Devon Birding

My apologies for the lack of updates. The county has been very quiet indeed.

Dawlish Warren - 1s drake Surf Scoter offshore. Also offshore Common Scoter, Roseate Tern, Little Tern. Slavonian Grebe in estuary.

Orcombe Point - 2 Manx Shearwater, 15 Sandwich Tern.

Dawlish Warren - Balearic Shearwater and 7 Common Tern.

Exminster Marshes - Black Kite over at 11.30am, circled low over marshes and then headed over River Exe to Topsham, circled and flew north at 11.43.

Dawlish Warren - Two Balearic Shearwaters, two Common Terns and a Little Gull offshore.

Nothing of note in south Devon.

Common Rosefinch on Lundy and Cattle Egret at Colyford Common, Seaton.

Dawlish Warren - Balearic Shearwater offshore. Slavonian Grebe still in estuary.

Topsham - Mediterranean Gull adult north of Topsham playing fields at 8am.

Exmouth - Mediterranean Gull 1s still

Dawlish Warren - 2 Balearic Shearwaters still offshore

Exmouth - Mediterranean Gull 1s

Silveridge Woods - Cuckoo in song (Many thanks S. Williams)

Dawlish Warren - Red-footed Falcon first summer male flew east at 1.45pm. 2 Balearic Shearwaters still offshore.

Slapton - Marsh Harrier over ley

Exmouth - Mediterranean Gull off seafront.

Exminster Marshes - Hobby still.

Exmouth (Mudbank Lane) - Summer plumage Slavonian Grebe on river.

Fernworthy Down, Dartmoor - Woodchat Shrike

Exminster Marshes - 2 Hobbies and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

South Huish Marsh - 3 Cattle Egrets this morning around marsh and cow fields, then flew south.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill at west end of Passage House Inn until 9.40, before flying east. May be relocated on Exe Estuary.

Dawlish Warren - 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas and 2 Roseate Terns offshore in afternoon.

Warren House Inn - 3 male Red-backed Shrikes still present around Soussons Plantation.

Warren House Inn - At least 2 male Red-backed Shrikes still around Soussons plantation.

Exminster Marshes -  American Golden Plover 1st summer still on edge of pool between main lagoon and canal bank towpath.

Dawlish Warren - Pomarine Skua offshore in evening.

Warren House Inn - The 3 Red-backed Shrikes still present. Also Whinchat, Tree Pipit and Cuckoo.

Exminster - Turtle Dove

Dawlish Warren - 15 Manx Shearwaters and 11 Common Tern offshore.

South Huish Marsh - Cattle Egret still, but no sign of Spoonbill.

Thurlestone Marsh - Cattle Egret (different bird).

Dawlish Warren - Balearic Shearwater and Black Tern offshore.

Brixham - 30 Manx Shearwater, 7 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern. 

Warren House Inn - 2 male Red-backed Shrikes still. Also Tree Pipit and Whinchat (Many thanks R. Gaze)

South Huish - Cattle Egret and Spoonbill. Terns moving offshore.

Warren House Inn - 2 male Red-backed Shrikes still. Also Tree Pipit and Whinchat. (Many thanks R. Gaze)

Tiverton - Montagu's Harrier flew over Little Bowley at 3.40pm.

Warren House Inn - now 3 Red-backed Shrikes (all males) present around Soussons plantation.

Dawlish Warren - Little Gull and Arctic Skua offshore.

South Huish Marsh - Spoonbill still.

Warren House Inn - 2 male Red-backed Shrikes at Soussons Plantation though mobile. Park at Bennett's Cross/Warren House Inn and from start of valley walk c400 yards to view fences on left. 2 Tree Pipits also present. General area also usually holds Redstart, Whinchat, Cuckoo and Wheatear.

Prawle Point - 8 Storm Petrels lingering offshore around fishing boats.

Exminster Marshes - 2 Garganey still.

Bowling Green Marsh - No sign of Bonaparte's Gull but Garganey and Ruff still as well as first summer Little Gull.

Berry Pomeroy - Possible Red-footed Falcon flew over heading north at 17.48pm.

