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.

A willow warbler heard singing within the cemetery in Totnes today. Now that's a first! 

10:15

Russian White-fronted Goose (1) 

09:40 

51 Cattle Egret

Having been allowed to finally visit our family in Swimbridge for a garden tea...we were delighted to see our first Swallow of the Spring overhead. It spent over an hour hawking of the garden. No camera :( 

6 Purple Sandpiper on Cod Rock off Berry Head

1 Great northern Diver

plus: 5 Common Dolphin

Purple Sandpiper, Cod Rock

Common Dolphin, Torbay

Rv Avon, South Brent a pair of Grey Wagtail.

At home a very vocal Green Woodpecker, female Reed Bunting still coming to the feed station and the third Peregrine sighting since the 25th, this time the tiercel, previous sightings were of the falcon. In previous years I usually have only a single sighting each month around home.

A male Ring Necked Duck this afternoon with Tufted Ducks.

A morning visit to Slapton Ley, from the A379 down to Slapton at least 12 Yellow Hammer on the hedge tops.

At Slapton ~  Stock Dove 2, Cetti's Warbler 16 plus, Chiffchaff 5 ~ Wren 2 inc a BTO ringed bird, on the sea a raft of 11 Great Crested Grebe and numerous singles with some 30 on the Ley itself, Heron 4, Little Egret 1, several Great Black Back Gull, Linnet and Goldfinch, not less than 8 Gadwall ducks, 2 female Golden Eye's, Razorbill and Gannet offshore.

My first Swallow of the year with a solitary individual over the Ley and from the Stokeley Hide a Red Necked Grebe and a single Redwing.

Gadwall

Goldeneye

Wryneck on Coast Path west of Leas Foot Sands, Thurlestone.

Further to Chris E report there were still Sand Martins at the bridge late this afternoon.   There was 200+ Golden Plover between Legis Tor and Ringmoor Down.  I think they are settling in Legis Mire.
Further out on the moor around Eastern Tor SX 584 665 there were about 10 Wheatears and the males looked stunning in their breeding plumage.  
Lots of Meadow Pipits & Skylarks who were singing their hearts out.

Swallow, 10 Wheatear (7m,3f), at least 7 Sand Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Linnet, 24 singing Skylark, 17 Meadow Pipit plus the usuals. Also a peacock butterfly. 

Wheatear

Wheatear

Today's walk took me from Fremington to Yelland. Robins, Cetti's Warblers and Blackcaps singing. Saw a few Linnets, a couple of Long tailed tit and a couple of Greenfinches and Goldfinches, Dunnocks and two Stonechats, 

Blackcap

Greenfinch

Garganey still showing on Wrafton Pond. In the trees around the pond a few Chiffchaffs singing and also the delightful lilt of the first Willow Warblers. In the reserve Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing.6 Gadwall flew out. Didn't see either Sand Martin or Swallow anywhere, including over Sherpa Marsh.

Back on the patch on a lovely morning & singles of both Bar- & Black-tailed Godwits (latter in summer plumage) on Blaxton Meadow with 7 Greenshanks & a 1st-s Mediterranean Gull. Otherwise, 9 Mandarin Ducks (6 drakes), 4 singing Blackcaps & 2 Roe Deer.

Single Great Northern and Red-throated Divers off Goodrington this morning and a single Swallow flew in off the sea at Preston.

One of a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen at Young's Park Ponds, Goodrington, was colour ringed. Blue ring DXT. The birds were also at the ponds on 27/03/21 and the sightings history I received then indicates that the bird was ringed at a Landfill Site, north of Cheltenham, on 06/12/08. Since then there have been many reported sightings, all in the UK, mainly around the Gloucester area. The bird appears to spend the winter in the UK, with sightings at Chew Valley Lake in January 2010 and Langford Lakes, Wiltshire, in November 2012. The bird has been reported at Goodrington before, in July 2014 and August 2015.

Red-throated Diver

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Blue Ring DXT.

6 Purple Sandpipers on rocks below Capstone; pair of Blackcaps above Tunnel Beaches along with a warbler with an all-over green /yellow colouring  with small flecks along wing edges ,elongated body shape, alone and quiet.(Icterine/Melodious Warbler shape). Any ideas

Eds - at this time of year, your Warbler is likely to be a Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff. The latter is more numerous but the brightness of plumage perhaps suggests the former.

