Friday 14th to Friday 21st June 2024 - North Devon Holiday

 

Bryan, Yvonne, Mary and Tony had a weeks holiday in North Devon staying in a house in Morthoe, and what a great property it was, set about a mile from the coast on a hill giving great views over the Bristol Channel to the south coast of Wales. Our sightings started as soon as we left Bath and including a lunch stop near Barnstaple we logged all the following Buzzard, Jay, Rook, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Swallow, House Martin, Magpie, Herring Gull, Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon and Dunnock these sightings also include anything flying around our accommodation during the first day.
Day 2  from the house we were able to see Gannets  and as we walked into Morthoe Greenfinch were singing from the top of a tree next to our house. In Morthoe we walked around to see what was available pubs shops etc. We did a short stroll finding Stonechat and flyover Ravens.
Stonechat - Bath Birdwatcher
Then to the local caravan park where the shop sells lovely coffee we sat outside where we logged Chiffchaff and Robin. Then back to the house for lunch, afterwards we all decided to walk to the lighthouse at Morte Point Mary and myself did this walk about 5 years ago but forgot just how far it was. The 1st bird of the afternoon was a singing Willow Warbler, walking on we added Linnet and Whitethroat. 
Linnet - Bath Birdwatcher
At the lighthouse overlooking the sea a Great Black Back Gull and a Shag were sat on a rock and a Guillemot flew by, A Peregrine flew low overhead and while looking out to sea several Manx Shearwaters and an Oystercatcher flew past. Walking back we also saw a Pheasant, Wren, Pied Wagtail and a Song Thrush.
Sunday we drove to Combe Martin for coffee and than made our way towards Ilfracombe stopping on the way for lunch a great day but only adding Meadow Pipit to the weeks total.
Monday we went to Tapley Park Gardens here we added Swift, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldcrest and Green Woodpecker. we had seen all we wanted too by lunch. After lunch we were going to head for Instow but somehow made a wrong turn and ended up at Fremington Quay which proved to be a good mistake as here was a great café for afternoon tea and also bird life, and here we added Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Shelduck, Little Egret, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Mute Swan and Canada Goose to our weeks total.
Fremington Quay - Bath Birdwatcher

Tuesday we started by visiting The Valley of the Rocks and on the way saw our one and only Skylark of the week. Parking we noticed a female Wheatear but on getting out of the car we found several both male and female.
Wheatear - Bath Birdwatcher
Walking along the coast path were a few of the feral Goats that live here. 
Feral Goat - Bath Birdwatcher
While sea watching we found a lot of Razorbill's and Guillemot's that must have been nesting on the cliffs below us. We moved on to Lynemouth where we had fish and chips sat in the park on the banks of the river Lynn. After searching in vain for a Dipper that we had seen here in the past we moved on to Watersmeet  where we enjoyed a cream tea. This is another good spot to see Dipper but again no show but we did add Lesser Black Back Gull to the weeks total.
Wednesday we spent the day at a garden call Marwood which was one of the best gardens we have ever visited and in the garden we added Nuthatch, Red Kite and Moorhen to our list.
Thursday after a coffee at the caravan park we did a walk to Morte Point but after a mile or so we decided that as it was the hottest day of the week that the  extra mile plus was silly so we turned back and visited the local pub for lunch. Back at the house Bryan and I decided to do a local walk but again it proved longer that anticipated but we did have good views over the sea and coastline.
Bath Birdwatcher
Friday was our home day but we did visit Tarr Steps on the way and here our final new sighting of the week was a Marsh Tit.
Tarr Steps - Bath Birdwatcher
We had a great week vising many new places as well as some old favourites and finding 60 bird species during the week when birds were not the top of the agenda including a year tick (Manx Shearwater).

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