River Plym Walk

Wednesday February 6th and I decided to stay local and take a walk along the River Plym, firstly a return walk from Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge and then a return walk from Marsh Mills to Saltram Park.

It was mild and sunny after the recent cold snap and with all the snow/sleet/rain we have had the footpaths especially from Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge were a complete mudfest but it was a very enjoyable walk.

I checked the river from the bridge as I alighted off the bus at Marsh Mills and was pleased to find a dipper busily feeding along the river bank - this one had no leg rings so a different bird to the one I saw here last year. Heading upriver along the footpath I also found a smart common sandpiper feeding and a grey wagtail busily preening in the sunshine.

Common Sandpiper

The trees held siskins, coal tits, blue tits, nuthatch, great tits, long tailed tits and goldfinch but I failed to find any marsh tits while along the river I had brief views of 1 or possibly 2 kingfishers but better views of 6 male and a female mallard and 5 male and 6 female mandarin ducks.

Mandarin Ducks

Mandarin Ducks

Back to Marsh Mills and the walk downriver to Saltram was a little less muddy and on the low tide out on the estuary were 3 greenshank, redshank, curlew, around 60 dunlin, 2 adult winter plumaged Mediterranean gulls amongst the common, black headed, herring, lesser black backed and great black backed gulls. 3 male and 5 female goosander, a pair of red breasted mergansers and 3 male and 4 female wigeon.

The wigeon were sleeping by the waters edge and had probably been disturbed from Blaxton Meadow by a birder out on the wall path despite the No Entry signs and barriers in place but after he left they were back feeding on the Meadow. Viewing the top end of the estuary is now difficult and I hope that a better viewing area can be provided in the future but it is no excuse to go out on the wall and disturb the birds especially as they are now using the Meadow more and more.

 Blaxton Meadow

Saltram Park was full of birds too with both green and great spotted woodpeckers and stock doves heard and 2 mistle thrush, 3 skylark, Canada geese, rook, a jay and 3 ring necked parakeets (1 blue) all seen. I tried to look for snipe and Jack snipe in the usual place but it was extremely wet and boggy and without my wellington boots there was no way I could access the area.

Snowdrops and violets were in flower and new signage by The National Trust hints at the possibility of pearl bordered fritillaries maybe being found here in the future.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

New National Trust Signage

Pearl-bordered Fritillary Close-up

I walked back to Marsh Mills to buy some lunch from Sainsburys and then caught the bus for the short ride home and it had been a very enjoyable if muddy walk - and I am always amazed at the wildlife that can be found just a short distance from my house.