South Devon

[Joe Ray]

As I appear to be online ever increasingly, I thought it might be worth starting a South Devon birding thread.
My patch is a small rural neighbourhood inland in Devon.
To date I have recorded 75 species here, the pick of these being Cirl Bunting, Hobby, Firecrest, Kingfisher, Little Egret, and flyover Hen Harrier and Cormorant.
As far as I know, I am the only birder in the area. We are not talking about any local reserve or park, merely a typical part of the Devon countryside, my 'patch' being a small approx 2 mile square
As I also visit other parts of Devon when birding, this thread is not strictly dedicated to my patch, although that is where most of my birding is done, so please post if you've been out and about in Devon.

Joe

[Joe Ray]

A brief walk down towards the lake in heavy rain this afternoon yielded very little. A flyover Skylark was nice, + a Jay , and couple of Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff were tagging along with a Long-tailed Tit flock.
The lake was on the verge of flooding its banks, the water churned and muddy, with a complete lack of birds thereon.

[Bobolink44]

Hi Jyothi, you'll be the envy of most birders in the UK. A little piece of Devon countryside sounds like a great local patch especially for land-locked birders. Have been to Berry/Totnes area a few times over the years, for Gyr Falcon and Isabelline Shrike. I suspect regular spring and autumn watching and you will find a great bird or two. Then you'll have to figure out where everyone will park! Curious, are the Cirl Buntings regular on your patch or occasional?

[Joe Ray]

Hi Jyothi, you'll be the envy of most birders in the UK. A little piece of Devon countryside sounds like a great local patch especially for land-locked birders. Have been to Berry/Totnes area a few times over the years, for Gyr Falcon and Isabelline Shrike. I suspect regular spring and autumn watching and you will find a great bird or two. Then you'll have to figure out where everyone will park! Curious, are the Cirl Buntings regular on your patch or occasional?

Hi Bobolink.
First recorded Cirl Bunting here in the spring, around May, I had a flock of 8 comfortably ensconced at the edge of a copse leading onto a large arable field. They remained for a couple of days, but I have had only sporadic records since. There does not appear to be a pattern to their occurrence, in spite of extensive searching of likely spots, they seem to turn up by chance every now and again.

It's a mixed blessing being the only birder on my patch. Find anything good, it's very personal, and a great feeling that it's 'your' bird even if it's not particularly rare (e.g. Firecrest 19th April 2006, totally unexpected), but then there's no one to share it with if you find something locally good.

One day, something decent might turn up ;), you never know.
Cheers
J

[Joe Ray]

Off school with a bad cold today, so after spending the morning in bed, I wrapped up and pulled myself out onto my patch for a walk.
A heavy haw frost overnight left the place very cold, and without a breath of wind.
A few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits trickled over SW, and 9 Goldcrests were scattered along a lane in the hedgerow.
Still no sign of any winter thrushes however, in spite of the cold spell, although large numbers of Blue and Great Tits were in evidence.
2 Siskins headed high over, NE.
The lake below the castle looked straight out of Lord of the Rings, or perhaps Harry Potter, a light mist hanging over the water.
On the water, I was pleased to find a Little Grebe, presumably the bird that had arrived and stayed for 14 days in October, but had subsequently disappeared.
A very quiet morning, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Joe Ray]

Slightly better today.
The Little Grebe was still present at the lake, and 6 Mallards (yawn) had come in overnight.
9 Siskins, 3 Skylarks, and 2 Meadow Pipits over, with 2 Fieldfares, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Goldcrests, 15 Long-tailed Tits and 5 Jays spread out around a copse.
40+ Blue Tits at the feeders.
2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk over.

[Joe Ray]

Highlight was a Merlin flying over the A381 near Totnes, the first in the area for me.
In Totnes, a handful of Redpolls and a Mistle Thrush in alders at the surgery car park.
70 Redwings and 26 Siskins SW over the garden this morning.

[Nighthawk]

A lovely read through Jyothi with some good birds in the end too. Lovely photos depicting the weather. I hope you're soon feeling much better, there are some horrible colds about right now. Look after yourself, but a good idea to get out in the fresh air.

