Well it is April after all. Between the odd shower has been some superb weather and a walk to the Powderham marsh viewing platform is a must. Don’t forget to take you scope so you can see all the lapwing chicks that have hatched out to enjoy the sunshine. Other birds of interest frequently being seen are little ringed plover, oystercatchers, garganey and a barnacle goose. Don’t forget to take you camera too as you may be lucky enough to find a black oil beetle (a goliath in the bug world)on the walk to or from the viewing platform and you don’t want to miss a chance to get a snap and show all your friends.
The turf path is still superb for all you Lepidopterists as the sunshine is bringing all the butterflies out, including some of my favourites like the orange tip and peacock. If you’re lucky you might even see a lesser white throat and a steam train on your walk up to the discovery area like I did on Sunday, so keep those eyes peeled.
I hope everyone who was inspired to put out a garden feeder by the last blog has had the success our residential volunteers have, with no less than nine species of birds coming to visit, most of which are now daily regulars, brightening up our morning as we ready our lunch boxes and fill our flasks for the day.
I can’t finish this blog before mentioning the fantastic job Pete and Tom (Site Manager and Assistant Warden) did of organising a trip out for all the exe estuary volunteers. A superb day of birding in Dartmoor, followed by cream teas (Devon style). Which was a big tick for anyone’s year list.
Stephen