Twitches

Our week in Devon produced one life time first, in the form of a dipper on the River Tavy at Tavistock.

Following our sighting last year in Shanklin Gorge, there were a number of gray wagtails, one on the Tavy and several on the Dart. One of these last, at Hembury Woods, gave us a fine display of tail wagging. Another courtship ritual?

There were a number of chaffinches, mostly rather small. This year's crop? Males and females at Castle Drogo, males above the Dart at New Bridge (second visit) and at Holne (community tea room). One possible goldfinch above the Dart at New Bridge.

One something with the action of a swallow, but without the size or the tail and rather early. A martin perhaps?

Two fighting male pheasants on the road home from Pennywell Farm. So busy fighting that they did not look up, let alone move aside, for passing cars.

A modest number of buzzards and one kestrel.

Various tits, but nothing exotic which we would not see at home.

A reasonable haul.

PS: the Dart at Hembury also yielded a no fishing sign put up by some angling association. From which we deduce that there are fish in the Dart, even if we failed to see any.

Reference 1: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/twit-log.html.