Prawle Point  - Bee-eater just north of Prawle Point on wires at 11am.

Bowling Green Marsh - Bonaparte's Gull still at 7.30pm. Also Ruff and drake Garganey.

Exminster Marshes - 3 Garganey

Exminster Marshes - *BONAPARTE'S GULL* 1st summer offshore in evening. Relocated to Bowling Green Marsh viewing platform at 8.29pm. Mobile, may possibly relocate to Matford Pools.

Broadsands - Probable Black Kite over NW at 4pm. 

Great Haldon - Another probable Black Kite over Haldon Forest at 8am, flew east.

Start Point - Red Kite over Bickerton Farm.

South Huish - Spoonbill still.

Exminster Marshes - 5 Garganey and a Hobby.

Slapton - Hobby and 5 Arctic Terns.

Dawlish Warren - Roseate Tern, 40+ Arctic Terns and a Pomarine Skua offshore.

Kingsbridge Estuary - Spoonbill

West Charleton Marsh - 2 Cattle Egrets

Exminster Marshes - American Golden Plover still in morning in front of main lagoon but no sign in evening. Temminck's Stint in evening, viewed from canal bank towpath. 

Exminster Marshes - American Golden Plover still in front of main lagoon late afternoon.

South Huish Marsh - Spoonbill

Thurlestone - Garganey on marsh.

Dawlish Warren - 5 Roseate Terns and a Pomarine Skua offshore.

Exminster Marshes - American Golden Plover still by pool in front of main lagoon.

Bowling Green Marsh - Garganey still present in afternoon.

Exmouth - 2 Arctic Terns and a Roseate Tern off seafront.

Slapton - Honey Buzzard over. Also Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobbys.

West Charleton - Whinchat

Exminster Marshes - 7 Hobby, Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank.

Dawlish Warren - 2 Roseate Terns again offshore with 2 Little Terns and 2 Arctic Terns. Also Velvet Scoter and 150 Manx Shearwater. 

Exminster Marshes - American Golden Plover again in front of main lagoon and showing well.

Exmouth - Roseate Tern off Maer Rocks.

Dawlish Warren - 3 Black, 2 Roseate, 30 Sandwich, 4+ Little, 10+ Arctic and 200+ Common Terns offshore. 4 Yellow Wagtails over. 8+ Whitethroats in song. Red-throated Diver and 10 Manx Shearwaters offshore. Purple Heron flew over east at 5pm. 17 Whimbrel and 3+ Knot in the estuary.

Exminster Marshes - No sign of American Golden Plover, but Wood Sandpiper and Hobby near main lagoon. Grasshopper Warbler reeling. Numerous Sedge, Reed and Cetti's Warblers. Honey Buzzard over, flew towards Topsham.

Bowling Green Marsh - Garganey from hide.

Berry Head - Redstart, Wheatear, 14 Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler. 1000+ Guillemots on cliffs. Sharkham Point - Peregrine, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Buzzard. (Many thanks J. Marshall)

Dawlish Warren - Roseate and 3 Arctic Terns offshore. Garganey in off the sea.

Exminster Marshes - AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER in front of main lagoon viewed from canal bank footpath. Temminck's Stint also reported this morning. Black Tern still on main lagoon. Also Gargany and Little Ringed Plover. Hobby and Common Tern over.

Topsham - Marsh Harrier over Topsham reedbed.

Yarner Wood - 5 Wood Warbler, 8+ Pied Flycatcher. Warren House Inn to Challacombe Farm - Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 3 Swift, 4 Redstart, Cuckoo, 2 Tree Pipit, Pied Flycatcher. Dartmeet - Mandarin (drake), Dipper. (J Ray, Paul F, Simon T. et al)

Exminster Marshes - Black Tern showing well on main lagoon from canal towpath. Also 3 Hobbies.

Dawlish Warren - Red-throated Diver and 2 first-summer Little Gulls.

Start Point - 96 Manx Shearwater, 6 Great Northern Divers and a Puffin past. 

Berry Head - Pomarine Skua and 55 Manx Shearwaters past.

