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The Harrier Devonbirds Newsletter: October 2013 No 5

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS

It is good to know that the only pair of Red-backed Shrikes that nested and successfully raised two young in England in 2013 did so in Devon. This is the fourth year birds have returned to Dartmoor, although this year they chose a new site which was protected by surveillance cameras, some provided by Devon Birds and by a small number of volunteers from Devon Birds, Dartmoor Study Group, Wildlife Crime and the RSPB. The run of dry sunny weather coincided well with the fledging of their young and made the task of keeping the chicks well fed so much easier than in 2012 when the two nesting attempts failed to raise any young due to the persistent rain and cold. Let’s hope that their successful nesting experience in 2013 will encourage the birds to return again in 2014 and maybe bring their friends! Since my last remarks in July/August our tagged cuckoos have undertaken their very hazardous migration back to Africa and sadly it has not been without incident. Two of our four birds failed to make their migration journey with Dart perishing on Mallorca, possibly in an area where there were forest fires which disrupted food supplies or maybe directly in the fires. Ryder made it successfully to Africa but would appear to have misjudged the amount of fuel (body fat) he needed to cross the Sahara and fell to the ground about 250 miles short of safety. I was very disappointed to learn that they had both perished and it seems for whatever reason that cuckoos who take more westerly routes to Africa are more at risk of failing to get there from the small amount of data gathered so far. On the positive side we know that Tor covered the bulk of his journey to Nigeria in five days while Whortle spent his summer “holidaying” in Benidorm and Alicante before successfully crossing the Sahara and heading on into Niger. Let’s hope these two Dartmoor cuckoos have a quiet and successful winter in Africa before the excitement and danger of their return trip in Spring 2014. Plymouth Branch: I am pleased to report that following on from their success with several indoor meetings this year Plymouth members have now established a formal branch committee. My thanks to Liz Harris for her enthusiasm and support in bringing this about. Plymouth will now have the Field Meetings which Lesley Goonesekera has been leading for several years (thank you Lesley) and a programme of Indoor Meetings to offer Plymouth area members, although of course any member of Devon Birds can attend any branch meeting.

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Mid Devon Branch: In turn I have recently been in contact with Devon Birds’ member Annabelle Strickland who is very keen to follow in Plymouth’s footsteps and set up a full branch structure for the Mid Devon area. They have run a successful series of Field Meetings in 2013 and hope to continue in 2014. If you are interested in helping get Mid Devon Branch up and running please contact Annabelle (01392 439685 or email jastrickland@talktalk.net). 2014: Council will be meeting in mid October and discussing our conservation projects and plans for 2014 in order to prepare budgets. If you have a project or idea for conserving or protecting birds in Devon then I’d be pleased to hear from you (01822 853785 email clonwayteam@btopenworld.com). At this stage it can be a small idea or a big one, just share it with us. George Harris: Chairman

DBWPS ANNUAL DRAW Please don’t forget the Devon Birds annual draw. It produces useful income for the society. Money and counterfoils need to be returned to the secretary (Mike Daniels) by 1st December 2013. The draw will take place at the Taw/Torridge Members Evening at the Castle Centre, Barnstaple on Tuesday 10th December 2013. The Prizes are:

First £200 Second £75

Third The Birds of the Western Palearctic – kindly donated by Joy Vaughan

Fourth 2 tickets for the Lundy Trip 2014 Fifth Framed Hand Embroidered Waxwing – kindly donated by Joy

Vaughan Sixth Framed Hand Embroidered Chaffinch – kindly donated by Joy

Vaughan Mike Daniels: Secretary

VOLUNTEER REQUIRED A volunteer is required to do the Society’s mailing. This includes the Harrier and the Devon Birds magazine. As more members are taking the eHarrier this is not the task it once was and a franking machine is also available to stamp the envelopes. For more information please contact the secretary Mike Daniels nellmegfly@btinternet.com or 01822 890899. Jack Aldous: Editor

