Walk with the Winters

In between the two walks with the Caseys I took Mr and Mrs Winters, who are from Texas, on an afternoon walk tucked down by the East Dart in Bellever Forest.  They were near the end of their trip and were pleased to get a taste of Dartmoor out of the wind.

A magnificent sea of Cotton Grass near Two Bridges.

Broom and Foxglove by the East Dart, Bellever.

Mr and Mrs Winters

Gouge marks made by a male Roe Deer.

Looking down the East Dart valley towards Yar Tor.

Walks with the Caseys from Prince Hall

Mr and Mrs Casey booked two walks in one day from Prince Hall.  We had to put it back by a day because of the terrible weather, but managed two successful walks on the Sunday.  The Caseys are quite new to birding and very keen, coming to me with a wish list of species to look for - Whinchat, Redstart, Dipper and Ring Ouzel.  We managed all four during the day, with plenty of others such as Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Treecreeper and Spotted Flycatcher.

Broom blossom by the West Dart.

Stonecrop on a rock in the river, Prince Hall.

Red cap lichen

We had excellent views of a Redstart, Dippers and a family of Treecreepers here.

New Bilberry leaves

A full moon coming up over Hamel Down.

The Caseys on Birch Tor, 10pm.

We were still out on the moor at 10 pm, with a Ring Ouzel singing and Cuckoos and Whinchats still calling.  An atmospheric end to a fantastic day.

Nightjar walk at Soussons

On one of the few warm, dry nights in recent memory (though still blowy) I led a group of regular Dartmoor walkers (the Game Birds) on a walk in Soussons Plantation to look for Nightjars.  After an unpromising start, and a quest to find a sheltered part of the forest, we finally found a midgy corner where the insects bit and the birds churred and circled. 

A male flew in and rounded us three times, giving close views.  Here are some photos from the evening.

Soussons stone circle, with kistvaen (burial tomb) in centre.

The sun going down through the Soussons trees.

Waiting for the Nightjars to appear.

...and the moon comes up.

Dawn walk from Dartmeet

A dawn walk at Dartmeet with Shelagh Weeden and her Chagford friends - a regular and most enjoyable assignment for the best part of ten years now.  We've never been blessed with good weather, and this year had to postpone the regular May walk until mid June, but we encountered a break in the wind and rain and had a very successful morning, with 40 bird species and some wonderful early morning views.

A Kingfisher gave us a fly-past here, together with Grey Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit and Goosander near this spot.

Not a bad spot for a tea break.

The view down into the woods from Warren Pit.

Stonecrop

Nightjar walk and talk in the Tamar valley

A very enjoyable evening - an illustrated talk about Nightjars at the new Tamar Trails Centre followed by a guided walk to look for the birds at Devon Great Consols.  We had good views of a male and heard churring close by, as well as hearing Tawny Owl, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and more.

A really successful and well attended evening - thank you to Becki Lumbis at the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for organising the event.

The view south from Devon Great Consols.

At Wheal Josiah.

Bluebell time at Huccaby

 

 Short-lived this year, but always a treat.

Burrator walk, 2 June

A beautiful walk in the Burrator area, taking in the Deancombe valley, Cuckoo Rock, the Down Tor stone row and Down Tor itself.  We were blessed with lovely spring sunshine, vivid foliage and some real warmth out of the wind.

Cuckoo Rock

Looking towards Sheeps Tor and the reservoir from Combshead Tor.

The Down Tor stone row - the longest Bronze Age stone row on Dartmoor.

Looking back down the stone row from the cairn.

Looking towards Combshead Tor from inside the stone circle.

Tormentil and Bilberry.

Lether Tor

Walk at Prince Hall with the Nott family

Part of a large patch of Lousewort near the West Dart - a lovely flower with an unlovely name.  In the past it was used to treat headlice.

Milkwort - a blue specimen of a highly variable flower.



A Skylark's nest with four eggs under a grass tussock.  The female only flew when we were about to tread on her.

A Grey Heron's egg found beneath a nest at Venford Reservoir.

A vivid spring scene on the edge of Hembury Woods.

Early morning in the Dart valley, looking towards Brimpts.

Sundew