Old places, new experiences

In the weeks since my last post I've changed both my job and all of my camera equipment. While both changes are very different, they've both been hugely positive and this last fortnight in particular I've felt a sense of calm in my life usually only experienced in brief moments. Some time off between the job move and a period with no camera at all resulted in some days out birdwatching with just the binoculars, or sometimes a sound recorder too. I've started to wonder why it's taken me so long to explore the true breadth of this hobby, perhaps it's to do with my age and where I am in my life in terms of how I think and perceive the world. Perhaps it's best not to overthink this, and simply embrace it!

I've picked out four photos below taken at different places, all of which I've been to before but not at this time of year and sometimes just for the walk. In particular, last night's evening walk from St. Clement's church to the Turf Hotel was incredibly exciting as we saw so many different waders. Overjoyed though I was to see a bar-tailed godwit in summer plumage, the group of dunlins and little plovers that we followed along the shoreline ultimately stole the show with their fascinating feeding habits, intricate interactions and distinct calls.

Green-winged orchids, Orcombe Point, 22/4

Curlews and Whimbrels, Exminster Marshes, 29/4

Roe deer, Matford Marshes, 30/4

Ringed plover, Estuary walk by Turf Hotel, 7/5

Early evening strolls

As the year changes season and we move swiftly into April, the evenings start to stretch out more noticeably, creating opportunities to capture subjects bathed in soft light from the still present, lowering sun. Only in the last week have we seen more of the stonechat pair that occupy a nearby hedgerow. On Thursday after work I set out for a quick walk slightly later than usual and was fortunate enough to encounter both of them atop their 'usual' hedge, with a newly ploughed field behind as well as a steadily falling sun. The male even allowed me time to re-position so that he was wonderfully outlined in soft white.

Male stonechat

Following my own trend into this weekend I ventured out later in the day to two different locations on Friday and Saturday. The former visit to Exminster Marshes on the hope of seeing the 'still showing' spotted crake, and in equal measure a desire to see again the spoonbill, perhaps closer. As the cold set in shortly after sunset, poised watching two very specific clumps of sedge with a friendly and far more knowledgeable birdwatcher, I was on the cusp of leaving when out strolled a very small speckled bird. This wasn't the water rail that had been teasing us with its occasional sprints in and out of view, this was a beautiful little spotted crake. In such low light and from such a distance I was barely able to capture it at all but was thoroughly pleased to see it all the same.

Spotted crake at Exminster Marshes, appearing after sunset

Yesterday's late visit to Bowling Green Marsh revealed a good many little egrets, a well hidden snipe and a stunningly lit heron fishing quite close to the road. From the viewing platform at the far end, I saw even more little egrets accompanied by redshanks, curlews and shelducks. The view from here at this time of day towards the estuary is a real treat, with any birds present well highlighted. These three successive early evening strolls have certainly brought me much joy this week.

The Exe estuary viewed from Bowling Green Marsh

So many first sightings

This morning's visit to Exminster Marshes was without doubt my most rewarding to date, and not just because of the birds we saw. It's normal to exchange words of greeting here with walkers, runners, cyclists and of course other bird-watchers (with whom it's often more than a greeting and instead an exchange of information on sightings, past and present) but today seemed like something was in the air, Spring itself perhaps, with everyone seemingly devoid of inhibition and eager to talk, and talk!

Long-tailed tit, shot towards the sun

With the chance of an unusual sighting in the mix today - a Spotted Crake that appeared recently and has been gaining fame in local forums and blogs all week - more bird-watchers were in attendance, some from further afield. At the nearest point to the previous days' sightings started to amass those with impressive optics and composed anticipation.

It's typical in these situations to assess one's own categorisation of bird-watcher - "Am I as keen to see this bird as they are? Does that make me a twitcher?" It's always an easy question for me to answer, but I always conclude the same notion: there are no real rules here, but I think there's something in all of us bird-watchers that finds rarity irresistible.