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BAMBOO ROOSTING BY STARLINGS In the species account for Starling in the next DBR, reference is made to bamboo roosting, and a study on the Starlings roosting in bamboos in South Brent has this year been published in Devon Birds 66 (2): 29-42. These appear to be the first published accounts of bamboo roosting by Starlings in Devon. Three records were submitted to DBWPS in 2012 (Runnage in January, Ivybridge in December and South Brent in January & December), with apparently none previously, so we assumed that bamboos may be a recently adopted roost site. In order to find out more, we have looked at some of the relevant literature, including websites, and have also appealed for further records, at county level in The Harrier (June 2013), and nationally in British Birds online at www.britishbirds.co.uk/news-and-comment/bamboos-and-starlings (July 2013). Although a full literature survey has not yet been carried out, there are no references to bamboo roosting in the obvious books, such as BWP, or review articles, such as ‘Studies of Western Palearctic birds 196. The Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris’ by C.J. Feare in British Birds 89: 549-568. A search for ‘starlings in bamboos’ on the internet, however, has revealed a few references to bamboo roosting, including some from North America and Australia, where Starlings are alien, and often in the context of the nuisance angle on these birds, described on one website as ‘messy, boisterous and obnoxious’. On mainland Europe, only France is mentioned, and the only accounts from the British Isles (apart from South Brent) were from Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 2009 (where they had been using the bamboos ‘for years’ before the bamboos were cut down because of complaints about the birds) and, more intriguingly, a commercial bamboo plantation near Bodmin, Cornwall back in 1954, where the crop was under threat from starling damage (www.britishpathe.com/video/the-starling-menace). So although seemingly not widespread, or not widely reported, the phenomenon is certainly not restricted to South Devon in the 21st century. Unfortunately, little more insight has been gained as a result of our requests for information. Surprisingly, there has been no response at all so far to the British Birds request, and there has been only one response to The Harrier request. It was, however, a most interesting one and came from David Morgan, a DBWPS member now living in France. He reported that a few hundred Starlings used to roost in his parents’ garden at Chittlehamholt in the 1960s, together with Blackbirds and other wintering thrushes; this continued until the late 1970s when all the older bamboos died. Although they grew back again, this took a few years and the Starlings never returned (at least until 2004) - although the thrushes did. Most people we’ve spoken to have never heard of Starlings roosting in bamboos (nor had we until January 2012!) but our enquiries have prompted reports from Mike Lock of Starlings roosting in bamboos at Frensham, Surrey in the early 1950s, and from

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George and Julia Harris of a summer roost in a large overgrown stand of bamboos near Bergerac, France in 2013. In South Brent, at least seven clumps of bamboos were used in early 2013, probably all involving the tall (5 m plus) Arrow Bamboo Pseudosasa japonica, and there is evidence that at least some of these roosts have been used since at least 2006, and the bamboo was introduced into this country in 1850. The nearest native species used by Starlings is another grass, the Common Reed Phragmites australis, and the reed roost at Slapton has been going on for over 200 years. Otherwise, Starlings use a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs in woods and plantations, or man-made structures including buildings, piers and bridges. So roost sites are very variable, and the use of bamboos is not too surprising, given that even in the winter they provide a dense tree-like canopy with many suitable perches among the dense array of stems and branches. We conclude that, although Starlings first started using bamboos as roost sites at least as early as the 1950s, it is still unclear how widespread the phenomenon is in Devon or the British Isles, or whether it has been happening continuously over the last six decades or is something that has been adopted and abandoned by different groups of birds over the years. Therefore, any further information that will help answer these questions will be very welcome. Peter Reay (peter.p.j.reay@btinternet.com) Mike Goss (mrgandjng@tiscali.co.uk)