Short-eared Owl over the main marsh yesterday evening. Also 300+ Sand Martins.

At last things are livening up in Great Torrington! My first blackcap of the season yesterday, singing among the blackthorn in one of the lanes in town

Penhill 15 Cattle Egret. Fremington Pill 9 Teal,  1 green shank, 4 glossy ibis

Walked around the circuit again today and saw a number of Robins, including one in Anchor wood, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Greenfinches, 9 Cattle Egrets in a field along the Tarka trail, a few Redshank, 6-7 Little Egrets along Fremington Pill, a few Teal still lingering and the sounds from 2 Chiffchaffs.

Robin

Little Egret

A presumed 2nd Cal year (1st Winter) Glaucous Gull on the Otter Estuary briefly this evening before flying out to the coast and headed east at 5.30pm. Also 2 Water Pipits this morning on the wet field immediately N of South Farm Road. More photos if interested on http://creamteabirding.blogspot.com/

A zero count of Goosanders may seem an odd record to report, but I've been trekking up to the Avon Dam at least once a week since October 2017, always arriving at least 30 minutes before sunrise, and today was my first zero count in any of the four winters (October to March). Indeed, in previous years some birds have usually continued roosting through April and into May or even June. Who's got them?!

50 species of bird today on Exminster Marshes on the warmest day of the year so far. Highlights include a Greater White-fronted Goose which flew into the fox-proof area -see picture and a pair of Northern Pintail, with Wigeon and Teal in the main pool. Chiffchaffs were in almost every bush and the first Willow Warblers had started to sing. A pair of Ringed Plover were using the new scrape, which also still had water in it!

Greater White-fronted Goose

A smart male Marsh Harrier over the lane just east of Southdown Farm heading steadily NE, early pm.  

Some lovely spots in the woodland and moorland just below reservoir: 2 male Crossbill feeding on pine cones, hanging upside down, making quite a noise. Coot on Reservoir. Solitary Greenfinch and lone Yellowhammer seen near Bench Tor. Buzzard and Raven soaring over Dart ravine below.

3 Swallows flying around 17. 30, spring is here. 

12 Sandwich Terns on the mussel buoys at entrance to harbour, one which had been ringed in Wales - red ring on left tarsus with white letters KJC.  8 Purple Sandpipers on Cod Rock off Berry Head.  Usual gulls including 3 Kittiwakes - 1x1w and 2 adults.  100+ Guillemots seen flying to and from breeding site, most in full summer plumage, those on the water were disturbed by three jet skis passing close to the cliffs.

Purple Sandpipers

Sandwich Terns

20 Chiffs.The wintering Siberian Chiff still present. Willow warbler 1.

2 Black-tailed Godwit on Blaxton Meadow on the high tide this morning with a Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshank and 3 Curlew. 

New arrivals in 3 Swallow, Sand Martin, White Wagtail & singing Blackcap. Also 25 Chiffchaff & Red-legged Partridge.

In addition to Robert's post:-

5 singing Skylark, 6 Linnet, Greenfinch and Chaffinch in full song, together with 5 Chiffchaff and Cirl Bunting, several Stonechat, 2 Curlew, 3 Little Egret and a Grey Heron in the rock pools, 1 Swallow flew east along the beach.

Stonechat

Chiffchaff

Sandwich tern 07.30, singing cirl buntings and skylarks. 30 oystercatchers and 7 little egrets on beach towards Wembury Point.

Another migrant filled morning, making it feel more like mid-April than late March, with the highlights being a small fall of Willow Warblers (at least a dozen, including singing birds), Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the scrub and a steady passage of 69 Sand Martins, 27 Swallows and 1 House Martin. Offshore, 6 Sandwich Terns east and 3 Common Scoters W. Other migrants: a female Wheatear, 12 alba wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails but only 26 Meadow Pipits (less than 10% of yesterday's count; what a difference clear skies make!).

Just before 9am this morning while driving on the A30 just prior to the M5 interchange near Exeter a Great White Egret flew over the car, headed towards the Exminster Marshes/Exe Estuary.

And a ringing return report ~ Ringing Scheme: RZ63267 Species of bird: Dipper 
This bird was ringed by H Williams as a nestling, sex unknown, 3rd May 2018 at Cleve Farm Ivybridge, Devon.
It was found on 22nd Mar 2021 at Ivybridge, Devon,
OS Map reference SX6356 
Finding circumstances: Identified by Colour Ring(s)
Extra Information: - It was found 1054 days after it was ringed.

