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.

change of scenery today away from the moors, down at crowpoint.

surprised to find even more wheatears , dunlin and ring plover, there were several little egrets dispersed here and there. singular kestrel hovering over one of the fieds on the way in.

there also seemed to be many dragon flies, singularly , in doubles triples and even a few quads tangled together.

wheatear on a hot tin roof

Juvenile osprey hunting off Lympstone at low water (noon), not successful and struggled to get airborne.

4 female Wheatear around the site and a juv Dunlin on the wave-cut platform late morning. 

Blaxton Meadow Monday 15:00 – 17:00. 7 Canada Geese, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Greenshanks, 65 Redshanks, 28 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 16 Little Egrets, 12 Oystercatchers, over 150 Black-headed Gulls, 25 plus Herring Gulls,3 Stock Dove, 1 Sandpiper on the river.

From Skern on the high tide there were 36 Knot, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, small numbers of Mediterranean Gull, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Whimbrel. Suddenly all the birds were up from the Instow side and an Osprey was hunting over the Taw beyond Crow Point. It disappeared towards Chivenor.

An afternoon’s excursion, ending up at Blaxton Meadow just before high tide where 2 Kingfishers performed well. Also 7 Greenshanks, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 154 Redshanks, 15 Turnstones, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Stonechats, 3 Roe Deer & a Fox.

No sign of the shrike this afternoon. However, great views of 10+ Yellow Wagtail among the sheep in fields above the point. Also on the cliffs a Clouded Yellow butterfly. 

A late Swift (or maybe 2) and a Grey Heron brightened up lunch

Good to see a Winchat passing through on migration attracted to a family of Stonechats in the scrub. Grayling Butterfly.

Bowling Green Marsh this morning. Knot 5+, Curlew Sand 4, Dunlin 130+, Common Sand 1, Redshank 350+, Greenshank 34, Whimbrel 1. Powderham Corner Osprey in trees By Powderham Tower

Adult Spoonbill on the scrape, pair of Gadwall with the Mallards and Teal .

32 Mediterranean Gulls , mainly adults but 2 second winters and 6 first winters on sandbank on r.Taw between Gaya trust and Chivener .A juvenile 

Marsh Harrier soaring over Braunton Marsh.

Migrants at Moorwell Pond this morning were ,7 Willow Warblers. 15 Chiffchaffs (including a retrapped adult, ringed here on 03/04/2019 ) ,4 Blackcaps ,1 Reed Warbler ;and the Cetti's Warbler ,ringed on the 28th.of July,still present.

Juv. Cetti's Warbler.

Lots of Wheatears at soar on airfield and in most of the fields, Spotted flycatchers in the willows and a few willow warblers, yellow wagtails in the field behind the cafe and a nice whinchat down the bottom. At South Efford several common Sandpipers, 20 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 5 Black-tailed godwits and the usual curlews. Distant views of a kingfisher

Curlew

Common Sandpiper

A hundred or more Oystercatchers on the shoreline. Clearly not all in this image.

Oystercatcher

Back from a week away and very pleased to see a male Kingfisher in the reserve. Also a juvenile Reed Warbler popped up to inspect me as I sat behind the blind. Caught one Swallow this evening. 5 Curlews nearby.

Osprey late afternoon watched from the kayak.

birds seem to be scarce on the ground at the moment, smaller ones i find anyway. Out over kingsford hill and challacombe moor i came across 20+ wheatear in different locations , reed bunting,a singular redstart, flocks of meadow pipits and a few swallows.

wheatear

Around the cliffs overlooking Anstey’s Cove. Mid afternoon.

Three Swift flew over the road.

This morning:  10 Little Egret, 5 Black tailed Godwit, 20 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper on the river Avon, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler.

35+ Yellow Wags along Gore Lane, Orcombe Point, in fields right of lane with cows this afternoon , but difficult to get an accurate count . 1 late Swift overhead 

Male Blackcap in full song this morning.  Initial impression of song suggested something different with long drawn out and varied phrases which did not seem familiar.