SOUTH MILTON RESERVE REED CUTTING Every couple of years or so, Devon Birds' volunteers cut a hectare or two of the reed bed in South Milton Ley to regenerate growth. The plan this year is to cut the reeds upstream of the public footpath that runs past the treatment plant. It is expected the reeds will be dry enough to cut and burn by the end of the year and so the reed cut will take place on 8 December. Our mechanical reed cutter greatly reduces the work of the volunteers but there is still plenty to be done by hand, gathering and burning the reeds. We plan to start around 9:30 AM and have most of the cutting and burning complete by lunchtime. Please contact Nick Townsend (01548 560243) or Vic Tucker (01752 216887) if you are interested in helping with the reed cut this year. Hope this will be possible. Let me know if you have any queries. Nick Townsend

Lundy Trip 2014 The 2013 trip to Lundy Island has been booked for Sunday 18th May 2014 sailing from Bideford at 8.30am. Further details will be published in due course.

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RECENT ICELANDIC WHITE AND PIED WAGTAIL SIGHTINGS There have been two recent sightings of Slapton-ringed Alba Wagtails to Iceland. One of the nominate race Motacilla alba alba (White Wagtail) found all over Iceland and one Motacilla alba yarrellii (Pied Wagtail). Y 358799 (O:R:B) ringed as a White Wagtail at Slapton on 16th September 2012 was re-sighted at Finnsstadir (near Egilsstadir) in eastern Iceland on 30th June 2013. Much more difficult to be sure about was L 477518 (R:Y:R) ringed as a Pied Wagtail Slapton on 29th September 2010 and re-sighted near Olafsvik on the Snaefellsness peninsula in western Iceland on 3rd August 2013. Pied Wagtails are seldom seen in Iceland (just 14 records since 1959) and then generally in the southeast closest to the UK. However, there have been three sightings in the west, two in Reykjavik and one in the Vestfirdir (Westfjord) area in the far northwest, but are very unusual there. After discussion with the Icelandic Ringing scheme and with a better understanding of Pied Wagtail sightings in Iceland, it is thought that this bird might be L477519 (R:Y:O) which was ringed as a White Wagtail. Orange rings, which come bright and shiny, fade over time (the only colour used to do so) to a dull matt light brown. Both R:Y:R and R:Y:O were ringed in September 2010 (Year code - red over metal on right leg). The orange ring on L 477519 will have faded by August 2013 and may well look like the other (dull matt) red rings on this bird. A White Wagtail (ie R:Y:O) is much more likely. However, the observer (a Dutch visitor to Iceland) is adamant that it was a Pied Wagtail and that's how the observation will be recorded. These represent the 15th and 16th interchanges between Slapton and Iceland. Colour-ringed Yellow Wagtails - Dorset Over 400 Yellow Wagtails were colour-ringed in the Weymouth/Abbotsbury area of Dorset during the last week of August 2013. These birds have a single engraved white ring above the metal BTO ring on the left leg. If any one sees one of these birds please read the engraving on the white ring and send the details including date, place, etc to steve_hales@btinternet.com or Luke.Phillips@rspb.org.uk Dennis Elphick (Slapton Ringing Group), 2 Somerye, Chillington, Kingsbridge

AVIAN ARCHITECTURE BY PETER GOODFELLOW Long-term member and Devon Birds' Chairman from 1996-98, Peter Goodfellow, has just (Sept 2013) had his book Avian Architecture published in the UK by Ivy Press. The original USA edition of 2011 was enthusiastically reviewed by the New York Times and in other publications. Peter was interviewed by several radio stations about the book and birds nests in general, and won the American Publishers Award for the Best Popular Science and Popular Mathmatics book of that year. See also Devon Birds April 2012 where the book is reviewed by Mike Lock with the opening sentence: If you are interested in Birds nests then this is a book for you. It could be a good Christmas present! Its UK details are: Published by Ivy Press, hardback, 160pp.£18.99. ISBN 978-1-908005-84-7

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DIARY DATES All Members are welcome at any meeting organized by the Society or branches. Field Meetings may be cancelled in bad weather, if in doubt, please contact the organiser – details in the Programme.

