A WALK ALONG THE RIVER LIM AT LYME REGIS WITH DAWN, A RECCE TRIP TO EXETER, DEVON AND A MORNING TRIP TO WEST BAY, DORSET WITH GUY
SUNDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2022
LYME REGIS
With the good weather continuing it would have been rude not to go out enjoy it. On Sunday, Dawn and I drove down to Uplyme and completed our usual 1 1/2 mile walk into Lyme Regis along the River Lim. We sat on the promenade and enjoyed a nice cuppa before having lunch in the courtyard of the Royal Standard pub ( ther moussaka was delicious) and the warm sunshine was lovely.
we saw the usual Grey Wagtails and Dippers along the River Lim
both very poor pictures taken through my binnoculars using my phone
After lunch we walked onto the 'Cobb' to look for the returning Purple Sandpipers before we took the track back to the car, the weather remained lovely until we got near the car when it clouded over.
The Cobb extension looking towards Charmouth, there are Cormorants, Shags, Ringed Plover, Turnstones, Dunlin and some gulls in the picture (you will just have to beleive me!!). Lyme Regis was a little crowded and the sandpipers had not returned just yet.
MONDAY 17TH OCTOBER
EXETER - NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON
Dawn wanted to go shopping to Exeter today so I drove her down there and then branched off to recce some sites and a hotel for a future tour in June 2023. Exeter was easy to get into but a nightmare to get out of! I spent 30 minutes in standstill traffic before veering off in the wrong direction to get out of town.
I eventually found the hotel I was looking for on the Banks of the River Teign at Kingsteignton and after conducting my business a wnet for short walk along the river.
the Passage House Hotel on the River Teign, highly recommended for a birding short break.
the River Teign from the car park of the Passage House Hotel
Next I drove to Shaldon on the coast and stopped for lunch overlooking the teign Estuary, many gulls and Oysetcatchers were there with Curlew and Redshanks.
some Black-headed Gulls and the silhouette of the iconic and unmistakeable, Curlew
I drove along the coastal raod up to RSPB Labrador Bay where an enclve of Cirl Buntings are carefully looked after on private farmalnd leased by the RSPB. Thery are doing a good job there because the Bunting numbers are steadily increasing.
I saw about 8 birds, including some smashing males. Also on site was Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Raven over, Goldfinches, Common Buzzard and a few common species.
I drove home arriving around 4:30pm....................did I forget to collect Dawn from Exeter??? Doh!! .........................No, I did not, she caught the train and arrived home just after me, phew...that would have been close to suicide!
TUESDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2022
MORNING TRIP TO WEST BAY NEAR BRIDPORT, DORSET
news of the sighting of a BARRED WARBLER on the coast at Bridport prompted me into action this morning. I persuaded Dawn that she needed to visit the garden centre at Bridport which she loves doing (it could have been an expensive mistake but I took the time of year into account!).
I also called my birding buddy Guy, whom I haven't seen since the middle of July, he had been ill since his September trip to Georgia. I thought a nice uphill walk and some sunshine would do him good.
We dropped Dawn off at said Garden Centre and drove to West Bay. The bird had been sighted at the top of the west cliff which was a bit of walk from the promenade. We saw a couple of birders on their way back down and they had seen the bird OK so we were optimistic.
No-one was on site when we got there and I'm afraid it was Guy who found the bird first!! It took us about 20 minutes to get really good views of it and by that time there was several other pairs of eyes looking.
looking down at West bay from the top of the West Cliff
my best digi-scope shot of the juvenile Barred Warbler. Taken at West Cliff, West Bay this morning
We had our fill and walked back down the hill to the car and then drove to the garden centre and had a lovelky lunch with Dawn, sitting on the terrace in warm sunshine, what a lovely way to spend the morning.
Now for a real picture of the BARRED WARBLER - taken by PETER COE who has given permission to put this up
