Eleven of us braved the elements for the Devon Birds Taw/Torridge field trip to Hartland Point on Sunday, but with choppy seas and squally gusts we decided it would be wiser to head on to Bude and a more sheltered walk by the canal.
A Kingfisher and Water Rail were seen as we headed to Rodd’s Bridge where earlier a Green-winged Teal had been reported. Many Teal seen but unfortunately not the green-winged. After wading through a stretch of flooded track we were rewarded with two Water Pipits and a Grey Wagtail. Amongst c300 Canada Geese grazing the pastures, were four Pink-footed and one White-fronted Goose.
After lunch we headed to Maer Marsh seeing a Black Redstart on the way. On the mud margins were many Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon and Golden Plover, with two Sanderling. Then amongst circa 200 mixed Gull flock of Black-headed, Herring and Greater Black-backed our ‘eagle eyed’ leader Norman Briden spotted a Glaucous Gull…….a first for many of us. Heading home we called into Bursdon Moor and were entertained by a murmuration of Starling, a Merlin, Peregrine and two male Hen Harriers…..what a finale to another great days birding. (50 species seen in total). Maria Fernandes
