posted August 22nd, 2020 at 12:02 am by Bob Barrow & in Bird News
Friday 21st August 2020
As disappointing as most of the south coast today, despite the strong winds, presumably due to too clear conditions: 31 Balearic, 163 Manx & 3 (probably more in distance) large Shearwater sp; Bonxie, 7 Arctic & 3 Skua sp; 13 Common, 4 Arctic, 4 Sandwich & 11 Commic Terns; 3 Storm Petrels; ad Mediterranean Gull; 4 Whimbrels; 8 Common Dolphins & 3 Harbour Porpoises.
Tawny Owl calling as I arrived.
Posted August 21st, 2020 at 9:24 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Sightings for Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
3 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 34 Mallard, 5 Coot, 2m Tufted Duck, 25 Blue Tit, 7 Coal Tit, 4 Great Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Robin, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Chaffinch.
Posted August 21st, 2020 at 8:16 pm by Rod Mudge in Bird News
Good views of a red throated diver just a few metres offshore.. At one stage almost washed onto beach by surf. It recovered and swam out and continued fishing and appeared to be ok.
Posted August 21st, 2020 at 4:44 pm by Patrick Case in Bird News
20th Aug 2020, Little Stint at Blackhole Marsh. Please keep board walk hide as is. It is much more user friendly without the dividing panel, put windows back in when appropriate of course.

Staying together is the art of survival!!!!!

Relax once more
Posted August 21st, 2020 at 2:56 pm by Barry Rankine in Bird News
Thursday 20th August 2020
Good views for sometime today of the melodious warbler, as you can see in the picture it has a damaged eye but still managing to feed, go to my blog for this and other stuff http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp

Melodious Warbler
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 7:52 pm by simon Thurgood in Bird News
The Little Stint still around in a flock of 40+ Dunlins; also Peregrine, Kingfisher & 3 Common Sandpipers.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 7:39 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Lots of waders close up on high tide seaweed incl 5+ sanderling, 10+ dunlin, 10+ turnstone and 4+ ringed plover plus 3+ Med gulls and 50+ black-headed gulls. Lovely to see the beach being used by birds.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 7:36 pm by Richard Archer in Bird News
In the pouring rain: 2 Spoonbills, Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpiper & 3 Whimbrels among larger numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Dunlins & Curlews.
In the evening, 2 Swifts over Colyton.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 7:36 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Migrants at Moorwell Pond this morning were,8 Willow Warblers,9 Chiffchaffs. 1 Blackcap ,1 GardenWarbler. 1Sedge Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 4:27 pm by Alan K. Searle in Bird News
Bowling Green Marsh today 2 Spoonbill, Green Sand, 2 Common Sand, 3 Knot, 650 Blackwit, 1 Barwit, 285 Curlew, 11 Whimbrel, 420 Redshank, 14 Greenshank, 150 Dunlin & 7 Swift.
Riverside Country Park nothing of real note.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 3:54 pm by Steve Cox in Bird News
Morning walk to Turf. 3 yellow wagtails, all juvs. in a field next to Station Road. An osprey caught a grey mullet off the Turf. Otherwise quiet.


Posted August 20th, 2020 at 2:31 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
In the river at Velator on arrival 2 Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher. In the reserve another KIngfisher, and 7 Moorhens with the 2 remaining young from the first brood helping with feeding the 3 young from the second brood.
On the way home along the Tarka Trail just North of Caen St School this Beautiful Demoiselle perched long enough to get a shot or two.

Beautiful Demoiselle.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 1:55 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Spoonbill (2), Greenshank (13), Knot (I found 1 but reported to be 3), big numbers of Redshank, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit were the highlights for me this morning.
Please note,face coverings are to be worn in the hide now.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 1:45 pm by Paul Bray in Bird News
On the scrape from Gaya trust hide , Adult Spoonbill , 2 Little Egrets , 4 Shoveler , 3 Teal , 11 Black tailed Godwits , 4 Redshank. Also a report of a Great Egret Seen yesterday on Saltpill pond , I checked but no sign.....
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 12:54 pm by Malcolm Shakespeare in Bird News
Like most birds on migration, Sedge Warblers are scarcer inland than on the coast, or just harder to find, so I was pleased with two at Long-a-Traw, below the Avon Dam, two days ago and another there this morning. These are the first here since 2017, though I suspect annual as they occurred in each of the three years before that. Scarce on Dartmoor, with no records in 2018 and only two in 2019 unless the ringers caught some. Also single brownhead Goosander roosting on the reservoir (out at 0620), two imm Cormorants on the dam parapet and a Pied Fly above Shipley.

