Somerset Wild Walks: Pendulines and Godwits

A visit to my family in Devon included a great couple of hours birding around the Topsham area. Although very cold and windy the skies were sunny until heavy rain set in at around 3pm. We arrived at Darts farm at around 12:30, parked up and walked down to the screen hoping to see the Penduline Tits again. Could not believe our luck for there they were gripping on tight to the swaying bulrushes. There only appeared to be two this time instead of the three seen last time.

Our walk then took us across the road towards the new walkway to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh. Along the way we had some great views of Greenshank, Redshank, Little Egret and Black Tailed Godwits. In the skies a couple of Buzzards and Ravens. It was fairly quiet at Bowling Green but there were still good numbers of Wigeon, a few Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Pochard and a single Pintail pair. At the feeders were Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin and Goldfinch. In the field were good numbers of Moorhen and also a lovely Fox, sun on its red fur skulking around the field edges. Spring has arrived in Devon and it was so uplifting to see some Primroses, Violets and Celandines out in the sun.

The tide was fully in at Goat walk and the wind was a howling gale with no birds in sight so it was a quick turn around and retrace of our steps back to Darts Farm just as the rain started.