South Devon next week

[Ruby]

Hi Guys,

I'm off to South Devon next week staying near Ivybridge.

I would be planning a visit (or two..) to Prawle Point, but does anyone who is familiar with the area have any other good recommendations??


Thanks.... Ruby

[the saint]

hi ruby,
if you come back up a bit, more near exeter ,there is dawlish warren,haldon forrest,exminster marshes,
aylesbeare common,good for dartford warbler,bowling green marsh topsham, this is a great site for rare sightings,
also p falcons nested on top of church tower ,in exeter town

[Dryocopus]

Hi Guys,

I'm off to South Devon next week staying near Ivybridge.

I would be planning a visit (or two..) to Prawle Point, but does anyone who is familiar with the area have any other good recommendations??


Thanks.... Ruby


If Andrew doesn't post ...pm him - he is one of the Devon birders...nowt gets past him!!

[pduxon]

slapton ley is pretty good

[Andrew]

Lots of good habbo in the South Hams but that is a drive from Ivybridge. If you are wanting to stay very local then I am struggling to think of places to go. If you are happy to travel about 20-30 miles then I can pop a lot of places and grid refs your way. Ivybridge is good for getting to Dartmoor though but for migrants the South Hams is best.

[devon.birder]

Is there any particular species you want to see Ruby?. Roger

[Darrell Clegg]

If you are wanting to stay very local then I am struggling to think of places to go. .


Andrew you surprise me!!!

All within 10 - 15 miles

Wembury for Cirl Buntings

Plymbridge Woods

Burrator Res. + surrounding moor

Plym Estuary

Yarner Wood, Trendlebere + Stover

A little further - Poss 20 miles

West Charleton Marsh, Frogmore + Bowcombe creek

Berry Head

Slapton Ley

Start Point

Haldon

And best of all - Cornwall!!!

Darrell

[Ruby]

Lots of good habbo in the South Hams but that is a drive from Ivybridge. If you are wanting to stay very local then I am struggling to think of places to go. If you are happy to travel about 20-30 miles then I can pop a lot of places and grid refs your way. Ivybridge is good for getting to Dartmoor though but for migrants the South Hams is best.

Hi Guys,

Even though we are staying nr Ivybridge (Modbury actually...) we won't be worried about a bit of travelling and will probably spend a good bit of time on/nr the coast and maybe will travel up to Dartmoor. We are there for the thick end of 2 weeks starting Aug 18th, so will have some time...

As rgds target species - I would like to add Cirl Bunting to my 'official' list (saw one years ago) and would also like to have another go at getting a decent photo of a Dipper - other than that just wanted to see what was around really, with there always being the possibility of some migrants.

I guess the scenario I was trying to avoid was there being some real birding hot-spot just down that road, that I didn't visit due to not knowing it was there!!

Some info on good sites and grid refs would be great.....


All the best... Ruby

[the saint]

hi ruby
if you are looking for cirl bunting, berryhead is a great place to see them,
just head for brixham, and it well signed posted just past,

[Andrew]

Hi Darrell, by 'very local' I mean't walking distance or within five miles. I rarely venture down that way (near Plymouth) hence my struggle.

[Ruby]

Thanks for the help guys - here's hoping for a good trip....


Ruby

[Ppedro]

About 4 miles from Modbury you have the Avon Estuary at Aveton Gifford, very underwatched, the tidal road can be good for waders and Gulls. About 20 minutes drive away is the Kingsbridge estuary, a few Med Gulls and Osprey at present. West Charleton Marsh always worth a look, singing Cirl Bunting usually easy here.
The Bolt Head - Bolt Tail area (Soar Mill Cove, Starehole Valley etc ) is about 20 minutes away- brilliant for migrants you could get some good falls from next week on.
Thurlestone / South Huish Marsh is about the same distance away - Least Sandpiper and Black - headed Wagtail last August.
Venturing slightly furthur away, Prawle Point , Start Point and Slapton Ley are 30-40 minutes drive away on the eastern side of Kingsbridge from you.
You shouldnt need grid refs to find these places. Just ask a local they will point you the right way. These places are grossly underwatched so don't expect to see many other birders.
Information on local birds can be found on[URL=http:/whdevon.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/[/URL]

Good luck
Perry

[Andrew]

Perry is right about not needing grid refs. The whole of south Devon and the South Hams is a goldmine. Lots of potential there. What you need is OS Map 202 and just look at the coastal locations to find good places to park up and wander looking for migrants.