FIELD MEETINGS EAST DEVON BRANCH 10th Nov Sun. 10.00am. Slapton Ley. Meet layby opposite caravan site.

SX824447. 28th Nov Thurs 10.00am. Fremington Creek - Meet layby on main road SS520324.

Joint meeting with Taw & Torridge branch.. 11th Dec Wed. 9.30am. Escot Park. Field meeting followed by ChristmasLunch or

lunch only if you wish - Meet Escot Gardens car park SY081981

PLYMOUTH BRANCH 11th Nov Mon 10.00am Thurlestone SX676420 Meet cp top of cliff overlooking

beach beyond golf club. For waders 7th Dec Sat 10.00am New Efford Marsh Meet timbers cp Aveton Gifford

SX694472 for sandpipers/kingfisher . Wellingtons advised. Possible lunch at Fishermans Arms afterwards

TAW & TORRIDGE BRANCH 28th Nov Thu 10.00am Fremington Creek Joint meeting with East Devon. Meet

lay-by on B3233 SS520324 followed by: Isley Marsh – pm Old Yelland Power Station SS483323. Leader: Norman Briden.

15th Dec Sun 10.00am Barnstaple to Ashford Meet Civic Centre c/p (charge)

SS554334. Carry lunch or visit Garden Centre café where hot food is available.

INDOOR MEETINGS SOUTH DEVON BRANCH 18th November Birding around Cairns, Australia. Nick D’agome TAW & TORRIDGE BRANCH 12th November Encounters with Remarkable Birds. Dominic Couzens 10th December Members Evening – short presentations, quiz etc

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PLYMOUTH BRANCH 4th November An Introduction To Ringing

Come to enjoy a talk by Jon Avon, who is an experienced bird ringer and Stover Country Park Manager for Devon County Council. Venue: Spurgeon Hall, Mutley Baptist Church, Mutley Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6LB at 7.30pm. Refreshments provided.

Plymouth Branch meeting report held on 9th September 2013. We may love our birds but there are others who look at them with different eyes and cunningly and skilfully plan their destruction. So it was that P.C. Josh Marshall described his role as a part time Wildlife Crime Officer in his excellent talk ‘Fighting Wildlife Crime in Devon and Cyprus’. The meeting was held on 9th September at Mutley Baptist Church to 32 members of the Plymouth Branch of Devon Birds. His work involved apprehending ‘eggers’ – those who steal birds eggs to feed their obsessive egg collecting habit or for profit and those who disturb nesting birds or poison raptors. We are encouraged to ring the police on 101 to report any behaviour, which might involve harm to birds. In Cyprus the illegal traditional habit of eating warblers as a delicacy still exists. Locals use lime sticks, mist nets and electronic decoys to capture birds during their annual migration. As a volunteer in an international CABS team (Campaign Against Bird Slaughter), Josh helped release over 200 birds. Some of the team were threatened and assaulted but Josh’s enthusiasm was evident in the description of his work in Cyprus. as well as in this country. The rest of the meeting included an introduction of the newly volunteered committee and an idea for members to show a small selection of our own photograghs of birds each meeting. Contact Liz Harris 01752 789594 - libbymharris@yahoo.co.uk or Colin & Glenys Smith 01752 335831 - crandgmsmith@blueyonder.co.uk

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The Devon

Atlas

www.devonatlas.co.uk

Our Very Aerial African Friends

At this time of year we are used to seeing parties of Swallows and martins gathering on roofs and telephone wires before beginning their long journey to Africa.

Swifts are one of the latest migrants, usually not arriving until early May, when they nest high up in crevices in buildings, laying two or three eggs. Swifts are the most aerial of birds, spending their whole lives on the wing, except when they come to earth to breed; they even mate and sleep on the wing Adult Swifts will fly around 900 km (550 miles) per day in the nesting season. Swift nestlings are unusual in being able to modify their body temperature; during spells of cold wet weather adult Swifts may leave the young for several days, to fly considerable distances to find food. During their absence the young are able to become torpid, and then revive when the adults return. After leaving the nest, young Swifts may then fly non-stop to winter in the southern half of Africa.

