After the summer break, it was good see old friends, including members from other Devon Birds groups and welcome some new faces for Plymouth Branch’s visit to Exminster Marshes and Powderham.
We had experienced one of the longest periods of dry weather for some years and the ground and meadows were very dry. No Marshes were to be seen, only few pools of standing water.
We set off along the RSPB path into the reserve. We could hear some of the usual hedgerow birds – Wren and Tits – but all were skulking in the undergrowth. The cronk of a Raven was also heard. Swallows, occasional House Martin, Carrion Crows and Woodpigeon were passing over and the occasional Herring Gull. As we came to the first viewing gate a Marsh Harrier gave us excellent views as it made steady progress from right to left over the greenery across the dry meadow. At the same time there was a large movement of small birds and gulls from left to right flushed by a different bird of prey. The Harrier stayed a while, and a Kestrel was also briefly spotted. A Reed Bunting and several Magpie were seen plus a Buzzard sitting on a post on the far side of the meadow. Several Clouded Yellow butterflies were close to the ground.
Moving on we turned off the main path, accompanied by a Robin, to view the meadows and a small section of fencing backed by some greenery. Families of Swallows and Pied Wagtails were resting on the fence, frequently together. A subtly different Wagtail was, after much discussion, identified as a juvenile Yellow Wagtail. A warbler briefly joined them on the fence but rapidly dropped back, identified as a Willow Warbler. This gave the perfect demonstration of the fascinating and frustrating identification of juvenile birds.
Looking across to a less dry area several Pied Wagtails regularly showed and a few Linnets passed by.
Along the path, there was a Guelder Rose and unusually large bunches of Sloes. While some were watching a native hornet feeding on Water Mint a Whitethroat was heard and eventually found.
Crossing the parched meadow towards Turf, several Cattle Egrets were seen roosting in a tree and later among the cows.
Approaching Turf we could hear and see Starlings on the pub roof, taking off to give us a mini murmuration. In the hedgerows the House Sparrows and Goldfinch were very active. There was also a Mute Swan on the canal.
Divers carrying out underwater maintenance on the lock gates, together with the high tides, meant there was disturbance and no mud). Eating lunch by the lock gates we saw a lone Black-headed Gull. A Grey Seal came to investigate us and entertained us catching a large fish, possibly a grey mullet, in front of the lock gates.
We headed back along the canal path, after the dry brown meadow it was refreshing to see green vegetation and large swathes of yellow Fleabane. A Lapwing sat in the meadow and a juvenile Moorhen on the canal, and a Grey Heron in the distance. At the viewing platform Mallard and Canada Geese could be seen on the pools.
Continuing along the road to the car park, Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard, two Stonechats perched near Rooks and Carrion Crows. A shed grass snake skin was discovered at the side of the road and a mole made a brief appearance in the field next to the car park.
We moved on to Powderham church where Jay and Greenfinch were seen from the carpark. We continued over the cycle bridge to view the falling tide. On the mud were Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, a Sanderling, and a Redshank, and a lone Little Egret in the distance.
Report by Robert Massey
48 Species seen or heard
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Jay, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.
