Annual trip to Devon and Ham Wall (1 Viewer)

[Julie50]

Off in the caravan tomorrow to Lydford, Devon, U.K. More importantly this gives me at least 2 trips to Ham Wall - so excited.

Report to follow, if I can get Wi-Fi!!

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Good luck Julie.

 

[d.steeley]

Looking forward to your report Julie.

Dave

 

[Julie50]

Day 1: 5 hour walk from the campsite at Lydford village. You enter Dartmoor by the Dartmoor Inn onto High Down. It is only about 330m so the initial terrain is scrubby gorse and bracken. Mostly lbjs including; stonechat, goldfinches, linnets with many juveniles. Also; pied wagtail, magpie, crow, blackbird.

 

[Julie50]

You then climb fairly steeply and the flocks reduce to nothing about 450m. At this point, skylark, pipets and wheatears, again with many juvenile.

 

[Julie50]

Walking through the old tin workings by about 540m smaller birds conspicuous by their absence. Buzzard, kestrel and crows. Walked to the aptly named Bleak House, which is connected to peat cutting (more on this later!) Saw first family group of Dartmoor Ponies.

 

[Julie50]

Joined the trackway which was built for a short lived peat cutting venture, of which you can still see the remains, both of workings and cutting. Not sure about huge caterpillar, assuming some kind of hawk moth, but cannot identify from my book!

 

[Julie50]

Kept on the track past Great Links Tor and Woodcock Hill, until had to by-pass due to cows. Any one know the origin of the pellet - not really good terrain for owls? Perhaps short eared?

 

[Julie50]

Detour gave good siting of buzzard and most surprisingly a cuckoo!

 

[Julie50]

Back down to little bird altitudes now. Is this one a willow warbler?

 

[Julie50]

A great day and homemade pizza on our pizza oven bbq for tea

Ham Wall tomorrow 😀😀

 

[SimonLS]

Joined the trackway which was built for a short lived peat cutting venture, of which you can still see the remains, both of workings and cutting. Not sure about huge caterpillar, assuming some kind of hawk moth, but cannot identify from my book!

Julie, looks like it might be the caterpillar of an Emperor Moth.

 

[cafe birder]

Hi, your caterpillar is an emperor moth

Enjoy ham wall , it was fun there today with the usual suspects showing but you will need to be patient for bitterns

regards Howard

 

[amears]

Hi, your caterpillar is an emperor moth

Enjoy ham wall , it was fun there today with the usual suspects showing but you will need to be patient for bitterns

regards Howard

Garganey have been on the 2nd viewing platform lagoon lately. Walk the grass footpath north side of the canal for best chance. I think there’s more than one but I keep seeing just singles.

 

[davercox]

Detour gave good siting of buzzard and most surprisingly a cuckoo!

Dartmoor is pretty much the only regular place for Cuckoos in Devon these days. Sad but true. Your bird is on the late side of course.

 

[Julie50]

Day 2: Ham Wall.

Cloudy morning brightened up to a lovely sunny evening. My patience was not rewarded with a bittern, but a great day none the less, I love reed warblers and there were many!

Blackcap
Blackbird
Wren
Mute swan
Greater spotted woodpecker
Swift
Swallow
Long tailed tit
Great crested grebe
Reed warbler
Coot
Mute swan
LBB gull
Magpie
Moorhen
Little grebe
Cormorant
BH gull
Great white egrst
Gadwall
Green woodpecker
Sparrow hawk
Little egret
Marsh harrier
Water rail
Buzzard
Crow

 

[Julie50]

Day 3: Tavistock. Not really a birding day but after my partner’s 7hr cycle ride yesterday, it was felt a lazy day was needed. Excellent lunch at Robertson’s, bit gastro, but very tasty food. Partner had the bean and rice burrito and I had grilled goat’s cheese salad, both had spicy, skin on chips and olives and garlic bread starters. Very good coffee and cake at Mime. Weather improved to a sunny evening so visit to Brentor so other half could take atmospheric pics at sunset.

Swallow
Magpie
Crow
Bluetit
Blackbird
House sparrow
Wren
Juvenile finch (chaffinch?)

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

That looks like a Linnet to me Julie. Sounds like you’re having a great time. That food sounds delicious.

Rich

 

[Julie50]

Thanks Rich - I’m not good at small browns especially juveniles.

 

[Julie50]

Day 4: Low cloud and mist did for our planned moors walk so we opted for the weirdness that is Lydford Gorge. Hide is unusual being in the canopy due to the steepness of the gorge. Feeders were busy, just a willow/marsh tit ID? I am assuming Marsh due to commonality, but no song so??

Excellent toasted four cheese and tomato sandwich with crisps for lunch, good coffee also (it is NT).

(You may see a cheese, fried potato theme to my food intake - this and the red wine - is why I am not stick thin lol).

Swallow
Buzzard
Blackbird
Robin (with many juveniles)
Blue tit
Great tit
Coal tit
Marsh/willow tit?
Chaffinch (with many juveniles)
GS woodpecker
Nuthatch

Think the fish were brown trout?