I decided to save some more money and also work on my waistline at the same time by walking to Exminster Marsh and back although walking into the strong breeze on the journey towards Turf Locks was a bit challenging.
I had a quick look about in Powderham Park along the way and could hear 4 Reed Warblers chuntering away but keeping well hidden and out of the wind in the base of the reeds. A bit of phishing worked wonders though and one came out of hiding to investigate me before disappearing back into cover. Unfortunately phishing didn't work on 2 singing Reed Buntings who remained concealed in the vegetation.
On arriving at Turf Locks I headed over to the back path of Exminster Marsh where a Lesser Whitethroat had been reported the previous day. Eventually I heard it singing and while it was quite vocal it was mobile and skulky and singing from quite a large area although possibly a second bird may have been present. I did manage to get a few brief views of it in flight and perched up in the trees but eventually it fell silent.
Exminster Marsh from the Viewing Platform
Reed Warblers were noisy and skulky too but again responded well to phishing and briefly showed themselves, they seem to be present here in very good numbers this year. Cetti's Warblers were also heard but I did get good views of 2 Sedge Warblers singing right out in the open.
I picked up a Red Kite very high overhead heading north-east, another one was later seen on the opposite side of The Exe flying over Topsham, much lower down but also heading north-east. A Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the Marsh, an immature/female bird, and at least 2 Hobby were also seen with some lovely views had of a single bird perched up on the roof of a brick shed out on the Marsh and later distant views of 2 birds together dashing about overhead.
Hobby (honest!)
A male Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck (2 male), 3 Shoveler (2 male), 2 Little Grebe, Gadwall, Lapwing, a Whimbrel, a Little Egret, an Egyptian Goose and a Cattle Egret were also of note while out hawking over the Marsh were plenty of House and Sand Martin, Swift and Swallow, I don't think I've seen such a large number of Swift together before with probably 100+ present.
Back at Starcross Station while waiting for the train to take me home I picked up an immature Spoonbill flying upriver on the almost high tide, it flew over the trees near Starcross Yacht Club and disappeared into Powderham Park. Even better was a Red Kite flying low over the houses being mobbed by a Carrion Crow before gaining height and heading off north-east.
Red Kite
Red Kite
It was sunny again on Wednesday 7th May but it felt warmer with the cold north-easterly wind having eased somewhat. I had planned to meet up with Dave the Butterfly Guy for a Dingy Skipper look about at the Plymouth site but we rescheduled for the following day and so I headed out to Roborough Down for a walk instead.
I arrived off the bus at The Dartmoor Diner at around 10:45am and walked along Drakes Leat to Clearbrook, there was plenty of bird song in the air along the way and especially that of Willow Warblers which are here in good numbers this year.
There were Butterflies flitting about too, mostly Brimstones including egg-laying females but also a Red Admiral, a Small Copper, a Speckled Wood, a Green-veined White, a Large White and 2 Small Heath. I took my Emperor Moth lure with me and had what I at first thought was an Emperor Moth flying past me but it turned out to be a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which landed briefly before dashing off out of sight. Sadly I didn't find any Green Hairstreaks on this visit though and nor did I entice in an Emperor Moth to my lure, I think it's time to buy a new one for next the spring next year.
Speckled Wood
A Cuckoo was a good sighting as it silently flew over the Heather before disappearing from view, later another one was heard calling from over the other side of the valley. A male Kestrel hovered overhead and Buzzards were enjoying the thermals with 6 seen together in the air at one point. A Raven, a Siskin and a few Swift and Swallows were noted overhead too.
A farmer was busily ploughing some fields down in the valley and had attracted a large flock of Herring Gulls in to feed on the turned over soil, at least 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in amongst them along with a few Buzzards but best of all was a very smart Red Kite. It would take to the air with the rest of the feeding birds as the tractor came near but would then return to the ground as it passed by, unfortunately a little distant but continuing a good run of sightings of them this year in Devon.
With the recent lack of rain the small ponds were mostly dried up but the largest pool still contained water and buzzing around it were 2 very smart looking male Broad-bodied Chasers, a mating pair of Large Red Damselfly and a Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Broad-bodied Chaser
I headed out to Wembury on Thursday 8th May for a walk, it felt cooler with more cloud cover and a stronger breeze but as the day wore on the cloud dissipated and it did warm up a little bit.
It was very quiet at Wembury with the breeze keeping things subdued and just the usual birds and wildlife were seen. It was low tide as well but along the beach near the sewage pipe I found 2 Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin and at least 32 Turnstone, most of which were looking very smart in their breeding plumage. A Shelduck, a Little Egret, 3 Canada Geese, Oystercatchers and a pair of Mallard were also present and a male Grey Wagtail was also seen on the main beach.
Turnstones and Dunlin
Interestingly I did see a Fisheries Patrol Boat offshore, it intercepted a fishing boat hauling up Crab/Lobster pots before it moved away and left the fishing boat to continue its activities.
I stopped off on the bus journey back to Plymouth and met Dave the Butterfly Guy at the Dingy Skipper site but despite a good look about we failed to find any. There were a few Common Blue flitting about though and I was pleased to see a Small Yellow Underwing again.
Common Blue
