![[Simon Thurgood Images]](images/image.jpg)
![[Simon Thurgood Images]](images/st-images.jpg)
Blog
30 August 2022
Exminster Marshes
Went for a walk around Exminster Marshes earlier today, fairly quiet, a few Buzzards about but because the Marsh is quite dry and the grass has over grown not a lot to see.
When I got to the River the tide was in, so cake and tea was the order of the day, while sat down I noticed several Med Gulls flying around, 5 in fact and 1 landed and sat for a while with the Black-headed Gulls on the mud by Turf, it had a ring on it but I couldn't read it.
Very little else as apart from a few Oystercatchers no waders close by.
25 August 2022
Exminster Marshes
Had a look around the River Exe but the tide was fully out and the birds were spread thin on the ground, very few Waders with a few Oystercatchers, Curlew, Godwit, Greenshank and Redshank on the waters edge. plenty of Gulls, Mute Swans, Little Egrets and Cormorants.
Very quite around the Marshes except for some Cattle Egrets just up from the Turf and a Yellow Wagtail that was very mobile and hopped over the hedge and I couldn't re-locate it.
Really nice walk around with a pit stop for Tea and Cake at Turf, Yum Yum!!
24 August 2022
South Devon
I parked up at the National Trust Car Park in the mist and walked towards Gammon Head, at first very little to see but I then heard them before they appeared chasing a Buzzard before coming back around towards me. They were then chased by some Ravens so they dropped to the floor very close to me, so close I couldn't get them in focus. They then hopped into the next field where they stayed for the rest of my visit, as I left the Ravens re appeared and they flew off. They defiantly preferred my company to that of the Ravens!!
Also saw plenty of other small birds such as Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robin, Whinchat, Cirl Bunting, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Stonechat, Wren, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Kestrel and Swallow.
Off then to Beesands Ley, plenty of Ducks here with Tufted, Mallard and Gadwall, many in Eclipse. Got a bit excited as I thought I might have a Juv Scaup but sadly no Coconut!
Plenty of mute Swans, Coot, Cormorant and Herring Gulls. Also saw a great White Egret which was being given a hard time by a Grey Heron.
It was noticeable the lack of Summer Migrants such as Reed and Sedge Warbles, looks like they have left?
Was going to stop at Slapton but was quite busy so went home instead.
Good to see Dave B and Paul B down at gammon Head with the Choughs.
21 August 2022
False Autumn
I've been around several wooded areas this last week and its been quite noticeable how the drought has affected the Trees.
Leaves dropping off several Species especially Silver Birch, Sweet Chestnut and Oak. Also a lot of Bracken has started to turn colour and i dont think there is as much fruit about such as bramble?
A "False Autumn" is also supposed to start spring flowers coming early in a months time so lets see what happens!
20 August 2022
Dartmoor
Went to Dartmoor today, starting of at Yarner which was surprisingly quiet for humans followed by my usual route around the moor.
A bit of bird song, all the usual such as Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Blackbird and Bullfinch. Noticeable lack of summer migrants until I got to a patch of Holly shrub which was full of birds catching insects and here is where I saw my only Spotted Flycatcher of the day.
A few other birds of interest were Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great-spotted Woodpecker and a flyover lesser-spotted Woodpecker, a noisy Juvenile Buzzard could be heard and there was a female Mandarin Duck in the lagoon.
Out on the moor, again a lack of Summer Migrants seen with the exception of several Swallows.
Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, House Sparrow, Raven, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie and several Buzzard.
Very enjoyable time on the moor.
16 August 2022
Out and About
Things getting a bit more organised in my life now so managed to enjoy my day off today in East Devon.
First stop was Bowling Green Marsh for high tide, first stop actually was Goose Moor but very little here with the very high tide, but BGM was full of Waders with Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
A few ducks, all in eclipse with Gadwell, Shoveler, Teal and Mallard, there might have been more over the back but because the grass was so high you couldn't see anything.
Plenty of Gulls about with Black-headed, Herring, Great-black and Lesser-black,Backed Gulls. I did think I had seen a Med Gull but on a second look it wasn't.
Other water birds included Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Water Rail, Shelduck and Canada Geese.
Other birds seen where Lapwing, Magpie, Kingfisher, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Stock Dove, Wood pigeon, Blue and Great Tit, Swallow and Sand Martin.
Off then to Seaton, stopped for dinner at the cafe on Axminster Harbour, plenty of families here enjoying some crabbing, Oystercatchers flying over, Cormorants in the harbour with Herring and Black-headed Gulls flying around, I went to the harbour entrance is to see the ever lasting Peas, hoping to find a long-tailed Blue Butterfly but sadly no, plenty of Bees but no Butterflies, in fact I didn't see any Butterflies all day!
Then off to Seaton Wetlands which was at the wrong time to be honest as the tide had gone out and everything had left for the river, although viewable from Tower hide it was at a distance.
Still managed to see Curlew, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Godwits, little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwell, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Lapwing and Goldfinch.
Met lots of nice people through the day and good to bump into Dave B and have a chat.
10 August 2022
Greylake
I managed not only to get out of Dawish but Devon for a short while this morning.
Arrived at Greylake in Somerset quite early but not as early as I would have liked.
When I arrived the bird song was quite loud and you could hear the Sedge and Reed Warblers in full cry but by the time I had finished my visit all the birds had disappeared to the shade to get away from the sun, the place was in silence.
Also saw Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzards, Sparrow Hawk, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Robin, Great Tit, Starling and the sound of a couple of Water Rails.
Early on plenty of Butterflies, especially Red Admirals but as it got hotter all sat closed wings in the shade, same for the many Dragons seen, plenty of other insects such as Hoverflies, Wasps and Bees.
Surprised not to see any Lizards or Grass Snakes?
Met a few Humans all friendly!
07 August 2022
Out and About
With a new job, Rota, Family and life getting out has been complicated! I managed to get out for periods of time over the weekend, because of the heat tried to get out early but even then you could see birds heading for shade.
Didnt see anything out of the ordinary, good to see a few Summer Migrants still around but not many Swallows or Martins. Did see lots around a thatched house on Dartmoor which had obviously for some reason attracted lots of Flies but other than that very few seen.
The effect of the drought has been obvious, at Exminster Marshes the pastures are just Brown and Stover the water levels dropped quite a bit to show plenty of weed.
Looking forward to some rain and things to settle down, looks like the Butterfly season has stopped for me as just not been able to get out, especially to Cumbria and no trip to the Scilly Isles this year but onwards and upwards as they say!
© Simon Thurgood 2024
Images on this website may not be put as any part of any collection without any prior written permission.