So you finally got Redwings & Fieldfares as well then! Me too on the way to town, loads of them were in grassy/muddy fields, then when we got to the car park we sat and watched about 30 in the field right in front of us. Lovely, until some dear soul bought her dog there and was chucking sticks for it!

[Bobolink44]

Yes, well done Jyothi, some nice birds there for a school day! Especially that Merlin. Not that I am suggesting you are not in good health but I was known to skip the odd day for a good bird in my youth. But Nighthawk is right, a bit of fresh air is the best remedy.

[Joe Ray]

A brief trip out to Teigngrace near Newton Abbot was made this afternoon for the Cattle Egret.
After 5 minutes or so of driving around the lanes attempting to find the field that the bird had be residing in, we found it. The field was muddy and full of cattle, amongst them were scatterd a dozen or so Little Egrets, and after a quick scan I picked out the Cattle Egret.
Light was poor, and the wind was up, making photography impossible.

Aside from the egrets the field held a decent flock of 40+ Pied Wagtails, and c80 Redwings.

[Joe Ray]

Boxing day, I headed off to Staverton, by the river Dart for a walk with friends.
Reaching Staverton bridge a Siskin flew over, and a pair of Goosander were showing well slightly down the river. With them was a Little Grebe, and a couple of Grey Wagtails. Little else of note was seen during the following 3 mile walk, save a few Coal Tits.

[stithianswarden]

i think we're on joe in may. at the mo its only paul who may not be able to make it. he's also getting married a couple of weeks after.

lets hope the lesser peckers come out to play...

[Joe Ray]

Very quiet this morning.
Two hours (6.45-9.15) yielded very little in terms of migrants.
The final totals were:
Chiffchaff 11
Willow Warbler 1
Meadow Pipit 6
Pied Wagtail 4
Skylark 2
Raven 7
Buzzard 3
Yellowhammer 2
Swallow 12
Linnet 8

[Andrew Cunningham]

Hi Joe,

Yellowhammer would be spectacular for me on the Grand Western Canal! Meadow Pipit would also be a highlight of the day anytime of the year. Such are the delectable vagaries of local patching. Still praying for a 'stupid' Tufted Duck to get lost one freezing winter's day! ;)

Hope you get a few Wheatears soon.

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Joe Ray]

Spent Tuesday morning seawatching at Berry Head with Mark, Bob and Josh. Southerlies and light showers meant seabirds were much in evidence throughout the morning. Final totals below.

Sabine's Gull 4
Roseate Tern 1
Black Tern 10
Arctic Tern 3
Common Tern 74
Sandwich Tern 92
Sooty Shearwater 13
Balearic Shearwater 3
Manx Shearwater 68
Pomarine Skua 6
Great Skua 14
Arctic Skua 71
Puffin 2
Storm Petrel 7
Common Scoter 12

[Joe Ray]

Pectoral Sandpiper reported on the Kingsbridge Estuary this morning in Lincombe Bay before flying north at 12.45

Could potentially be relocated along the higher stretches of the Avon Estuary, although whether anyone will be looking (it's an underwatched area) I don't know. I can't check the area myself as I have a broken ankle, but will certainly be going down if it's relocated in an area with good access.

[Colin Key]

Spent Tuesday morning seawatching at Berry Head with Mark, Bob and Josh. Southerlies and light showers meant seabirds were much in evidence throughout the morning. Final totals below.

Sabine's Gull 4
Roseate Tern 1
Black Tern 10
Arctic Tern 3
Common Tern 74
Sandwich Tern 92
Sooty Shearwater 13
Balearic Shearwater 3
Manx Shearwater 68
Pomarine Skua 6
Great Skua 14
Arctic Skua 71
Puffin 2
Storm Petrel 7
Common Scoter 12

Crikey Joe, that list includes four birds which would be lifers for me! (Sab Gull, Sooty Shear, Pom Skua and Puffin).

Colin :twitcy:

[Joe stockwell]

same for me you jammy git

[Joe Ray]

I'll make no excuse, it was jammy!
Having broken my ankle on Saturday (still got Wryneck, Pom and Sooty), I had the time off school. Definitely my best Devon seawatch.

[Joe Ray]

A steady stream of Meadow Pipits moving through the patch this morning. I'm still on crutches, so numbers aren't too accurate (I've only been able to view from my bedroom window!) but approx. 50 estimated. c20 Siskins overhead as well, also a number of Grey Wagtails.

