From the Exe to the Axe

Sun Feb 7.  Nothing to report on my Carsington beginners walk, apart from very good close up views of the Great Northern Diver. Well voted Bird of the Day, and later on was even closer to the boardwalk by the Wildlife Centre.

Mon Feb 8 – Thurs Feb 11. Had 3 days at Exmouth in Devon, and although gales battered the West Country on Monday, from Tuesday we had 3 days (almost-) of excellent weather.

Monday,  The bad news.... Foreign lorries jammed the Gloucester lay-by opposite the Penduline Tits site, so we aborted a search. The good news.. the Imperial hotel gave us an upgraded room with a balcony overlooking Dawlish Warren, and although it was too cold to open the window, we had an incredible view particularly of the fast running spring tides.

Tuesday, At 1.30pm, after a short morning walk (ticking off a Rock Pipit near the marina), I joined the 3 hour Stuart Lines birdwatching cruise on the Exe to Topsham, my 5^th trip over the years. For just £12.50 this is an excellent trip, and the commentary by David Smallshire is very good and professional. I ticked off 35 birds on the trip, and added 7 to my 2016 list.  , and the cruise always leaves at low tide giving excellent views of the birds on the sand banks. Well recommended.

Of course most of the species were water birds, although David did spot a Peregrine on Exmouth church. A good early start was being very close to a Great Northern Diver, and Shags and Mergansers were very frequent. One of the top areas was near Powderham castle where the River Kenn joins the Exe. Greenshank and Spotted Redshank were spotted and near Starcross station, the Slavonian Grebe which has been living for 2/3 years all year round on the Exe, had a friend ??!!

A good number of Avocets added some charisma, and David added a lot of help in sorting Plovers (Ringed; Grey; Golden and Green).  A rarity and a highlight for him was a Mediterranean Gull, which tested the identification skills of newbie’s to birding, especially when it flew past!.. oh and one seal.

Wednesday, Knowing that we had very high spring tides, we got to Budleigh Salterton and the marshes at the mouth of the river Otter. Hi tide was c7.15am, so 10.00am was a bit too late to see the marshes flooding. So we kept heading East to Sidmouth, Beer and then to Seaton to look at the Axe marshes. I’d had reports that at Black Hole marsh, there was a Glossy Ibis, and a Green Winged Teal. Maybe there was, but they are big marshes and the 2 guys in the hide said “they could be anywhere”. Dipped again! Still 7 to add to the list and now on 124.

Thursday was non-birding, although it was interesting to see from the train that on the Teign estuary, whereas when I was at school, I saw Herons, now it’s all about Little Egrets.

I thought you might like to hear about the annual award presented by the Chairman of DOS to recognise a person who has made a significant contribution to Avian conservation. The well deserved 2016 award goes to Roger Carrington who for 10 years was the recorder for Carsington. Whenever I saw him whilst I was doing my bird walks, Roger would share his findings, but those “goodies” that he saw at 7.00am on the dam wall, would be for him to savour. In 10 years of my Bird Walks for Beginners, the highest  one morning count was when Roger led the walk. Says it all, doesn’t it!

Modesty forbids me mentioning that I received the Chairman’s award in 2013.