We have recently returned from a
short break in South Devon we stayed with Mary’s sister in their lodge at
Waterside Holiday Park which overlooks Torbay and the Dartmouth Steam Railway,
which was operating during our stay. On arrival on Sunday, we just unpacked and
settled in, Monday was a wet day so I
was able to watch from in the dry and see many Gannets
feeding in the bay a Kestrel was hovering over the cliff tops. We
needed shopping so a trip to Morrisons was made and on return again scoping the
bay 3 Common Scoter flew through my field of
view heading towards Torquay a year tick and the only time I saw any all week.
Tuesday I was dropped off at Berry
Head and walking from the car park towards the cottage at the top of the lane, the field by the car park had parts ploughed and a local named Bill explained
that it was being turned into a wildflower meadow, so I look forward to seeing
it in the years to come. In the field were Magpie,
Herring Gulls and 10+ Pied Wagtails and
a large flock of Linnets. On the footpath
from the cottage, they put out seed mainly for Cirl
Buntings and as I approached a pair were feeding on the seed with a Woodpigeon and a small flock of House Sparrows. Bill decided to join me to walk to
the quarry which is generally a good place to find something a little different
but no such luck we did find Blackbird, Robin and
a Stonechat but a brisk north easterly wind
was blowing straight into the quarry, not good conditions so we moved to the
headland to do some sea watching but I cannot remember ever seeing the sea so
empty just more Gannets feeding and the odd Black Headed Gull flying past. We gave it half an
hour then decided to call it a day, walking out of the quarry 2 Ravens flew over. At the top of the quarry Bill
went his way and I headed to the café for a coffee. Here were several Carrion Crows and on the cliffs were 100+ Guillemots. I decided to walk back to see if
anything else was feeding on the seed, on the way a flock of Goldfinch flew by and Jackdaws
were in the top of a tree and walking through some shrubs I found a
calling Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. Back at the seed many more Cirl Buntings were feeding
with
at least 8 counted also a single male Chaffinch.
 |
| Cirl Bunting - Berry Head (Bath Birdwatcher) |
Wednesday we visited Coleton Fishacre
an art deco house and garden, walking in the garden I was aware of Goldcrests,
Chiffchaffs plus many other calls but it wasn’t a birding morning but after
lunch Mary and I walked along the coast path to Broadsands where we had coffee
sat in the café but like Monday it was very breezy blowing straight on land but
after coffee I did the walk around the car parks where birds are normally found
but the only thing slightly out of the normal was a pair of Cirl Buntings feeding with 4 Woodpigeons.
Thursday we drove to Dartmouth via
the ferry but yet again a cold wind was blowing so we didn’t stay very long.
After lunch I walked to Clennon Valley a series of 3 treelined small lakes on
the way noting Woodpigeon, Magpie and Blackbird. On arriving at the 1st and
largest lake I found it alive with water birds Coot,
Mallard, Canada Goose, Moorhen, and a single Wigeon.
 |
| Wigeon - Clennon Valley (Bath Birdwatcher) |
Further up the lake was 3 Mute Swans 2
adults and 1 juvenile and a lot of Gadwall.
 |
| Mute Swan - Clennon Valley (Bath Birdwatcher) |
Walking
up the side of the lake a Black Headed Gull flew
in and a Carrion Crow called from the top
of a tree. A single Great Crested Grebe was on the far side and a Cormorant was searching for a meal, 2 Little Grebes were on the far side close to a reed
bed and 3 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were sat in a tree. |
| Little Egret - Clennon Valley (Bath Birdwatcher) |
 |
| Grey Heron - Clennon Valley (Bath Birdwatcher) |
On to the middle
pond here another singleton a male Shoveler was
swimming with a group of Mallards and as I
walked the path between the lakes a Great Spotted
Woodpecker flew away in front of me and a Robin
flew onto a low branch as if to greet me. A Chiffchaff
called from a tree as many had before but this was the 1st I
was able to see. A Long-Tailed Tit called in
the distance and as I approached I found a flock of 20+ plus at least 2 Blue Tits in tow. Now at the top and smallest lake
amongst birds I had already seen were 2 Teal and
walking back towards the middle lake a Stock Dove flew
up into a tree and Herring Gulls dropped
onto the lake. Back at the bottom lake I found another singleton a male Tufted Duck and a Cormorant
was sat on a rock in the lake
 |
| Cormorant - Clennon Valley (Bath Birdwatcher) |
As I
started walking back a Jay flew past. Back
at the lodge Gannets were again fishing in
the bay and some Kittiwakes also flew
through, these proving to be the last new bird of the week. |
Little Grebe & Moorhen - Clennon Valley
(Bath Birdwatcher) |
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