Small number of Chiffchaffs are also moving through. About 30 Swallows and a handful of House Martins are all that is left in the neighbourhood in terms of hirundines, another poor breeding year.

Passage is usually rubbish locally, so although the above isn't really noteworthy in a wider context, locally it's a veritable invasion.

[MichaelF]

First time I've heard of someone breaking an ankle to get time off to go birding ;-)

Still plenty of Swallows and House Martins up here in Northumbs, so there's more to come for you. Also keep scanning the sky of Honey-buzzards, there's been a large influx over the last few days (haven't had any myself, but still hoping!).

[AndyB]

Joe, did you break your ankle whilst birding and still soldiered on for Wryneck etc? In which case, well done. I once fractured my wrist climbing over and falling off a stone wall at Marazion, Cornwall whilst going for a Woodchat Shrike. After an hour of the bird not showing and the dizziness brought on by the excruciating pain, I had to call it quits and go to the Penzance ER. My brother will tell some story about me also passing out but I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

[Joe Ray]

Excellent seawatch on Sunday. Totals:


Berry Head, 05/10/08 07.15 - 14.15

Sabine's Gull (adult)
Long-tailed Skua 5 (adult, 4 juveniles)
Pomarine Skua 5
Arctic Skua 66
Great Skua 43
Sooty Shearwater 6
Balearic Shearwater 20
Manx Shearwater 14
Great Northern Diver 1
Common Scoter 28
Velvet Scoter 1
Kittiwake 403
Razorbill 64

Bottle-nosed Dolphin 11
Harbour Porpoise 1

[MichaelF]

Nice lot! Seawatching has been absolutely .... up here this year, unlike last year (which was excellent).

[Colin Key]

Crikey Joe,

This latest list includes five birds which would be lifers for me (Sab Gull, Long-tailed and Pom Skuas, Sooty Shearwater and Velvet Scoter).

I used to live in Devon (30+ years ago) but never saw "noffink" - maybe I should move back!! :err:

Colin

[MichaelF]

This latest list includes five birds which would be lifers for me (Sab Gull, Long-tailed and Pom Skuas, Sooty Shearwater and Velvet Scoter).
Got all five of them last year in Northumbs, too (but only Sooty Shear this year so far).

Surely all except Velvet Scoter should be quite easy in Portugal? Try from Cabo de São Vicente during a good NW'ly gale, Joe's birds should all be heading past on their way to the South Atlantic over the next week or two.

[Colin Key]

Surely all except Velvet Scoter should be quite easy in Portugal? Try from Cabo de São Vicente during a good NW'ly gale, .

I visit Cabo de São Vicente at least once every week (and have done so for the past 12 years), but have never see these species.

We had the annual SPEA-organised raptor watch at Cabranosa (the trig-point just north of Sagres) on Saturday the 4th which produced hardly any birds, and the pelagic off Sagres the following day produced nothing (except Dolphins).

There are more birds in, or over, my garden (Wryneck, Short-toed Eagle, Eleonora's Falcon, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Bonelli's Eagle, + much more) than we saw at the Cape - all very worrying, to be honest. I was one of the few people to witness the the flock of 1,900 Griffon Vultures (the largest single flock ever seen in Iberia) two years ago - this year I have not seen a single bird!! :cry:

Colin

[Joe Ray]

It had been raining heavily on Saturday and through into the night, so on Sunday morning when the rain lifted slightly, large numbers of birds were moving out of Lyme Bay and subsequently passed Berry Head (SSW winds meant they were pushed fairly close in, hence good views of Long-tailed Skua, Sabine's etc). Without these conditions, you might get a few skuas and the odd shearwater but nothing special.

Colin, if you're ever visiting Devon, let me know and maybe I can persuade you to move back (although I doubt it!, seeing where you live). Don't sacrifice all of those glories in Portugal for a few grimy seabirds!

Joe

[MichaelF]

raptor watch at Cabranosa (the trig-point just north of Sagres) ... produced hardly any birds
No sensible raptor would head that way! Looks a great stepping-off point for a watery grave in the mid-Atlantic (tho' sadly, that does happen: http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4150 ).

