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Blog
17 February 2026
Stover
Went to Stover today, it had actually stopped raining and there had been some sightings of Gooseanders and I was also hoping to see some Mandarin Ducks which had been absent for a while.
On my arrival and walking to the Lakes edge, loads of kids,families etc and realised it was half term so thought this should be fun but to be honest all the humans I met and talked to where lovely!
All the feeding had brought in Mallards, Mallard X, Tufted, Mute Swans, Moorhen and Coots. No sign of any Mandarin's at this point but you could see the Gooseanders x3 sat asleep in the middle of the lake, I walked around trying to get a better view and managed to get some sort of picture from the hide.
Walking around plenty to see as everyone was feeding the birds with Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Great, Blue and Coal Tits and a GSW I didn't look at the feeding station as it was packed with humans, on the lake did see some Widgeon, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Canada Geese, Herring, Black-headed and a single Lesser-black Backed Gull.
Bumped into a couple of Warders who said they had seen 1x Mandarin at the back of the Island, in the winter if the water Ices over they fly over the rd to Trago to the ponds there which apparently don't Ice over?
So I went back and looked and there they were 4 stunning males in amongst the undergrowth, unfortunately I was unable to get a decent pick but great to see! ( pic to follow)
16 February 2026
Out and about
This last week or two have tried to get out but the weather has defeated me on several occasions.
Wanted to get down on the beach after storms but life has got in the way, when I did get down to Dawlish beach I found several Egg casings from Snails and Rays, Spotted, Thornback and Undulated Rays. Shame I could get down more.
Did a visit to Exminster Marshes and with wellies on walked to the Discovery area, with the sun out plenty of Bird Song, great to hear 2 new ones for the year with Cettis Warbler and Skylarks.The rest of the Marshes was flooded with the rd to Turfs closed due to the water, hopefully will we able to get down there soon.
Unfortunately come across more dead Mammals by the road with Badger, Fallow Deer and Grey Squirrel. On the live front a new one for the year with what looking like a Bank Vole run in front of the car, Fallow Deer and a few Squirrel.
03 February 2026
Brixham Harbour
Managed a visit to Brixham Harbour today after a night shift and in between the showers.
An hour well spent with 50+ Great-northern Divers, Black-throated Diver, Shags, Cormorants, Mute Swans, Herring, Caspian, Great-blacked Backed and Black-headed Gulls.
Plenty of Grey Seals laid up and swimming.
Plenty of humans about, a few bird watching and a few interested spectators asking questions, all pleasant and in good cheer!
Numbers slowly creeping up! Now at 91
31 January 2026
Cattle Egrets
Also seen this week while out in the work car a flock of Goldfinches and a covey of 8 Red-legged Partridge which was nice to see.
On the Mammal front more dead animals on the road, as fast as they clean them up more appear, 1 x Fox, 3x Fallow Deer and numerous Grey Squirrels. On the live front seen a couple of small herds of Fallow Deer probably totaling 30 animals around Holden, lots of Squirrels and 3 x Rabbits at the back of Sainsburys which was nice to watch!
25 January 2026
Stormy weather
This last couple of days the weather has not been the best for bird watching and photography. I have this week off and planning to get out and visit places but this last couple of days its been a waist of time because of Storm Ingrid.
After doing the school run with my grandkids I went to Labrador Bay and Aylesbeare Common. Looking for Cirl Buntings and Dartford Warbler, well I found some Cirl Buntings but no Dartfords.
Did get lucky after seeing a notification that Little Gulls were at Teignmouth and for once in my life I was in the right place without any planning!
There was a few in the surf with Black-headed and Herring Gulls as well as a Juvenile Kittiwake. Had difficulty getting a picture as the camera kept focusing on the waves but out of about 50 managed 1 in full focus.
Sadly back to work tomorrow and the weather is bound to be better!
Now up to 86
21 January 2026
Out and about again!
With the weather being bad and my car in for a very expensive MOT (£495) I managed to get out for walks down the beach around the Brook at Dawlish and to Stoke Gabriel for the Black necked Grebe.
