Blog

26 March 2024

Wheatears are back on Dartmoor!

Well after several visits I managed to find a few Wheatears, all Male and all looking very smart considering they have just arrived.

All very busy and mobile, lucky to get a pic!

Plenty of other birds about and at this time of year plenty of courtship, defending territory and displaying and on a lovely sunny day just great to sit back and watch!

Shame about the idiots in their cars today, speeding cars everywhere!

26 March 2024

Harvest Mouse Nest

While walking around Powderham Marsh on the 17th March, looking for things I came across this nest, fairly sure it was a HM nest, I sent pictures to the Harvest Mouse Project officer for Devon Sarah B who confirmed it was.

They had been doing some work here and some of the grass had been cut and moved making it more visable.

Great find and another one to go on the recording list!

24 March 2024

Up to 4!

Today i went for a walk along the back path at Exminster marshes and also the parallel path on Powderham Marsh, both good for Butterflies at this time of year as they are out of the cold wind and a bit of a sun trap.

Managed to see a couple of Comma, several Peacock and a single Speckled Wood making it 4 species so far which is a bit grim!

On the Bird front it was great to see and hear Sand Martins over the railway line.

22 March 2024

Dartmoor

I have been a couple of times this week to Dartmoor to look for some Wheatear, there have been several sightings on the coast and the odd one on the moor so hoped to see them in their usual spots on the moor, unfortunately none had arrived yet but Iam sure it won't be long.

I did go around a few other places while there such as Soussons, Yarner and Challacombe, plenty to see with all the usual suspects. At Soussons they have been harvesting a large area of Conifer Trees so it will be interesting to see what turns up in this more open environment.

While at Yarner on lookout for Woodpeckers I only saw and heard Great-spotted so it was a bit quiet on that front, good numbers of lesser Redpoll and Siskin about.

While on the moor several displaying Raven and Buzzards in the air.

Very few humans about which was a surprise.

17 March 2024

Powderham marsh

Spent this morning at RSPB Powderham Marsh, very wet under foot and wellies very much needed, although in the sun nice and warm out of the breeze.

Spring very much in view with wild flowers in bloom, insects out and like London Buses, you don't see any for ages and 3 come at once! Not seen any Butterflies this year and then 3 around me, 2 Peacocks and 1 Brimstone that wouldn't settle. Also Bumble Bees, Honey Bees, Hoverflies, Flies, Beetles, Ladybirds and a Crane Fly all seen.

I found 2 eggs on the path that had been evicted from the nest of a Wood Pigeon in the tree above, you can see the nest and the Pigeons head.

Flock of Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Skylark, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Stonechat, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, I did see some LTTs carrying nesting material and many birds as pairs. Canada Geese, Mallard and Carrion Crows all seen.

I was the only human about so was a really chilled out couple of hours.I dont think many people know of this reserve and most go over the bridge to Exminster marshes instead.

15 March 2024

Frogspawn and Tadpoles for the Granddaughter!

As my Granddaughter has started to show an intrest in all stuff with nature, I got her some Frogspawn to "Borrow".

When they turn into Frogs I will return them to where they came, which I think is important.

I only took about 30 and they looked like they wont be long before they hatch into Tadpoles, I made sure they had some weed and all the water they needed from where they came.

Used a washing up bowl as their temp pond with some stones piled up for when the Frogs appear.

Let the fun begin!

10 March 2024

South Devon

Went down to South Devon today to put flowers on my mother's grave in Chillington as its Mother's Day. Wanted to have an early start but as always other stuff gets in the way, eventually made it for 9am and then onto Beesands Ley. Due to all the rain I was expecting the path to be flooded and the need for wellies but to my surprise was dry.

Made my way to the hide with singing Skylarks and Cettis Warblers on route, also Robin Blackbird, Wren and Dunnock. Also flock of Goldfinch in the field with singles of Magpie, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow. From the hide there was a distinct lack of both Ducks and Gulls, on the far side a few Tufted, 2 Pochard and 2 Mallard, some Great-crested Grebes, Moorhen and Coot, good numbers of Mute Swan and a few noisy Canada Geese.

In front of the hide in the Reed Beds, there were plenty of birds looking for insects, mainly Blue Tits but also a pair of Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tits.

I drove off to Start Point car park looking at the telephone lines and fences on the lookout for Martins which had been seen but unfortunately none seen by me.

Onto Slapton Ley and again lack of ducks and Gulls, a few Tufted and Mallard, some Black-headed, Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls but not the usual numbers, Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Great crested Grebes was seen before it poured down with rain and I ventured home.

Plenty of people about going for walk with Mum, also the beaches were full of Fishermen, not sure if there was a competition?

05 March 2024

Yarner

Spent this morning at Yarner, beautiful morning and after yesterdays rain some deserved relief!

The woods were full of birds song, with Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Stonechat, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Siskin and Redpoll all seen.

Fly over Woodpigeon, Raven, Carrion Crow and Buzzard.

Drumming Great and Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers with the Lesser being seen a couple of times in flight between trees, frustratingly going on the opposite side of the trees to drum so sadly no pics.

A few humans about, all quite chatty and friendly and with the rules about dogs having to be on leads all the time very few of them as well, happy days!

03 March 2024

Labrador Bay and Powderham Marsh

Spent this morning visiting a couple of local reserves which I hadn't visited in a while, RSPB Labrador Bay and Powderham Marshes.

Starting off early on a crisp but beautiful morning at Labrador Bay, when I got out of the car I knew it was going to be a good session when you could hear the bird song, especially the Skylarks in full swing singing over the fields on the other side of the field. It wasn't long before I could hear the Cirl Buntings which were stationed in the hedges along the walk, they appeared to be mostly Female and Juveniles with the odd male singing for position.

Also plenty of Chaffinch, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Herring Gulls around the hedges and fields. Also heard was the Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers in the woodland close bye.

Off then to Powderham Marsh which was very wet and was only able to get to the first couple of fields, should have worn my wellies!

Did see and hear plenty of birds with Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Reed Bunting, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jay, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and my first in a long time a single Greenfinch. In the fields Pheasant, Canada Geese and Mute Swans.

Couple of Raptors with Kestrel and Buzzard,several Bumblebees around the Willows but still sadly no Butterflies! Very few humans about today and had the place to myself.

© Simon Thurgood 2024
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