Blog

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.

Once on Dartmoor went to Dunsford Woods to look for Dippers on the River Teign which I was lucky to see as well as a couple of Mallard as well as Goldcreast, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Blackbird, Robin and Wren. Didn't stay long as getting wound up by free running Dogs!

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

Went up on Dartmoor today to look for some more Winter Thrushes but sadly didn't see any?

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

03 October 2025

Lanacombe beach

Down south again on some personal stuff and paid a visit to Lannacombe Beach which I have often said is one of my favorites.

Plenty of Mermaid purses, several Nursehound egg cases also Spotted Ray, Thornback and Small-eyed Ray.

Some nice variety of Seaweed, not a subject I know a lot about but some great colours, only otherthing was Cuttlefish Bones and no shells to speak of.

Nice a quiet as I was the only human there.

© Simon Thurgood 2025
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