2 swallows briefly over the marsh plus a single Sandwich tern

Mallard

Sandwich Tern

At least 6 Sand Martins, several Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Wheatears, 2 Buzzards and several Stonechats.

Wheatear

Pied Wagtail

An exceptional day of hirundine migration for late March, with 147 Sand Martins, 17 Swallows and 3 House Martins west along the cliffs near Rillage Point this morning. Once the low cloud and drizzle had lifted, Dean Jones counted 212 Sand Martins and an exceptional 162 Swallows passing through Lundy this afternoon.

Also at Rillage Point this morning, a single Wheatear, 400 Meadow Pipits, 29 Linnets, 61 Goldfinches (the finches mostly flying W like the hirundines and pipits) and a handful of Grey and alba wagtails.

An evening walk to catch the high tide (19.30) showed 40+ little egrets and 2 cattle egrets in their favourite trees at the top of Fremington Pill, and these were joined by 4 glossy ibis. Within 10 minutes of the peak of the tide they slowly started dispersing. By the time we returned from the quay we could only make out about 6, although the light was fading fast. There was also a very vocal tawny owl which flew overhead several times between the bridge and the main road.

2 Mistle Thrush, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Stone Chats, Buzzard, then my first Wheatear of the year, at least 3 males. 

My first Yellowhammers of the year; four birds seen on walk from Kingston around Wonwell. Beautiful sight and remarkably confident.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning,

12 Sand Martin, 3 Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tit, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Long-tailed Tit.

At least 300 Golden Plover on the moor this afternoon. Probably more as they were hunkered down.

Golden Plovers

Didn't have to travel far today - a Black Redstart sat on my neighbour's roof briefly this afternoon. Up to 8 Buzzards and a pair of Sparrowhawks soaring over the town this morning. A Chiffchaff appeared in the garden and others were singing locally. Also Blackbirds collecting worms for their young, and Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone on the wing.

1 Glossy Ibis & 2 Greenshanks at the Pill & at Saltpill Duck Pond ,  45 roosting Sand Martins & a minimum of another 20 in flight plus 3 Glossy Ibises .

My exercise walk followed Tinpot Lane around the QE school. A chiffchaff, song thrush, wren and some blue tits sang very pleasantly along lane leading to cradle fields, spotted a rabbit at top of Breakheart Hill and a small tortoiseshell butterfly at the bottom of hill by Salmonhutch. Startled a distracted stoat in Bull Marsh field (often see stoats and their kits around here and usually plenty of rabbits in field over toward railway line). Saw orange tip on way back up Hunniver's Lane and heard a blackcap near the playground at the top.

6-8 Sand Martins skirting Capstone Hill flying east to west

Sand Martin 3 on territory.Swallow 1 .Willow warbler 1. Wheatear 3 m + 1 pair.

Garganey still on Wrafton Pond this morning with Gadwall and Shoveler. Lots of Sand Martins and a few Swallows over. More of the same around Sherpa Marsh - Many of the Martins perching on reed stems.

One Tree Pipit mid-am. Singing form the tops of some birch trees. The earliest date that I've seen one here.

Quiet this morning, best 11 Golden Plover & 9 Chiffchaff.

At last with lockdown restrictions eased, travel to exercise and outdoor sports once again allowed. Travelled to Exmouth to see the mega rare Northern Mockingbird

Didn't stay long record shots in the poor early morning light

Feeding on the fruits of the Palm Tree.

Approx 90 sand martin in two flocks heading west over the marshes yesterday afternoon.

Siskins chasing and displaying in woodlands. In garden long-tailed tits gathering nest material. wood pigeons mating as usual and house sparrow showing too much interest in swift nest boxes.

Red Kite flying north along Taw valley west of Chittlehamholt

2 sand martins near the farm road entrance. A Male goosanda in flight and a meadow pipit, not much else.

Word of mouth from flatmates, Osprey seen fishing early yesterday morning at the reservoir. 

Late afternoon: c30 Sand Martins and 1 Swallow hawking for insects over the Water treatment works, a very vociferous Green Woodpecker in an Ash copse nearby and 2 pairs of Mandarin Ducks and a Dipper on the adjacent stretch of the river.

Sparrowhawk flew low across the grass then up and over the cliff fence

My first Swallow of the year seen this afternoon over Boriingdon Golf course. A solitary Dabchick and 1f Goosander on the golf course pond,1 Buzzard a Mislle Thrush and several Skylarks.