Berry Head - 2 Garden Warbler (singing), Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, Peregrine, 2 Bullfinch, 12 Swallow. (Many thanks J. Marshall)

Dawlish Warren - 3 Balearic Shearwaters and an Arctic Tern offshore.

Exmouth - Pomarine and Arctic Skuas off lifeboat station. 

Exminster Marshes - Garganey still on main lagoon.

Dawlish Warren - 2 Arctic Skuas, 5 Great Northern Divers, 2 Little Terns and an Arctic Tern offshore. 

South Milton - Wood Warbler

Dawlish Warren - 5 Balearic Shearwaters and a Little Gull offshore.  

Exminster Marshes - No sign of Little Crake by 3pm.

Exminster Marshes - 2 Garganey on main lagoon.

Bolt Head -  Wryneck at Bolt Tail in morning.

I will be unable to update this page for the next 10 days or so, as I will be visiting Greece. When I return, a full trip report will be published on the site, and sightings updates on this page will return as normal. 

Thank you. Joe Ray - 5th April 2008

Newton Abbot - Cattle Egret still at Blatchford Farm.

Berry Head - 22 Manx Shearwaters and a Mediterranean Gull past.

Start Point - 2 Firecrest.

Kingsbridge Estuary - 3 Cattle Egret still at Park Farm.

South Huish - 2 Willow Warbler, Wheatear, White Wagtail.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still.

Yarner Wood - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Dartford Warbler.

Newton Abbot - Cattle Egret still at Blatchford Farm.

Slapton - 7 Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Scaup, Marsh Harrier.

Newton Abbot - Cattle Egret at Blatchford Farm north of Newton Abbot still at 2.10pm .

Aveton Gifford - 2 Cattle Egrets still in fields upstream of bridge on eastern side of river.

Beesands - 7 Velvet Scoters and a Great Northern Diver offshore.

Thurleston - Osprey in off the sea at 11am.

Newton Abbot - Cattle Egret in field by A382 NNW of Newton Abbot with 8 Little Egrets.

Bowling Green Marsh - 15+ Sand Martin.

Countess Wear - Falcated Duck still. Red-breasted Merganser at Exeter saltmarsh.

Beesands - 7 Velvet Scoters offshore.

Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler again in Central Park.

Kingsbridge Estuary - 3 Cattle Egrets still at Park Farm.

Exeter - 4 House Martins over Exeter Canal.

Aveton Gifford - 2 Cattle Egrets still showing well in field by roadbridge then flew towards Hatch Farm at 4.45pm.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore. Whimbrel also present.

South Huish - 2 Black Redstarts on beach.

South Milton Ley - Siberian Chiffchaff 

Stover - 50 Sand Martin.

Kingsbridge - 4 Cattle Egrets still at Park Farm.

Aveton Gifford - Cattle Egret.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher still.

Orcombe Point - Sandwich Tern and 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese.  

Countess Wear - Falcated Duck still.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still off Langstone Rock with Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers also offshore.

Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler still in Central Park.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher still. Also 3 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank and 25 Sand Martin.

Orcombe Point -  Rough-legged Buzzard juvenile over at 1pm then flew north towards Exeter.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher still 8.30am from hide. Also 2 Swallows, and 2 Greenshank at the Clyst Viewing Platform.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still off Langstone Rock also Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver.

Beesands - Red-crested Pochard still also 2 Sand Martins. Slavonian Grebe offshore.

Countess Wear - Falcated Duck still.

Slapton - Ring-billed Gull at north end. 11Velvet Scoter, 100+ Sand Martin, 4 Swallow. **Possible Little Bunting reported with pipits and wagtails between Torcross car park and boulders on seaward side of road**

Kingsbridge Estuary - 4 Cattle Egret at Park Farm.  Black Brant still in Charleton Bay. 

Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler still.

Hope's Nose, Torquay -  2 Wheatear and a Black Redstart.

Paignton - Black-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe off Paignton Pier.

Slapton - 100 Sand Martins. 

Topsham -  3 Wheatear and 40 Sand Martins. Long-billed Dowitcher still at Bowling Green Marsh.

