![[Simon Thurgood Images]](images/image.jpg)
![[Simon Thurgood Images]](images/st-images.jpg)
Blog
03 December 2025
Looking for Redwings
pics and txt to follow
02 December 2025
Dorset
30 November 2025
Looking for Brents
Pics and text to follow
25 November 2025
Dartmoor
Been up to Dartmoor another couple of times since my last visit looking for Redwing, they apparently have been seen by others but sadly not me!
Getting cold on the moor and with none to few insects about, birds like Meadow Pipits where scarce. Berries still about and flocks of Starling and Fieldfares in good numbers with Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Great and Blue Tits, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Wren around these trees and bushes.
Around the water, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Grey Heron and Moorhen all seen, a couple of Herring Gulls on one of the fields with Rooks, Carrion Crows, Raven, Magpie and Jays all seen.
Several Buzzards and Kestrels all seen hunting.
Might need to look in new areas but determined to find some Redwing!
18 November 2025
Dartmoor
Have been several times to Dartmoor, the weather and my dodgy knee has made me use my car which has been quite successful.
Yarner has put its feeders up for the winter and plenty members of the Tit family including Marsh Tit although nothing other than Tits, not cold enough?
On the Moor had some great views of lots of Birds including a Flock of about 100 Golden Plovers at Blackslade Down, I could see them flying around as I passed Emsworthy and luckily they touched down in front of me, great views.
Other flocks included Starling, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows. Singles of Grey Heron and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
Several Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, Robin, Great and Blue Tits, Dunnock, wren, Raven, Magpie, Jay and Woodpigeons.
Several Buzzards seen of various colours and a couple of Kestrels hunting.
Plenty of Berries about and the leaves dropping at speed, winter is defiantly on its way, still not seen any Redwings though?
08 November 2025
Wot no camera!
While at work today, out in the car park with someone I support I could see a fast moving bird come in my direction and flew to my left and followed Shutterton Lane.
A Swift sp, there had been reports of Palid Swifts close by and while not 100% pretty sure it was and typically no camera!
26 October 2025
damage to the enviroment
On Dartmoor this last couple of days, sadly Ive seen a few examples of humans being totally selfish, apart from Fly tipping, dog bags and litter, dog owners allowing there pets to run free in reserves with big sign asking people not to do that, not surprised anymore just disappointed!
25 October 2025
Out and about
Day started early, plan was to look around the River Exe, first stop was Cockwood Steps, the tide was high and the surface water was choppy, only birds seen was a couple of Mute Swans and Cormorants sat on boats. In Cockwood Harbour just a few Black-headed Gulls. The Golf course at Starcross which is now closed for the winter had a100+ Canada Geese on it but didn't see anything else which was a surprise. Up to the River Kenn outflow and nothing on the river at all, decided to go to Exminster Marshes to look in the pools but to my surprise were dry and not a duck in sight?
So a change of plan, decided to go back up to Dartmoor but stop off on route several places, going through the back lanes, the farmers have started the autumn cultivation with fields being sown with crops. Surprised to see and hear a Skylark also Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Chaffinch, Blackbirds, Kestrel, pair of Raven, 100+ Rooks, Carrion crows and Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges seen before Holden.
On the road through Holden plenty of Grey Squirrels and Fallow Deer, very lucky not to get hit by cars.
Drove up to Mortenhamstead to see 200+ Rooks in the sky making a racket, once on Dartmoor saw several Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, several flocks of Chaffinch, Stonechat, Small flock of Fieldfare close to Soussons and to my surprise a Wheatear, thought they would have gone by now?
21 October 2025
Dartmoor
The weather wasn't the best even though the forecast said it would be sunny, some great Rainbows though.
Did see a couple of Mistle Thrushes, Blackbird, Stonechat, Magpie, Jackdaw, Raven, Carrion Crow, Robin, House Sparrows, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Kestrel and a very large flock of Chaffinch at Cator around the Beech Trees, didn't see any Brambling though.
18 October 2025
Dartmoor
Ive been up to Dartmoor three times this last week and there is a definite change, a lot colder for a start!
I thought all the summer migrants had left but found a Wheatear sat on a telegraph pole while I was driving around on one visit and other was 3 Ring Ouzel with a mixed flock of Fieldfare and Starling today.
Great to see the first of the Winter Thrushes, over the visits also saw Mistle and Song Thrushes. Didn't see many Redwing last year so hoping for a better winter this time.
Another good sighting I wasn't expecting was a Tawney Owl at 11.30am in the morning as I drove down a lane, it was stood on top of a stump and flew in front of me for about 100 yards before disapearing over the hedge, beautiful bird!
Another surprise was seeing a Dipper on a stream I normally stop by for a cuppa, never seen it here before in all the years I have been visiting Dartmoor but have seen it twice this week, possibly because it has become quiet as normally lots of humans here picnicking or kids in the water, nervous bird though as it soon flew off when I tried to get a pic.
Seen plenty of Jays, they seem to be everywhere, as well as Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow and several displaying Raven, especially up the valley from Challacombe Farm.
Several Buzzards including one almost white, a couple of hunting Kestrel and a very small Falcon which iam very confident was a Merlin which was after some Chaffinch close to Cator.
Lots of other birds seen, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Woodpigeon, Stock and Collard Doves, Grey and Pied Wagtails, House Sparrows, Meadow Pipits, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Linnet and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Seen a few Mammals also with Fallow and Red Deer and plenty of Grey Squirrels.
Humans was quiet during the week but today being Saturday quite busy around the place, everyone happy enough and no complaints from me
© Simon Thurgood 2025
Images on this website may not be put as any part of any collection without any prior written permission.