Blog

29 January 2023

Sunday

Plan for today was to walk up the River Exe and see whats about but like all great plans it didnt happen!

There was a big event at the Starcross Yacht cluband all those involved took up all the parking spaces allong the road and Powderham church so ended up doing abit around the fields and a circulae walk around Exminster Marshes.

Still managed to see quite a bit, all the usual stuff with some notible exceptions, around the River Kenn at Powderham Estate there was some very noisy Ravens doing abit of displaying and chasing each other through the trees, cant believe how common these birds have become!

In one of the arable fields just on from Powderham Church there was a large mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing with the odd Song Thrush which was nice to see.

The other odd thing was the number of Kestrels seen, 3 today in various places. Normally lucky to see one, interestingly they were the only raptor seen?

Lots of humans around and all seem happy enough, nice to be out when its not raining!

21 January 2023

Dartmoor

I managed to get up on Dartmoor for a few hours today, started off at Dunsford Meadows which was white with frost and snow. A bit of bird song with the odd Blackbird and Robin looking for food and a pair of Mallard on the river but little else.

Moved further onto the moor and with the sun out it was warming up and you could see the snow melting in front of you.

Plenty of Buzzards sat on posts as well as a Sparrowhawk sat on a fence and a Kestrel on another post.

Plenty of Corvids about with Raven and Carrion Crow being the most numerous. I also saw a few Jackdaw, Magpie and single Jay.

Mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing and a single Song Thrush in a field close to Soussons. At Soussons I saw a few Crossbill and gave some good views as well as Siskin, Great, Blue and Coal Tits. Calling Great-spotted Woodpeckers, the odd Woodpigeon, Dunnock and Wren completed the day.

Not that many humans about and the ones I met seemed happy enough!

14 January 2023

Harvest Mouse and Survey

Had an excellent today, went to Holne Village Hall for a talk by Sarah the lead on Harvest Mice in the Devon Mamall group, followed by a survey in a field at Brooke Manor, its a place I had not been before, its a farm run as a nature reserve.

At the talk there was a tank with some Harvest Mice in, because I was taking a picture through glass it wasnt as sharp as I would like but you get the general idea of what they look like, they are the smallest British Rodent with a body no longer than a human thumb.

We did find quite a few nests, not sure of the final total as I left before they finished the field.

I didnt find any nests but did find lots of other interesting stuff such as this Bank/field Vole larder.

Excellent day surrounded by lovely people!

13 January 2023

At last!

Finaly a day off without much rain, although it was supposed to be clear, there was still a shower or two!

Managed to do a bit around some lanes on the west side of the River Exe and a walk up the side of the River Exe from Powderham to Turf and back.

The back roads and parts of the fields were flooded or very wet, plenty of Gulls and Corvids on here with the odd Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blackbird, Robin and Buzzard overlooking.

At Powderham Church the Rookery was quite noisy, the fields to the right as you walk up hand plenty of waders on the wet pastures such as Oystercatchers, Curlew and Godwits.

The tide was high and very little on the River apart from BrentGeese Sheldduck and Widgeon, flock of Redhank flew up the River as well as Mute Swan and Cormorant.

Very little to see at Turf other than a very obliging Kingfisher, some Pied Wagtail on the wall with Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Redwing, Blackbird, Starling and House Sparrow in the bushes.

Suprised to see very few ducks?

A few frendly humans about, good walk if nothing else!

01 January 2023

The Weekend

Had this weekend off and tried to fit in some Birdwatching, Photography and catching up with family and friends and failing on many fronts!

The weather didnt help especially on Saturday when I paid a visit to Dartmoor.

Yarner was the only place with any sort of numbers and the odd valley on the moor, the high moor was bleek with no wildlife on show. But there was several walkers about? must be mad??!

Sunday morning around the fields at the back of Kenton, Starcross and Dawlish and very much the ususal stuff and then it rained which was the story of the weekend for me!

© Simon Thurgood 2024
Images on this website may not be put as any part of any collection without any prior written permission.