Sedge Warbler, Avon Dam, 20 Aug 2020
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 9:52 am by Peter Reay in Bird News
Late entry for yesterday evening, now 15 Turnstones have arrived back.
Posted August 20th, 2020 at 8:39 am by Stephen Huggins in Bird News
Wednesday 19th August 2020
Good year for Grass Snakes in N.Devon & this one a big one measuring over an estimated 4 feet in length.

Posted August 19th, 2020 at 9:45 pm by Rob Jutsum in Other Wildlife
Seawatching 06:00-18:00 day totals (many obs):
2 Great Shearwaters, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 78 Balearic Shearwaters, 688 Manx Shearwaters, imm Pomarine Skua, 12 Arctic Skuas, 1 Pom or Arctic Skua, 4 Bonxie, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, 5 Sandwich Terns,17 Common Scoter, c80 Kittiwake (many juvs), 2 juv Yellow-legged Gulls, Juv Mediterranean Gull, 14 Guillemots, Grey Seal, c10 Harbour Porpoise, c20 Common Dolphin.
Posted August 19th, 2020 at 7:35 pm by Mark Darlaston in Bird News
This afternoon, no sign of the Cattle Egret (the one in the photo - sorry about site info) the Cattle were too far away behind the marsh reed-beds.
On my way home met a friend who had just been at the scrape opposite Wrafton Pond where they had had very good views of the Spoonbill.
Posted August 19th, 2020 at 4:34 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Seawatching 6-10.30am- with ML, MD, DD
2 Great Shearwaters south, 1 at 735am and a closer one at 9am, 38 Balearic Shears, 3 Sandwich terns, Arctic Tern, Common Tern , 2 Bonxies , I juv Y L Gull, 65+ Kittiwakes, 11 Fulmar, 400 Manx Shearwaters, 17 Common Scoter , plus 6+ Common Dolphin, 6-8 Harbour Porpoise.

Awful pics but... Great Shearwater Great Shearwater and Great Skua
Posted August 19th, 2020 at 12:20 pm by Mark Bailey in Bird News
Cattle Egret seen late yesterday (about 7.45p.m) just South of the reserve.
Eds - please state location on posts.

Cattle Egret
Posted August 19th, 2020 at 10:11 am by Jon Turner in Bird News
Tuesday 18th August 2020
A Melodious Warbler found by Will S at lunchtime and still showing well on and off behind visitor centre along back path between golf course and main pond mid evening
Posted August 18th, 2020 at 6:49 pm by Mark Bailey in Bird News
This mornings boat trip from Brixham out into Lyme Bay was very rewarding. Weather was not very kind with a heavy shower of rain but some good birds sighted. At last we had 2 Storm Petrels, 2 Great Skua, Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Fulmar on the water close to the boat, 30+ Manx Shearwater, 1 very dark looking Shearwater(checking ID),4 Common Tern, Kittiwake, Great black-backed gulls, Herring Gulls and a few Guillemots. Also had 50+ Common Dolphin, 1 Porpoise and 2 Grey seals. Next trip 20th September. If interested call Dave on 07970642354.
Posted August 18th, 2020 at 4:47 pm by Nigel Smallbones in Bird News
A modest sprinkling of migrants this morning: single Sandwich Tern, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover & Dunlin; 8 Wheatears, 6 Whitethroats, 8 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps & a pair of Sparrowhawks.
Posted August 18th, 2020 at 1:31 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
A smattering of migrants inc.6 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, Wheatear, 3 Willow Warbler & 2 Whitethroat.
Posted August 18th, 2020 at 12:25 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
As I was passing a gap in the trees looking west, I saw a white bird fly up from Velator harbour and land in amongst the cows. Looking through the bins I could clearly see a Cattle Egret. Closer scrutiny revealed what I think it is a different bird from the one last week, which had a buff patch on it's breast. (see Martin Bond's photo a few days ago) This one is pure white.
Posted August 18th, 2020 at 11:15 am by Jon Turner in Bird News
Monday 17th August 2020
Failed in my attempt to find a reported little gull off Hole's Hole, but amongst the 100's of Black-headed Gulls scattered up and down the river was an adult with a yellow ring, "2PAT".
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 10:40 pm by Chris Marcol in Bird News
The Little Stint was still present at Blackhole Marsh this morning and showing well. Also present Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and plenty of Dunlin.
Photograph taken by Mark Dobinson

Great photo of the Little Stint taken by Mark Dobinson
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 9:59 pm by Derek Carter in Bird News
A rather brief look on tonight’s high tide produced: 3 ad Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Greenshanks, Dunlin, 3 juv Shelducks, 16 Little Egrets & a Mandarin Duck.
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 8:10 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
This stunning moth was sheltering in our summerhouse during heavy rain at lunchtime today.

