Please do not post any information about scarce or rare breeding species. They may be vulnerable to persecution or disturbance.
The exception is information on these species at well known sites (e.g. Broadsands for Cirl Bunting and Aylesbeare for Dartford Warbler) or birds which are obvious migrants away from breeding sites.
If in any doubut, please don't post but report your sighting to the county recorder asap. Site editors cannot commit to editing posts which breach these guidelines, and the whole post may be removed or not admitted.
Further details can be found in the link below, but note, Wood Warbler is now also included as a scarce breeder:-
https://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/rare_breeding_species
Posted April 15th at 3:02 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
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Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am in Bird News
Friday 7th January 2022
Mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare in field opposite entrance to brewery off Humber Lane, near Bishopsteignton. Also skylark
Posted January 7th at 5:26 pm by Paul Carter in Bird News
South of Ottery St Mary, along the River Otter, hampered by the heavy rain, I managed close views of an expected Dipper and Grey Wagtail and a redhead Goosander was a welcome surprise. Also Little Egret, Cormorant, Goldcrest. Redwings made up the numbers. I need to go and dry off now ready for tomorrow's soaking.

Dipper

Goosander
Posted January 7th at 4:54 pm by John Reeves in Bird News
Black Redstart in Bath Place area; Kestrel flying along cliffs on Granville Road; Cormorant, Rock Pipit, pair of Greater Black-backed and numerous Oystercatcher off Capstone
Posted January 7th at 4:52 pm by David Shadwell in Bird News
Dodged some heavy rain to see: Great Crested Grebe (my first here for over a year), Little Grebe, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers (3 drakes), 2 Goosanders (1 drake), 33 Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshanks, Firecrest & 10+ Siskins.
Polish-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull (PHAU) on Tothill Playing Fields.
Posted January 7th at 4:08 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Met Andy Lansdell at the Skern this morning at about 8.30. Gave the birds a good scanning and here are some estimations of what we saw: 700+ Dunlin - constantly on the move, occasionally disturbed by dog walkers. 40 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 12 Turnstone, 3/4 hundred Oystercatchers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 3 Ringed Plover, 30 Curlew, (including 2 colour ringed birds,60+ Pintail. a smattering of Wigeon and Shelduck. A marked lack of Gulls. (3 Common the best) One Great Northern Diver out towards Crow Point. At Westward Ho! one Purple Sandpiper braving the massive surf. We ended up at Heanton Court hoping for the Goldeneye, but no luck. Then the rain really started!
Posted January 7th at 1:55 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Clennon Playing Fields: Glossy Ibis still present
Broadsands: 11 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park. On the sea 1 Velvet Scoter (female or 1st w male), 1 Black-throated Diver & 3 Great Northern Divers.
Posted January 7th at 11:26 am by Mike Langman in Bird News
Each morning, more and more Redwings are arriving on the Holsworthy football pitch. Fifty-plus at 10am today. So far only a smattering of Fieldfare with them - four today. Two Mistle Thrushes appear daily at about 9.30, along with the regular Starlings, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. They're all happy birds after the "Magpies" have had a game and churned up the ground...the Holsworthy football team, that is.
Posted January 7th at 11:23 am by Hilary Vivian in Bird News
Thursday 6th January 2022
09:06 - 12:41
Highlights for me from the local RSPB group walk were Marsh Harrier; Pink-footed Goose (with Canada Goose flock from discovery area screen); Glossy Ibis in field next to railway path.
Posted January 6th at 4:27 pm by Paul Bray in Bird News
After several rather brief / obscured views during the morning, the American Buff-bellied Pipit finally showed very well gorging on flies, around midday, near the slipway on Maelcombe Beach. Also 50+ Rock & a Water Pipit.
Later, at Slapton Ley, a female Lesser Scaup and 2 Black-necked Grebes in Ireland Bay and 4 Red-throated Divers on the sea.

