Twit-twoo

It's been a quiet couple of days migrant wise, although I haven't spent all that much time out and about.  However busy I am though the dog always gets me out every morning for at least an hour, and yesterdays walk from Seaton Hole showed two Common Sandpipers flitting about on the beach, and this beauty in a small conifer woodland...

Although Tawny Owls are everywhere around here, it's always a treat to stumble across a day time bird.  And a timely reminder that just because there's no migrants about, it doesn't mean there's nothing to see....

Exmoor

Instead of filling all in on what I've been up to since my last post in one mammoth blog post, I thought I should split it up a bit and deal with different topics in different posts. The first post, our trip away to Exmoor...

Last week Jess had her first week off work since Christmas, and my month of sitting behind a laptop had really taken everything out of me, so we were both VERY keen to get away.  We really love Dartmoor and this was an option, but we know the place quite well. Exmoor though, I've only been too twice before, so we thought we'd stay here for a few nights.  So last Monday morning off we went...

We stayed just outside Dulverton, at the fantastic Middle Upcott Farm.  It is a beautiful farm house, with a very cosy living area and check out the views from our private balcony... 

We got up to so much whilst we were up here, including a surprise birthday present for Jess. Last year I treated her to some raptor and owl flying and handling at Yarak bird of prey centre (see HERE). There were several people doing it with her though, and although she loved it, it wasn't just Owls. So for this birthday, I booked her in for an Owl evening at Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre.  So just Owls, and best of all, just the falconer and us two - which meant I got to do it as well!

When we arrived it was clear which Owls hadn't been fed yet. This is Casper before we got to her...

This is Casper and I...

And this is Casper five minutes after she was put back in her cage...

We also fed and flew an Eagle Owl and a gorgeous old Tawny Owl...

They had plenty of other Owls here too which we didn't fly, with these two being my favourite...

Great Grey Owl

A Snowy Owl

And it wasn't just Owls. When I went to Morocco with the Spurn guys and girl in 2005 we didn't get Tawny Eagle (are they still there?)...

And what else did we get up too? Well the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton was pretty spectacular...

 

We had to pay a visit to Tarr Steps...

And this was my first visit to Dunster Castle. I actually found the gardens more impressive than the Castle! (and no, not just because of the Spotted Flycatcher!)...

A trip to Watersmeet on Thursday provided the birding highlight. The 5.5 mile walk showed 14 Wood Warblers (13 singing males), seven Pied Flies (incl. one male taking food into a nest hole), four Redstarts (incl. one female taking food into a nest hole) and two Dippers.

Forgetting the birds, it is a beautiful place in its own right...

Despite the nice scenery I was very happy when we got to Lynmouth, and some food...

And check out these, ice creams dipped in melted chocolate...

Although be wary. Eating too much food like the above may make you look like this after a steep climb at the end of a 5 mile walk...

During the trip we saw lots or Red Deer, lots and lots, even some from our B and B. One allowed stupidly close approach...

Ok, maybe not. We never got anywhere near any of the wild Red Dear. This is the best picture I managed...

There were plenty of other less wild animals around too, with Exmoor Ponies, Sheep and Cattle scattered about the Moor...

Right, I think that's enough for now. I'll finish this post with two photos showing the beauty of Exmoor. What a place, well worth a visit...

The Woods Come Good!

I've been doing a monthly woodland bird survey near Colyton for about eight years now - and over the years I've learnt it does throw up the odd surprise. The best bird to date being a Yellow-browed Warbler on 30th October 2007, but I've also had Pied and Spotted Flies, Hobby, Firecrest and several Crossbills here.  It's by far the most reliable and best place on patch for Woodcock too, with double figure winter counts not unusual. So far this year it hasn't given me any bonus surprise year ticks, well, until this morning...

Wood Warbler is a ridiculously rare bird on patch.  The last record was of an autumn bird on Beer Head on 7-8th August 2006 - Gav found it on the 7th, and he, Ian M and I saw it the following day. Before this, I think there's only been two or three records.  I was more than half way round the survey this morning when I thought I heard the distant song of Wood Warbler - this set me off in a sprint! Luckily for me it only had to be a short sprint as I soon found myself looking at an absolute BEAUT of a Wood Warbler....

BOOM!

It then moved into larger more dense trees, and became elusive. It never stopped singing though, even giving several bouts of 'tu tu tu'.  After asking permission from the wood owner, I sent a text out and am pleased to say at least two other locals got it. Hopefully Karen has got some 'proper' pictures of it.

I did take this video too, but as you can see it hasn't turned out too well...

Oh yes, something I didn't mention in my previous post was that the Monties was my 249th bird for the patch. I only found this out when I updated my Bubo list.  Now I wonder what 250 is going to be....

Right - I must go, I've just shown Jess her fourth species of wild Owl in the UK and she's jumping off the walls!  It was a Tawny by the way, and sat up nicely for a couple of minutes in a tree in front of the car.