Swallows are with us for much longer, arriving in late March/early April and

often not leaving for South Africa until September or early October. They nest on ledges inside outbuildings, stables and garages, and have two, sometimes three, broods of 4-5 young during the 6-7 months they are here. In autumn they gather to form large flocks and roost communally in coastal reed-beds, such as Slapton Ley, before migrating to South Africa.

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House Martins are also fairly long-stayers, with most birds arriving as early in April/May and the majority leaving by October. They are well known for their nests of mud stuck on the outside of buildings. As they have several broods during the season quite large family parties can be seen feeding overhead in the late summer evening skies before they begin their journey to sub-Saharan Africa.

Have you see any of these in your area? Perhaps you have watched nesting Swifts, House Martins, or Swallows in buildings near you. These are the last year few weeks to get your records in for the Devon bird atlas (see www.devonbirds.org) so if you have seen any of these, or indeed anything else, such as House Sparrows, Blue Tits, Blackbirds and Owls breeding in your or your neighbour’s garden, or in your local area, do please get in touch with Julia Harris, either by email clonwayteam@btopenworld.com or phone her on 01822-853785. Stella Beavan (with many thanks to Tony John) Photo of young Swallow © Steve Hopper

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BIRD NOTES Most of these records are unchecked and as yet unauthenticated. Birds present for more than one day are only mentioned on their first day. For the very latest Devon bird news visit: http://birdnews.devonbirds.org Please send your bird sightings to either:

County Recorder Steve Waite

46 Primrose Way, Seaton, EX12 2XQ T: 07875068112

E: recorder@devonbirds.org

Data Manager Julia Harris

6 Clonway, Yelverton, PL20 6EG T: 01822 853785

E: recorder@devonbirds.org

August and September 2013

Black Brant One with Brent Geese at Dawlish Warren 27-29 Sep. Barnacle Goose One still lingering with the Canada Geese on Exe Est in Aug with it or

another at Yealmpton in Sep. Garganey Singles at Bowling Green Marsh 9 Aug and 30 Aug, on Otter Est 23 Aug

and at Dawlish Warren 28 Sep. Grey Partridge Three beside Otter Est 14 Sep, the first here for 2 years.

Fea’s Petrel One briefly off Berry Head on 17 Aug. Cory’s Shearwater Singles past Start and Prawle Point on 4 Aug, two off Berry Head and one

at Start Point on 5 Aug and one on the sea in Thurlestone Bay on 6 Aug. Great Shearwater Two past Start Point, and singles past Berry Head and Prawle Point on 4

Aug, three off Berry Head on 5 Aug and one past Start Point 17 Aug. Sooty Shearwater Only small numbers with three past Start Point and one past Berry Head

on 4 Aug. One past Berry Head on 19 Sep, eight past Prawle Point on 19 Sep and two past Thurlestone Bay on 23 Sep.

Balearic Shearwater Two main influxes, with one at start of Aug with a peak of 255 past Start Point on 4 Aug. Then another influx in mid Sep saw 80 past Teignmouth on 16 Sep and 98 past Prawle Point on 19 Sep.

Yelkouan Shearwater One past Start Point on 4 Aug. Manx Shearwater 2414 past Start Point on 4 Aug, 2500+ past Prawle Point and 6230 past

Start Point on 17 Aug were the highest count. A very unusual record was of a dead bird picked up 10 miles inland at Dunsford on 10 Sep.

Little Shearwater One Macaronesian Shearwater past Start Point on 4 Aug. Storm Petrel Very few reported, no double figure counts.

Shag A high count of 450+ off Exmouth on 29 Aug. Bittern Singles on Exe Est 25 Sep and Axe Est 27 Sep.