Goosander

This dark Redwing dropped on to rocks below sea watch at Berry Head this morning. Looked tired. Stayed in same place over an hour before flying off.  Suggestions of Icelandic sub-species?

Redwing at Berry Head

Redwing Berry Head

Singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap. 2 Grey Wagtails. Dipper. Treecreeper (a very rare spot for me !)

On this morning's low tide, both Black- (2: 1 in summer plumage) & Bar-tailed Godwits & 70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (including 2+ intermedius types). Also, 5 Mandarin Ducks (3 drakes), singing Blackcap, Treecreeper & Green Woodpecker.

13.20

Red-throated Diver showing well beyond Harbreck Rock.  

Earlier, at nearby Hope's Nose, a Chiffchaff in full song below the gate and brief female Wheatear at Sandy Point.  

the first blackcaps i've seen in the patch this year, singing well, also seen were goldcrest, nuthatch, 5 buzzards, jay,chiffchaff and all the usual tits and woodland birds, on the river dipper feeding and two greywagtails.looking forward to the 10th april , this will be when the pied flycatchers should be here,

Song thrushes, Chiffchaffs, several Yellowhammers, Skylarks,Blackcaps,Wrens and the regular flock of c.100 Linnets around Sandford.

Other wildlife- a weasel near Copplestone, a stoat in the hedge at West Sandford and boxing hares in their usual field. Of the 6 seen last year, 5 remain. The sixth unfortunately was killed by a car in the lane.

A flock of 30- 40 Turnstone settled on boulders at Instow Quay last night at high tide. Largest flock I have seen on this stretch of estuary.

Nuthatch nest building, Goldfinches, GS Woodpecker and Tawny Owls very vocal, first Chiffchaff and Mistle Thrush, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Marsh Tits and Coal Tits on feeder.

Nuthatch

Mistle Thrush

A short weekly exercise walk around QE school, Barnfield. Chiffchaff singing along Tinpot Lane. Lots of spring bird song. A number of about ten returned swallows flying about at Back's Barn (SX 82805 99825).

Had our usual walk around the circuit today from Roundswell to Fremington, along the Tarka trail to Anchor wood and home in Roundswell. Not a lot to see today other than a small group of Shelduck and a group of 23 Curlew on Penhill marsh.  Also got a distant shop of a single Common Sandpiper flying just above the water off Anchor wood.

Common Sandpiper

Still 2 Black-tailed Godwits (1 summer plumage) this afternoon; also, Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 100 Redshanks, Goosander (female), 2 Green & a Great Spotted Woodpecker & 5 Mandarin Ducks (3 drakes).

While cycling dow

n the American road at 2.30 I saw my first swallows of the year about 20 also about 6 House martinis and on my way past Velator scrap another 16ish House Martins as well as the usual water fowl. Spring feels like it’s just arrived ????

3 Yellowhammer in hedgerow on the lane between coffinswell and Kingskerswell quarry. Heard several chiffchaff and saw Kestrel over quarry ponds which are up the lane behind Romany Jones cafe.

Arrived late and didn't see the Garganey, which had crept into the reeds apparently. 5 Pochard - including 4 drakes. Out on the scrape a few Herring gulls loafing with the Godwits and a few out-in-the-open Snipe. Suddenly the Gulls all took off and were shortly followed by the Godwits heralding the very rapid arrival of a female Peregrine which did a couple of circuits of the pond before drifting off. Later at least one of the Godwits was back.

Two male Wheatears on Crownhill Down mid morning. (original photos posted in wrong format)

Wheatear

We had better luck today and found the garganey on Wrafton pond, although it was having a snooze on the far side, it’s a pity it’s not as bold as the local rodents! The whooper swan was still with the mute swans on Braunton Marshes but at a distance - glad we had taken our scope.

Garganey

rat

The drake Garganey , 4 Pochards , 2 pairs of Shovelers , 40 plus Sand Martins & a Cetti's warbler at Wrafton pond .

6 Snipe & the 4 Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape.

The Whooper swan still in the fields just along from the toll road.   

Early walk over Ringmoor Down this morning produced these very confiding Golden Plover.  500+ birds

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Two male Wheatear around Trowlesworthy Farm paddocks this morning. 

