Friday [That's last Friday not this Friday. Ahem.] saw me swanning off up onto the fringe of t'Moor, in search of Bobbing Things.
Nothing Like A Dart Dipper
And there is nothing like a Dart Dipper in that picture, before you get too excited...
I heard two, and one flew past me, but all afternoon I got nothing even close to a pic. Typical of the site, alas. I go there because it's where I saw my first Dipper; it's a site that's been close to my heart since I was yeah high to a doodleybug. There are places where you have a much better chance at much better views, but, well, nostalgia, you know?
I was treated to a nice performance by a water-ish bird, though, and here you go;
Grey Wagtail,
working past stone to stone
Just a garden bird, I know... :)
Sunday saw a much more active day of zipping around after birds, with first thing revenge at last on Blackstarts [see below] just the beginning.
News of a pair of Slavonian Grebes hanging around off Sprey Point [between Teignmouth and Dawlish, fyi] led to the thought 'Well, it is a Thing of Woe that they're so scarce, but I need to grab what's in reach'. [Having failed to get the Bay bird in January, despite resorting to slightly Drastic Measures {see further below..}]
So, up I went, and yomped along - but not on! - Brunel's Line to the Point, which has a nice big buttress thing sticking out from the railway seawall as a viewpoint. This gives you 180° of sea to look at, if a little low down.
I'd picked a good day, though.
Looking back Patch-wards
Now, those grebes... Were about 1km out, maybe 1.5....
Slavonian Grebes.
Honest.
Not exactly close views, but with the Big Scope they were good views. At least when I wasn't fielding queries from the Great Unwashed. I don't mind being helpfully friendly with mundanes, but doing so when you're trying to get a photo because they're a bit closer, the light's a touch better, and that one's wingflapping! can be a teensy bit trying. [Patience is a very useful thing to practice, of course(!)]
At least 4 RTDs and 2 GNDs, with a couple of score of auks [assorted razormots] and the odd Gannet and Kittiwake further out were on show, with 2 Med Gulls flying past south a pleasing [if a little overdue] first for year. :)
I wasn't going to stay all day, or even half of one, so I tried a rather circuitous route up onto t'Moor, hoping for a partridge or two. I got none, but you have to try.
Afternoon. Somewhere On Dartmoor* I rendezvous'd with the Teacher. We set up on different pieces of scenery [partly due to a desire to get eyes on more ground but mostly due to my need to walk some heat into my legs!]. The rest was..
Spot the Harrier
Get a better pic
...He's landed!!
The Power of the Artefact ::Ominous Chanting:: gave the Teacher more views while I was returning from my perch, but none as close as the first one was to me.
Woo.
:D
I know I've said I'm not going to go waving numbers around, and I won't [mostly] but for those interested parties, that glorious HH let me end January on 146 for Devon.
Be Seeing You...
[[* It is with familiar regret that even this far from grouse shoots, no details of location beyond the obvious** may be shared. ]]
[[ ** Yes, I was in Devon. What?!? ]]
No comments:
Post a Comment