Prawle Point - 25 Common Scoter, 10 Wheatear, Chiffchaff, 5 Purple Sandpiper. 

Torbay - 4 Black-necked Grebes Broadsands. Also Black-throated Diver, Sand Martin, and 5 Cirl Buntings. Single Black-necked Grebes at Preston and Goodrington. Black-throated Diver Paignton.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher still.

Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler still in Central Park.

Countess Wear - Falcated Duck still.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore with a Great Northern Diver and 5 Slavonian Grebes also present.  

Broadsands - Eider

Beesands - Red-crested Pochard still on the ley. Offshore 4 Velvet Scoters with 25 Common Scoters, and a Slavonian Grebe.

Broadsands - 3 Black-necked Grebes and a Black-throated Diver offshore. 5 Cirl Buntings and 2 Bramblings still in car park.

Plymouth - Yellow-browed  Warbler still in Central Park also 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull.

Countess Wear - Drake Falcated Duck still.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher still, also Spotted Redshank.

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowitcher 1st winter still (present since late October), 2 Spotted Redshank, House Martin, 5 Sand Martins.

Berry Head, Brixham -  Pomarine Skua past. Also 2 Balearic Shearwaters, Manx Shearwater and Great Skua. 

Countess Wear - Falcated Duck still.

Central Park, Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler still.

Beesands - Red-crested Pochard still, also presumed Tufted Duck x Red-crested Pochard hybrid. 3 Velvet Scoter and 17 Common Scoter offshore.

Kingsbridge Estuary - Black Brant still with 76 Brent Geese in Charleton Bay. 

Topsham - 5 Sand Martin

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore. Also 5 Slavonian Grebes, Red-throated Diver, 13 Common Scoter, 4 Knot, Peregrine, Sandwich Tern and 2 Redpoll.

Firstly, I apologise for the recent lack of updates as my Internet has been down and I have been unable to update the site. Please bear with me as the website becomes up to date again. Thank you.

Dartmoor -  Yellow-browed Warbler showing well still south east of Dartmoor just south of Bovey Tracey by Pottery Road at Pottery Wood. Turn west from A382 Newton Road roundabout for half a mile past Pottery Road and take footpath on right to copse to view. Grid ref SX.813.774

Plymouth - Yellow-browed Warbler still in Central Park on south side 100 yards north of Central Park Avenue entrance but mobile. Grid ref SX.474.558

Dawlish - Firecrest in morning just south of Dawlish behind Oakland Park School. Grid ref SX.995.759

Warren House Inn - Great Great Shrike still 200m south of Inn at 4pm.

Slapton - Scaup

Beesands - Red-crested Pochard still. 

Exminster Marshes - CATTLE EGRET still.

Exmouth Docks - Black Redstart. Mediterranean Gull Exmouth off Mudbank Lane.

Warren House Inn, Dartmoor - Great Grey Shrike 200m below Inn in Soussons Valley.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore with 3 Slavonian Grebes. 

Countess Wear - FALCATED DUCK still.

Broadsands - Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, 12 Cirl Bunting, 3 Brambling, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff. 

Slapton - Ring-billed Gull adult again in Ireland Bay at 10am. Also Black-necked Grebe, 3 Scaup, 6+ Cetti's Warbler.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still. 

Bowling Green Marsh - Long-billed Dowticher still. Also Spotted Redshank.

Prawle Point - Red-throated Diver, Balearic Shearwater, 4 Velvet Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, 15 Purple Sandpiper, 2000+ auk sp.

Slapton - 5 Velvet Scoter, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Scaup, 2 Goldeneye, Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler.

Beesands - 2 Eider, 43 Gadwall, 12 Pochard, Red-crested Pochard.

Warren House Inn (Dartmoor) - Hen Harrier, Merlin. 

Exmouth - Black Redstart on beach below Windward Court. 2 Common Crossbills over Bystock Reserve at 1.25pm.

Man Sands - 2 Bramblings by farm with Chaffinches at 10am.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore.

Countess Wear - FALCATED DUCK still present. 