Blackcap

Blackcap

A few birds in glorious weather this morning including: Sand Martin, Swift, 5 Stonechats, Whitethroat, 2 Sparrowhawks, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 10+ Stock Doves, Shag & Common Sandpiper. Also 3 Roe Deer.

1 Osprey at 09:15hrs fishing along the River Tamar off Warleigh Point  (as viewed from Ernesettle Creek), watched for around 30 minutes before it eventually caught a fish and flew up the River Tavy and out of sight.

Also 5 GCGrebe on the Tamar (2 juveniles), a Wheatear feeding on seaweed along the foreshore, 2 Dunlin flying upriver and 3 Raven and a Sparrowhawk over.

Along Ernesettle Creek 2 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank with Swallows over and a singing Chiffchaff.

A dawn start to avoid the bank holiday crowds turned up 82 Wheatears, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 2 White Wagtails, 145 Swallows, Swift, 66 Skylarks, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, 2 Little Egrets (rare here), Common Gull & 180 Linnets.

Whinchat, Redstart and at least 23 Wheatear in fields and on the moor near the farm first thing. 

Whinchat

Spotted Redshank still at Fremington Pill Sunday morning 07.00

Walk around the site 11 am to 3 pm pretty quiet but a male Common Scooter fairly close in, nice size flocks of Starlings and  Linnets a good amount of Stone Chats, Ringed Plover and Sanderling also near the hide a Wagtail family that we were unsure poor photo attached but think maybe Citrine Wagtail?

Eds - no photo attached.

Numerous, < 30, Black Tailed Godwit, most in breeding plumage seen on the Taw estuary today between Chivenor and Taw Bridge along with < 80 Redshank We also spotted one Knot by the Bradiford Water outfall 

Two Black Tailed Godwit and a Knot

A pleasant walk along the Estuary late afternoon produced juv Ruff 2 Common Sandpiper 15 Curlew 10+ Black Tailed Godwit on the footpath 6+ Wheatear moving through no Osprey seen 

15:11 - 17:15

Highlights:

Curlew (140+); Whimbrel (1); Dunlin; Redshank; Black-tailed Godwit; Greenshank (3); Knot; Ruff (1); Wheatear (1)

One Osprey perched on top of dead wood among fir trees, at the Bere Ferrers end of the railway bridge, flew downriver to Kingsmill lake at 1730, caught a fish and returned to the same perch, harassed by Crows. 

Also, 18 Little egret on the Bere Ferrers side of the Tavy.

Swift seen by Janet over Chelston, yesterday lunchtime

This afternoon: 2 Whinchats, Reed Warbler, adult Mediterranean Gull & a Roe Deer.

Juvenile woodchat shrike on the bramble in the farm fields above seasons point seen from the top coast path 

Two Osprey's at Warleigh Point, 0930hrs at low water they came from Lopwell dam area. They began fishing just above the railway bridge up from Warleigh but soon came down opposite us as lots of Crows and Gulls where harrying them, had wonderful views of one diving and catching a very big mullet.

Equal apologies for this late post but I saw a single Swift at lunchtime on 28.08.20. This bird seemed to have the right idea and was heading west!

A walk this morning at low tide produced 1or 2 Dippers, 3 redhead Goosanders, 4 Common Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail, 10 Mandarin Ducks, 3 Kingfishers & 2 Wheatears.

Apologies for late post. 1 x Swift over Maynards School, Spicer Road around 18:30 Friday 28/8/20

Two Whinchat (migrant, don't breed here) at Trowlesworthy with Stonechats. Seen along footpath to farm in bracken and vegetation. Two juv Green Woodpecker also around. 

Observed a Swift at 9am this morning flying north over the house in Teignmouth. Surprised it was so late in the month and that it appeared to be flying the wrong direction!

Disappointing sea watch between 7.30 and 8.30 am with not too much activity.. 30 to 40 gannets spotted along way out to the south. A redstart showed well on the cliff top but not well enough to take a decent photo

Dodged some very heavy showers at Blaxton Meadow to see: Kingfisher, ad Mediterranean Gull, 5 Greenshanks, 9 Oystercatchers & 2 Dunlins. Also a juv Turnstone in the lower estuary.

