Bonapartes Gull - Blaxton Meadow - possibly the first one actually seen on Blaxton Meadow - great find by @stuart17.bsky.social and 38 years ago to the month that Dick Filby found Devon’s first modern day bird alongside the Ross’s Gull

Bonapartes Gull still Blaxton Meadow 930am and showing well from Viewing area by hide

Bonapartes Gull still 905am Blaxton Meadow on the River Plym - (flew in 845am)- my first in Plymouth for 30 years- in the late 80’s/early 90’s Richard White, Mush, @westcoastbirds.bsky.social @debalmer.bsky.social use to find these for fun!

c25 Sand Martins at Bowling Green Marsh at c1pm low over the water in front of the hide - my earliest Sand Martins ever !

Took 2 attempts but the Ross’s Gull showed brilliantly flying around the harbour at Newlyn for c10 mins at 315pm-I believe the longest staying one in Cornwall by a day so glad it hung on today-my 8th Ross’s & 3rd in Cornwall- also now makes up for missing the 89 bird at Newlyn-happy days

Lesser Yellowlegs Truro on river behind Tesco 1125am

Drake Scaup still on Long Rock Pool, Marazion this morning

Lesser Yellowlegs still c11am Truro on river behind Tesco - near junction of rivers by Blewetts Wharf and showing well

As I was passing through Plymouth - stopped in at Saltram and the free flying - fully winged- Unringed - highly mobile female Red-Crested Pochard still on Cart Pond- now for its 10th year!

The female Brambling that was refound at Broadsands 4 days ago still this morning in fields behind beach at northern end with Chaffinch and Linnet flock but very elusive

35+ Mandarins (25+ males , 10+ females)- Queens Marsh Dartington this afternoon - the biggest flock I have ever seen in Devon - also a Green Sandpiper

Ad Med Gull Marine Parade Preston, Torbay 1245pm at least on rocks

Caspian Gull still 1220pm at least in Brixham Harbour and showing well on pontoons viewed from c100m along the breakwater - only the third one I’ve seen in Devon!

Adult Little Gull Teignmouth sea front at north end off Teign Bean cafe showing well c830am-850am at least (2 GND)

Killdeer today! Having dipped 7 previously (Norfolk, Wales, Cornwall, 2 x Scilly, 2 x Devon) showed well but distantly 150-250pm at Ripley Farm Reservoir

Saltram early morning - at least 7 Ring Necked Parakeets showing well- also Egyptian Goose on Blaxton Meadow (very rare in Plymouth), Bar Tailed Godwit and an adult LBB Gull

Black Throated Diver showing well off Meadfoot beach Torquay 1pm viewed from shelter towards north end of road - cheers to @shiphaybirder.bsky.social for the heads up and good find Tom B- also adult Med Gull on rocks

Torquay harbour -outer wall- mid am- 10 Purple Sands and a fem type Black Redstart on end rocks

The Black Necked Grebe still Stoke Gabriel millpond 1115am at least showing ridiculously well from car park- nearby c6 Fieldfare at Waddeton

Red Necked Grebe off Broadsands this morning off headland - also c15 GND, 7RTD, Razorbill, 5 GCG, plenty of Fulmars , 2 female Reed Buntings in second car park with Cirl Buntings

1+ Presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat still 1130am at Seaton Bowling Club and showing well feeding on apples by clubhouse ( also fem type Black Red and 2 Blackcap) cheers @beerbirder.bsky.social and @stevewaite.bsky.social for the extra info

2 Lesser Scaup still 10am Helston Boating lake and showing very well at south end

The Velvet Scoter still 1020am at least Thatcher Point, Torquay looking straight out from point (right of Thatcher Rock and left of the Mussel beds) and GND- cheers to @shiphaybirder.bsky.social for the heads up

Kingsteignton 250pm -found a fem type Black Redstart in Woodmere Way

Met up with @wisebirding.bsky.social at the LORP and he showed me his patch late morning - Slav Grebe was my first since 2023, Little Stint my first ever one in January, 2 redhead Goosanders, Sanderling , 12 Ringed Plovers, Grey Plover, 2 Common Sands

A lovely stroll around Exminster this morning - 3 Pochard (1m) are probably the only ones in Devon atm ? 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Greylag Geese, Water Rail, 2 Pintail, Kingfisher - earlier 3 Cattle Egrets flew south over Starcross