Kingsbridge Estuary - 3 CATTLE EGRETS Woolston Farm. Black Brant still in West Charleton Bay with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Also 2 Water Rail and 2 Greenshank, with 6 Chiffchaffs at Charleton sewage works.

Powderham - 3 CATTLE EGRETS  5 miles north of Dawlish on western side of Exe Estuary half a mile north of Church in field near circular house at 3pm with 4 Little Egrets.

Slapton - 2 Black-necked Grebe. 

Broadsands - First-winter Mediterranean Gull present. Also 9 Cirl Buntings in stubble fields past second car park as well as 4 Bramblings. Scandinavian type Chiffchaff still Broadsands Marsh.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore with 7 Slavonian Grebes.  

Slapton - Ring-billed Gull adult again in Ireland Bay. Also Marsh Harrier, Scaup and Black-necked Grebe. 

Kingsbridge Estuary - Black Brant still West Charleton Bay. 5 CATTLE EGRETS still at Park Farm.

Prawle Point - 3 Great Northern Divers west + Brambling.

Berry Head - Peregrine, Cirl Bunting

Slapton - 2 Black-necked Grebe, but no report of adult Ring-billed Gull that has been present around Ireland Bay at the eastern end of the ley.

Broadsands, Paignton -  3 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Brent Goose.

Exmouth - 2 Greenshank, adult Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher.

Countess Wear - Drake FALCATED DUCK still.

Countess Wear - FALCATED DUCK drake still showing, also Common Sandpiper on the river.

West Charleton - Black Brant adult still in Charleton Bay with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. 

Exminster Marshes - The 2 CATTLE EGRETS still showing in field north of Station Road.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still, also 4 Slavonian Grebes and 3 Great Northern Divers offshore.

Beesands - Female Long-tailed Duck still off Tinsey Head. Red-crested Pochard still on Beesands Ley. 

Slapton - Ring-billed Gull adult in Ireland Bay for second day. Also Slavonian Grebe.

CATTLE EGRET INFLUX -  At least 5 CATTLE EGRETS present in Devon today, with no report so far of the 5 at the Kingsbridge Estuary. Individuals have been in the county since November/December, and numbers have slowly built up. Although not all in south Devon, the birds are present at Plymouth (3+ in area),and  Exminster Marshes (2 still), with several probably still in the vicinity of the Kingsbridge Estuary (up to 5 recently at Park Farm) with further individuals likely to be present around Teigngrace (near Newton Abbot) and around Northam Burrows in north Devon.

Exmouth - First-winter female Surf Scoter still present viewable from Exmouth sea front. The bird frequents the area between Dawlish Warren and Exmouth at the mouth of the Exe Estuary. Great Northern Diver in the estuary. At Dawlish Warren 3 Velvet Scoter, and 2 Mediterranean Gulls 

Exminster Marshes - 2 CATTLE EGRETS still present 1.43pm Exminster Marshes RSPB in cattle field north of Station Road. Present at this site since at least 24th January.

Topsham -  5 Bramblings still in garden between M5 and playing field.

Slapton -  Male Scaup, 2 Goldeneye, Firecrest, Marsh Harrier.

Beesands - Female Red-crested Pochard still present on the ley. Offshore Velvet Scoter, Great Norhern Diver and Sooty Shearwater but no report of wintering Long-tailed Duck.

West Charleton, Kingsbridge -  Black Brant still, also 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Chiffchaff,

Topsham - 7 Brambling in garden between M5 and playing field

Countess  Wear - Drake FALCATED DUCK still present 2 miles south of Exeter by river Exe downstream of A379 bridge at Countess Wear pool but elusive. Park by swing bridge and walk along canal towpath past sewage works building. Grid ref SX 948 887

Kingsbridge Estuary - Black Brant adult still present at Lincombe bay with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Also 2 Spotted Redshanks. 4 CATTLE EGRETS still present at Park Farm on the western side of the estuary just south of Kingsbridge SX 732 427.

Slapton - 10 Velvet Scoter, Ring-billed Gull (adult winter).

Prawle Point - Balearic Shearwater, Great Northern Diver.

Dawlish Warren -  Great Northern Diver still in the estuary. 2 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Velvet Scoters offshore.