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.

Today I popped over to Fremington pill where there were a good number of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, a Little Grebe, two Glossy Ibis, a Spotted Redshank and a couple of Little Egrets.

Black-tailed Godwit

Little Egret

Briefly, late afternoon. Lovely conditions. The two Snow Buntings in the same place on the path at the top of the beach just south of the Memorial car park (despite the Sunday afternoon crowds), a very smart Slavonian Grebe just offshore and then a fabulous performance from the Starlings coming into the Ireland Bay reedbeds.

BGM: First winter Marsh Harrier quartering over the reeds, Snipe, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, a few Pintail amongst the winter ducks. At the platform, Cetti’s and Kingfisher. Goat Walk: around 150 Lapwing and circa 230 Avocet. Exminster Marshes: two 1st winter Marsh Harriers together, great views of two Raven, a Kestrel and a Peregrine, three further sightings of single Marsh Harriers.  Dawlish Warren seafront: lots of Gannets way out, two Great Crested Grebes and two Red Breasted Mergansers.

A walk round this morning produced 3 Siskin, Green Woodpecker, Raven, 17 Ring-necked Parakeets feeding on apples put out for them and a Firecrest by the doctor's surgery.

This morning's rising tide:

5 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk flew over. Grazing in fields overlooking the Tamar was a flock of 450+ Canada geese together with 3 Barnacle geese. Also, 66 Snipe on Ernesettle creek.

Whilst my son and I were working on our plot on Saturday we saw a group of four Goldcrests feeding in the conifers, Blue Tits, male and female pheasants, Rooks, Jackdaws flying over along with a Buzzard and a Red Admiral perched on some logs during a brief sunny interlude.  

13/11/21: 3 Siskins, Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 10 Greenshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Shag & 5 Roe Deer. Little additional on a brief check today, but drake Goosander, 17 Turnstones & 14 Dunlins seen.

Earlier, today, 2 Harbour Porpoises & an adult Mediterranean Gull off Heybrook.

1 GND on sea off Coryton cove yesterday, plus 2 flying past.

Also 6 Common Scoter in flight

Dipper and Meadow Pipit (having a bath!) in the river today. Kingfisher in the reserve, with 2 Water Rail, Treecreeper, lots of Goldfinch - feeding on Teazels and Alder cones - the Tit flock contained Blue, Great and LT Tits as well as a Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 male Bullfinch, a female GSW (nearby) and Chaffinches. Overhead 3 Buzzards - one being harassed by Jackdaws. Speckled Wood butterfly was a surprise.

On Wrafton Pond 3 Wigeon and 2 each of Gadwall and Shoveler.

Two 1st wint Marsh Harriers still on Exminster Marsh this morning. 220 Wigeon, 75+ Teal, 25 Shoveler, 420 Golden Plover & 150+ Lapwing. Also 3 singing Cetti’s Warbler & Water Rail. 

Grey Wagtail in the river, and only 1 Jay in the reserve today along with Treecreeper, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, Kestrel, 4/5 Chiffchaffs (part of a large Tit flock including several Long-tailed Tits). Finches were buzzing around in the warmth, mostly Goldfinches.

First Jack Snipe of the winter and plenty of activity in the orchard.Fieldfares feasting on the fallen apples when not chasing off the Blackbirds who in turn were intimidating the Song Thrush.Marsh Tits on the feeders with Long-tailed Tits and Nuthatch as well as the usuals.A pair of Bullfinch feeding on the damson buds .Elsewhere on the farm 6 Mistle Thrush and flocks of Redwing and more Fieldfare passing through as well as Old Nog waiting on the river bank.Non avian included 4 Red Admirals and 4 Roe Deer.

11.45

A cracking drake Ring-necked Duck in front of the hide. A Black Swan added some colour too! 

Two Glossy Ibis at Fremington Pill today

An afternoon visit produced all of the usual suspects. Of noted 6 Goosander (f), 40+ Pied Wagtail in with the cows and a Firecrest near Longbridge. Very busy.

At least two Hawfinch at Haldon, in usual place by the pylons. Sat in the pines above the Hornbeam trees.  50°39'16.75"N 3°35'54.91"W

Record shot

Went to Thurlestone this morning to see if the Desert Wheatear was still hanging around, unfortunately it hadn't be seen since friday morning. Hundreds of Starling flying around. Headed over to South Huish Marsh to see the Pectoral Sandpiper and Water Pipit. Lots of Meadow and Rock Pipets about, Teal, Wigeon, Egrets, Herons, Snipe, Greenfinches,  

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Excellent views of Pectoral Sandpiper and Water Pipit on the overflow area this morning. No sign of the Desert Wheatear on Leasfoot Beach.

House Martin, now 5, still around at 08.30 this morning

Sadly, no sign of the Hawfinches seen in the churchyard here yesterday. We spent about 40 mins scouring the adjacent area at about 3p.m.

Whilst outside St James school , two flocks containing c25 and c20 redwing flew overhead .

