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Blog
29 October 2022
Harvest Mouse Survey
Joined a group on Mutter Moor which is to the West of Sidmouth. This is managed by the "Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust".
The group managed to find 4 Harvest Mice nests and 1 Field Vole nest, I was privileged to find a unused Breeding Nest.
Sarah who was leading us again, said that they make several nests and just pick one, it was rather flat and the wet weather hadn't helped, felt lucky to find it as you can see with the picture on the left it was well hidden deep in the grass.
You can see by the top right picture its quite flat which shows it was unused, compare it with the 2nd down on the right which has been used, making it bigger and the size of a large Tennis Ball.
Looking forward to doing some more and now i know what to look for will keep my eye out for suitable habitat, Sarah said you go around the Corn fields of Kent ect they live up to their name and you find them in Corn fields but here in the South West its different.
28 October 2022
Exminster Marshes and the Exe
Spent some time around the fields on the western side of the Exe as well as Exminster Marshes, River Kenn outfall, Powderham Church and estate, Cockwood Harbour and Steps.
The fields to the west of the River continue to be busy with Birds and Mammals you would expect, a rise in Game birds as fields more open and easy to see especially Red-legged Partridge.
Plenty of birds feeding on the stubble and cultivated ground such as Linnet, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird and Song Thrush, not forgetting the bigger birds such as Wood Pigeon, all the Corvids and Raptors, good numbers of Buzzards and a few Kestrel seen.
Although it was high tide Exminster Marshes was not that busy as there wasn't that much water about, very few ducks and the odd Waders such as Godwits and Curlew, a few Lapwing resting up and
A couple of Cattle Egrets was about it.
On the River as the the tide went out a few Redshank, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Godwits and Dunlin seen. Shelduck, Mallard and Teal the only Ducks seen, Cormorant, Grey Heron and Little Egret, Mute and Black Swans, Canada and Brent Geese seen. By the Lock Gate the Common Sandpiper was seen again and further down the river there was Greenshanks seen but that was about it.
Also heard at the Marshes several vocal Cettis Warblers and a Water Rail, Peregrine flew over the Canal to the River.
All the usual Gulls and Corvids seen and that was about that, Good to meet up with Dave S and Kev W and his family.
25 October 2022
Dartmoor
Had a great if not frustrating time on Dartmoor this morning, the weather wasn't great but nothing out of the ordinary for Dartmoor, but a combination of Birders/photographers with no field craft and Dog Walkers, especially those with whistles gave me a few problems especially at Emsworthy.
I was fortunate to see several Ring Ouzels which was a joy and mixed with Fieldfare and Redwing, fog and rain Autumn had defiantly come to Dartmoor!
Over my time on Dartmoor today I saw every Thrush with Fieldfare, Redwing, Song and Mistle Thrushes with Fieldfares the biggest number. Ring Ouzels, Blackbirds, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits.
All the Corvids with Carrion Crows the biggest number, but also in good number on the pastures Jackdaw, Rook and Magpie, plenty of noisy Raven over head with a couple of Jays in the hedgerows/small trees.
Saw a few Kestrel and several Buzzard but the best of all was a Merlin fly in front of me close to Warren House Inn, stopped the car and watched as it flew at speed across the Heather and Bracken, defiantly my favorite bird and made my day!
22 October 2022
Harvest Mouse Survey
Was lucky to join a group of 17 other sturdy fellows on a survey of West Hawkerland which is close to RSPB Aylesbere but I think is managed by DWT? The survey was for Harvest Mice and we were looking for old nests, in previous years this was a hot spot, but this year nothing found. The area had been heavily grazed for other management reasons such as keeping the Silver Birch at bay.
So while it was a disappointment it was valuable knowledge to pass on to those who manage the site.
I went on a few courses with the Mammal Society a few years ago but Life, Work and Covid has got in the way so hoping to get back into it.
The picture of the nest is one I took of an example Sarah, the lead had brought in to show us, its the size of a Tennis Ball and described as a "Brown Nest", a "Green Nest" is freshly made and would have young in and leave well alone.
Iam looking forward to meeting up with everyone at the next one.
21 October 2022
Dartmoor
Went up on Dartmoor this morning to see what I could find, plenty of reports of Winter Thrushes but the weather not good for taking photos,so used my car to keep me and my camera equipment dry.
On the High Moor very little to see other than the odd Crow because of the wind and rain.
Around some of the valleys out of the wind I found Hundreds of Winter Thrushes, both Fieldfare as well as Redwings, all very flighty, also seen in sheltered areas were Song and Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, good numbers of Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Starling, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven and Magpie.
No sight of any Raptors which was a surprise.
