Normally I pop in to see my sister who lives in Barnstable North Devon when I have my annual week West Cornwall in October. This year I thought I would a short spring break would be different and allow me to see a few species I tend only to see as migrants rather than on their breeding grounds.
On the way down we (my wife and I) called in at the RSPB's Ham Wall Reserve. This is just a short distance from the M5 and quite a pleasant reserve, unfortunately the sun which had be shining all morning decided to disappear behind a blanket of cloud just after we left the motorway. As we were setting off from the car park two Great White Egrets flew from a nearby by pool into a distant reed bed. They were the first of 4 birds we saw in the 2 hours we were there. The only other unusual bird(s) we encountered were 3 high flying cranes, birds possibly from the Slimbridge re-introduction scheme.
While at my sisters and partly due to the cold north westerly the only birding I did was when we went for a couple of short walks along the Tarka Trail. I had arranged to spend the Saturday birding with in South Devon with a friend who moved down there last autumn.
The following photos will tell the story of my 4 days away:
Ham Wall
Fremington Quay
If I hadn't got the following photo I would have thought that this was a Hudsonian
Whimbrel. It just goes to show that you shouldn't always trust a photo.
There were over 30 Whimbrel feeding in this small inlet.
This Whimbrel was watching a Common Buzzard being mobbed by a Rook.
Yarner Wood
Aylesbere Common
On the way down we (my wife and I) called in at the RSPB's Ham Wall Reserve. This is just a short distance from the M5 and quite a pleasant reserve, unfortunately the sun which had be shining all morning decided to disappear behind a blanket of cloud just after we left the motorway. As we were setting off from the car park two Great White Egrets flew from a nearby by pool into a distant reed bed. They were the first of 4 birds we saw in the 2 hours we were there. The only other unusual bird(s) we encountered were 3 high flying cranes, birds possibly from the Slimbridge re-introduction scheme.
While at my sisters and partly due to the cold north westerly the only birding I did was when we went for a couple of short walks along the Tarka Trail. I had arranged to spend the Saturday birding with in South Devon with a friend who moved down there last autumn.
The following photos will tell the story of my 4 days away:
Ham Wall
Fremington Quay
Whimbrel. It just goes to show that you shouldn't always trust a photo.
Yarner Wood
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