American Buff-bellied Pipit

American Buff-bellied Pipit
Posted January 6th at 2:51 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
4 goosanders, 2m,2f. Grey heron, 5 mallard
Posted January 6th at 2:30 pm by art symons in Bird News
Highlights during the first few hours of light, before getting rained off: Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), 4 Red-breasted Mergansers (3 drakes), 2 Goosanders (1 drake), 33 Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard (female), Teal (drake), 2+ Little Grebes, Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshanks & a Sparrowhawk.
Posted January 6th at 1:49 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Wednesday 5th January 2022
Surprised and pleased to find two Tundra Bean Geese grazing with a couple Canada Geese and a pack of Wigeon at West Charleton Marsh this afternoon. Watched for a good while before they took wing and headed off high SW over the estuary at about 2.45pm.
Posted January 5th at 8:32 pm by Andy Smith in Bird News
Lower Tamar this morning.
39 Goosander 14m 25f (07:52), 6 Whooper Swan 2adults 4 juv (flew out 07:35), 1 Little Egret, 1 Cormorant, 3 Willow Tit, 2 MarshTit, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 2m Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mute Swan.
Posted January 5th at 7:41 pm by Rod Mudge in Bird News
4 Purple Sandpipers

Purple Sandpiper
Posted January 5th at 7:35 pm by Rupert Kirkwood in Bird News
Torbay this am:
2 Black-throated Divers
3 Great Northern Divers
25 Common Dolphins

Black-throated Diver

Common Dolphins
Posted January 5th at 7:34 pm by Rupert Kirkwood in Bird News
First-year Glaucous Gull again in gull roost this evening. Also c.170 Herring Gull, 19+ Lesser BB Gull, Common Gull 6, 160 Black-headed Gull. One Black-necked Grebe and female Goldeneye still present. Also 8+ Teal, 27 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 1 female Goosander, 10 Pied Wagtail.
Posted January 5th at 6:03 pm by Rick Lockwood in Bird News
2 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks closest to the sea, along with a Rock Pipit and 3 Oystercatcher.
Nice distant view of a Gannet flying low over the sea picked up nicely by the sunlight.
Posted January 5th at 5:04 pm by Jonny Pinn in Bird News
An unusual bird call alerted me from outside the bedroom window. It had rained all night and was still raining heavily on the single story extension below the window, To my surprise there was a very active resplendent grey wagtail feeding in the large wind-swept puddle and probably a 1st winter female showing a striking buffy orange breast. Made a welcome change to the magpies and wood-pigeons who are regulars.
Posted January 5th at 3:14 pm by Rod Fox in Bird News
First 2022 farmland bird count: 1000 Skylark, 137 Yellowhammer, 61 Cirl Bunting, 108 House Sparrow, 85 Goldfinch & 25 Linnet; Also: 10 Stock Dove, 26 Meadow Pipit, 31 Blackbird, 16 Song Thrush inc.first in song, Grey Wagtail, 18 Teal & 100 Jackdaw.
Non-avian: 16 Roe Deer inc.stag in velvet; 7 Sika inc.5 stags.
On way home: Kingfisher at Bowcombe Creek.
Posted January 5th at 2:46 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Tuesday 4th Jan: The Buff-bellied Pipit showed well also on beach also present 1 Water Pipit, many Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipit, Grey and Pied Wagtail. Sketch and photo of the Buff-bellied Pipit below.

Posted January 5th at 12:37 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
Female Goldeneye on huge pit at top of the down. Seven Golden Plover on the down.
Posted January 5th at 10:45 am by Chris E in Bird News
Tuesday 4th January 2022
A pair of Dippers near the back of home in Plympton.
Posted January 4th at 11:37 pm by Chris Marcol in Bird News
A couple of hours at the pond were these photos were taken. Also saw and photographed the Chiffchaff that I last week and three Snipe on the far side of the pond. In addition a Bullfinch and a number of Black-tailed Godwits and Teal.