2 Spoonbill drifted south over Berry Head early afternoon one showing obvious black tips to the primaries (imm) the other perhaps showing just a little black but the primaries looked all white in reality - so I guess the Exe Estuary birds..

A walk on the Braunton Burrows produced a first for us in the UK. Approaching one of the larger of the ponds to the north of J lane we inadvertently flushed a Green Sandpiper from cover near the waters edge. It called as it jinked and climbed with a sort of pweeit repeated often and disappeared to the north. About twenty minutes later we flushed the unfortunate bird (or another?) again, this time at the margins of nothing more than a large puddle. Nothing more than a grainy image, which I won't bother uploading, as it flew off but the white rump & dark tail edge are clearly visible. As per Collins...first impression was of a large house martin.

A brief early morning fruitless search for Dotterel around the airfield but did turn up 2 Green Sandpipers, the first sightings since 2016. Also 250 Herring Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Wheatear & 500 Linnet.

Spotted Flycatcher briefly feeding in Park at 7pm Wednesday 26th. Flew off towards allotments over the river. Apology for late post and poor cropped photo. 

Early evening walk along the seafront was a real treat with 6 Oystercatchers, 15 Turnstones (not so easy to count as they were well spread out), a Little Egret, a Shag, Great Black Gull, many Black Headed Gulls, a pair of Sandwich Terns (adult with juvenile) and a feeding frenzy of 4 or 5 Gannets continually diving not far offshore. 

14:08 - 17:00

Spoonbill (2) (flew west at 16:10); Scaup (2); Wigeon; Teal; Mallard; Gadwall; Shoveler; Curlew; Dunlin (50+); Knot (3); Common Sandpiper; Swallow; Sand Martin; House Martin; Buzzard; Redshank; Jackdaw; Moorhen; Grey Heron; Little Egret; Black-headed Gull; Cormorant; Lapwing; Magpie; 

Seawatch 12:00-14:30 before brief violent storm (wind switching through SE 40mph to N 70 mph briefly) came through when watching impossible for a while! Left 15:30 as wind N and sunny but still many birds tracking N into the wind into Lyme Bay, normal passage direction is S.

2 Sooty Shearwaters (12:15 & 13:34), 3 Balearic Shearwaters (only! This is the time of peak in a normal year, but we seem to have had that in early July!), 829 Manx Shearwaters (many very close, including unidentified bird that got pulse racing), Bonxie, 6 Arctic Terns, 12 Common Terns, 20+ 'commic' Terns, 4 Sandwich Terns, 5 European Storm-petrels, 90+ Kittiwakes (good no's of juvs), also good passage of Gannets and Fulmars.

Great Egret just to the west of Fremington in fields just by the estuary path. Snow Goose amongst big flock of Canada Geese in fields near Tarka Trail, along the estuary path. 

Barnstaple on Yeo River this morning down towards the Cricket Club!

Seen wednesday 26/8/20 at turf lock exminster marshes

Snow Goose

A Spoonbill, some Mallard and a few Geese.

Spoonbill

Black Hole Marsh, Little Egret 3, Black Tailed Godwit 20+, redshank 20+, Oyster Catcher 10+, Ringed Plover 11, Dunlin 21, Green Sandpiper 2, Ruff 1, Shellduck 4 juveniles.

A Peregrine came in low over the water and tried to take one of the Green Sandpipers, I have never seen this type of hunting behaviour before, the falcon barely inches above the water, the Sandpiper dived under the water and the peregrine flew through the resultant splash.

My 3rd attempt to post this shot of a Great White Egret

Eds: photos must be reduced in size to be posted there are detailed instructions given when you post.

Any picture file over 1mb  will fail to upload.

Saltpill Duck Pond , Great White Egret.

15:15 - 17:46

Two Spoonbill and a Scaup were the highlights.

Only one Spoonbill showing this morning at BGM and three Greenshank at Goosemoor

Spoonbill

Greenshank

Highlights of a trip to the Exe today included a single cattle egret at Cockwood (in field opposite the Cockwood steps), a common scoter in the estuary off the Warren, an osprey fishing near Cockwood, 5 wheatears on the Warren with another at Cockwood.

