Blog

30 December 2025

Spoonbills

I was at Jacks Patch when a notification came through that there was a couple of Spoonbills and a Spotted Redshank on the otherside of the River Tiegn.

So after finishing off my Coffee I made my way over and sure enough there was 2 Spoonbills feeding, also a little Egret, about 30 Redshank, couple of Greenshank but I couldn't see a Spotted Redshank.

They didn't seem to mind a couple of fishermen on the shore but didn't like the couple of Sailboards going up and down and eventually flew off.

27 December 2025

Dartmoor

Went up on the moor today, again looking for Redwing, thought the cold weather might have driven them there but NO, none seen or Fieldfare.

It was clear but very cold, no birds flying as such, lots of stuff around the hedges and trees, nothing on the fields while I was there, all staying out of the biting wind.

Did see Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, House Sparrow, Great and Blue Tits, Woodpigeon, Starling, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Raven, Jackdaw, Jay and Magpie. A couple of Buzzard in Trees and a lonely looking Herring Gull stood by himself looking lost!

A few well dressed humans walking around, nice trip around the moor.

24 December 2025

Out and about

Spent this last couple of weeks visiting places in between work, poor weather and my grandkids. Some for a short period as I was determined to get out, the shortened days didn't help ether.

I visited Dartmoor, Yarner, Parke, Stover, Beesands, Slapton and Brixham Harbour.

Yarner was very quiet on the Sunday afternoon as the feeders were nearly empty just saw a couple of Coal Tits, Stover had more of the usual stuff but didn't see any Mandarin Ducks, first time for years.

Beesands Ley was empty, where have all the Ducks gone? Slapton was a quick visit due to time constraints but that was busier, all the usual stuff here at the Torcross end of the Ley.

Spent time on the Moor and Parke looking for Redwings but failed to see any.

Best session was at Brixham Harbour, it was cold and rough so plenty in the harbour and the best being Great-northan Divers, counted 13 of them.

Merry Xmas to you all and hopefully a good 2026

03 December 2025

Looking for Redwings

Again up on the Moor, Redwings had been seen and I ventured in a few other places and they again have eluded me!

I did see plenty of other Birds, a good wide range with Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Rook, Magpie, Jay, Stonechat,Great and Blue Tits, Several Buzzard and Kestrel hunting.

Not many humans about but still one who cant reverse!

02 December 2025

Dorset

As normal when I visit my brother in Yeovil I stop off at Radapol in Weymouth to see the Bearded Tits, unfortunatly they wernt to be seen and according to others they hadn't been seen in a couple of weeks, this was put down to the weather and it was believed the birds were at the base of the reed beds away from the wind.

The main path was good but many of the side paths were flooded so you couldn't get to certain areas, still managed several distant views of marsh Harriers quartering across the reed beds.

You could hear several Cettis Warblers and see Blackbirds, Robin, Wren, Great and Blue Tits, Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows, Cormorants, big raft of Coots, Moorhen, Grey Heron, sound of Water Rail, Little Grebe, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted, Mute Swan and plenty of Gulls but couldn't see any Med Gulls.

Also stopped off at Maiden Castle to see what farm birds were about but due to a lot of disturbance as they were replacing fencing not a lot to see.

Further up the road a couple of Red Kites were good to see.

© Simon Thurgood 2026
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