P
peter hayes
Guest
Exceptionally mild weather for late January, and dry after recent rain.
All day walk with Rod and Sue Lawrence. 17 participants. Start: 10.00 at Cockwood harbour.
As we gathered in the tiny car park by a hairpin bend reminiscent of the Italian Alps, a flock of 20 or so Brent Geese flew in and landed on the nearby golf course – our first stop. There, we saw around 150 Oystercatchers in the sodden grass, and a few Redshank. 60 Lapwing flew in to join the fun. Several Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit were dotted about, along with a handful of Teal, looking lovely with their ‘custard triangles’ (copyright: Kevin) glinting in the winter sunshine. Beyond the golf course is the Exe Estuary and running alongside, a railway line with trains going out to Dawlish or inland to Exeter. Suddenly, a Treecreeper was spotted in an old oak tree right in front of us, and we were treated to the marvellous sight of this little beauty trying (and for the most part failing) to gobble up an enormous green caterpillar as it hopped up the trunk of the tree. Four Snipe flew past, a Meadow Pipit was also seen, plus 8 Pied Wagtails rooting around for insects where normally golfers ply their trade, as well as 25 or so Canada Geese. 30 more Curlew flew past and a Starling landed on a telegraph pole. They really do have lovely colours. Then some people strode onto the course with nets to retrieve lost golf balls and it instantly became a bird free zone.
We walked over the bridge at Cockwood towards an area locals call ‘The Sod’. On the map is says Cockwood Marshes, but then local names are often more colourful! This is a lovely marshy area stretching out with the Haldon Hills in the background. Rod Lawrence has fought and lost a long battle to try to stop part of it being turned into a village green and playground. He thinks it will be the beginning of the end for our feathered friends, especially the Barn Owls who hunt here at night. We looked carefully and were rewarded with four Snipe digging for earthworms, their yellow stripes gleaming. Two of them were hurtling across the field for cover, like moving humbugs! We saw a Grey Heron, statuesque as usual, and a Little Egret, which moved at surprising speed. A few Teal were spotted, plus Moorhen and Coot. A Cormorant flew past directly overhead, as 30 Canada Geese flew in. Mute Swans were dotted about, along with many Gulls. Then, four more Snipe, all in a row, quite exposed, showing really well.
Back to the Golf course now thankfully sans humans, and we were greeted with 100 or so Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls, and 50 Brent Geese. In addition: 30 Lapwing, a Robin, a Dunnock, three Teal and a Wren. We also saw several Curlew and Oystercatchers.
In a truly heroic move, I spurned the nearby pub, and instead went back to the car and made do with the exquisite packed lunch my wife had made. It consisted of: stir fried organic chicken breast in sesame oil with a dash of Soy sauce and sesame seeds with finely sliced spring onions, red and yellow papers tossed in rice vinegar. Desert was a very ripe Comice pear. Evian water during, tea afterwards.
Just before we set off for our afternoon destination, Powderham Church, I went alone to look again at the golf course, as 200 Brent Geese had just flown in. They were joined by 70 Herring Gulls, 70 Oystercatchers and 50 Lapwing. Driving along the estuary road, we saw 50 Curlew in a nearby field, along with 20 Oystercatchers and a horse. We stopped on the edge of the grounds of Powderham Castle, and saw a fantastic sight: 1 Spoonbill, four Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 20 Wigeon, 20 Shelduck, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, and 40 Greenshank. In the distance, a herd of deer, one of the attractions of a trip to Powderham castle, which acted as a backdrop to the vista in front of us.
13.30 We all met up again under the trees by Powderham Church, and set off along the estuary path towards The Turf. A flock of Dunlin flew in and we saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a solitary Avocet. On our left, the railway line. On our right, the receding waters of Exe estuary. Two Pied Wagtails hopped along the sea wall. First one Stonechat, then another, were spotted in a nearby field, and a really lovely Little Egret flew in a loop around us. Three Shelduck and one Curlew made for contrasting colours. A Meadow Pipit alighted on the wall near us, as we made our way towards The Turf vantage point. Looking across the water towards Topsham, we saw a remarkable sight as all the waders flew in. Huge numbers of Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit (some already beginning to turn a rusty colour on their breasts), Curlew, Avocet and Dunlin. Rod estimated we were then looking out at:
1,200+ Lapwing
500 Avocet
300 Black-tailed Godwit
100 Redshank
100 Dunlin
50 Curlew
20 Knot
As an added bonus, a Weasel was seen just a few feet away, darting in an out of the black rocks on the foreshore. An attractive animal, lovely brown on top and white underneath. As it made its way towards the water, however, many birds flew off. I left slightly before the rest of the party, and walked back along the estuary path, immediately seeing 200 Wigeon on the Exminster Marshes. In the estuary a further 150 Lapwing, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 100 Oystercatchers, 50 Redshank, 20 Dunlin and around 2,000+ Gulls. I also saw the Avocet with a gammy leg we’d heard about earlier. It was near the sea wall, limping badly. Even the sweeping movement with its bill was lopsided as it seemed to grimace in pain each time it moved. It then flew off. At the end of the walk, with the last of the afternoon sun lighting up the folly on the hill of Powderham Estate, I heard a lone Curlew calling as I left one of my favourite spots for birding. It stayed in my head for quite a while.
