Any visit to Challacombe Farm is always going to be a wonderful day out and for the 24 birders who joined Plymouth Branch’s outing, it was no exception. As Spring is transitioning into Summer the cycle of life was full speed ahead. Whereas migrants that arrive later in the season were in full song claiming their territory, others were visiting nest sites and resident species were feeding fledglings from their first brood.
The miracle of migration which sees so many small birds returning to the stone walls, moors and copses of Dartmoor provided ample opportunities to compare and contrast similar species. Male Stonechat with their tangerine underparts and characteristic clicking call played King of the Castle to more tuneful Whinchat, more subtle with apricot colouring but an outrageous eyestripe! The stand up character of Wheatear with its standout white rump made up the trio of moorland species.
The softly, lulling ‘my toe bleeds Betty’ song of Woodpigeon predominated but there were occasional more melancholy sounds of ‘wo-ver’ from Stock Dove. Blackcap were belting out their song whereas Garden Warbler turned the volume down to sing their longer, scratchier phrases. Newly arrived Spotted Flycatcher were occupying tree top branches with vocalisations that almost went unnoticed, while Pied Flycatcher were in the dappled light of low branches in full leaf, close to nest sites.
What will live long in the memory? The blue skies matching the colour of the bluebells on the terraced hillside, or a Cuckoo flying overhead while enjoying a picnic lunch? More likely will be this most extraordinary sight, perhaps a once in a lifetime sight. Treecreepers were known to be nesting in a stone wall but there was disappointment that there was absolutely no sign of them. Never has a trip to the loo been better timed, as walking past a tree high pitched ‘squeaking’ was heard. Positioned twenty feet up, superbly camouflaged against the moss covered bark, was a cluster of brown and cream fluff, four Treecreeper fledglings. They were literally clinging on for dear life as parents arrived to put food in to gaping mouths whilst not dislodging their precious family from their precarious position.
47 species seen or heard (H):
Mallard, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler (H), Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch (H), Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting
Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Small Copper, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Heath
Common Toad, Common Frog
Report by M Johnson