Gadwall x Wigeon

female Shoveler
Eds - difficult to see why this is not just a pure Gadwall??
Posted January 4th at 10:27 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Good variety of ducks again at Stover this morning, 4 Gadwall were the highlight, plus 2 Pochard, 6+ Shoveler, 4 Wigeon. Good numbers of Tufted Duck & Coot. 1 Little Grebe.
Posted January 4th at 9:33 pm by Nick Potter in Bird News
On a short visit this afternoon: Jack Snipe, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (1 drake), c20 Redwings & 8 Roe Deer.
Posted January 4th at 8:03 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Whilst listing for the new year, missed the long-staying Snow Bunting at Slapton this afternoon, after spending an hour or two catching up with the reported regulars at Slapton Ley, as well as a number of birding friends. However as I was driving away a pleasant young birder from Plymouth kindly waved me back, to where he had just seen the bunting fly back in. Gave good views, albeit often difficult to spot in the shingle just south of the Memorial car park..

Snow Bunting - Slapton
Posted January 4th at 7:00 pm by Dave Pakes in Bird News
While watching the immature Spoonbill off Mudbank Lane around 1 pm, some disturbance among the other birds drew my attention to an Otter running across the mud and disappearing into one of the creeks. Later it ran across the mud again and sat for a while next to a traffic cone(!), probably with prey. After then swimming downstream, it caught a flatfish, which it then swam back towards us with. It brought it right up to the railway bridge and ate it underneath, completely unconcerned about a few surprised humans watching it from the roadside!

Otter and immature Spoonbill
Posted January 4th at 5:55 pm by Dave Smallshire in Bird News
Single Goldeneye still present at Ashford Strand this morning.
Posted January 4th at 3:28 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
the black redstart still showing well at the Skern, not far from the bridge near the entrance

Black Redstart
Posted January 4th at 2:33 pm by Colin Dracott in Bird News
Monday 3rd January 2022
GND's 3, GBBG's BHG's Fulmar, Gannets, Cormorants, Shags,Oystercatchers. Slapton Ley: Tufted Ducks, Mallards,Coots, Moorhens, G.C.Grebes, Goldeneye (2m, 2f) Beesands Ley: Tufted Ducks, Mute Swans, Black Swan, R.N.Duck 1,