Wheatear

A fruitless search over Ringmoor Down to Legis Tor for Wheatear was enlivened by a flock of at least 500 Golden Plover. (Photos from 1 kilometre distant)

Golden Plover

A Swallow, 14 Sand Martin, 2 Green Sandpipers and 19 Teal at Riverside Country Park above Countess Weir this lunch time. 

On my way home I popped into Wrafton pond and was rewarded with a good sighting of the Garganey. On the scrape were four Bar tailed Godwit.

Garganey

Garganey

A higher tide this afternoon brought a few more waders onto Blaxton Meadow: 3 Black-tailed Godwits (2 summer plumage), Turnstone, 5 Greenshanks, 4 Curlews, 77 Redshanks & 7 Oystercatchers. Also around the patch, Treecreeper, 10 Mandarin Ducks (6 drakes) & 3 Roe Deer. 

Photo: Black-tailed Godwits.

Flock of 21 Sandwich Tern, South past Hopes Nose, Torbay, c 1600 today.

A gannet seen offshore 1030hrs, two oystercatcher on the rocks

Delighted to find the drake Garganey on Wrafton Pond this morning, Plus a drake Pochard, and 2 Chiffchaffs near the viewing platform. Out on the scrape fewer Teal, several Snipe and now 4 Black-tailed Godwits. In the reserve singing Chiffchaff, Tawny Owl and Water Rail. Walked to the estuary - Meadow Pipits (many) Linnets, and Skylarks. Sand Martins buzzing about, including a close flock of about 40. Juvenile male Sparrowhawk. Several Wigeon down on the main estuary. Not much to add around Sherpa on the way back.

We can now report that the Long-tailed Skua friends of ours found in a field next to their house last week...has departed,  presumably north. We were privileged to be able to see it as it was on our route home from a necessary trip to the bank in Barnstaple. It was feeding in the field presumably on worms and seemed little bothered by the regular pestering by the local gulls! Thanks to Mike Langman we can now say that's it's a "...winter moulding to summer adult, well, at least in its 4th calendar year" Furthermore;  it's  "...a crazy time of year to see this bird"! I hope everyone understands why its location was not revealed, not least the travel restrictions, the narrow road & no places to park. 

Long-tailed Skua in flight near Barnstaple last week

Late morning at Jetty Marsh, Newton Abbot lots of bird song including Cetti's Warbler and Blackcap.

Afternoon stroll in hopes of deer, didn't find any but instead i got 
Great and green woodpecker, rooks, nuthatch, blue/great/longtail tit, W.t.dipper sitting so close, kingfisher passing, wood pigeon, a lovely group of tree creepers, goldcrest, robin, dunnock, song thrush, m+f goosanders, mandarin ducks, buzzard

Late post from yesterday (weds 24th), pair of swallow over River Otter just south of Ottery St Mary

An Osprey this evening found by Helen Booker at around 6.15pm over Otterton and SW towards East Budleigh. Possibly the first this Spring in Devon?

This afternoon at Wrafton scrape we saw 2 individual snipe and the distant views of a group of 7 snipe. On the pond there were a couple of gadwall and a pair of shoveler.

Snipe

Snipe

Started with a scan of Wrafton Pond - drew a blank there, and the scrape where still good numbers of Teal, 3 Black-headed Gulls some Snipe and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. 2 Dippers seen in the river Caen. In the reserve, the wind has blown much of the duckweed up towards one end of the pond, leaving a large clear area and a Kingfisher perched briefly on one of the special branches I have installed. 7 Gadwall and 8 Mallard, 1 Little Grebe, calling Tawny Owl and Water Rail, No repeat of the singing Chiffchaff from yesterday. 4 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Walked around Sherpa and met a birder who had seen the Garganey, but I missed it. Several Sand Martins. Later cycled to Barnstaple, tide too high for much to be seen: 4 Black-tailed Godwits at Pottington, 3 Shoveler nearer the new bridge with a female Goosander. At Ashford 17 + 7 Wigeon, and then back at Wrafton Pond the usual gathering of Sand Martins with my first Swallow of the year. Someone else reported seeing 2 House Martins earlier.

A lone Swallow flew overhead as I ran past RMB Chivenor this evening at around 5:15(ish) this evening.  It doesn't sound like the 2 previously spotted around Braunton burrows, as it was alone (hanging out with some sand Martin's). 

