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 yesterday at 10:45 am by Mike Daniels in Bird News
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
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
Friday 14th August 2020
A Cattle Egret was perched on a post on the western shore this evening, before flying off towards the Higher Ley.
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 10:23 pm by Paul Roberts in Bird News
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 9:28 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
Early evening from Island Hide - Little Stint , Wood Sand, Ruff, Greenshank , 4 Common Sands, 6 Ringed Plover and 37 Dunlin
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 6:42 pm by Mark Bailey in Bird News
Following on from Mike's earlier Torbay post, a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were with the Turnstones today on the rocks in front of Marine Parade.


Ringed Plover Dunlin
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 5:27 pm by Steven O'Donoghue in Bird News
Ringed Plover 13, and oystercatcher 70-80 roosting over tide. Plus whimbrel, common sandpiper, and 2 wheatear.
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 3:58 pm by Robert Massey in Bird News
60+ House Martins gathering on telephone wires outside my window in Colaton Raleigh this morning. Good numbers of juveniles amongst the flock. First gathering of Martins this Autumn for me.


Some of the 60+ House Martins Two Swallows with the Martin flock
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 2:14 pm by Derek Carter in Bird News
A sweep of the southern beaches on this mornings low tide produced:
Broadsands Beach: 4 Ringed Plovers & 1 ad Mediterranean Gull
Paignton: 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Wheatear and 220 Starlings
Yesterday evening at Goodrington Beach 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull
Posted August 14th, 2020 at 9:07 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Thursday 13th August 2020
High tide at Langdon Beach. Small flock of around 20 Dunlin. Also of note were a group of 4 Ringed Plover near the pipe, don’t think I’ve seen them there before.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 9:14 pm by Matt Clark in Bird News
Venn Ottery Common produced little of interest other than families of Stonechat and Willow Warblers and a Gt spotted Woodpecker but further afield the countryside was more productive. 1 Green Sandpiper (below), 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Siskin, 2 Nuthatch and others were present in an area that is not open to the public. A bat was flying in a shady woodland glade.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 8:04 pm by Jonathan Ruscoe in Bird News
Always encouraging to hear a Tawny Owl, as I did when trying (and actually catching 2) to catch Swallows the other evening. Even better to see one in daylight as I did this morning, it flew off at my approach but a short while later flew out and over the pond then up over the Willow trees, which must be 40 feet high by now. Being chased off by a couple of small birds - not sure if it had caught one as it was a pretty short sighting. A large foraging party of Tits roving around - mostly juvenile Blue Tits. Also saw the first Squirrel for a very long time....
News of foreign recovery.
Reed Warbler S201706 ringed as a 3J (so hatched that year) at Velator in July 2016 and retrapped in Cordoba Spain in July 2019. I've been to Cordoba in August - it gets really hot there in the summer. Reed Warbler numbers have been falling over the years - perhaps they all prefer a hotter climate.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 5:21 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Baggy point today unusually produced no cetacean sightings for us but there was a regular passage South to North of Gannet including a few juveniles. Also seen at extreme distance going the same way were three Shearwater though what species I couldn't say. At least two pairs of Fulmar seen soaring about, 2 GBB gull, 17 Cormorant and various other usual gulls. Passerines were all the usual culprits: Stonechat, Linnet, Goldfinch, Wren, Meadow Pippet and Whitethroat.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 5:00 pm by Phil and Sue Naylor in Bird News
Misty conditions probably failed to produce an expected arrival of migrants: 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Dunlin overhead. Other wildlife included 20-30 Common Dolphin, 5 Harbour Porpoise and 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 4:41 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
11:21 - 13:42
A curtailed visit due to the heat.
Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Sandwich Tern, Turnstone (2) were the highlights.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 4:20 pm by Paul Bray in Bird News
A few birds appeared after the mist eventually cleared: Pied Flycatcher, 2 Sedge, 2 Reed & 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears & 8 Whitethroats. Also a few Clouded Yellows about.
South Efford Marsh: Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlins, 3 Greenshanks & 2 Common Sandpipers.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 3:49 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
A Red Kite flew over the road heading SW.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 3:20 pm by Martin Unwin in Bird News
High tide at Langdon Beach. Small flock of around 20 Dunlin. Also of note were a group of 4 Ringed Plover near the pipe, don’t think I’ve seen them there before.
Posted August 13th, 2020 at 2:58 pm by Matt Clark in Bird News
Herring Gull presently at Greendale farm shop near Exeter with the gull flock in the animal pens bearing a white ring marked S=Y.
Back home at South Brent the would be Italian Sparrow back on the feeders at lunch time and relaxed enough to allow me to catch it on camera for the first time since it has been coming back into feed.

Posted August 13th, 2020 at 1:32 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Wednesday 12th August 2020
1 female seen intermittently 20.55 - 21.15.
Posted August 12th, 2020 at 9:52 pm by John Walton in Bird News
Seen between 1030 & 1145 , LITTLE STINT (juvenile) feeding amongst small flock of Dunlin, plus a Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper & Ruff
Photos by Derek Carter


Posted August 12th, 2020 at 4:52 pm by Rupert Ormerod in Bird News
4 each of Common Sandpipers & Greenshanks, 2 Mandarin Ducks, ad Mediterranean Gull (no rings), 4 Stonechats & 2 Whitethroats.
Earlier, male & female Peregrines over my garden (Mount Gould, Plymouth).
Posted August 12th, 2020 at 4:00 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Tuesday 11th August 2020
Osprey perched in Ilton Woods tonight ( distant across estuary from Charleton Bird Hide )
Posted August 11th, 2020 at 8:52 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
Posted August 11th, 2020 at 8:04 pm by barry in Bird News
Ten Mandarins, a family of Great Crested Grebes and multiple sightings of Kingfishers today were eclipsed (for me) by 2 separate male Lesser Emperors, 1 over the main lake and 1 (photograph) at one of the sedimentation ponds. The latter was found during a systematic survey of the no-go areas created last year. There were also lots of Small Red-eyed Damselflies mating and egg-laying on the main lake, plus Long-winged Coneheads (a bush-cricket) near the hide, at least one Clouded Yellow, Brimstone and a few Silver-washed Fritillaries.