R.N.Duck

Great Northern Diver
Posted January 3rd at 9:29 pm by Bob Barrow in Bird News
6 Glossy Ibis seen flying over Mansands at 1045am heading in a north west direction.
Posted January 3rd at 9:22 pm by Mark Penney in Bird News
At the Skern amongst the usual were c.30 Skylark on the grass edge. After a long search we finally caught up with the Snow Bunting, and then saw the Black Redstart on leaving the site.
At Velator whilst looking for the Whooper Swans (we were unsuccessful in finding them) we were pleasantly surprised to see a Barn Owl in flight, was interesting to see the Kestrel seeing off the Barn Owl at one point. Unfortunately, we too encountered the hooligan hunters who stopped us from going any further on the reserve claiming that we were on private land (which we weren't). Not a good end to what would have been a good day's birding.
Posted January 3rd at 6:38 pm by Jonny Pinn in Bird News
A cycle round this afternoon produced: Water Rail, 30 Wigeon, 16 Goosanders (4 drakes), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (1 drake), 25 Mandarin Ducks, Red-crested Pochard (female), Little Grebe, 61 Curlews, 7 Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwit, Stonechat (male), Grey Wagtail & 11 Roe Deer.
Posted January 3rd at 5:55 pm by Pete Aley in Bird News
Many thanks for the earlier post of the great northern diver at Instow. We managed to catch up with it mid-afternoon at the quay, opposite the deli.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver
Posted January 3rd at 4:08 pm by Colin Dracott in Bird News
Got up early enough to see the 3 Spoonbills this morning. Then to Fremington where 2 Greenshank and the Spotted Redshank present along with 5 Glossy Ibis. The Black Redstart showed ridiculously close-up at the Skern entrance. Took quite some time to track down the Snow Bunting, about 200m west of the memorial seat. Met Norman Briden who has see one Purple Sandpiper at the open - air pool. When we got there there was a large swimmer sat by the pool. = no sandpipers! Finished off by visiting the reserve but left when the hooligan shooters arrived and started blasting away right outside the reserve.
Posted January 3rd at 3:00 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
0910-1300 :
41 Curlew, 30 Wigeon (19m, 11f), 7 Goosander (2m, 5f), 4 Red Breasted Merganser (3m, 1f), 36 Common gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Greenshank, 20 Mandarin and the female Red Crested Pochard on the duck pond. 10+ Siskin in the Alders, 4 Ring necked Parakeet overhead.
Posted January 3rd at 2:32 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
Out in Torbay: 3 Black-throated Divers, 11 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers,3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Pomarine Skua (seen several times harassing Kittiwakes), 7 Wigeon, 2 Brent Geese, 2 Razorbills several Guillemots.
In the car parks: 1 Firecrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Cirl Buntings, 1 Kestrel
Clennon playing fields: 1 Glossy Ibis.
Posted January 3rd at 1:35 pm by Mike Langman in Bird News
Great mornings birding at Slapton. 3 Cattle Egrets roosting Ireland Bay. Also there the 2 Black-necked Grebes joined by the 2 Lesser Scaups and the White-fronted Goose. Also three Brent Geese flew over and 3 Mediterranean Gulls loafing. At 10:20, six Glossy Ibis flew over heading north ( presumably the Hatch Bridge birds ) Seen not long after at Brixham Breakwater by Richie Moore and then back at Slapton passing through by Jo King at 12:20.
Posted January 3rd at 1:26 pm by Perry Sanders in Bird News
Checked the Marshes for Whoopers twice this morning through the scope from the road (up to 1/2 mile away) & ended up with 9, two of which were juveniles / first winter birds. Also Marsh Harrier & Kestrel present.
Andy had 3 Spoonbills & the Black tailed Godwits on Wrafton scrape this morning.
Posted January 3rd at 12:34 pm by Rob Jutsum in Bird News
Buff-bellied Pipit showing well this morning at Maelcombe Beach just as I arrived but then disappeared into the rocks with hordes of Rock Pipits.
At Beesands: male Ring-necked Duck & male Pochard.
Posted January 3rd at 12:04 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
Great Northern Diver again on "pool" created by diverted stream. Close views form pavement!
Posted January 3rd at 11:47 am by Mike Gllover in Bird News
A single male Snow Bunting at 9.45am, fidgeting around by the memorial seat on the Pebble Ridge.
Posted January 3rd at 10:14 am by Roger Doble in Bird News
Sunday 2nd January 2022
Highlights this afternoon included the 2 Black-necked Grebes between Cockwood and Starcross, very distant Spoonbill feeding off Mudbank Lane (Exmouth), 500+ Avocets between Turf and Topsham, and the Spotted Redshank at Topsham. Also c20 Great Crested Grebes, c25 Shag, many Brent Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese in flight at Powderham Church, up to 200 Pintail between Powderham Corner and the Clyst, and large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Golden Plover around Turf. Only c10 Mergansers.
Posted January 2nd at 10:48 pm by Dave Smallshire in Bird News
Dipper,Grey Wagtail and 3 Old Nogs by the river as well as the carcasses of 3 spent salmon which must be encouraging.Finches in the bird mix field being harassed by 3 Sparrowhawks but did manage to count 20 plus Bullfinch during a lull in attacks.Highlight today was a female /juvenile Hen Harrier flying south presumably en route from Exmoor to Dartmoor.Other sightings included Greenfinch,Mistlethrush, Marsh Tit 10 Stock Dove and a Collared Dove.2 very vocal Buzzard feeding on a Grey Squirrel carcass.
Posted January 2nd at 8:13 pm by Brian Nicholas in Bird News
After walking once again to the estuary this morning with Andy Lansdell, he went out along the Marsh road and found several Whooper Swans. He said 5 but when I went out there a little Later, I thought there could possibly be more. They were back in the same field as a couple of weeks ago, but a good deal closer.
Later still I couldn't find any Purple Sandpipers at Ilfracombe in rough weather.
Posted January 2nd at 7:40 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
A 1st year Glaucous Gull in the roost this evening with c.220 Herring Gull, 10 Lesser BB Gull, 5 Common Gull, and c.200 Black-headed Gull. Also Black-necked Grebe still, 1 female Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 3 Heron, and around 40 Pied Wagtail roosting. A bit of a purple patch, usually there is very little to see.
Posted January 2nd at 6:28 pm by Rick Lockwood in Bird News
A first light visit to Exminster. 2 1st wint Marsh Harriers, Ruff, 280+ Curlew, 350+ Lapwing, 180+ Blackwit, 70+ Redshank, 500+ Wigeon, 300+ Teal, 45+ Shoveler & 9 Pintail & 15 Greylag. Off Turf 5 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover & 200+ Brent Geese.
Never saw the Geese or Ibis but all reported later in day. All in the great field near Turf, just weren’t there when I was.
Posted January 2nd at 5:11 pm by Steve Cox in Bird News
Lesser Scaup at Village outflow end, White-fronted Goose in field above Ley.
Posted January 2nd at 4:59 pm by Barry Rankine in Bird News
0910hrs 2nd Jan 2022 , Four Pink-footed Geese on meadow by Hatch Bridge, as geese flew out six Glossy Ibis flew in.
Posted January 2nd at 4:55 pm by Barry Rankine in Bird News
Good to see the birders and the birds at Torcross/Slapton Ley yesterday. Today, off the seafront the highlights were 3 Great Northern Divers, a 1st winter Razorbill and also a first winter Guillemot.
Posted January 2nd at 4:32 pm by Simon Bates in Bird News
White fronted and pink footed geese were in field near the Turf amongst cananda geese and curlew. Large numbers of golden plover and lapwing putting on a great show under double rainbows too!
Posted January 2nd at 2:08 pm by Helen Whitall in Bird News
Highlights: Glossy Ibis still at Clennon Valley.
Berry Head: Adult Pomarine Skua south at 1020, then same/another north at 1045. 20+ Common Dolphins showing incredibly well and Black Redstart (f type) in the quarry.
Broadsands: Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver.

