Yesterday was beautiful - sunny and cold.  Celandines and Primroses are already flowering in Ashburton, and  I watched an immature Goshawk enjoying soaring over Dartmoor woodlands in the sunshine - I can't tell you where as sadly this species is still being persecuted in Devon (see http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/293063-west-country-bird-of-prey-death-toll-rises ).  Four birds were poisoned near Exeter in March 2011, presumably by gamekeepers anxious to protect their pheasant stocks.  


It's interesting to me how certain groups of people (gamekeepers, pigeon fanciers) can resent, persecute and kill magnificent birds (Goshawks, Peregrines, Hen Harriers) which are after all only doing what nature has fitted them out for, when it is these same people who have placed a prime prey resource bang in the middle of raptor habitat.  It doesn't make any sense.  If you don't like the Peregrines killing your pigeons, then don't race the pigeons past where the Peregrines live and nest.  More on this anon, I'm sure...

Photos from the Big Schools' Birdwatch at Widecombe Primary School today, which the children carried out with help from myself and Andy Bailey from Yarner Wood NNR.  We saw Sparrowhawk, Raven, Bullfinch and Buzzard as well as more common species, and heard the first singing Chaffinches of the year, who were tricked into thinking it was spring by the warm sunny spells (in between rain and hail).  The children had a great time and came away full of enthusiasm.  A special mention for the 4 and 5 year-olds of Webburn class, who showed fantastic concentration, observation and listening skills, and were rewarded with good views of a Buzzard being mobbed by Crows.  Well done all!

Some photos from my walk from Prince Hall with the Stubbs party earlier this month  (see previous post) .  Thank you to Lesley Stubbs for the photos.

 Dog friendly walks!

 Maps - it's a bloke thing

 At the old clapper bridge over Rue Lake

 Watching Ravens - even the dog's interested

Pastoral scene at Bachelor's Hall

Here's an inspiring quote from Steven Spielberg about filming War Horse on Dartmoor:

"I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor .. . And, with two-and-a-half-weeks of extensive coverage of landscapes and skies, I hardly scratched the surface of the visual opportunities that were offered to me."

Great to have recognition of our special location by such an authority.   Looking forward to seeing the film - if mainly to see what he has done with those landscapes.

Birds seen on walks around the area of Prince Hall Hotel recently include Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Goosander, Crossbill, Brambling, Woodcock, Snipe and Teal.  We have also found Otter tracks.  What a fantastic location for wildlife!


Go to http://www.princehall.co.uk/ to have a look.

Second hand report of a Bittern on the W Dart at Hexworthy last week from an unknown observer.  Must be a red heron....  Bitterns not unheard of on Dartmoor, and they can turn up in funny places, but almost always during cold winter weather.  Was this a Heron, a Cormorant or a wicker basket washed down by the flood?  Or perhaps it really was a Bittern...

Dot and I in the West Dart, Dec 2011 (photo by Ellie Nixon)

Stepping stones at Week Ford, West Dart

"Thou shalt not pass" - Gus in Bellever Plantation, 2009

Autumn trees, Greatrock Copse

Sunrise, Holne

Reflections and ripples

The West Dart at Huccaby in the snow

Combestone Tor and the O Brook from Huccaby

 Watching Great Crested Grebes at Trenchford

 Purple Hairstreak butterfly

 Start 'em young...

 Art using found materials

 Treecreeper (bird ringing in Yarner Wood)

 Learning in the woods at Hennock

 Swallows and House Martins getting ready to migrate

"Mr Hibbert, we can't see the pixie on your finger"

Woodpigeon flight feather

Environmental art by children from Bearnes school in Newton Abbot

Longhorn moth found by a pupil

We remember skies like these...

Abandoned farm at Bagtor

Feedback from recent clients

I would like to share some lovely comments I received from a group that I recently led on a guided walk from Prince Hall Hotel; a large and lively group of family and friends gathered for a 60th birthday celebration, some of whom had travelled from Canada.  I had a great time, and this is what they had to say about their day:


Dear Richard,

I want to thank you so so much for your guided walks (morning and afternoon) this past Saturday. Every one of our guests agreed that we would never have experienced those trails without having you there to guide us. Your knowledge of Dartmoor is extremely impressive, and even though there were not many birds to see in early January, we nonetheless all had a truly wonderful experience. Considering there were so many of us, you still managed to cater to everyone's needs. On top of this, you made it fun!!! Simon and I can't thank you enough. You helped to make my birthday weekend at Prince Hall a very special and memorable time.

Warmest regards,

Lesley and Simon Stubbs

Welcome to the Dart Days blog

Hello all

Welcome to Dart Days, my new blog, where I will be sharing my experiences of Dartmoor and its wildlife, and anything else that might be of interest to lovers of the local environment.

I am a primary school teacher and leader of guided wildlife walks on Dartmoor, and will be using this space to share details of my walks and the birds and animals seen on them.

Please feel free to get involved  by signing up and contributing to the blog.

Best wishes

Richard Hibbert