4Wheatear,numerous Linnets,Goldfinch and a few meadow Pipits.Large amounts of waders including Knot,Ringed Plover,Curlew,Dunlin.Turnstones,and 4 young Sandwich Terns.

Knot.

Dunlin.

Spotted Redshank

Spoonbill at Home Farm Marsh . Great White Egret at Saltpill Duck Pond & a Spotted Redshank in Fremington Pill 

Heavy crop

A multi-stop day (with bins. only) produced:

- from the sea-wall, 2 Manx Shearwaters and a steady stream of Gannets, Kittewakes and Sandwich Terns;

- from Starcross, a Med. Gull and the first G-C Grebe of the Autumn in the estuary, 200+ Turnstones roosting on the breakwater, and many more Sandwich Terns, making probably 100+ for the day;

- no Cattle Egrets at Matford/Countesswear, but instead a Yellow Wagtail with the sheep in the Alphinbrook flood channel.

Going back a few days, there was a fresh brood of 5 Mallard ducklings in the Trews Weir flood channel. I thought they would stand little chance, and next day, for the first time, counted the gulls loafing around: total 1100+, 39:1 Herring to LBB, and, unsurprisingly, no ducklings. With others in the city, 1500+ reported from the lower estuary and usually 500+ at Budleigh, is the East Devon Herring Gull meta-population of national importance? New conservation designation needed?

7 Turnstones on seafront in late afternoon.

Sea watching from the cliff coastal path near the Sewage works this afternoon (1.45pm - 3.45pm). 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Great Shearwater, 3 European Storm Petrel, 5 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua, but best of all a Leach's Storm Petrel Supporting cast of Fulmar, Gannet and Kittiwake. Strangely, no other Shearwater species.

A lone seawatch from the headland so I will have missed many birds.  Counted 397 Manx shearwater, 4 Balearic shearwater, 28 sooty shearwater all but one early bird in a brief passage between around 10:0 to 10:30 ish, 3 storm petrel, 38 northern fulmar and 198 gannet.  All moving South.  In addition a small flock of c40 dunlin passed south.

Berryhead 6.00-15.30   Many Observers

Fea's/Desertas Petrel  8.30-8.35  ,Great Shearwater 2, Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater 7, Manx 500+, Storm Petrel 11+ many lingering, Arctic Skua 5, Common Tern 20. Arctic tern 4, Sandwich 12, Whimbrel 4. Tuna fish leaping ,Ocean Sunfish and 15+ Common Dolphin

2 Storm Petrel's off Boat Cove at 6.30pm

Didn't stay for the whole morning or day so have not post the bird species totals but did see this fantastic Fea's/Desertas Petrel drift by. 

   
                 Fea's/Desertas Petrel Berry Head 25 Aug 2020

Highlights around Budleigh today were at least 3 Storm Petrels off the seafront (2+ am and 1 this afternoon). Also a juvenile Wood Sandpiper on the main scrape N of Lime Kiln car park early evening.

A Little Egret in our small garden pond this afternoon. Possibly disorientated by the strong winds here at Dunkeswell.

Juvenile Caspian Gull off Mudbank today. Also Osprey off there at 1410 and again later on. A Great Skua rested briefly on Maer Rocks early am. Photos and further sightings on my blog - www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk

Starting at Velator Quay we walked along the bank to Horsey and back. Views of Sherpa Marsh produced Canada Geese X <40 and 5 Black Tailed Godwit.  Apart from all the BHG's and many Little Egret, of interest were a pair of Peregrine falcon harassing <20 Dunlin a 3 x Ringed Plover We also saw either two, or one twice, Kingfisher (male) fishing successfully in the now tidal stretch of the old Caen River bed. We also saw 4 Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew. The unexpected sight of three migrating Swift was a treat. Many juve & adult Barn Swallow were feeding over the fields. A good productive walk.

One of three Common Swift

Sea watch between 08.00 and 15.00 hours today produced 612 Manx Shearwaters with only 4 Balearic Shearwaters amongst them. 2 Skuas - probably Arctic, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Swift, 4 Common Scoter, c 60 Kittiwake, c 6 Harbour Porpoise and c 20 Common Dolphins.   