Glossy Ibis
Posted January 2nd at 1:41 pm by Chris E in Bird News
Now have TWO males & a female (?) Blackcaps on the peanut fat cake in our Braunton garden :)
Posted January 2nd at 1:06 pm by Phil and Sue Naylor in Bird News
The black redstart is still around the bridge at skern

Black Redstart
Posted January 2nd at 12:25 pm by Richard Yeats in Bird News
6 Glossy Ibis showing well by Hatch Bridge this morning.
Posted January 2nd at 12:24 pm by Rob Macklin in Bird News
For some 5 days now there has been a white egret walking around a field in South Brent, Devon. My husband has seen two on one day. Not seen them before in the 11 years I've lived here. Wonderful!
Posted January 2nd at 10:50 am by Sue Astal-Stain in Bird News
Kicked off the New Year with 59 species including: Dipper, Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank (6), Siskin (c25), Stonechat (m), Goosander (6 incl 2 drakes), Red-crested Pochard (f) & 3 Little Grebes.
Posted January 2nd at 9:57 am by Pete Aley in Bird News
Saturday 1st January 2022
Glossy ibis spotted at clennon lakes
Posted January 1st at 10:59 pm by Iain Morland in Bird News
These are the photos of the Stonechat and the distant Red-Breasted Meganser.

