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17 December 2022

Exminster Marshes

I had a couple of hours free so parked up at the Fishermans car park at Exminster Marshes and walked to Turf and back.

Much of the scrapes and ditches were frozen over so not many birds here, Ducks a bit thin on the ground but still saw a few Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shoveler. other water birds included Water R|ail, Moorhen, Canada and Brent Geese.

Waders which were around Turf where Avocet, Godwit, Curlew, Dunlin, Grey Plover and Lapwing, several Cormorants fishing around the Lock Gates. Mute Swans in several locations.

The only raptor seen was a lone Buzzard.

A few Crows about with Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Magpie.

Plenty of small birds in the hedges and reeds with Cettis Warbler, Reed Bunting, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Robin, Great and Blue Tits, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Starling, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon and Pheasants everywhere!

16 December 2022

Dartmoor

I went up on Dartmoor this morning but was unable to get to the places I wanted to go due to Ice and Snow!

I did though see a few birds although not many as the large flocks had moved just leaving single birds.

Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, Buzzard, Kestrel, Magpie, Raven, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon.

13 December 2022

West side of the River Exe

Early to rise and up and out to see what was about on this cold grey day. Spent a lot of time around the fields and hedgerows at the back of Dawlish, Starcross, Kenton and Exminster as well as Cockwood Steps, Harbour, Starcross Golf Course, River Kenn and outflow, Powderham grounds, Church and surrounding fields, across the Railway bridge by the Exe and around the scrapes on Exminster Marshes.

Saw quite a range of Birds over a range of Habitats, probably the best place was around Powderham Church and the field opposite leading up to the Bridge over the Railway with birds feeding on berries in the hedge and the Yew Trees.

I saw a few Raptors and all bar the Marsh Harrier were sat conserving energy, these were Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel and Buzzards.

Waders where spread over the edge of the river and fields with Curlew, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Snipe and Lapwing.

Plenty of other water birds with the best being a Great Northern Diver on the Exe but also Kingfisher, Brent and Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Moorhen, Coot, Cormorants, Grey Heron, little Egrets and a couple of Cattle Egrets with cattle in the fields behind Cockwood.

Good selection of Ducks with Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler and Shelduck.

Plenty of Rooks, Carrion Crows, Magpie, Jackdaw and 4 noisy displaying Raven by a big tree on Powderham Estate to the left of the River Kenn, fun to watch these, they looked like they were having fun!

Plenty of small birds around with Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Starling, House Sparrow, Great, Blue and Coal Tit, robin, Dunnock, Rock Pipit, Linnet, Stonechat, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and Pied Wagtail.

Usual Gulls with Black-headed, Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls of all ages.

Plenty of Woodpigeons and Pheasants seen everywhere!

04 December 2022

Dunsford Woods

Went to Dunsford woods on Dartmoor and it was very quiet on the bird front, both on the river and through the woods.

So spent some time looking for signs of mammals and found some Hazel nut shells that have been eaten by Dormice, there are some nest boxes that have been put up so it was nice to find this evidence that they are here.

03 December 2022

Exminster Marshes

Spent some time around the fields at the back of Kenton, Starcross and Powderham as well as doing a circular walk around Exminster Marshes.

It was cold and grey which is as you would expect for this time of year.

Saw a good selection of Birds but no Mammals.

A few Raptors seen with 2x Sparrowhawks, Kestrel, Buzzards and Marsh Harrier.

Around the fields plenty of flocks of Birds, Corvids, Woodpigeons and Finches.

Ducks starting to build up on the Marshes with Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon and Mallards. Both Little and Cattle Egrets seen, Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen and the squeal of a Water Rail.

Cettis Warbler, Stonechat, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Robin, Redwing, Fieldfare, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits and Dunnocks.

On the River Exe a few waders with Curlew, Godwits, Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Dunlin.

A cold but good day to be out!

© Simon Thurgood 2024
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