The Easy Option

Today, Lisa and I visited Swanpool with the aim of a close view of the Common Scoter duck, our visit lasted about fifteen minutes.The duck was in the middle of Swanpool, the sky was dark, it started to sleet and the easterly wind was blowing hard freezing, coming straight off the sea. So following a quick mediocre view of the Scoter, we zoomed off to Helston pool to drink Latte's, eat ham egg and chips and get a view of the Whooper Swan. The Whooper was out of the water on the cafe patio, we noted that it was favouring its right leg and on closer inspection saw an injury to the webbing on its foot.

Garden Birds

With one of my favourite lens' back from repair I took a couple of test shots of a Collared Dove in flight in the garden.. I took the Chiff Chaff down at the sewerage treatment plant in Kenidjack. Today I counted nine feeding there, a couple of days ago I counted fifteen plus. A good indicator that we have had a serious fall of Chiff Chaffs.

Yarner Wood

Travelling home from our short break at Exmouth, we visited Yarner Wood in the East Dartmoor nature reserve. They have constructed a new hide at Yarner, adjacent to the car park and overlooking a wet area. The Mandarin duck was a treat to see.

A Few More From The River Exe

The River Exe holds many overwintering waders, duck and geese, so here are a few more from that area.

Black Tailed Godwit

 a Mix of Black and Bar Tailed

Common Gull

 The brown head of a Black Headed Gull, I love the red eye ring.

 Brent Geese, a some Black Bellied and som Pale Bellied.A count of 736 was counted in the field next to Darts Farm

Avocets On The River Exe

Lisa and I along with our friends spent the weekend in Exmouth, we walked the riverside path to Topsham with the hope of seeing a few Avocets. The Foot path takes in Lympstone and Exton. With the tide dropping back exposing the mudflats we found the Avocets at Exton feeding on small crustaceans and insects, using that distinct scything action through the top surface of the mud with their upturned beaks. The light was poor using ISO's up to 1600, normally I don't like to go much above 400, also they were distant objects to photograph.The colour ringed individual is interesting and I will try and find out its history, itr= is a Juvenile so may have been ringed during the last breeding season.