Modbury - in fields by the Flete Estate in the large Canada Goose flock- at least 6 Russian White Fronted Geese, 3 Barnacle Geese and 2 Egyptian Geese

Beesands - mid morning- the drake Ring Necked Duck still present for its 9th winter - plus c20 Gadwall and also a very showy fem/imm Black Redstart along the front

Slapton- a fantastic morning, Black Necked Grebe on ley from Stokeley bay hide(my first one for 3 years)! GWFGoose Ireland Bay, fem Ring Necked Duck north of Torcross( presumably the returning bird I found at Beesands in Nov 24), 3GWEgrets Higher Ley,2 fem Goldeneye, ad Med Gull

5 Green Sandpipers in the Ludwell Valley, Exeter this afternoon

Out & about locally this morning-the Yellow Browed Warbler still c11am in Newton Abbot also 2-3 Chiffchaff. At Broadsands 2 Firecrest, 3GND, 4RTD, 4m Cirl Bunt, 2f Reed Bunt. At Paignton a cracking male Black Redstart at Alta Vista Road. At Arch Brook(Teign)-Spot Red &Kingfisher

I put the theory to the test and with none of the reports from Budleigh this morning including the Spoonbill- I went to the River Teign and found them literally under the Coombe Cellars pub at c1230pm- about a c10 mile commute between rivers-and they obviously don’t like the Exe!

2 Tundra Bean Geese still 1250pm at least at Bowling Green Marsh in field before viewing platform and showing very well - the first Bean Geese in Devon since June 2022 and first record in winter since Dec 2021- also 18 Russian White Fronted Geese ( plus 6 Swan Geese types)

31 Russian White Fronted Geese South Huish - by far the largest flock I have ever seen in Devon - seen on both the grass fields to the south of the marsh and on the front pool by the car park

The drake Green Winged Teal at South Huish Marsh on both the pool by the overflow car park and the main pool

A fantastic morning at South Huish-the drake Green Winged Teal showing well, 31 Russian White Fronted Geese,the Greenland WFG with the Canada Goose flock,2 Brent Geese & 7 Med Gulls- maybe the first time in Devon that both races of WFG have been at the same site at the same time

Yellow browed warbler still showing very well 11am Newton abbot south of B&Q roundabout along river by mobile phone mast

3 Velvet Scoters still 10am Torquay by the mussel pots south of Thatcher Rock viewable from either the road or Thatcher point

The male Desert Wheatear still at the west end of Bolberry Down at c1pm showing well around it’s favoured gorse bush - walk c1 mile west of car park and go through gate at far end

The Lesser Crested Tern gave everyone a merry chase today - seen off Starcross distantly on a sandbar 1250-1320 then eventually gave immaculate views on the near shore off Cockwood Steps 1330pm to 1415pm at least

Chaotic scenes on the River Exe and the finally identified Lesser Crested Tern showed distantly from Cockwood Steps on and off all afternoon - a very welcome county tick - only took the 40 years to get “that back”

The Yellow Browed Warbler still at Broadsands this morning around second car park, calling and showing well at times - still 920am- also 3 Firecrest and offshore imm male Eider and GNDiver and a Brent Goose just off the beach

Greenland White Fronted Goose again Slapton at north end of Lower ley 1135am- 1225pm with 57 Canada Geese then flew north - a rare bird in Devon this being only my 4th in the county and first since 2004!

Boat-Tailed Grackle still Holbury mid morning - all pics just with iPhone

5 Velvet Scoters still 140pm at least close inshore off Dawlish Warren viewed from the railway footbridge plus 7 Common Scoters @warrenbirding.bsky.social

Incredible pics of the Pallid Swifts at Dawlish Warren today by Luke H shared with his permission

2 Pallid Swifts showing fantastically well over roof tops 1145am-1325pm at least at Dawlish Warren village at junction of Mount Pleasant Road and Warren Road - great find by James M- iPhone vid attached - others have great pics

Snow Bunting still 320pm at least on the beach at Dawlish Warren between groynes 10 and 11 and showing very well

5 Ring Ouzels eventually found on Dartmoor this morning plus c12 Fieldfare, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird and 2 Reed Buntings

Happy 40th anniversary to “Cuckoo day” on St Mary’s - 12/10/85- one of the most famous days in birding history - pics YBC- D Cotteridge and BBC - P Wheeler (plus Parula, Yellow-Rumped W, RB Grosbeak etc etc)