[Matt Prince]

I think its probably worth switching to that thread if you're interested in this gull as several observers think its a Yellow Legged Gull.

[Ranger James]

Raptor day for me today, and I've not managed to spend a minute birding!

Hobby flew over M5 on the elevated section above Exminster Marshes this morning. I nearly drove through the central reservation!

And a peregrine flew low through the back garden this afternoon at ugbrooke!

I've had less productive days birding.

James

[Andrew]

Possibly of note to any birders based near Exeter or going to Exeter.

A discount bookshop in the Guildhall Shopping Centre called THE WORKS has many pristine hardback copies of the New Naturalists 111 : Dartmoor by Ian Mercer at a bargain £6.99.

I think this rates as a good birding find?! Might go back for a few more copies for eBay!

[Ranger James]

Don't tell Prof M, he'll be livid!

[Jon Turner]

While ringing in Braunton this morning, I caught a Sparrowhawk - with a difference. It was a female (much more difficult to catch them males) but the extraordinary thing was it was a very pale leucistic bird. We've seen it around occasionally so it was a treat to see it up close and personal. I'll download my pics soon (well in two weeks actually - off to Spain tomorrow) and post here.

[Ranger James]

Looking forward to seeing it Jon.

james

[Ppedro]

Lovely walk down to the hide on Charleton Marsh this evening. Very high tide, no wind and perfect light. 15 Med Gulls on the estuary has to be a record count for here. No terns and few waders though. Adult and juvenile Coot in the channel below the hide an unexpected breeding record, probably nested out of sight on the top duck pond as previously not seen any this year.

[Andrew]

WeBS count on the local canal from Halberton to Tiverton produced a few nice birds including three Kingfishers, fourteen Blackcaps, twelve Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, four Sedge Warblers, eleven Spotted Flycatchers, two Ravens, a Reed Bunting, twenty one Stock Doves and three Nuthatches.

Not too many Grockles either. They were all still asleep in their caravans having nightmares about Jeremy Clarkson towing them away in the middle of the night.

[parttimer]

As I am staying in the Dartmouth area for a week from next Saturday and the House Finch has reappeared at East Prawle I will be going to have a look I presume it is actually in the village itself.
Any further info would be appreciated.

[mallingbirder]

I'm visiting my in-laws next week who have just moved to Milton Abbot, halfway between Launceston and Tavistock and with the Tamar on their doorstep. I'm interested to know of any good sites within 10 miles where I can expect to see birds, butterflies or dragonflies. I'm based in Kent so Dippers, Pied Flys, Wood Warbs (if they haven't already started the journey back), High Brown Fritillary, Brown Hairstreak, Golden-ringed Damselflies, etc would all be good spots.

Cheers

Adam

[Maurice499]

Advanced Bird I.D Guide by Nils van Duivendyk.
To all you local Devon Birders. If you haven`t had a look at this latest addition to bird guides, I thoroughly recommend it. With 1 of these in your pocket and a trusty Collins, you wouldn`t need any other guides. I`ve had my copy for about a fortnight and the information that it contains is amazing. No illustrations/photographs mind. I believe it took the author years to amass all the details of plumages of all the birds of the Western palearctic. Amazon sell it at well below R.R.P.

[Jon Turner]

Originally Posted by Ranger James

Looking forward to seeing it Jon.

james

Ok, back from Spain, back from the Bird Fair (great!) back home with a few mins spare to download pics onto my very slow laptop...

Here's the Leucistic Sparrowhawk:

[Ranger James]

Ooh, pretty! What a fabulous bird.
James

[Ppedro]

Did a four hour seawatch this morning. Best were 7 Balearic Shearwaters, 95 Manx, Great Skua and 7 Arctic Skuas. Also one Harbour Porpoise.

[Maurice499]

For all you North Devon Birders, Spoonbill "FJ9" is back on the Taw. That`s the Spoonbill that was ringed in Donana, Seville, Spain in April 2007 and which has wintered with us ever since. It`s now got full adult plumage so may return to Spain next year to breed. Of course it might as easily go to Holland.
Myself, Malcolm S and "Two dogs" saw it this morning on Isley at 9:30.

[Jon Turner]

Afternoon call from Malcolm Shakespeare had me heading over to Northam Burrows for great views of Buff-breasted Sandpiper. First I've seen for five years but not a Devon tick.

[Andrew]

Would be for me so hope it gets reported early enough in the morning to divert me from other plans.

[Jon Turner]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Would be for me so hope it gets reported early enough in the morning to divert me from other plans.

Reported to have 'flown off' towards Instow at 7p.m., But good luck, tiz ansum!

There were lots of dog walkers in and around the area of water where it was feeding, and it was disturbed a few times. In fairness I spose the dog brigade are there all year round.

[Roy C]

For those that are interested here is a pic of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Skern yesterday.

[Jon Turner]

Originally Posted by Roy C

For those that are interested here is a pic of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Skern yesterday.

Nice one (again!) Roy.

I wonder what's going on in front of it's left eye? Looks like an injury or possibly a tick....

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by Jon Turner

Nice one (again!) Roy.

I wonder what's going on in front of it's left eye? Looks like an injury or possibly a tick....

Here are a couple of close-ups of the eyes Jon. looks like thick eyebrows to me LOL.

[Jon Turner]

Originally Posted by Roy C

Here are a couple of close-ups of the eyes Jon. looks like thick eyebrows to me LOL.

We'll have to put it down to Denis Healey eyebrows i suppose...

Changing the subject, while I was ringing this morning I took a small bird out of a net, which turned out to be a day (or two) old pheasant chick! It was dead. Clearly the victim of a Sparrowhawk, which must have caught the tiny mite then blundered into the net, and flown off without lunch!

What surprised me was that Pheasants should have young at this time of year.

[SANDYMERE]

Nice shots Roy Is it still on the burrows/ skern?

When did you see the great white egret? is that still around?

Sandymere

[Roy C]

Originally Posted by SANDYMERE

Nice shots Roy Is it still on the burrows/ skern?

When did you see the great white egret? is that still around?

Sandymere

The great white was at fremington quay over a week ago and is a goner. I thought the Buff sand was also gone but it was reported as still being in the same area on birdguides at 12:30 today.

[Pastynator]

It's good to see you posting in this thread again Roy.
I'm often out and about in the bideford, northam and instow areas (trying!) to take photos. I'm surprised i haven't bumped into you really!