All day walk with Rod and Sue Lawrence. 17 participants. Start: 10.00 at Cockwood harbour.
As we gathered in the tiny car park by a hairpin bend reminiscent of the Italian Alps, a flock of 20 or so Brent Geese flew in and landed on the nearby golf course – our first stop. There, we saw around 150 Oystercatchers in the sodden grass, and a few Redshank. 60 Lapwing flew in to join the fun. Several Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit were dotted about, along with a handful of Teal, looking lovely with their ‘custard triangles’ (copyright: Kevin) glinting in the winter sunshine. Beyond the golf course is the Exe Estuary and running alongside, a railway line with trains going out to Dawlish or inland to Exeter. Suddenly, a Treecreeper was spotted in an old oak tree right in front of us, and we were treated to the marvellous sight of this little beauty trying (and for the most part failing) to gobble up an enormous green caterpillar as it hopped up the trunk of the tree. Four Snipe flew past, a Meadow Pipit was also seen, plus 8 Pied Wagtails rooting around for insects where normally golfers ply their trade, as well as 25 or so Canada Geese. 30 more Curlew flew past and a Starling landed on a telegraph pole. They really do have lovely colours. Then some people strode onto the course with nets to retrieve lost golf balls and it instantly became a bird free zone.
We walked over the bridge at Cockwood towards an area locals call ‘The Sod’. On the map is says Cockwood Marshes, but then local names are often more colourful! This is a lovely marshy area stretching out with the Haldon Hills in the background. Rod Lawrence has fought and lost a long battle to try to stop part of it being turned into a village green and playground. He thinks it will be the beginning of the end for our feathered friends, especially the Barn Owls who hunt here at night. We looked carefully and were rewarded with four Snipe digging for earthworms, their yellow stripes gleaming. Two of them were hurtling across the field for cover, like moving humbugs! We saw a Grey Heron, statuesque as usual, and a Little Egret, which moved at surprising speed. A few Teal were spotted, plus Moorhen and Coot. A Cormorant flew past directly overhead, as 30 Canada Geese flew in. Mute Swans were dotted about, along with many Gulls. Then, four more Snipe, all in a row, quite exposed, showing really well.
Back to the Golf course now thankfully sans humans, and we were greeted with 100 or so Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls, and 50 Brent Geese. In addition: 30 Lapwing, a Robin, a Dunnock, three Teal and a Wren. We also saw several Curlew and Oystercatchers.
In a truly heroic move, I spurned the nearby pub, and instead went back to the car and made do with the exquisite packed lunch my wife had made. It consisted of: stir fried organic chicken breast in sesame oil with a dash of Soy sauce and sesame seeds with finely sliced spring onions, red and yellow papers tossed in rice vinegar. Desert was a very ripe Comice pear. Evian water during, tea afterwards.
Just before we set off for our afternoon destination, Powderham Church, I went alone to look again at the golf course, as 200 Brent Geese had just flown in. They were joined by 70 Herring Gulls, 70 Oystercatchers and 50 Lapwing. Driving along the estuary road, we saw 50 Curlew in a nearby field, along with 20 Oystercatchers and a horse. We stopped on the edge of the grounds of Powderham Castle, and saw a fantastic sight: 1 Spoonbill, four Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 20 Wigeon, 20 Shelduck, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, and 40 Greenshank. In the distance, a herd of deer, one of the attractions of a trip to Powderham castle, which acted as a backdrop to the vista in front of us.
13.30 We all met up again under the trees by Powderham Church, and set off along the estuary path towards The Turf. A flock of Dunlin flew in and we saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a solitary Avocet. On our left, the railway line. On our right, the receding waters of Exe estuary. Two Pied Wagtails hopped along the sea wall. First one Stonechat, then another, were spotted in a nearby field, and a really lovely Little Egret flew in a loop around us. Three Shelduck and one Curlew made for contrasting colours. A Meadow Pipit alighted on the wall near us, as we made our way towards The Turf vantage point. Looking across the water towards Topsham, we saw a remarkable sight as all the waders flew in. Huge numbers of Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit (some already beginning to turn a rusty colour on their breasts), Curlew, Avocet and Dunlin. Rod estimated we were then looking out at:
1,200+ Lapwing
500 Avocet
300 Black-tailed Godwit
100 Redshank
100 Dunlin
50 Curlew
20 Knot
As an added bonus, a Weasel was seen just a few feet away, darting in an out of the black rocks on the foreshore. An attractive animal, lovely brown on top and white underneath. As it made its way towards the water, however, many birds flew off. I left slightly before the rest of the party, and walked back along the estuary path, immediately seeing 200 Wigeon on the Exminster Marshes. In the estuary a further 150 Lapwing, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 100 Oystercatchers, 50 Redshank, 20 Dunlin and around 2,000+ Gulls. I also saw the Avocet with a gammy leg we’d heard about earlier. It was near the sea wall, limping badly. Even the sweeping movement with its bill was lopsided as it seemed to grimace in pain each time it moved. It then flew off. At the end of the walk, with the last of the afternoon sun lighting up the folly on the hill of Powderham Estate, I heard a lone Curlew calling as I left one of my favourite spots for birding. It stayed in my head for quite a while.