Posted August 11th, 2020 at 6:54 pm by Dave Smallshire in Bird News
A juv Peregrine buzzing the gulls & waders on Blaxton Meadow, ad Mediterranean Gull (yellow ring on left leg but I couldn't read number), 149 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 5 Oystercatchers, 38 Curlews, 5 Stonechats (family party), Green Woodpecker, leucistic Goldfinch & 3 Roe Deer.
Yestersay in the Cattewater - Kingfisher & 2 Common Sandpipers.
Posted August 11th, 2020 at 4:41 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Migrants included Swift, 7 Tree Pipit on Bolt Head, 3 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat & Willow Warbler. Also: 450 Herring Gull, 130 Rook, Jay, 40 Jackdaw & 20 Stonechat.
Non-avian: First site record of 3 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on Starehole Ponds. Also 4 Emperors & Common Blue Damselfly. Clouded Yellow.
Posted August 11th, 2020 at 12:25 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
8 Med gulls incl 2 juvs, 1 Sandwich tern, first 2 common sands of the autumn, 2 redshank.
Posted August 11th, 2020 at 11:27 am by Richard Archer in Bird News
Monday 10th August 2020
Cattle Egret present this afternoon with the cows south of the reserve. Also present this evening until about 20.00.
Posted August 10th, 2020 at 10:05 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
High numbers of migrating swifts over the camping fields on saturday 8 and sunday 9 August. Many groups of between 50 to 160 birds heading south, some incredibly high screaming parties, others feeding low over the fields. A single swift over Drewsteignton last night on our return, possibly an adult with late young in a nest we are unaware of.
Posted August 10th, 2020 at 10:22 am by Nick Dixon in Bird News
Sunday 9th August 2020
Cattle Egret again this evening NW of the reserve with cattle! 19.00 hrs



Cattle Egret
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 10:32 pm by Martin Bond in Bird News
Wheatear at the Turf, same location as last year, over 200 Starlings, 8 - 10 Swallows,, House Martins at altitude, 12 - 15 Pied Wagtails, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Rock Pipits. Oystercatchers, Curlew, 3 Mute Swans, several Shelduck, Rooks and a few hundred Black-headed Gulls on the estuary itself.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 7:52 pm by Stephen Huggins in Bird News
The boat trip from Brixham out into Lyme Bay aboard Kelly's Hero was at first a bit slow and not many birds about. The second half of our journey was much more productive. Birds seen 40+ Manx and 2 Balearic Shearwater, a Sanderling, 22 Kittiwake, 90+ Guillemots in small groups, 4 Fulmar, 1 Bonxie, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls. 3 Porpoise and some Common Dolphin in the distance.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 7:21 pm by Nigel Smallbones in Bird News
Yesterday afternoon and this afternoon had views of single Swifts passing over my house in Barnstaple on their way south and yesterday whilst at my field near Codden Hill a Hobby flew over also heading south.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 4:46 pm by Robert Morgan in Bird News
2 Hobby circling over Coastguard cottages.. 6 Clouded Yellows in the Warren
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 1:35 pm by Roger White in Bird News
Dunlin at the Pill this morning.

Posted August 9th, 2020 at 1:26 pm by Dave Paterson in Bird News
A cracking morning on the patch with a juv Marsh Harrier which flew over low west then drifted higher towards Laira Bridge before disappearing. Probably the first record for the site. Then, 3 Green Sandpipers on Blaxton Meadow for a few minutes before flying off towards the narrow river: my first here for many years. Also, Kingfisher, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Greenshanks, adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 Stonechats & a Roe Deer.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 12:58 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
From the kayak - 14 Greenshank & Common Sandpiper.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 12:28 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
First noc-mig recording of the 'autumn' overnight Friday/Saturday. Recorded a Yellow Wagtail calling as it flew over at 05:22.
Posted August 9th, 2020 at 10:15 am by Chris E in Bird News
Saturday 8th August 2020
Thanks to Andy for posting my message re the Cattle Egret, which I didn't see again. I was there to catch Swallows, but none obliged tonight. At 20.52 all the Gulls in the surrounding field, which had been feeding happily, suddenly took off and made a right din. I looked out at the scrape and the Spoonbill circled few times and then landed. Often wondered what sort of time it turned up.
Posted August 8th, 2020 at 10:20 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Just rec'd message from John Turner, Cattle Egret south of reserve !9:40h.
Posted August 8th, 2020 at 7:44 pm by Andrew Lansdell in Bird News
Great Crested Grebe Feeding Two Of The Four Youngsters, On The Parents Back This Morning.

Posted August 8th, 2020 at 3:28 pm by patrick hawkins in Bird News
A different juv Yellow-legged Gull to yesterday’s on Blaxton Meadow. Also, 2 juv Peregrines, Whinchat, 5 Stonechats, 16 Little Egrets, 2 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Shag, 38 Curlews & 5+ Clouded Yellows.
Posted August 8th, 2020 at 1:03 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News