Stonechat

Red-breasted Merganser
Posted January 1st at 10:34 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
A morning visit to Wrafton pond where among the usual suspects were three Jays, a male Tufted, a female Pochard, a male Shoveler, a couple of Gadwall, a Little Grebe and a Chiffchaff. Moving on along the west bank of the river Cean to Sherpa Marsh where a ringed Stonechat flew across the path and perched on a twig for a short photo shoot, From the path I got a distant shot of the Red-Breasted Meganser.

Jay

Chiffchaff
Posted January 1st at 10:31 pm by Martin Bennett in Bird News
Early afternoon,Fremington Pill a Glossy Ibis ,Spotted Redshank also a Greenshank Little Egrets and numerous Redshank,Teal and Black tailed Godwits.Later at Yelland looking towards Isley Marsh 2 Spoonbill amongst the numerous Shelduck and Lapwings.
Posted January 1st at 8:51 pm by Fiona Moffatt in Bird News
An impressive 59 Snipe flushed from Crownhill Down. Previous max since 2017 just single figures. Also 5 Reed Bunting, plus the usuals.
Posted January 1st at 7:52 pm by Chris E in Bird News
Along the canal bank, song from 6/7 Cetti's and squeals from 2 Water Rails.
On Exminster Marsh, failed like others to find the P-f Goose, but saw the Ibis and the Ruff, plus 3 Marsh Harriers, and 400+ Lapwings spooked by one of them.
In the estuary above Turf were the regular Golden Plover flock and several hundred Avocets, while from there down to the Kenn were 100+ Pintail, 20+ Mergansers, 400+ Dunlin, 30+ Grey Plovers, 20+ Barwits and, surprisingly, 4 Sanderlings.
In Powderham Park were 9 Gadwall. There are certainly far more around this Winter than for the previous two.
The last birds I heard in 2021 were the local Tawny Owl pair. As I type, they are out there again, making 70 spp. for the day; I joined the Young Ornithologists Club in January 1972, so that makes a good total to start a 51st year of birding.
Posted January 1st at 7:51 pm by James Camden in Bird News
A respectable 80 species notched up on foot from Budleigh Salterton today with the highlights being 3 Red-throated Divers (2 off Budleigh seafront and 1 off Chiselbury Bay), 50+ Common Scoter Chilsebury Bay, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit in the LORP area north of S Farm Road, 4 Goosanders at Blackhill Quarry and Woodcock above Squabmoor Reservoir. It appears the flock of 34 White-fronted Geese have finally departed, despite being seen yesterday.
Posted January 1st at 7:29 pm by Chris Townend in Bird News
Black-necked Grebe 1, Goldeneye 1 female, Goosander 2 female, Sparrowhawk 1, Black-headed Gull c70, Common Gull 4, Lesser BB Gull 5, Greater BB Gull 1, Herring Gull c70, Little Grebe 2, Marsh Tit 1, Siskin 40, Crossbill 5
Posted January 1st at 7:27 pm by Rick Lockwood in Bird News
A good start t the year with the Black Redstart but the Snow Buntings were hiding - no doubt because of the many people out enjoying the mild weather. Finished the day watching 5 glossy ibis joining the cattle and light egrets.

