Interesting and unusual birds spotted in and around the Hartland Peninsula during 2024
The Cirl Bunting is an exciting record as there have been only a couple of recent sightings on the north coast. Its stronghold is the coastal landscape between Plymouth and Exmouth
Marsh Harrier juveniles were a great sighting and may indicate nearby nest sites.
If you spot any interesting/unusual birds or to report 1st sightings of migrants throughout 2025
please email —-@hartlandnaturesociety.org.uk
Jan 10 – Goldcrest (Richard, Ball Hill)
Feb 9 – Merlin, Cheldern Nursery, Sandymouth
Feb 9 – Great-spotted Woodpecker drummming near Philham
March 10 – Chiffchaff (Clare)
March 11 – Chiffchaff (Richard, near magnetic observatory)
March 11 – Moorhen (Simon, East Philham)
March 24 – Crossbill female (Paul, Brownsham)
March 28 – Mistle Thrush (Clare)
March 28 – Siskin male (Paul)
March 28 – Siskin male (Richard, Ball Hill) (Temp this morning 1c)
March 30 – Siskin female (Fran)
March 30 – Wheatear pair (Richard, Welcombe Mouth)
April 4 – Swallow (Clare)
April 5 – Mistle Thrush (Chris)
April 5 – Siskins, Bullfinches (Paul)
April 13 – Willow Warbler, Whitethroat (Clare)
April 14 – Cuckoo, Willow Warbler
(Richard, Beckland woods)
April 17 – House Martins (Richard, Ball Hill)
April 18 – Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet (Richard, Shipload Bay)
April 20 – Two Red Kites (Mick, Elmscott/Milford)
April 20 – Cuckoo (Paul, Beckland woods)
April 21 – Linnet, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Swallows (Clare)
April 27 – Grasshopper Warbler (Seb, Pitt – ‘been hearing it most evenings’)
April 27 – Redstart (Clare)
April 27 – Cuckoo (Paul, Brownsham)
April 27 – Cuckoo (Caroline, Pattard)
April 29 – Garden Warbler (Paul, Brownsham)
May 3 – Swallow female at nest (Richard, Ball Hill)
May 5 – Cuckoo (George, Speke’s)
May 9 – Swifts(3) (Stephen, Hartland)
May 10 – Pair of Crossbills (Paul)
May 10 – Cirl Bunting (Paul, East Titchberry)
May 14 – Female Swallow incubating eggs, (Richard, Ball Hill)
May 26 – Swift in box (Fran)
June 1 – Red Kite (Caroline, Ball Hill)
June 4 – Swallow chicks are being fed (Richard, Ball Hill)
June 8 – Swift pair with egg ( Fran)
June 9 – Whitethroat (Richard, Pattard)
June 12 – Spotted Flycatcher (Jane Leaper)
June 14 – Sedge Warbler (Clare, Spekes valley)
June 21 – Swallow chicks fledging (Richard, Ball Hill)
June 22 – several Nightjars, Tree Pipit, Greenfinch, Redpoll, Siskins (Devon Birds Walk, Hartland Forest)
June 25 – Linnet (Lyn)
July 5 – Marsh Warbler (Richard, north of Norton)
Aug 23 – Curlew (Richard, Exmansworthy Farm – Ringed bird from Curlew Headstart project.)
Aug 31 – Marsh Harrier juvenile pair (Penny, Robbo, Philham area)
Oct 16 – Goldfinches (Richard, Ball Hill)
Oct 17 – Small flock of Starlings (Clare)
Oct 23 – Large flock of Starlings (500+) (David, Pattard)
Oct 26 – Chough (Richard, recorded on Song Meter, Spekes cliff top)
Nov 5 – Fieldfares, Redwings (Paul, Brownsham)
Nov 9 – Chough (Richard, Sandymouth cliff top)
Nov 11 – Chough (recorded on Song Meter, Speke’s cliff top)
Nov 13 – Firecrest, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit,, GSW drumming (Richard, Pattard)
Nov 13 – Fieldfares (Anna, Cheristow)
Dec 9 – Fieldfares (David & Caroline, Ball Hill)
Dec 11 – 6 Redwing (Richard, Ball Hill)
Dec 13 – Male Bullfinch (Richard, Ball Hill)
Dec 18 – 2 Siskins (Richard, Ball Hill)
Dec 28 – Water Pipit (recorded by Song Meter, Speke’s)
——-@hartlandnaturesociety.org.uk