Newbridge car park was busy on our arrival, many families and couples enjoying the cool, shady Dartmoor woodlands, which provided a much-needed break from the sweltering heat. The Dart flowed raucously to our left, entering a series of miniature, rocky rapids before tumbling under a bridge. A wooden signpost, chipped and weathered pointed the way.Continue reading “A River Dart walk”
Category Archives: Dartmoor
Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Project
The Eurasian Curlew is one of those waders, that switches habitats dramatically according to the season. By summer, it is a moorland bird, breeding on the ground in cover afforded by gorse and scrub. By Winter, it is a bird of the estuaries and coast, feeding in the tidal mudflats many places around Britain entertain.Continue reading “Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Project”
The Meldon Wildlife Festival
We were at Meldon Wildlife Festival, organised by Dartmoor National Park Authority. We clambered out of the car into the blazing sun, and marvelled at the breathtaking views all around us. The valley was coated in gorse and trees and bathed in sunlight, with the enormous Meldon Dam partly obscured by a hill. The festivalContinue reading “The Meldon Wildlife Festival”
Dipper Days
Vehicles rumbling along the narrow lane and across the bridge were few and far between, and as we got out of the car, the sound of fast-running water was loud and prominent. But somehow managing to make itself heard over the monstrous river, a high-pitched tsee sounded from above us in a spindly willow, withContinue reading “Dipper Days”
Dartmoor Delights at Yarner Wood
The gate creaked slightly as it was pushed open, and our feet almost made no sound on the wood-chip covered path. The sun was low in the sky, and it was around 5:00PM. Flies almost ate us alive as we walked down the side of the valley, towards the brook at the bottom. The pathContinue reading “Dartmoor Delights at Yarner Wood”
An Old Favourite
The family ambled down the gorse lined slope, with scores of sheep, confined to the next door field, making quite the racket. Buzzards wheeled around above, and unknown songbirds flitted above the undergrowth briefly. There seemed to be more people out than usual for the time (early evening), and we certainly had help achieving ourContinue reading “An Old Favourite”
A Wild Goose Chase (Or Is It?)
Wind breezy, sun shining. The perfect backdrop for a good day’s birding at Emsworthy Mire DWT Reserve. Kicking off with a tremendous tree pipit, these birds are well known for their parachuting display. As it climbed higher and higher, it then opened its wings and ‘parachuted’ down, only beginning to flap when inches above theContinue reading “A Wild Goose Chase (Or Is It?)”
The Urban Surprise
As we walked down the street, a white flash caught my eye on the river. I stopped and stared in utter shock. 2 large ducks, one white, the other grey. Goosanders. Sadly, I wasn’t equipped with any optics at this time so views were distant but still scarce ducks nonetheless. This comes as only myContinue reading “The Urban Surprise”
A Red Start To The Evening
We parked the car in the car park. We were at Fernworthy reservoir in the Dartmoor national park. We started walking. There was a wonderful view out over the wavy water. Swallows and swifts filled the air with aerodynamic displays, the swallows skimming the water and flying parallel to each other. We carried on toContinue reading “A Red Start To The Evening”
Memories- The Moorland Hunt Part 2
It had been a week since my first try at finding a cuckoo but that one was in vain. This time, I was back on Dartmoor, headed for Emsworthy Mire. We parked the car and started the hike. To get to the mire, we had to go down a slope. As we walked down, weContinue reading “Memories- The Moorland Hunt Part 2”
The Bovey Birder 