18 October 2022
Around the Exe
Autumn is defiantly here with the leaves on the turn, some of the hedgerows have been trimmed but others not and there is still enough cover for the small birds to escape, saw plenty of Finches, Dunnock, Robin and Blackbirds as well as Sparrowhawk on the hunt, couple of Kestrel and several Buzzards on the cultivated ground, farmers are busy preparing the land for sowing crops which is giving plenty of feeding opportunities for the birds, several Pheasants and Red-legged Partridge on the roads as well as Woodpigeon and all the usual Corvids, some already displaying and the Rookery at Powderham noisy as ever.
Bowling Green Marsh wasn't that busy for Waders as the high tide wasn't that high so many birds stayed on the mud flats and the Canada Geese here the highest in numbers, didn't see that many Ducks as most were hidden by the Geese, a few Domesticated/escapees seen today such as the two Farm Geese at Exminster and Egyptian, Snow and Bar-headed Geese at BGM as well as Barnical and Greylag.
Still haven't seen a Avocet yet although I have been told they are about, bumped into a lot of nice humans today so all in all a good day!
12 October 2022
Dartmoor and Stover
11 October 2022
Around the Exe
Went on a trip around the west side of the Exe and outlying fields and very quiet on the bird front.
The sun had brought out some remaining Butterflies, Dragons and Wasps and plenty of Mammals about with both wild and domestic Fallow, Squirrels, single Fox and several Rats feeding on seeds at the Sluice gates by Turf.
A few humans about but quiet!
10 October 2022
Fungi
This last couple of weeks I have been walking around the woods looking for Fungi and other things, this last week has seen a big increase in them and shows how little I know 
about them and what they are called.
I cant seem to find a book with a good way of Identifying them, Fly Agaric and Honey Fungus is easy enough, I need an expert!
Even so some look magical in the early morning mist, when its cold, keep expecting a Fairy to jump out! hahaha
02 October 2022
South Devon
Slapton ley was fairly quiet, most of the birds where around the reeds sheltering from the wind and rain, 60+ Coot where at the Torcross end which was quite a sight. The beach had the usual Gulls and for a Sunday Morning the usual dog walkers so nothing really stayed in one place for long.
Beesands had defiantly more to see but frustratingly further away, plenty of Ducks and Martins which were unsuccessful targets for a Hobby and a Peregrine, the Hobby was just to fast for me on his dives.
At Start point Car park looking over the Bay plenty of Large Gulls, Kittiwakes and Gannets with at least 1 Skua sp. Plenty of meadow Pipits, Linnet and Stonechats, Hunting Kestrel, Buzzards and Carrion Crows.
Great to see Perry at Beesands.
01 October 2022
Around the Exe
Spent a really good day out around the River Exe and surrounding areas to the West of the River.
Started off at Bowling Green Marsh at high tide, popped into Goosemoor, the viewing platform also visited Exminster Marshes, Powderham Church, Estate, River Kenn and outflow, Fields behind Kenford/Starcross, Cockwood Harbour and Steps.
Goosemoor again empty of water and found out today that the sluice gate is broken or not working properly so very little water.
Good selection of Birds and mammals seen today and I will start off with the Birds. With all the water about it wasn't surprising to see a good selection of Ducks, many still in Eclipse but BGM and the River Kenn were the main areas, Exminster had very few but thats probably down to the lack of water. The best being a Gargany at BGM, sadly to far for a pic, others seen where, Gadwall, Pintail, Tufted, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck.
Some fly over Brent Geese at BGM as well as Canada Geese and Mute Swans.
The birds with long legs consisted of Grey Heron and Little Egrets which were seen every where and 4 Spoonbills at BGM. Moorhen, Coot and Water Rail seen and heard in several places.
Waders were fairly well spread with the best being a distant Small Stint at BGM as well as Curlew, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Red and Green Shanks, Oystercatchers, Grey Plover and Lapwing.
Several Wagtails seen with Pied, Grey and Yellow seen.
Several Buzzards seen especially on just cultivated fields, 8 in one field plus a couple of hunting Kestrel in separate places.
Good numbers of Gulls, more than 100 at the River Kenn outflow, washing and pruning, mostly Herring and Black-headed Gulls of all ages, but both Great and Lesser-black Backed Gulls also seen. A few Sandwich Terns still around close to Turf feeding up for their journey south. Also 
saw several Kingfisher hunting as well as Cormorant. All the Corvids seen over the day, with Raven, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie and Jay around the fields, hedges and trees. Woodpigeon, Stockdove, Cettis Warbler, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Rock Pipit, Starling and Hedge Sparrow all seen. Domesticated Muscovy Ducks and the usual 2 white Farm Geese seen at Exminster and Pheasants all over the place.
A few worn looking Butterflies still about as well as Dragons, the Ivy also very busy with insects.
The Fallow Stags at Powderham look stunning, Seal at Turf as well as Squirrels, Rabbits and a Fox seen.
Met plenty of nice humans today and good to see Dave S at BGM.
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