A group of 26 members of Devon Birds gathered for the Plymouth Branch field meeting. The highlight of the day was close views of very confiding Snow Bunting, seen from the beach, feeding on seeds on the edge of the grassy bank and on the shingle. At first we had one stunningly marked male bird who was subsequently joined by a female. In all we had 48 species including Firecrest and Peregrine. Report to follow in club news section.  John Lloyd 

Lots of Redwing around Alphington in Exeter today, and first Fieldfare. Darts Farm, more flocks of Redwing, Brambling, 50+ Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch.

A Red Kite flew over Twitchen in a south easterly direction at 11am.

On Stover Lake this morning were 3 Shoveler (2 males & 1 female), a female Pochard and a Little Grebe.

Most surprising bird was a Curlew. I heard it calling, then saw it fly around the lake a few times before it gained height and flew off.

Several hundred fieldfare and redwing in valley below Ripon Tor (Cold East Cross) actively feeding on berries .Also a Jack Snipe and numerous Blackbirds and Carrion Crows. Single Buzzard and mixed finch flocks.

2 Swallows joined the House Martins still around at 11.15 this morning before flying S.

Good Thrush movement this morning (still going when I left) 07.30-09.30: 9,000+ Redwing, 38 Fieldfare, 11 Brambling, 32 Chaffinch, 1 Grt Spt Woodpecker,1 Curlew, 2 Siskin, 3 Skylark. Around Head: 3 Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest 1 Chiffchaff. 1 Mediterranean Gull ad at sea and 6-7 Harbour Porpoises.

0730-0900. Up to 3 Brambling (1 in quarry vegetation, then flew N at 0735, 1 over at 0830, unsure on direction, 1 perched near wood at 0900 - could be same bird of course). Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Scoter E. Good movement of auks and Kittiwakes. Easily 200+ Redwing over, several Fieldfare too.

Redwing

For the 4th year running Female Black Redstart in Lipson, Plymouth

4 House Martin feeding over the Manor 0815 - 0820 this morning.

Upper Torridge, Bideford Old Bridge to tidal limit:

23 Common Sandpipers

2 Green Sandpipers

10 Mandarin

Amazed to see Severn Hawfinch in and around the trees of the churchyard today, also lots of Siskin flying about

Good views of circa 18 Snow Buntings in the vicinity of the 8th green (!)….

Snow Bunting

Lee’s Foot beach the f.Desert Wheatear showed very well. South Huish marsh the Pec .Sand also showed very well.Slapton middle car park along beach towards Torcross but near car park the 2 Snow Buntings allowed very close approach.

3:45-4:30 pm. 30 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 1 Little egret, Herring gull

Little change today, except for a modest increase in winterers' numbers. 33 Dunlins, 18 Wigeon, 18+ Turnstones, 1+ Common Sandpiper, 10 Greenshanks, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Shelducks, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 5 Mistle Thrushes & 2 Stonechats. 

Another morning of strong visible migration. 869 Chaffinches and at least 25 Bramblings. In contrast to 9th, direction of flight was more varied and some flocks (especially in the clearest conditions early on) were passing so high as to be almost beyond binocular view. Others were beyond visible range but could still be heard at times. Excellent variety included single Swallow (my second-latest patch record) and a flyover Snow Bunting – a quintessential 'summer meets winter' day. Also: 361 Woodpigeon, 5 Stock Dove, 2 Lapwing, 8 Skylark, 74 Starling, 85 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 24 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 alba wagtail, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Linnet, 210 Siskin (a patch record, all E in flocks of up to 30) and 7 Goldfinch.

In the scrub: 4 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 14 Blackbird & 3 Goldcrest. Offshore: 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Gull & 2 Gannet, plus 6 Harbour Porpoise.

A lively morning with Golden Plover, 18 Teal, 1000 Woodpigeon plus 110E, 192 Stock Dove inc.123E, 600 Skylark plus 48E, 4 Redwing, 21 Song Thrush, 38 Blackbird, 52 Robin, 800 Starling, 82 Goldfinch, 17 Yellowhammer, 50 Linnet & 10 Cirl Bunting.

Non-avian: 6 Sika stags & 4 Roe Deer. 

Still 3 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall on Wrafton Pond. In the reserve, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Water Rail and 5 Jays! Lots of Green and Gold Finches. Good numbers of Redwing going over.

A Siberian Chiffchaff caught at this morning's ringing session.

Siberian Chiffchaff . Out of focus but the plumage characteristics are obvious

Single snow bunting feeding on lower coast path around Capstone Hill

Pre work dash to Thurlestone to see Mike's Desert Wheatear. Showed really well between 0815-0840.

Pectoral Sandpiper and Water Pipit still at South Huish Marsh.

Desert Wheatear

1w F Desert Wheatear on Leasfoot Beach Thurlestone same site as the 1W M found on 8 Nov 2016. Use Golf Club visitors car park , make sure you pay for parking a camera records your arrival AND departure- £100 fine levied 

Great morning watching the falling tide at Horsey Island today.