White Stork One flew in off sea over Dawlish Warren on 11 Sep. Glossy Ibis An influx brought eight onto South Huish Marsh on the evening of 22 Sep

with nine here the next day. Also on 23rd 11 briefly at Slapton Ley. One at Mansands 25-26 Sep and probably the same bird at Galmpton from 26 Sep. Finally one at Horsey Island (Taw Est) 30 Sep.

Spoonbill One over Thurlestone Marsh on 1Aug and a couple of Taw/Torridge Est in Sep.

Black-throated Diver Singles off Dawlish Warren on 1 Aug and Exmouth 20 Sep. Red-necked Grebe One juv on Lower Tamar Lakes from 22 Sep.

Slavonian Grebe The resident bird remained on Exe Est throughout.

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Black-necked Grebe One at Slapton Ley on 16 Aug. Honey Buzzard Singles over South Milton on 4 Sep, Thurlestone Marsh on 9 Sep and East

Soar on 12 Sep. Red Kite One north over Hartland Point 7 Aug.

Marsh Harrier Singles over Sherpa Marsh 7 Aug, Braunton Marsh 23 Aug, Exmouth 1 Sep, Kingsbridge Est 9 Sep, Axe Est 26 Sep and two over Braunton Marsh 22 Sep.

Montague’s Harrier One at Wembury 15 Aug. Osprey First was one on Torridge Est 1 Aug. On 26 Aug singles were seen at

Rousdon, Axe Est, Plym Est and Haldon Hill. Between then and end Sep c15 birds seen throughout the county.

Merlin First bird of autumn reported at Baggy Point 19 Sep. Spotted Crake One very showy bird on Axe Est on 18 Sep.

Corncrake One flushed at Pew Tor (Dartmoor) on 27 Sep. Dotterel Singles at Ugborough Moor (Dartmoor) on 3 Sep and East Soar on 5 Sep.

Little Ringed Plover At least 12 on Axe Est in Aug with smaller numbers elsewhere. Little Stint Two Black Hole Marsh from 22 Aug were first of autumn, with singles on

South Huish Marsh and Teign Est on 25 Aug. High counts included three at Upper Tamar Lake 3 Sep and eight on Exe Est 13 Sep.

Curlew Sandpiper One on Black Hole Marsh from 24 Aug rising to 10 on 26 Aug then 17 from 30 Aug. Good counts also on Exe Estuary with peak of 15 on 10 Sep. Singles also seen at Lower Tamar Lakes on 26 Aug and Thurlestone Bay on 28 Sep.

Ruff Small numbers reported from the usual wader hot spots during this period.

Greenshank Highest count was 43+ at Bowling Green Marsh on 14 Aug. Spotted Redshank Present on Exe Estuary and Bowling Green Marsh throughout with a peak

of three. Away from here two on Axe Est 2 Sep, singles at Skern and Upper Tamar Lake on 8 Sep, another on Axe Est 28 Sep and one through Thurlestone Bay on 28 Sep.

Pectoral Sandpiper The bird from July on Black Hole Marsh was killed and eaten by a Sparrowhawk on 1 Aug. Also one over Dawlish Warren on 28 Aug, one on Lundy on 4-5 Sep and two at Upper Tamar Lake on 8 Sep.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

One briefly in flight at Dawlish Warren on 14 Sep with another at Topsham on 27 Sep with Ruff and Redshank.

Lesser Yellowlegs One briefly at Dawlish Warren on 9 Sep relocated further up Exe Est on 12 Sep and remained on the river or at Bowling Green Marsh until 23 Sep.

Wood Sandpiper Two at South Efford Marsh (one from 1st) and one at Matford Pools 5 Aug, two Black Hole Marsh from 7Aug with another over Prawle on same date, one Bowling Green Marsh 18 Aug, one Lower Tamar Lakes 22 Aug, two Dawlish Warren 25 Aug, two South Huish Marsh and one Bowling Green Marsh 29 Aug and one Black Hole Marsh 15 Sep.