A Red Throated Diver feeding between Torre Abbey Sands and Corbyn's Head, often coming very close in. Also 2 adult Lesser black backs on  the beach. Later in Sherwell Park a mixed flock of sparrows, dunnock, bluetits and goldfinch were coming down to bathe and drink in a spring fed pool by the stream, just below the middle bridge. Goldfinches and a chiffchaff singing here, and a comma butterfly basking on the ground nearby.

Mistle Thrush 2, Grey Wagtails 2, Pied Wagtails 6, Stonechats 10,Magpies 10, Buzzards 2, G.W.P.'s 2, Ravens 6, Crows 8, Reed Buntings 3, Goosander 2m, 2f. Chiffchaffs 2,  Goldfinches 6 .a lone cock Wheatear on Legis Tor Warren.

Grey Wagtail

A distant view of a Wheatear

At about 13:30 today, and for about 15 minutes, there was a "swarm" of very vocal HERRING GULL adults and younger birds, along with 13 COMMON BUZZARD soaring above the Saunton Park area of Braunton. Earlier, on returning from an appointment in Barnstaple,  observed about two dozen SAND MARTINS feeding over the fields by the Boundary Lane. Unconfirmed because it was a fleeting glimpse of two small brown passerines with light coloured heads flying over the car heading east as we were on Sandy lane.... which reminded me of YELLOWHAMMER. As I say, unable to confirm but I don't know what else they could be.

A quick hour walk around the woods midday. 

Stock dove, wood pigeon, loads of singing nuthatch, gs and green woodpecker, crow, raven, jackdaw, blackbird, robin, dunnock, song thrush, great/blue/coal/longtail tit, wren, lots of goldcrests, nest building jays, skylarks heard in neighbouring fields. buzzard scared off a lot of woodpigeons later. 

During this morning's walk, at least 2 Green Woodpeckers, 10 Mandarin Ducks (mainly in pairs now), Common Sandpiper, a Blackcap singing & 8 Roe Deer.

In my garden (Mount Gould) a female Blackcap still visiting regularly.

 2 Swallows over the reservoir where Phil & Sue spotted the first Sand Martin in N.Devon back in February.

Good chance this is the same 2 Swallows I spotted 2 days ago at the south end of Braunton Burrows.

This morning there were 9 Purple Sandpipers at Haldon Pier and 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Abbey Sands.

Purple Sandpiper

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Late post - 1 Willow Warbler heard yesterday morning.

During this afternoon's walk along the Tarka Trail from Anchorwood to Fremington Pill a common sandpiper seemed to follow us giving us our best views yet.

Highlights this evening included a brief Grey Plover, a single Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Goosander on the river north of White Bridge.

Black Redstart found in garden in Ernesettle.

Also Chiffchaff heard on Roborough Down yesterday.

1 swallow near the bird screen at Exebank, Exmouth at17.00.

Mid afternoon visit coincided with the high tide but most waders remained on the estuary as low tides at present. A few brent geese but no sign of the 6 avocets that were at the Turf last Monday. On the marsh at least 3 singing chiffchaffs, 6 pintail, 2 tufted duck and 37 sand martins.

A Black Redstart (very scarce here) was a nice surprise & brought the patch combined observers' total to 100 for the year (+ 1 heard). Also, a calling Tawny Owl, Peregrine, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 26 Turnstones, Common Sandpiper, Nuthatch nest-building, 2 singing Chiffchaffs & 15 Roe Deer.

Circular walk Budleigh - Otterton. Highlights - Chiffchaff, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, Grey Wagtail, Gtr Spotted Woodpecker. Lots of the usual along river - Many Wigeon, plentiful Teal, 8 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Redshank, Curlew, Moorhen. Kingfisher and Dipper higher upstream. 2 Cattle egret still present. Around the cliffs a succession of skylarks and many meadow pipits.Two handsome pairs of courting Stonechat. I startled a Red Legged Partridge from a clifftop bush ! Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. A large noisy roost of 30 Linnets. 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Finally heard (briefly) a Chiffchaff in the reserve while ringing this morning. Sparrow hawk over (and seen again over Sherpa Marsh a bit later) Water Pipit seen outside the reserve, Garganey still at Sherpa Marsh with a few Sand Martins over.

1 red breasted merganser, 3 greylag geese, buzzard, redshanks, cormorants 

 Ed’s- it’s a hybrid Swan Goose x. Greylag Goose

1 red breasted merganser, 3 greylag geese, buzzard, redshanks, cormorants 

Raven, Stonechats, Rock Pipit and Oystercatcher this morning.