Red Underwing
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 5:08 pm by Peter Leigh in Other Wildlife
Flew into tree at the back of Ireland Bay at 11am
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 4:18 pm by Graham and Angela Webb in Bird News
Still a lone Wheatear at the Point. 4 Fulmar around. A couple of Gannets way out, and eventually a loose pod of about 8 Dolphins. On the way back down the path we stopped and I had a brief view of about 7 Manx Shearwaters heading North towards the Point (which I couldn't see). What I was really hoping for was a glimpse of the Orcas seen off Stepper Point in Cornwall yesterday…. No such luck.
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 1:56 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Hobby flew from estuary direction and over Powderham estate mid-morning. 3 + Greenshank on tideline.
Posted August 17th, 2020 at 1:50 pm by Mark Brandon in Bird News
1m Common Scoter & 25 Shags most of them juveniles.

Posted August 17th, 2020 at 12:41 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Sunday 16th August 2020
A quiet walk around here today,with very little bird activity at all.there were no meadow pipit's or skylarks, a few stone chat and a few wrens. A single yellow hammer .

Yellow hammer.
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 6:14 pm by Philip worth in Bird News
Addition’s to Alan’s sightings below: juv Yellow-legged Gull, 2 ad Mediterranean Gulls, 4+ Sandwich Terns, Shag, 2 Dunlins, 2 juv Stonechats & a Green Woodpecker.
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 6:13 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
This morning on the Tamar:
32 Black tailed Godwit, some still in summer plumage, with 1 juvenile Knot amongst them. A flock of approx 30 House sparrow in the blackberry bushes, 40+ Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 1 Common sandpiper on the mud.
Afternoon high tide, Plym estuary / Saltram:
146 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 34 Curlew,19 Little Egret, 4 Ring necked Parakeet, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, and 8 Mandarin (7 Juv's, 1 ad) up river towards Sainsbury's.
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 5:24 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
A quiet morning with 2 Swift, 55 Swallow, 2 Wheatear, 7 Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff & 20 Stonechat.
Non-avian: Autumn Lady's Tresses - 124 flower spikes ( cattle moved out of field just in time).
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 2:09 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Popped out this morning to Fremington Pill. Not much around, c50 Redshank, three Dunlin, lots of BH gulls and a Little Egret.

Redshank Three Dunlin Little Egret
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 1:27 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
From the Island Hide, the Little Stint, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and a Snipe along with numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin with a single Turnstone. Also there still a single Sedge Warbler. At around 5:00pm a juv Water Rail emerged from along the northern reed fringe of the scrape. Swallows and Sand Martins hawked over the water.
Posted August 16th, 2020 at 11:26 am by Chris Marcol in Bird News
Nice little fall of migrant birds today: 4 Whinchats, 12 Wheatears, 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Spotted flycatchers 3 Tree Pipits >W and 2 alba Wagtails.
Also at Broadsands: 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Mediterranean Gulls

Posted August 16th, 2020 at 11:25 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Saturday 15th August 2020
Misty conditions produced a few migrants: 1 juv Cuckoo in quarry, 8 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 30+ House Martins, 2 Swifts.
At the seawatch point 2-3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Mediterranean Gulls 50+ Common Dolphins and 5-6 Harbour Porpoise.

Yellow-legged Gull juvenile 1 Yellow-legged Gull juvenile 2
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 8:25 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
08:11 - 10:23
Little Stint (1), Ruff (1), Wood Sandpiper (1) along with many Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover as well as Common Sandpiper. 4 Shelduck present too.
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 7:33 pm by Paul Bray in Bird News
This morning at the lake,
2 Kingfisher 1adult 1juv, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 1m Tufted Duck, 2 Coot, 16 Blue Tit, 9 Coal Tit, 1 Black-headed Gull, 3 Willow Tit, 3 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Great Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 5 Chaffinch, 12 Jackdaw, 1 Canada Goose.
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 7:26 pm by Rod Mudge in Bird News
2 Dunlins new in & Oystercatchers up to 9. Also: 5 Mediterranean Gulls (4 ad + 2nd-s), 3 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, 2 Stock Doves & a Green Woodpecker.
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 7:17 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Adult Mediterranean Gull (un-ringed) & an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with ring “2AU9” which I will submit; both on Blaxton Meadow. Also, 153 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 16 Little Egrets, Common Sandpiper & 2 Roe Deer.
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 7:12 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Pair of Redshanks flew down the Exe and settled briefly in shallows just below the weir at 0720. Then flew back up river. Much calling during flight.
Posted August 15th, 2020 at 7:31 am by Mike Booth in Bird News