[MichaelF]

Don't sacrifice all of those glories in Portugal for a few grimy seabirds!
Come, come! What can beat a Sooty Shearwater!?! There's no other bird on the British list that comes so far to get here - see one, you know you're seeing a bird hatched over 12,000km away. That's pretty special!

[Joe stockwell]

i took advantage of the same storm passing through and was on portland at that weekend my toatals were not quite as good but had 3 lifers
SABINES GULL 4
SOOTY SHEARWATER 14
LONG TAILED SKUA 1

plus balearics 16, arctic skua 1, great skua 1, razorbill 1, guilimot 19, manx lots, and kittiwakes 3

a few photos on my blog

joe

[Colin Key]

No sensible raptor would head that way! Looks a great stepping-off point for a watery grave in the mid-Atlantic (tho' sadly, that does happen: http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4150 ).

But most of them do Michael!

On northerly spring migration we get very, very few raptors, they pass over the Straits at Gib/Tarifa and just carry on northwards with a hormone-induced urgency. Southerly autumn migration is much more leisurely and the great majority of birds from northern and central Europe follow a route more or less along the west coast of Iberia before doing a left turn and again follow the south coast before drifting along to the Straits for the final jump (the same goes for a lot of passerines such as Pied Flycatcher - one of the commonest birds here at the moment, but very rare in spring). Cabranosa is one of the three "official" watchpoints in this area manned by SPEA from 8am till 6pm every day over a two month period; in previous years the numbers have been very impressive, but this year not and no-one knows why. In previous years I recall seeing flocks (literally hundreds of birds) of Black Kite over my house in late August-early September - this year I have seen three. :puzzled:

Colin

[MichaelF]

along the west coast of Iberia before doing a left turn and again follow the south coast before drifting along to the Straits for the final jump
Strange!! I'd assumed they'd do a ± straight line from where they cross the Pyrenees to Tarifa.

[Joe Ray]

North Devon's drake King Eider has returned. A first for Devon, it was found on 19th February 2008 in first winter plumage, staying until 24th April at least, when it was seen drifting out to sea. Throughout its stay, it frequented the estuary mouth at Instow/Appledore, and occasionally relocated to Northam Burrowes CP. A shot of the bird (taken in March) can be seen here (http://birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?v=1&f=167079&r=1&st=0&q=).

I narrowly missed it in the spring, so a welcome opportunity (and a small consolation after the disappointment of the Alder Flycatcher pushing off before Sat morning...) to see an excellent south west bird.

[MichaelF]

Good luck! It should look rather nicer now, tho' still not yet a full adult (they don't get that until 3 years old).

[MichaelF]

Any joy on the King Eider? Pics?

[Joe Ray]

After an unsuccessful search for the bird at Appledore, I managed to refind it at Northam Burrowes CP, and it eventually gave good views in the estuary mouth. I raced back to the car for the camera... well, hobbled is a better description, I've only just come off crutches!
Got back and the bird had moved further out into the main channel, way too far for a 400mm lens. I managed a single rubbishy digiscoped shot (attached).
3 Spoonbills at Isley Marsh ended a good day.

[MichaelF]

Congrats!.......

[Joe Ray]

A successful morning around the Exe produced 2 Woodlarks at Exminster, good numbers of wildfowl on Exminster Marshes and the wintering Surf Scoter offshore at Dawlish Warren with a Slavonian Grebe.

[MichaelF]

Nice selection there! No Cirl Buntings?

64 Waxwings up here today, also got Jack Snipe (2) and a Short-eared Owl.

[Joe Ray]

Nice selection there! No Cirl Buntings?

64 Waxwings up here today, also got Jack Snipe (2) and a Short-eared Owl.
No luck this time, although they occasionally visit my garden - these birds are now becoming more regular in south Devon, the last full county breeding survey in 2003 gave a population estimate of 697 pairs, cf. 453 pairs in 1998, so a 54% increase.

Now they've been re-introduced to Cornwall, I guess numbers will continue to increase, which is all good news.

[Joe Ray]

Sorry for the recent lack of updates on this thread, I have been busy with other things.

I made a trip up to east Devon and the Otter Estuary yesterday to look for the American Herring Gull. There was no sign during the six hours that I was there, but 2 Water Pipits were noted, as well as the wintering Whimbrel.

