28th February 2010
Mr Sandman The Chordettes
After a beautiful, albeit cool early morning cycle ride down the Exe Estuary cycle path eventually to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. First though I explored the Exminster Marshes. At Powderham, after cycling through the avenue with cathedral-like Holm Oaks creating a tunnel of evergreen leaves, large herds of deer were in the country park there.
Next reserve to explore was a Devon Wildlife flagship reserve, Dawlish Warren.
Too early in the year to see the small yet incredibly
beautiful Sand Crocus that I had seen on previous visits, I explored the
reserve by going along the central path. After trying to see the reported
American Surf Scoter, which had been seen for some time out at sea with a small group
of Common Scoter and failing, I went around the reserve perimeter by walking on
the beach, after negotiating the golf course. The bike and all belongings were
safely inside the visitor's centre. Looking north along the huge Exe Estuary,
once more comfortable in a bird hide, I watched as waders came closer and
closer to roost as the tide came up. One of the best wader roost viewing spots
in the UK, I had made sure that a number of these wonderful roost places were
on the itinerary. Later in the year I would visit Red Rocks on the Dee Estuary
at West Kirby and, best of all, Snettisham RSPB Reserve, north of King’s Lynn,
Norfolk. Timing at these places is always vital. Be there at high tide and a
multitude of waders will greet the eye. Be there at low tide and you will see
mud and rocks.
Another attempt later at the Surf Scoter was
again unsuccessful. Indeed this was the second of three attempts at searching
out a Surf Scoter with Common Scoter and I was to fail to see them on each
occasion. Next time I must face the situation and take a 'scope with me.
Memories of my first ever visit
to Dawlish Warren were rekindled as I went around the reserve. That had been a long
time ago, back in 1978 when I had gone with the West Midland Bird Club on one
of their coach outings. Being a winter visit back then, I remembered good
numbers of Slavonian Grebes as well as thousands of waders at a high tide
roost. The coach had been packed and I, noticeably young as I was at the time,
was overawed to be in the presence of some incredibly talented birders: Dave Smallshire
and Bob Normand amongst many others. So sad to see that the club now has a much
reduced membership and the chances of young, keen birders meeting with such
wiser, experienced birders is likewise reduced.
I also remembered how in the summer of the
same year, I had hitch-hiked there expecting to find, naively, the same
conditions. Instead there were thousands of sunseekers soaking up the sun. The
smell of suntan oil and greasy chips had me trampling over the estuarine mud to
escape it all.
Through the town of Dawlish itself and a pleasant ride to Teignmouth, going up the hill to the south of the town, with the sun setting fast, I decided that it was time to try out the new tent for the first time.
I found a very secluded spot next to a style on a public footpath,
not too far from the main road and with it almost dark, I tried to put the tent
up. Having not been sensible enough to have had a practice go at erecting it
before now, putting it up now was not going to happen. I ended up tying the strings
to the style and a nearby tree and it was erected as of a fashion and so I
settled down into my sleeping bag for my first night under canvas.
19.38 miles
1468 feet elevation up 1048 feet
down
Month's end, I have now visited 43 RSPB
reserves and two WWT reserve. I have seen144
different bird species and cycled 620.14
miles.
Chris Mills at this stage was on 139 birds. Simon
Woolley was on 114 birds.
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