The Dutch ringed Turnstone, Z010032, was back this afternoon. This bird was originally reported at this location in a post by Steve Hopper in December 2014 and it has wintered there every year since.

The bird was ringed in The Netherlands in August 2013 and identified by the ringer as a juvenile.

Another good number of species this morning over high tide. Of interest 16 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling c750 mixed flock Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 1 Little Tern and 6 Sandwich Tern

Viewed close to the canal towpath just on Countess Weir side of M5 road over bridge. Birds very close to grazing cattle livestock initially thought a mixed group with Little Egrets (2 of which had been seen earlier close to the A379 road and 4 more later found in Exminster Marsh fields on the village side of M5) but legs on the 6 were yellow aswell as beak and a short neck and in flight were pure white as short flying was seen. Time 1900ish. Weather sun with wind.

A record shot of the Great Egret on Fremington Saltpill at 07:30 this morning.

A trip to the area to see if I could capture a glimpse of an osprey for the first time in three years.  A kingfisher darting up and over us drew our attention to the sky and there drifting over us was a red kite only my second encounter with one.  A few hours later an osprey came flying down the Tavy towards the Tamar.  The previous night in the same area, we had watched a hobby hunting insects.  

Red Kite

Osprey

The Melodious Warbler showed extremely well in the brambles, just north of the new flood defence, adjacent to the golf course, between 15.10-15.25.

This morning:

9 Turnstone, 13 Mediterranean gull (11 ad, 2 1st winter) 2 Sandwich tern, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Shag, 1 Fulmar on a flypast, several Gannet off Wembury point, 12+ Rock pipit on seaweed, 11 Swallow, 4 Whitethroat, and 2 Cirl bunting.

Melodious Warbler still showing this morning in same area in thicket behind main pond.  Can't attach picture under new guidelines!

An Osprey on the River Exe viewed from the steps at the River Kenn at 1.56pm, on the dropping tide, caught a fish north of Mudbank Lane and gave a superb flyover back into Powderham Park until lost from view at 2.03pm

Yesterday’s drake Gadwall still on Blaxton Meadow with plenty of waders (over 200 birds including 7 species). A Black-tailed Godwit dropped in after high tide & a flock of 7 Common Sandpipers was lingering on the lower estuary. Also: 6 Greenshanks, 3 Dunlins, 2 Shags, Kingfisher & adult Mediterranean Gull.

Ad Osprey on dead tree. 2 Green Sandpipers on water meadow.

Good WeBS count on the Skern this morning including 5 Knot, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Sanderling, 2 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Tern and a Peregrine.

Osprey sighted in the Shaugh Lakes area being harrased by Ravens at 10:00, flew north towards Burrator. Other birds same area, Kestrels (2), Buzzards, Wheatears (4), Green Woodpecker, Stonechats, Sand Martins, Swallows, Meadow Pipets.

Driving home today around the Braunton Great Field we were surprised to see this Great White Egret fishing in the dike just along from the thatched Linnay.  Saw it catch two fish before it was disturbed by a long line of cars on the unofficial Braunton bypass.  

Great White Egret

Back on the patch after a few day’s elsewhere & surprised to see a drake Gadwall (on Blaxton Meadow), a rare bird here & usually associated with freezing conditions. Also, 6 Turnstones (5 ad-s & juv), 6 Greenshanks, Dunlin, 7 Oystercatchers, 2+ Common Sandpipers & 2 Shags.

Imm. Marsh Harrier quartering reserve , Kestrel sheltering in Barn Owl box , 

on the scrape , Ad. Spoonbill , 12 Little Egrets , 9 Greenshank , 20+ Redshank, 11 Black tailed Godwits and 60+ Curlews.   On return cycle 6 Turnstones at Instow.

Goosanders at Cadover Bridge

Goosanders

The male sparrowhawk that regularly visits our garden around the feeders has become aware of a second brood of swallows in the garage roof space. It has now taken to sitting inside the garage presumably waiting for an incoming parent rather than directly predating the nest which is tucked away high up? Its virtually invisible when in there and although I have disturbed it a number of times, the frequency of visit appears to be increasing and I think it can only be a matter of time before a successful strike!