The Axe Estuary held a single Iceland Gull during the afternoon, as well as 4+ Mediterranean Gulls.

No luck with the Powderham Cattle Egrets at dusk in spite of the presence of 9 Little Egrets, but a Spoonbill was on Powderham Park lake before flying onto the Exe Estuary at 18.00.

[Joe Ray]

Male Cirl Bunting singing this morning on the hill behind the garden.

[Joe stockwell]

Male Cirl Bunting singing this morning on the hill behind the garden.

this just isn't fair!:puzzled:

[Joe Ray]

A few migrants starting to come in locally now.

Chiffchaff - 18th March
Blackcap - 3rd April
Swallow - 4th April

[Joe Ray]

Colyford Common, East Devon this afternoon.

Little Ringed Plover on s....e though distant. Green Sandpiper in boggy area. 2 Swallows north.

[MichaelF]

Nice LRP! Don't recollect any mention of any up here yet.

[Joe Ray]

2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers showing well this morning.

Osprey, Little Gull and 4 Avocets at Bowling Green Marsh.

4 Green Sandpipers on Matford Pools by Countess Wear.

5 Velvet Scoters and 20 Sandwich Terns off Dawlish Warren, and a Reed Warbler in the reedbed there.

Spring at last!

[Joe stockwell]

a bit of spring migration here http://birdthings.blogspot.com

[Colin Key]

I like your blog Joe, very "human", and a good read.

All the best,

Colin :beer:

[Joe Ray]

Thanks Colin - I try to keep it as relevant and rant-free as possible, not always easy, paticularly when you go through a phase of dipping everything!

Joe

[MichaelF]

I think Colin's commenting on Joe S's, not yours . . . I think they're both nice ;-)

[Colin Key]

Remember that guy called "Joe Bloggs"? :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Colin :biggrin:

[MichaelF]

Good one Colin!!

[Joe Ray]

Honestly Colin ;)

I'm quite happy to take the compliment anyway, too many Joes around this place!

Joe (Ray)

[MichaelF]

Can't have too many Joes!

[Joe stockwell]

nothing wrong with too many joes!

[Joe Ray]

Seawatch off Hope's Nose, Torquay from 08.00-11.30.

Nothing special, but quite a good tally for a dull NE breeze.

South:
Manx Shearwater 456
Puffin 12

North:
Great Northern Diver 1
Common Scoter 8
Swallow 1

3 Blackcap and 7 Chiffchaff in scrub on the headland, but nothing else of note.

[MichaelF]

Not worth seawatching here today, visibility about 50 metres at the coast!

[Joe Ray]

Another seawatch today, this time off Berry Head at the other end of Torbay. Brisk south westerly and low cloud with heavy showers early on.

08.00-10.00 produced...

South:
226 Manx Shearwaters
18 Common Scoter
5 Great Northern Divers
3 Great Skuas
2 Puffins
1 Sandwich Tern

North:
1 Swallow

Exminster Marshes held 24 Swifts, 15 Sand Martins, 5 House Martins, 8 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers and 4 Cetti's Warblers.

[MichaelF]

Nice set!

First Swifts of the year for me today (very early, for this far north), groups of 3 + 4, with a trickle of Sand & House Martins

[Joe Ray]

A quick post-school trip down to Plymouth yesterday (29th) yielded the female Woodchat Shrike in Ford Park Cemetry.

Took about 30 minutes to locate in torrential rain, but I enjoyed good if brief views of the bird around the gravestones near the church at about 17.45.

Next stop Crested Lark...

[Joe Ray]

With a brisk south westerly and some heavy rain forecast I made it down to Berry Head this morning.

07.30 to 12.45 produced:

Manx Shearwater 395
Storm Petrel 14
Puffin 2
Great Skua 1

Conditions were perfect but it remained slow... if this was August we'd have been swamped with Shears!

[Joe Ray]

Berry Head again this morning. Quietest day I can recall down there.

07.30 to 11.00:

Manx Shearwater 39
Balearic Shearwater 2
Common Tern 1

Also...
Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 1
Harbour Porpoise 1
Meadow Brown 3
Ringlet 1
Marbled White 1