Grey Phalarope One past Prawle Point and in Thurlestone Bay on 17 Sep and one on Taw Est 20-22 Sep.

Pomarine Skua Only a few reported from the usual sites. Long-tailed Skua One past Hope’s Nose on 15 Sep.

Sabine’s Gull One adult resting in Thurlestone Bay on 18 Aug with another past Hope’s Nose on 15 Sep.

Little Gull Singles on Plym Est on 4 Sep and off Shoalstone on 28 Sep.

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Bonaparte’s Gull Adult off Teignmouth from 16 Sep. Mediterranean Gull Highest count on south coast was 38 on Kingsbridge Est on 14 Aug.

Highest north coast count was 81 at Instow on 23 Sep. Yellow-legged Gull Highest count was 4 at Berry Head on 3 Aug. Numbers of young birds

dropped off by middle of Aug. Caspian Gull 1st summer on Axe Est on 17 Sep – the sites eighth.

Little Tern Only small numbers including singles on Exe Est on 7 and 11 Sep with two here on 14 Sep. Also one in Thurlestone Bay on 19 Sep.

Roseate Tern Two ads in Thurlestone Bay on 1 Aug, two off Dawlish Warren on 3 Aug with two past Berry Head on 4 Aug and finally a late juv off Dawlish Warren 17-19 Sep.

Arctic Tern A nice influx in mid Sep included many juvs with the highest count being 22 at Dawlish Warren on 21 Sep.

Black Tern A good autumn with the Exe Est and Dawlish Warren being the prime site with records here 25 Aug – 21 Sep with four being the peak count. Away from the Exe Singles on Black Hole Marsh and Dart Peninsular on 26 Aug, in Thurlestone Bay on 27 Aug, off Berry Head on 19 Sept, on Taw Est on 21 Sep and four past Teignmouth on 15 Sep.

Puffin Highest count was 16 past Start Point on 4 Aug. Black Guillemot One flew past Thurlestone Bay 19 Sep with it or another past Dawlish

Warren 27 Sep. Short-eared Owl One in off sea at Dawlish Warren 29 Sep.

Turtle Dove Migrant birds were seen at Dawlish Warren 22 Aug and Exmouth 15 Sep Cuckoo A juv lingered to 15 Sep at Black Hole Marsh.

Wryneck Singles at: East Soar 25-26 Aug, Prawle Point and Lundy 26Aug, nr Exeter 31 Aug, Dunsford 1 Sep, West Yelland 4 Sep, Otter Est 6 Sep, Start Point 7 Sep, Soar 8 Sep, another or the same Start Point 10 Sep, Lundy 24 Sep and Dawlish Warren 26 Sep.

Red-backed Shrike One briefly at Soar 29 Aug with a more confiding juv at Dawlish Warren 8-10 Sep.

Red-rumped Swallow One reported near Challacombe Farm (Dartmoor) 9 Sep. Firecrest Three trapped and ringed on Lundy 21-26 Sep and one on Berry Head 25

Sep. Yellow-browed

Warbler One at Start Point on 30 Sep will surely be the first of many following the large numbers in north east UK in Sep.

Icterine Warbler One trapped and ringed on Lundy on 3 Sep. Marsh Warbler One trapped and ringed at South Milton Ley on 7 Aug.

Aquatic Warbler One at South Milton Ley on 5 Sep. Rose-coloured

Starling Single juvs at Dawlish Warren 18-20 Sep and Prawle 25-26 Sep.

Redwing First autumn record was two at Orcombe Point 29 Sep. Redstart Good count of 20 at East Soar on 25 Aug.

Black Redstart One at Prawle Point on 25 Aug the first of autumn. Tawny Pipit One at East Soar with Wheatear and Meadow Pipits on 29 Sep.

Articles for the December Harrier should be submitted by 30th November 2013 to

the editor: Jack Aldous Email: coxtor@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 01822 854483. Address: 3 Cox Tor Close, Yelverton, PL20 6BH

The DBWPS is a Registered Charity No.228966