We impatiently continued our walk along the canal, not before I got into another conversation about the crake, spoonbills and my camera bag with a chap on a bike. He explained precisely where I'd likely see the spoonbill. A few minutes later a lady asked me if I'd seen the Marsh Harriers and proceeded to explain where she and her partner usually spot them. At the point at which I thought the spoonbill might be visible I suddenly caught a large brown bird of prey in my binoculars - the Marsh Harrier, of course, causing trouble on the other side of the marshes with those birds closest by. The harrier soon out of sight, I looked around to finish the discussion regarding my camera lens, started when a passing photographer asking me "how many marsh harriers are there?" mid sighting.

N spotted what we initially thought might be a redshank but after careful scrutiny of my photos this afternoon turns out to have been a Ruff. She always manages to find the obscurer ones!

Ruff

Many more brief chats were had with walkers wondering what bird x is in the distance and other bird-watchers who were still arriving and still had much to see, perhaps the crake if they were lucky.

Never more than now in my life have I valued the positive effects of time spent in nature but the unexpected reminder today was of the importance of human interaction too, added to that an observation of how much more relaxed we all seem two years on, able again to effortlessly yet crucially make connections with each other as complete strangers. Humanity is surely lost if we lose this instinct.

Curlew

March on by

Joney's Cross car park at Aylesbeare Common has just recently undergone a complete revamp including changing its vehicle entrance to be far easier to use than the previous arrangement - anyone who had to use what was there before will know what I mean! Change is sometimes for the good, and so when it feels like everything is changing - which it does right now - I'll try to see the positive changes wherever I can.

The Common was rich with bird life today and my only wish to see the Dartford Warblers was granted as we briefly spotted one or two roughly where I thought they might be, though this was undoubtedly down to luck more than anything. I'm fairly sure of a Linnet sighting though I do struggle with finches I've rarely seen before, perhaps someone could confirm?

Lots of siskins near the car park were a joy to watch and listen to, unbelievably these are my first sightings of these birds after all these years. I think perhaps I never used to visit Aylesbeare at the right time of year and strangely never saw them elsewhere. Chiffchaffs, on the other hand, seem to be in abundance this Spring and I never seem to be far from their song whether I'm at home or out and about. It's lovely to hear them all the time and have had more then a few close encounters this month.

A cobweb-covered gorse bush proved an irresistible photo but only recently did I learn what this actually is - the work of the gorse spider mite - Tetranychus lintearius no less.

Possible Linnet?

 

Dartford Warbler

Gorse covered in spider mite silk enclosure

(Not) capturing birds in flight

Encouraged by recent posts on the excellent birdingexmouth blog I decided to take a short trip down to Exmouth and explore the area around mudbank, starting at the Duckpond, which - this morning - was full of (~130) Brent geese.

I tailed a group of (~14) Turnstones around the edge of Imperial Park. A lone Dunlin briefly appeared amongst them but was quickly ousted. When the whole group finally decided to depart and took flight I took a few shots but knew at once that I'd not properly anticipated this move, with my camera's shutter speed almost certainly not set high enough. One of these grabbed shots turned out rather nicely compositionally but isn't at all sharp! I'm posting it anyway as a reminder to myself to better expect birds to do what they naturally do and at some point take rapid flight!

On the walk up towards mudbank lane I saw 7 Shelducks which had joined the geese by the time I'd walked back. I really enjoyed walking around this area and will be back again soon enough I'm sure.

Brent geese, part of a much larger group

Turnstones

Dunlin

Turnstones 'in flight'

Elusive end of January sun

The week's cloudy skies finally subsided last night and we were afforded some January sun today which provided some vibrant views around Squabmoor Reservoir this morning. I was pleased to see tufted ducks (~5) that I've not seen for some time, sharing this generous plain of water with mallards (~8) and moorhens (~3).

The moorhens swam just close enough for some nicely lit shots

Necessarily cropped view of the tufted ducks afar

No unexpected visitors to the garden today for the Big Garden Birdwatch but pleased to have done this today with the better weather.

Starting somewhere

Let's see how this goes. The intention of this blog will be as a place for me to share some of my photos of - mainly - birds, with a little context. I'll make this strictly a 2022 venture meaning all photos have to have been taken this year.

I'm based in in the South West of England, UK and therefore most of what I post will originate from here.

There's nothing to show yet so I'll just post this notice I saw the other day asking about sightings of some Curlew released on Dartmoor last year. I seem to keep seeing curlew but not these ones - seems like they could be anywhere given the size of Devon and I'm intrigued as to where they might now be!