Good flock of Golden Plover/Lapwing being hunted by Peregrine Falcon, unsuccessfully. Closely followed by Female Marsh Harrier hunting over the undergrowth. She caught a small rodent of some sort but was then harassed by the Peregrine until she dropped her catch.

Also, Curlew,Redshank,Kingfisher,Mixed flock of finches and Pipits as well as all the usual estuary residents.

Not much about the cemetery, 6 Redwings, but would not settle due to all the striming going on, 4 Mistle Thrushes, and the usual covids ect.

Wrafton Pond had 1 drake Wigeon, 2 drake Gadwall, and 2 drake plus a female Shoveler. 3 Common Gulls out on the scrape were unusual here. 2 Dippers and a Grey Wagtail in the river. Jay, 2 Water Rails, 40+Goldfinch, in the reserve. Glossy Ibis and Greenshank in Fremington Creek. Female Pintail, and a female Sparrowhawk, which put up 20/30 Skylarks and 3 Fieldfare in the Home Farm area. Grey Plover and several Little Egrets in the main estuary.

Odd place for a Black-headed Gull!

Highlight today, was 2 Firecrests; also, 3 Redwings, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 10 Greenshanks, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, c20 Turnstones, 16 Wigeon & 3 Roe Deer.

2 birds together, one with significantly more white in the plumage, just south of the southern end of the memorial car park which is just south of Slapton Turn. One put up from virtually under my feet on the path whence it joined the 2nd bird on the beach, almost impossible to see in the shingle with the naked eye.

Almost didn't go out first thing as conditions looked unpromising for visible migration, with intermittent drizzly clag and a moderate SW wind. Glad I did, as there turned out to be a massive westbound migration of Chaffinches, with some 5,276 counted in flocks of up to 400 between 07.20 and 08.45. More than I could actually count were passing either very high overhead, further out to sea, or behind me, so my total is certainly an under-count. Didn't manage to get very far along my usual route, but other totals (great majority also flying W) included: 316 Woodpigeon, 1 Skylark, 18 Starling, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 4 Blackbird, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 alba wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, 12 Brambling, 1 Linnet, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 18 Goldfinch and 77 Siskin.

A firecrest found by Janet at lunchtime on the steps down from Howard Close to Gilbert Close. Also long tailed tits, great tits and a wren.

From Berry Head Quarry: Black Redstart on boulders. Visited for cetaceans, wasn't disappointed - 20+ Common Dolphin, 6+ Harbour Porpoise. Also 6 Common Scoter, 900+ Kittiwake in Tor Bay and flying W, and 1ad Med Gull.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart on Peak Hill Road, Sidmouth this afternoon.

Over 20 Snipe feeding on the marsh in front of the hide on the path towards Otterton. 

Photographed on the 5th Northam Burrows

Two spoonbills feeding on incoming tide-fabulous!

Out from Brixham to Berry Head on Kellys Hero Charters - sightings included GBB, LBB, 10 Kittiwakes, Common Gull as well as BH Gull and a single adult Med Gull plus 6 Harbour Porpoise.  Several flocks of Razorbill flying W.  Guillemots and 6 Purple Sandpipers.

Back into Torbay where we had a group of 5 GC Grebes, 14 Common Scoter (immatures/females) - distant so record photo only, 2 GN Divers and 2 Peregrines overhead.  

adult Med Gull

Common Scoter

Fairly quiet before rain stopped play, this morning, but managed: 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Greenshanks, Teal, 16 Wigeon, Goosander, Shag, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w) & a Chiffchaff. 

A pleasant morning for 19 members of DB (East Devon Branch meeting). From the church car park 4 MistleThrush and c60 Linnet were present on power lines.  4 Cattle Egret plus 2 Little Egret were present with cows scoped at a distance with Kingfisher in a ditch.  3 Stonechat present at different locations, plus small numbers of Redwing, Meadow Pipit and Linnet in the hedges. 19 Curlew, 3 Lapwing in the fields and a single Rock Pipit on the wall. On the estuary were 6 Pintail and other ducks and geese and 2 Black Swan. The tide took a while to drop but eventually produced waders including flocks of Avocet, Golden Plover, Dunlin and others. 

A total of 52 species listed. Thanks to Terri Small for leading and Paul Reynolds for keeping the list. 

Walk from harbour to Bath House: Herring Gull, Greater Black-back Gull, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Purple Sandpiper, Rock Pipit, Starlings, Jays, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, House Sparrow.

08:22 - 10:25

32+ Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, Nuthatch were the highlights.

A smidgeon of vis mig from Sharp Tor from dawn inc.7 Brambling W, 3 Fieldfare W, 8 Redwing NE, 34 Skylark W, 75 Jackdaw (5W 70 grounded), 46 Stock Dove (42W 4E) & 760 Woodpigeon (420W, 140E & 200 grounded), Mistle Thrush over & 2 Snipe in rushes.