Monday
1st February fresh to strong W sunny intervals, occasional light rain 13C
There
is a report of a green-winged teal at Seaton, Devon which is around
twenty miles from where I am at present. With the bike ready I start
the cycle. This part of Devon is very hilly and the day seems to be
one long push up steep hill after steep hill and the going is tough
and exhausting.
Through
Budleigh Salterton, through Sidmouth and after a particularly steep
and long hill climb, I reach a main road with a turn off for Beer.
Unfortunately
a lack of road signs takes me down to Branscombe from which to get
back on the right road for Beer there is yet another steep hill.
Beer,
I find the youth hostel there and leave the panniers and sleeping
bag. With an unladen bike the ride over to Seaton is not that bad and
I find the reserve upon which the rare American bird has been seen.
A
birder carrying a telescope comes up to me saying that we met on
Shetland back in 2010. His name is Tony and together we search for
the teal. I find it whilst peering through some tall reeds. Great,
green-winged teal goes onto the year list, yet another really
good bird; a great start to February.
Year
list goes to 147, eighteen ahead of this time last year.
18.66
miles 1993 feet elevation up 1869 feet elevation down
:)
ReplyDeleteWell done Gary. Good addition. Following your blog with interest as not on Facebook. Could be a tough year ahead for our mighty Bears, that squad getting older. Hopefully with Belly available we may do better than expected. All the best.
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