On the beach at Dawlish and Coryton Cove plenty of Shells, sea glass and a single Mermaids Purse which turned out to be from a Spotted Ray.
All the usual Ducks, Geese and Black Swans on the Brook, also the Electric Blue from a Kingfisher flying up towards the Manor, saw Kevin Wills out with his camera who has taken some great pics of them on the brook.
18 January 2026
Out and about
1st day of a weeks holiday and no Grandad duties so early start down south to the South Hams to see whats about but sadly wet,grey and cloudy so not the best for taking pictures! As you can see from the pics, its a bit grey!!
So visited Beesands, Torcross, Modbury and everywhere in between. When I got down to Slapton it was starting to get light and wasn't expecting too many humans on the beach and possibly see some Gulls sat roosting on the beach but no, several dog walkers with dogs off the leads and Gulls in the air, nothing visible out to sea which was also a suprise. At this time you could see a raft of Coot and Mute Swans on the Ley, on further inspection Great-crested Grebes, Tufted and Mallards, lots of Black-headed Gulls, Coots, Mallard, Moorhen and Mute Swans at the Tank end, noted 4 species of Gulls with a couple of Lesser Great-black Backed Gulls to add to the years list.
At Beesands great to see a couple of Greenfinches which I hadn't seen in a while, used to be so common. Around the Ley a few Ducks with about 25 Tuffted flying in while I was there, also the Ring necked Duck was on the far side, couple of Gadwell and Mallard, Mute Swans and Canada Geese. Around the bushes Great and Blue Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Starling, Wren and Woodpigeon all seen.
The weather not getting any better thought I would try to see the geese on the west of Modbury, followed directions and sure enough they were there but had moved to the next field and through my bins i could see Canada, Egyptian, Barnacle and White-fronted Geese which was quite a collection of birds.
On the mammal front I saw plenty of Mole Hills and evidence of Rabbits although I didn't see any.
Years total now 83 species of birds and 8 mammal species but sadly most of them dead on the road.
16 January 2026
Dawlish Warren
After helping with the school run and some other domestic stuff went down to the Warren for a look around the bushes.
As normal for this time of year with all the rain a lot of the area was flooded and there was a bit of wind off the sea.
Greenland Lake area was empty of birds and all birds that were seen where on the Golf Course side of the bushes.
Fast moving Chiffchaff, Tit flock comprising of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Magpie.
In the pond there was Shoveler, Mallard and Moorhen.
No mammal sightings or anything apart from birds seen.
A few humans about but nobody I knew.
13 January 2026
Brixham Harbour
Had an excellent visit to Brixham today, the weather was supposed to be rain but as I arrived it stopped and turned into a nice day.
It being a harbour plenty of Gulls with the usual Herring, GBB and Black-headed Gulls as well as 2 new ones for this year, Med Gull and Kittiwake that was putting on a show by the breakwater.
In the water which was a lot calmer than it had been for some time, there was Cormorants, Mute Swans and Great-northan Divers.
Around the rocks and edge there was a flock of Turnstone, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail and 4 Purple Sandpipers. That making the total so far for this year 73.
Also in the water and sat up where several Grey Seals, 2 very playful ones.
Plenty of humans about enjoying the nice weather and the antics of the seals.
09 January 2026
Bowling Green Marsh
Went to Bowling Green today at high tide, I had difficulty parking close to the reserve so had to park at Darts Farm and walk.
Because the tide was up there was not a lot to see and Goose Moor was a waist of time because the Reed beds had been left to grow and nothing was viewable.
The reserve itself was flooded and most stuff was distant, still viewable with my bins and managed to see quite a bit.
Stock Doves, Wood Pigeon, Avocet, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Lapwing, Greenshank, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Black Swan, Canada Geese, Pintail,Widgeon, Teal, Mallard, Magpie, Kestrel, Jay, House Sparrow, Starling, Dunnock,Great and Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Carrion Crow, Black-headed and Herring Gull.
The list has slowly climbed to 67, slow but sure, the way I like it!
Nice to meet up with a few humans, Steph, Rob Murphy and Dave Stone who I haven't seen in a while
© Simon Thurgood 2026
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