Mark Bailey
@markrabailey.bsky.social
Lifelong birder- South Devon
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
December 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
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
December 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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”
December 3, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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
November 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
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!
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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
November 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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
November 16, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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
November 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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
November 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
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
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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
October 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
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)
October 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
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)
The Spotted Sand still at St Warna’s Cove , St Agnes this afternoon and showing well
October 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Spotted Sand still at St Warna’s Cove , St Agnes this afternoon and showing well
The Buff Bellied Pipit showing very well on St Agnes this afternoon at the end of Barnaby Lane
October 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The Buff Bellied Pipit showing very well on St Agnes this afternoon at the end of Barnaby Lane
The Hoopoe on Periglis Beach St Agnes showing well this afternoon
October 11, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The Hoopoe on Periglis Beach St Agnes showing well this afternoon
The Mourning Dove still on St Agnes this afternoon on continual view and showing well
October 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The Mourning Dove still on St Agnes this afternoon on continual view and showing well
Firecrest in the garden late afternoon - Torquay- phone pics only
October 6, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Firecrest in the garden late afternoon - Torquay- phone pics only
Spoonbill still 315pm on the River Teign from Passage House Inn car park and showing well
October 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Spoonbill still 315pm on the River Teign from Passage House Inn car park and showing well
Pec Sand at Bowling Green Marsh from Hide mid afternoon and showing well on edge of main lake- found early afternoon by @backwardbirder.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Pec Sand at Bowling Green Marsh from Hide mid afternoon and showing well on edge of main lake- found early afternoon by @backwardbirder.bsky.social
A non birding holiday in Ibiza for the last week but still saw 4 Balearic Warblers,2 Med flys,Z Cisticola, BRThrush, c300Flamingo,2 Hoopoe,Stone Curlew, c25Audoiuns Gulls(4 sites),Eleonoras Falcon,Turtle Dove,Many Sards, c100 BN Grebes,Nightingale heard, 3YellowW-huge thanks to @sferguk.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A non birding holiday in Ibiza for the last week but still saw 4 Balearic Warblers,2 Med flys,Z Cisticola, BRThrush, c300Flamingo,2 Hoopoe,Stone Curlew, c25Audoiuns Gulls(4 sites),Eleonoras Falcon,Turtle Dove,Many Sards, c100 BN Grebes,Nightingale heard, 3YellowW-huge thanks to @sferguk.bsky.social
Berry Head 720am-930am- very quiet with hardly any seabirds moving - 5 Balearic Shears, 1 Manx, 2 Sandwich Terns, c400 Kittiwakes plus 2 Atlantic BF Tuna- also Grey Wagtail and Common Sand
September 17, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Berry Head 720am-930am- very quiet with hardly any seabirds moving - 5 Balearic Shears, 1 Manx, 2 Sandwich Terns, c400 Kittiwakes plus 2 Atlantic BF Tuna- also Grey Wagtail and Common Sand
An afternoon dog walk found me at Countess Weir and the ridiculously confiding 4 Glossy Ibis still c5pm on the flooded pools right next to the footpath - c100-200 yards north of the car park/bridge
September 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
An afternoon dog walk found me at Countess Weir and the ridiculously confiding 4 Glossy Ibis still c5pm on the flooded pools right next to the footpath - c100-200 yards north of the car park/bridge
Dawlish Warren this morning - c150 Common Terns, c100 Sandwich Terns, 6 Knot, 10 Bar Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, c70 Dunlin, 14 Wigeon, 2 Med Gulls, Peregrine over the bight, 31 Mute Swans and 2 Wheatears
September 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Dawlish Warren this morning - c150 Common Terns, c100 Sandwich Terns, 6 Knot, 10 Bar Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, c70 Dunlin, 14 Wigeon, 2 Med Gulls, Peregrine over the bight, 31 Mute Swans and 2 Wheatears
The juv Rose Coloured Starling still Wembury Mewstone Avenue/Brownhill Lane 815-830am with Starling Flock and showing well in dead tree- this is the 22nd Rose Coloured Starling I’ve seen in Devon and interestingly exactly half have been juvs and half summer birds
September 2, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The juv Rose Coloured Starling still Wembury Mewstone Avenue/Brownhill Lane 815-830am with Starling Flock and showing well in dead tree- this is the 22nd Rose Coloured Starling I’ve seen in Devon and interestingly exactly half have been juvs and half summer birds
The Grey Phalarope still 315pm at least at the back of the pool at South Huish Marsh going backwards and forwards in front of the far reeds- The first Grey Phal I have ever seen in August in Devon ! And the third one I have seen at South Huish in recent years
August 31, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Grey Phalarope still 315pm at least at the back of the pool at South Huish Marsh going backwards and forwards in front of the far reeds- The first Grey Phal I have ever seen in August in Devon ! And the third one I have seen at South Huish in recent years