Black Redstart Skern
Posted January 1st at 6:00 pm by Andrew Lansdell in Bird News
On my way through the village to Wrafton I looked in the river at Caen St School. There just upstream of the bridge was Dipper. Arrived at the scrape just after the 2 Spoonbill had been flushed by some noisy walkers.5 Black-tailed Godwits, plus Tufty and Pochard still on Wrafton pond and a few Snipe in the reeds. Best of a short visit to the reserve were 2 Jays, male GSW, and a Goldcrest. Down the East bank of the Caen to the Estuary: Stonechat, Skylark, a few Waders (mostly Redshank, but only 1 Dunlin) Then 100's of Lapwing and many more Golden Plover flushed several times but I didn't see the culprit. Caught up with the drake Red-breasted Merganser on Sherpa Marsh on the return leg. Later at Fremington Pill a few Little Egrets and a couple of Cattle Egrets earlyish but then I was alerted to something down by the sluice so after we had watched the 5 Glossy Ibis arrive, I went down the Pill and saw the Common Sandpiper too! On my way back to the car saw more Egrets arriving - mostly Cattle but didn't get an accurate count.
Posted January 1st at 5:52 pm by Jon Turner in Bird News
Watched between 11:00 and 14:00 along the seafront between the lifeboat station car park and the Lido 18 Great Northern Diver ( 13 on sea with 7 south of pier around mouth of estuary and 6 north of pier plus 5 flying south) 2 Red Throated Diver on sea and 3 flying south also I Brent Goose on the sea and small numbers of guillemots and gannets a nice start to the New Year on new Patch
Posted January 1st at 5:48 pm by Keith Birchall in Bird News
A total of 74 birds ticked off over the day mostly from around the Exe.
High light was the Whooper Swan at Clyst St Mary at first light.
RSPB BGM ~ 23 Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 7 Pochard, a single Avocet and a Spotted Redshank.
Exminster marsh ~ good views of certainly 2 possibly 3 Marsh Harriers, good numbers of Lapwing and Curlew, on the estuary Golden and Grey Plover, good numbers of Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit and Avocet.
From the Goat Walk a small flock of Bar Tailed Godwit, 2 distant Black swan.
Haldon Forest ~ 4 flyover Crossbill.

Whooper Swan

Whooper Swan
Posted January 1st at 5:46 pm by Steve Hopper in Bird News
Great Northern Diver, Guillemot and a Mediterranean Gull along with the usual suspects.
Posted January 1st at 5:18 pm by Douglas Herdson in Bird News
9 Goosander (3 male, 6 redheads) and 30 Mandarin (17 male, 13 female) at 11.30
Posted January 1st at 2:46 pm by John Walton in Bird News
Lots of birds and birders around today. The 2 Lesser Scaups showing well at the far southern end, the White-fronted Goose in its regular field south of the bridge, the 2 Black-necked Grebes in Ireland Bay, 7 Goldeneye, 2 Cattle Egret, GN Diver on the sea off Torcross and the Snow Bunting near the Memorial car park. The Goose was a special bird for me today being my 200th species for Slapton (the L. Scaup 201st !).
Happy New Year
Posted January 1st at 2:37 pm by David Cope in Bird News
On a grey morning: 65 Black tailed Godwit, 58 Shelduck, 55 Avocet, 14 Great crested Grebe, 1 Common gull and a pair of Bullfinch in the bushes. First thing at Ernesettle creek: 123 Snipe among seaweed and leaves, 58 Teal and a male Great spotted Woodpecker.
Posted January 1st at 2:33 pm by Alan Livsey in Bird News
Delighted to have a female (or 1st winter male?) Blackcap join our male at the peanut fat cake feeder In our Braunton garden this morning and has been a regular visitor ever since.

Male Blackcap

Female, or 1st winter male, Blackcap
Posted January 1st at 2:18 pm by Phil and Sue Naylor in Bird News
Effort to start the new year well paid off. Glossy ibis showed well close to cycle track mid way between Turf and car park at 1.00pm. In the northern part of the marsh a marsh harrier, buzzard and peregrine were probably why there were so few birds there apart from a chiffchaff or two on the canal bank. Failed to locate the pink-footed goose (reported to have flown over the railway) but lots of brents, wigeon and teal. A single reed bunting at Turf was the first I have seen for some time.
Posted January 1st at 2:17 pm by John Waldon in Bird News
Resident glossy ibis spotted at clennon lakes
Posted January 1st at 1:40 pm by Iain morland in Bird News