Devon - Glorious Devon

(Google the above title for interest.)

I suppose when you live in what is all but the middle of England, it is not surprising that the coast and the sea is a big draw. And that’s how it is with us… we are past the bucket and spade phase, the stretch wool swimming costumes, and never ending sticks of rock, but we still long to visit the coast with the beaches and estuaries, headlands with strong winds, great views, and the smell of salt and the ozone….oh and some cracking coastal birds which rarely get into Derbyshire.

So that is why we decided to encompass my birthday and have a week in Devon, staying once again at our favourite Imperial Hotel at Exmouth. A good room with a sea view, looking across the Exe estuary, with Dawlish Warren in the distance.

Tuesday 24^th January, and we wake up to a pea souper..well very misty anyway. So, after a lazy morning we drove to the recreation ground at Topsham, where a Yellow Browed Warbler had been reported. Thanks to a local who emerged from his house as we were parking, we found the exact spot and spotted the YBW actively feeding. The poor light did not make it easy, but we could make out the eye line and a thick wing bar.  …a Lifer for day 1!

Wednesday 25th January, and 12.45 was the sailing time for the 3 hour Stuart Line bird watching cruise, up the Exe estuary. I strongly recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in South Devon. For £12.50, the trip is very good value, and the leaders (Ian Waite this time) work well with Stuart Lines, ensuring that nothing is missed, and the boat will heave to if that helps to get a better eyeball on something special.

We had 130 people on the boat, and surprisingly, 7 of them were staying at my hotel.

Very soon we were ticking off Shag and Merganser, and as we passed Starcross the regular Slavonian Grebe was seen, this time with a friend. This Grebe appears to be OK, but it can’t fly so it’s an easy bird to tick. In fact we saw a third Slavonian later on.   Bar tailed Godwits and Black Tailed Godwits were near the river outlet at Powderham (as was a Spotted Redshank and Greenshank), a chance for Ian to dwell on the difference in plumage.

Brent Geese were frequent sightings, with Greylag, Canadian and one Barnacle. Plovers were plentiful, with Grey, Golden, Little Ringed and Green, and Dunlin and Knot added to the wader list. But the highlight, especially for the non-birders on the boat, was to see the good number of Avocets, right up near the Exe marshes. Really nice to see.

Ian’s highlight was identifying Mergansers, and saying that they don’t have Goosanders on the Exe. Whereupon a pair of Goosanders landed on a nearby sand bank!  

My highlight was on the journey back when David Smallshire picked out a Bonaparte Gull. With a jizz a bit like a Tern, the bird was quite identifiable, and we tracked it for 3 or 4 minutes. Yippee.!! Lifer No 2.

Thursday 26th January.  A birthday treat was the coastal train journey from Exmouth. Besides the Exe to Exeter, then along the famous Dawlish Wall, up the Teign and finally to Paignton. My brother Simon and his wife Sarah pick us up in his classic Jaguar and we drive to Berry Head, just South of Brixham. 

My excuse was to try and see a reported Surf Scoter with the Common and Velvet varieties, but the wind was blowing such an absolute hooley, that a quick glance over the cliff edge was enough to see… nothing. So I quenched my thirst with diving Gannets and some Guillemots, and thus added 2 to my year list!

Friday 27^th January, and I followed up a report of a first year male Scaup at Mud Bank lane Exmouth (on the edge of the Exe), successfully!!

Little birds of note on Saturday and wet Sunday, but a visit to Seaton gave Mary her birding buzz! 

(Ed; At Seaton Marsh, had to point out the 3-times seen hovering Kingfisher to the Birdman, but watching a cock pheasant making clandestine approaches towards two hens was entertaining!!)

Tuesday 31^st January the last chance to up the January total, so Chris and I head to Holme Pierrepoint near Nottingham, for a reported Smew. 

Started off with a Green Woodpecker at the Skylarks nature reserve, and with nothing apart from Goldeneye at the rowing course, we drive to a well-known spot to observe The A52 pit. Despite parking on the verge, and getting soaked from spray from large lorries, I pick up a White Nun near the far reed bed, alongside a female Redhead. 

Always love Smew, and this one completes my set of all 3 Sawbills.  It also brings my January total to a very satisfying124 - especially when my previous best January was 114.

I suppose considering I have been to Norfolk, Devon and Slimbridge it is not too surprising, but 62% of the year’s target sounds good!

 (Ed: Now you’ve got January out of your system, can we get back to less verbiage, DARLING?)