I had a great time doing just that a few years ago when based in Bowcombe Creek and enjoyed it. Found nothing really but I was happy.

Lovely part of the world.

[Tranquility Base]

I was in Devon last week: Haldon Forest (near Exeter Racecourse) had Raven, Peregrine, Hobby and Crossbill: Prawle Point was easy for Cirl Bunting (on the Gorse-covered slopes East of the little car park!) In past years, third week in August, I've had Cory's and Sooty just offshore, Icterine Warbler by the carpark and lots of nice vagrants in Pig Nose Valley. There wasn't much at Bowling Green Marsh, but it's a great spot! Always dozens of close Little Egrets and Godwits, plus the chance of something really rare! Osprey & Peregrine are regular. Try the Passage House in nearby Topsham for excellent food and beer and a lovely dining area right by the river.....
I have to say: Dipper is really hard to locate on Dartmoor / Exmoor....
Have a great time!

[Ruby]

I was in Devon last week: Haldon Forest (near Exeter Racecourse) had Raven, Peregrine, Hobby and Crossbill: Prawle Point was easy for Cirl Bunting (on the Gorse-covered slopes East of the little car park!) In past years, third week in August, I've had Cory's and Sooty just offshore, Icterine Warbler by the carpark and lots of nice vagrants in Pig Nose Valley. There wasn't much at Bowling Green Marsh, but it's a great spot! Always dozens of close Little Egrets and Godwits, plus the chance of something really rare! Osprey & Peregrine are regular. Try the Passage House in nearby Topsham for excellent food and beer and a lovely dining area right by the river.....
I have to say: Dipper is really hard to locate on Dartmoor / Exmoor....
Have a great time!

Thanks - that all sounds like good info....

Can you just point me to Pignose Valley - can't quite see it on my OS map....


Thanks.... Ruby

[devon.birder]

Thanks - that all sounds like good info....

Can you just point me to Pignose Valley - can't quite see it on my OS map....


Thanks.... Ruby

After you pass the duckpond before you get to Prawle village you take the road off to the right. Drive along the road and park on the grass verge just before the sharp right hand bend. Walk down the obvious track that leads off from the bend. The horse field on the right after about one hundred yards is worth a quick look. Walk on down the track, through the gate at the end and then walk down to the coast. This is Pig's Nose Valley. Best of luck. Roger

[Ruby]

After you pass the duckpond before you get to Prawle village you take the road off to the right. Drive along the road and park on the grass verge just before the sharp right hand bend. Walk down the obvious track that leads off from the bend. The horse field on the right after about one hundred yards is worth a quick look. Walk on down the track, through the gate at the end and then walk down to the coast. This is Pig's Nose Valley. Best of luck. Roger


I see it - thanks.

[Ruby]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know that we had a good time down in South Hams....

Managed to see several Cirl Buntings at different sites, plus 3 Dippers (no photos sadly) and quite a few Raven - all birds that we don't really get back home and my main targets for the week.

We also had a HouseSparrow roost (100+ birds) in a hedge right behind our tent, which was a bit of a novelty (if noisy!)

Didn't see much by way of migrants - just a few Wheatear and Spotted Flycatchers, but we weren't really looking that hard.

Quite good for raptors too - lots of Common Buzzards and quite a few Peregrine and Sparrowhawks.... I also has 2 sightings of what I'm fairly sure were Hobby - If this was back in the SE, I would have no hesitation in making that id, but I've got it in mind that Hobby would be unlikely in S Devon last few days of August.... Am I barking up the wrong tree??

Have to say, if not Hobby then I've no idea what.....


Rgds... Ruby

[Darrell Clegg]

Hi Ruby,

Glad you had a good time.

As for Hobby, we do get them, maybe not in the numbers you get in the South East, but it is not unusual to encounter one anywhere in Devon. They particularly like places such as Exminster and Slapton because of the Swallows, but there are also birds on the moor and at many of the coastal watchpoints.

Darrell

[Ruby]

Thanks for the info Darrell,

Yes, even though they were quite a way off, I was pretty convinced they were Hobbies....


Ruby

[Andrew]

Glad you had a good time.

Did you jam in on the Dawlish Warren Spot Crake?

[Ruby]

Glad you had a good time.

Did you jam in on the Dawlish Warren Spot Crake?

No. I don't have a pager or anything, so didn't know what was about in the area....

We've got one up here at Grove Ferry at the minute....They're quite regular there (but blighters to see!!)