Walking Around In Circles

So you have a tendency to do daft things when chasing yearticks.

Like wandering around in large funny-shaped [due to a very inconveniently-closed bridge] circles trying to find and photo a bird that shouldn't be that hard to get, really...

I found the right bit of the right bit eventually, in what was very much not the sort of area you'd expect to find waders in. Behold, what is in effect a bramble-lined concrete channel in one of those neighbourhoods were there are speedbumps everywhere;

Green Sand,

'somewhere in Exeter'

It's not that bad, really, [bit like Foxhole, he says] but when you're trying to get the frickin' camera to zoom, it's being petulant, and you notice out of the corner of your eye a shifty type in a hoodie alter course your way.. Well, you start to think of post themes.  [Ok, that slightly after you've got a bad pic, pocketed your camera, and stomped away past said - probably entirely unaware you exist - character with your best 'I am so not worth even thinking it, mate' face on]

Ahem.

Before that, I'd tried wandering around a lot of the Valley Parks, looking for this as well as that. It was a bit windy, but not horrific, and sheltered areas weren't bad at all.

Matford.

Spot the Little Grebe.

I did [at last!]

Along Northbrook, a Kingfisher wasn't a yeartick, but was posing

"You'd be amazed how many

hoorays walk right

past me every day without

a clue, you really would"

No, mate, I wouldn't.

On the Exe herself, Goosander;

Four!

Time for a close-up.

[Ok, a zoom-up...]

I like Goosander,

even when they're

not feeling helpful

"Do you mind, I'm trying

to preen, here"

A shingle bank on the near side of a river far better than the far side of a lake when it comes to getting photos [funny, that].

A very sneaky Dipper was less obliging, as was a nice [well, sort of] Grey Wagtail. A bit further downstream I got rather muddy trying to get a decent angle on what looked like a Green Sand, hunkered up by the waterside;

Redshank.

Sat on a riverside lawn

at Countesswear..?!?

Not quite where you'd expect one.

[And until I got opposite to it, those orange bits were hidden]

Anyways, I got there [in both senses] in the end.

What next? Hmm.

Be Seeing You...