Goosed at Exmouth!

Thursday 27^th October.

Sorry to those of your who thought you had double vision when you read my last blog. Twixt the draft entry in Word, and arriving in the blog creation box, I had a touch of the vapours. The Editor is not exonerated either as she did not pick it up!!

Just had a look at the statistics of people reading the 43 instalments of my blog, and 27^th October was the day that I got my 3,000^th hit, not exactly viral but from little acorns…… da de da de da!!

The number of hits per item depends on the appeal or curiosity of the title, and finding a good title is key to getting the hits.  “Bald Heads” drew a crowd, as did “Back in the Room”.  Reference to Trump, and the “Exe to the Axe” drew little interest, but I can’t get too controversial…I’d like to!

I must tell you that our 10-day mini-break was absolutely bereft of birds, just 40 species, but in my defence whilst we were in some birding areas, that was not the object of the mini-tour. We visited Wales for a wedding blessing, and did pick up some Red Kites en route.

Nice accommodation -  we stayed in Pembrokeshire in a small village called Bethlehem, in a farm house called the Paddock, and from our bedroom could see the Stables….. but no kings or camels.

From Pembrokeshire to Weston on the mud (again), the M40 was closed TWICE and we enjoyed a pleasant 60 minutes looking at and commenting on the front gardens of Swansea residents (could have done some weeding the way the journey went!). Weston only contributed Rock Pipit (same place as last month – probably same bird). 

From there we drove to Exmouth, via Lynmouth in N.Devon, visiting Tony, my birding colleague who moved away from Derby earlier this year, and was mentioned in the early days of my blog.   A LONG journey, but finally arriving at one of our favourite hotels, The Imperial at Exmouth.

Sad to read about the Royal Clarence hotel in Exeter – I stayed there in 1968 in my days with the AA. (NO – not alcoholic anonymous). My memory was a Florida cocktail served complete with a fly. Ed; he is actually telling the truth, on both counts.

Wednesday 2^nd November.   Exmouth is at the widest part and the mouth of the Exe estuary, and a walk around the harbour yielded very good numbers of Brent Geese, plus the usual suspects. We took in a brief visit to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh, but it is at its best when the Exe is high, and the waders come on to the marsh area… but not on the day we visited.

Saturday 5^th November.  I’m writing this a bit in advance of Sunday which is my usual Birdwatching for Beginners Beginners walk. 18 people booked, of which 5 are people who have not joined the walk before. Always enjoy getting more people hooked on this wonderful hobby.

Sunday 6^th November.  Well you can’t win them all but the drizzle, which became rain was the best way to stop people loitering. At one stage, and remember I’m the leader, there was no one behind me! 18 of us got the obligatory 30 birds, with BOD being a very busy Willow Tit on the Ranger Base feeders, which would have been outvoted by a couple of Redpoll, but not everyone saw them.

After demisting binoculars in the heated wildlife centre, added 3 Snipe on Horseshoe Island (one actively bathing), and then the bird of the year.. well we had not seen one in 11 months, a Moorhen.

So with one walk left in 2016 (Sunday 4^th December), 2017 will start with the walk on 1^st January!! I’m not sure but I may be Billy No-Mates.

And for a bit of self-indulgence, we have had 232 bookings in 2016 (so far), the highest number in 11 years... getting popular, in-it?

For those not on the walk to-day, I will be doing the annual ½ day-away at Attenborough gravel Pits on Sunday 8^th January. Meet in the car park (NG9 6DY) for a 9.30 start PROMPT, and finish at 12.30.

Good news… just heard that the Tower hide at Attenborough is now accessible, especially good because we are coming up to Bittern time, and for 2017, and that is a very good view point.

TTFN.