Exmoor - Sun 6 May

An early start today as it was my monthly trip out birding with the lads, and I picked up Steve Chorley at 5.00am to head up on to Exmoor. Our first stop was Chetsford Water, and we arrived on site at 6.15am. As we got out of the car and braced ourselves for the cold (it was just a few degrees above freezing) Steve caught the distant reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler, great start to the day. It took us quite a while to track the bird down in a clump of juncus and eventually we were lucky enough to get some really good views.

Also on the moor we saw at least a dozen Wheatears and three or so Whinchats. High above a few Skylarks were singing and we could also hear three Cuckoos. A couple of Tree Pipits were also seen. As we returned to the car we caught a glimpse of a male Redstart in the trees before it flitted down and landed on the fence for a moment before vanishing in to the trees.

Leaving Chetsford Water we headed north-east and stopped off to check out Nutscale Reservoir. However, other than another singing Cuckoo and a Mistle Thrush in full song we failed to see anything different. So on we went to our next stop, Pool Bridge.

As we crossed the river we saw a Dipper in the stream, and after parking the car we relocated it feeding two juveniles.

A walk up the road through the woodland produced the expected species such as Treecreeper and Nutchatch and a pair of Bullfinches. And after failing to track down the source of an unusal call we returned to car where we were met by two Wood Warblers chasing each other before they settled in the tree above the car.

On then to Horner where we met up with John and Andy. We all hopped in my car and drove up to Webber's Post and took a walk down the valley back to Horner. Whilst in the car park at Webber's Post we saw a couple of Siskin, including a male carrying out a couple of display flights. The walk through the valley was not overly productive though we did pick up a few Pied Flycatchers (and another Wood Warbler was heard singing). We got back to Horner and drove up to collect my car before parting company with Andy and John as Steve and I needed to be home for lunch. It was now 11.15am and we had enjoyed a brilliant morning on Exmoor.

On the way home we took a slight diversion and visited Thurlbear Quarrylands. As we got out of the car we could hear a Nightingale singing and a short walk produced at least three more singing birds, though we only got to see one of them. It rounded off a really enjoyable birding trip.
UK list for 2012 now at 186 species.