The Firecrest is one of the smallest and most striking birds you can see in Devon, especially in coniferous woodlands and sheltered coastal forests. This tiny species, often mistaken for a Goldcrest at first glance, has a vivid olive-green body with a bright orange and black-striped crest, and bold white “eyebrows” that give it a…
DetailsAlong the windswept edges of Cornwall’s cliffs and farmlands, young kestrels begin their lives in a world shaped by salt air, rolling fields, and restless skies. Born in shallow scrapes on ledges or tucked into abandoned nests, kestrel chicks arrive blind and fragile, covered in soft white down that barely shields them from the coastal…
DetailsThe Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is one of Devon’s most colourful woodland birds and a familiar member of the crow family. Easily recognised by its pinkish-brown plumage, bright blue wing patches, white rump, and black moustache markings, the jay is widespread throughout Devon’s woodlands, parks, and larger gardens. The breeding season typically begins in April…
DetailsThe call of the cuckoo is one of the most distinctive sounds of spring on Dartmoor. As April turns to May, the clear, two-note “cuck-oo” echoes across open moorland, drifting over heather, granite tors, and quiet valleys. It’s a sound that feels both timeless and fleeting because the cuckoo is only a seasonal visitor here. The…
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