Don't Read This Post

Seriously. You will regret it.





Ok, you were warned...


So, I went for a mooch about the South Hams. First up was South Huish, where there was the chance of good views of Glossy Ibis, Ruddy Shelduck, and Water Pipit.

All three were distant and elusive. The Ibis so much so that it couldn't be seen at all!
The slail was very non-elusive. [That's sleet with added hail for extra ouchiness, btw].

With Bolt Tail and the Thurlestone

looking all atmospheric

A Barwit showed up and hung with the Oyks [who were feeding in a grassy field..], which was a bit random.

This is a Barwit

[Plus an Oyk's bum..]

A Kingfisher swayed on a reed stem at the back, and in a brief look at the sea, a 1w RTD was bobbing around. Apparently, there's a funny pale pipit in the big flock, but I didn't find that, either.


Something that amused me was the sight of workmen putting speed bumps in by the NT car park. Why so funny? Well, if you consider the craters potholes they were filling in as part of the same operation...



I then went looking for the 2 male Red Crested Pochard, who would now be in splendid plumage. Bowcombe Creek had been mentioned, but no joy was had there. Indeed, they too were very elusive to the point of invisibility.


Finally, Slapton Ley.

There was going to be a particularly long and vehement rant about the new Stokely Bay hide here. Going on about how the only thing it seems to have been designed to do is be as uncomfortable and impractical as possible.
Indeed, the only good thing is the location.

BUT. Those stupid enormous fixed side 'windows' were great when the 1w Marsh Harrier [not moulting yet, so cannot be sexed] showed up and started hunting the back of said bay. For 15 minutes until it got something. WOW!

With 6 Goldeneye and 3 BN Grebes out on the Ley, things were good indeed. Ok, there weren't many birds other than them. 2 Coot. Yes, 2!!!!

Then the Water Rails decided to have a barney right outside. [Yes, seen Water Rails very close and chasing each other]. Something in the water, maybe? Later on, one even posed for pictures!

Water Rail

Right by the ring bench at Slapton Bridge

Then....


A movement in the reeds, a disturbance in the water. Less than 20m away, there it was.. OTTER.

An adult [perhaps the/a male?], it then proceeded to fish its way out into the Bay and right across the middle of the lower Ley. In the middle of the day, in the sunshine. It was catching teeny fish [four or five crunches and gone] and, while it spent less than 5 seconds at a time on the surface, I watched it for more than 35 minutes. Just think about that. [Maybe weep...]

I've had better views, and closer views [both on the Levels], but they were always seconds, at most a minute or so. Not half an hour and then some.


I went up to Ireland Bay - where most of the [still pretty sparse] birds were hiding. 2 more Goldeneye, a few Gadwall, etc... No RCPs. There were a couple of very vocal Mistle Thrushes. So vocal, they didn't seem to be paying me [presumably the object of their rattley ire] that much mind. Thus, the following gratuitous up-skirt shot..

 Actually identifiable..!

Still time for icing;  I saw a Barn Owl on the way home.



Happy Happy Joy Joy

[For once said unironically]