River Plym and Wembury Walks

May Day was another COVID restricted Bank Holiday weekend and with 2 night shifts looming large I decided to have a walk around Saltram and along the Plym on Sunday 2nd May. It was another dry and mostly sunny day but with a chilly feel as it has been for most of the time this spring.

I arrived at Blaxton Meadow just before the high tide and out on the rapidly disappearing mud were 21 Shelduck, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher and the increasingly limpy Bar-tailed Godwit. 

Whimbrels

The Bar-tailed Godwit was feeding on the grassy areas on the Meadow but it had to rapidly flap its wings at times as it probed the soil due to being unable to brace itself on just its one good leg.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Around the Park the usual birds were seen including a pair of Stonechat, Swallows, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk with a small bird in its talons, Stock Dove, Skylark, Treecreeper and a Grey Wagtail. 

On the duck pond near Saltram House there were 3 male and a female Mandarin and 4 adult Moorhen with 5 chicks amongst the usual assorted domestic ducks. 

Moorhen Chick

Having survived my 2 nights I decided to head off to Wembury on Wednesday 5th May for a walk. It was another chilly day with a cold wind despite the occasional sunny spells. 

Thrift at Wembury

A lot of seaweed had been washed up on the beach following Mondays wind and rain and I managed to find 14 Sanderling, 10 Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone and 20+ Oystercatchers despite the usual disturbance from dogs and walkers. 

Sanderling

Sanderlings

 Sanderling 

Sanderling

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Ringed Plover

Turnstones

A male Mallard and a Little Egret were also seen along the beach while offshore Gannets were moving west and Fulmars were flying around The Mewstone. 

Whitethroat, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 male Cirl Bunting, a pair of Pheasent, a male Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk, Swallows, House Martins, Linnets and a Mistle Thrush (feeding in the top horse field) were all seen along the walk too. 

Only 2 butterflies were seen in the chilly conditions, a male Orange Tip and my first Green- veined White of the year. 

Orange Tip

Green-veined White

4 Common Lizards were seen basking in the occasional sunny spells. 

Common Lizard

Common Lizard

Common Lizard 

Common Lizard

A Chunk pasty for lunch from the cafe on the beach at Wembury was much appreciated in the cold conditions before I headed for home and this time I didn't stop off along the way for a River Plym walk. 

And the Birdtrack Bird Off for the Plym/Saltram versus Wembury now stands at 92 to 71.