3 Sandwich Terns fishing and 7 Brent Geese on the rocks. A nice mix of seasonal birds.

2 Black Swans, on the sea, just offshore. 8 Common Scoter further out towards Berry Head.

Black Swans

2 Black Swans on the sea off Goodrington South sands this morning

Evening stroll over Hemerdon Ball put up a Woodcock.

3 Shoveler, 1 each of Gadwall and Pochard on Wrafton Pond, Several Teal, 5 Snipe and a Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape. Around Sherpa, 4 Little Egrets 1 Snipe, 2 calling Cetti's Warblers, c15 Sand Martins. Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches all looking or sounding a little frisky. The drake Garganey was also still present. 2 Chiffchaffs in the reserve. A further inspection of the Egret feathers revealed that they had been plucked from the dead bird, so a bird of prey rather than a mammal I think.

Red Kite seen just before Aller Cross on the road from Stags Head to South Molton at 11.30 am this morning.

Lovely views of 2 Purple Sandpipers at Rusty Anchor this morning. Thanks to Stuart Green for pointing them out to me. Also seen several Turnstones and a G.B.B.G.

Purple Sandpiper

Turnstone

Nothing to match Martin's sighting this morning; however a circuit of the patch revealed: 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Raven, 4 Stock Doves, a singing Chiffchaff & 5+ Roe Deer.

2 Swallows over the south end of Braunton Burrows this morning. 

At least 6 Chiffchaff heard in full song. Whooper Swan still present.

A quiet morning was brightened up by c6 Crossbills feeding in the pines on the ridge just above the amphitheater. Also of note, a good count of 46 Common Gulls were seen.

Late evening stroll doing some practice surverys of plants but paying attention to birds  Heard in the woods and on amados hill

Raven, jackdaw, rook, herring gull, buzzard, song thrush, blackcap (m), robin, dunnock, house sparrow, greenfinch, goldfinch, blackbird, gs woodpecker, green woodpecker, wren, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, redwing, pheasant, nuthatch, stock dove, woodpigeon, 

1m 1f Goosander by Cadover Bridge, 1 MIstle Thrush, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Buzzard. 4 Reed Buntings by Legis Tor Warren.

Goosanders

Moulting Reed Bunting

Walked down and back from St. Leonards this morning. Good things started with a Water Rail out in the open in the Southernmost Countesswear pond, relaxedly preening, scratching and stretching (how that needs a longer vowel) for 4/5 minutes in the sunshine, easily the longest view I have ever had.

Also noted were:

- a Green Sandpiper in the river opposite the sewage works;

- c30 Teal, c20 Wigeon, c10 Shoveler and 3 Tufted Ducks on Matford ponds. No Little Grebe so far this year;

- a small group of Sand Martins, my first of the year;

- song from 6+ each of Cetti's and Chiff-Chaff and a single Blackcap, newly arrived;

- 50+ Rook nests along Dawlish Road, and 25+ on the East bank of the river, so numbers back to normal;

- the last few Redwings chattering in the trees by the University playing fields, one of which gave a few phrases of full song, the first I have heard, a mournful five note descending sequence, like a slowed-down, simplified Wood Lark's. Haunting. The best was definitely saved 'til last.

Cetti's warbler (not skulking) near Bath House

I hope these are the ones!

On the rocks between West Hoe Pier and Millbay Docks this morning (known as 'Rusty Anchor') - 6 Turnstones, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Rock Pipit

A pair of Grey-lag Geese out on the scrape with plenty of Canada Geese and a Black-tailed Godwit. At Sherpa Marsh the drake Garganey still present, but no sign of any Sand Martins. In the central field the remains (all feathers) of a Little Egret. If I can find where I saved my photos after reducing their size, I'll post them too!

Five Cattle Egrets first thing this morning (at southern end of the estuary) but no sign later. Also, 3 Common Sandpipers, Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 17+ Common Gulls, Treecreeper, 2 Chiffchaffs, Stonechat (m), Green Woodpecker, Peacock butterfly & 7 Roe Deer.

Cattle Egrets & Little Egret

A pair of Red-Breasted Mergansers at the quay . 1 Great Crested Grebe & 1 Great Egret on the Taw in front of Home Farm Marsh & 4 Glossy Ibises at Saltpill Duck Pond.