Birdy Bliss at Bowling Green Marsh

Back again to Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham for a 2nd visit.

There are so many birds to see and hear: Little Egret, Grey Heron, Teal, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Song Thrush, Wigeon, Black Headed Gull (also Greenshank and Redshank, Shoveler and Pintail Ducks – I’ll stick them in separate vids)

At the back of the Marsh was a lurking limping fox. None of the birds seemed at all bothered by it (as it wasn’t bothering them)

It was easy, on a bright beautiful Spring day like yesterday was, to feel blissed out on all these birdies.

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

An Irate Little Gull

The little gull in question was a black headed gull.

He appeared to be suffering from an excess of testosterone.
Bullying and bossing every other bird that dared enter his personal space; which happened to coincide with the duck feeding area where lots of seed was being thrown.

Was he fighting for feeding rights?
Or was he was wanting to show off his fighting strength and spirit?

Or was he just feeling fed up and browned off by the current calamities of a no-deal Brexit?

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

Spinning round and round

Tuftted Ducks seem the epitome of duckness.
They spin round and around like the rubberised ducks kids play with in their bath tubs.

Their silly little tufts make them look like daft daffy ducks.

Theyre totally quackers (or I am)

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

Titting about

There were dozens of Blue Tits and Great Tits bopping about in Stover Park.

The Blue Tits were coming up so close (within touching distance) I’m sure they would have fed out of my hand if I’d had any seed.

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

Mandarin Ducks take a bow

Three pairs of mandarin ducks were up at Stover Park yesterday.

Not as ‘wild’ as they would be seen furtively flicking around Hembury Woods next to the Dart river. Here in Stover they seemed in a semi-captive state (although they’re not obviously, because they can take off to wherever they want)

Mandarins do a lot of what looks like ceremonial head bowing. You can tell they’re a non native ‘Oriental’ bird.

The male mandarin is one of the best dressed ducks imaginable. The fine tailoring that has gone into his suit is immaculate, exquisite.

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

A Fat Old Weary Wood Pigeon

Well, possibly weary (if its general lack of movement is anything to go by)

Definitely fat.
Possibly old.
With a twisty malformed beak.

Just sits around.
Chuntering away to itself.
As if missing a marble or two.

Filming: Hazel Brown; Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

At The Games of Lambs

Out to Ela Woods this cloudy afternoon.

And there, just over the hedgerow, is a meadowful of lambs. Maybe only a couple of weeks old.

Looked like they had plenty pop and pep in their springy steps. A nonstop Games of Lambs it was. No hint of bloody slaughter anywhere.

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet

Sparrows are Us

Around twenty sparrows have taken up residence in my garden. A small urban back garden.

They descend onto a young willow tree where I hang feeders filled with fatballs, which they love!

They bathe in the pond, drink from a little birdbath, whilst other members of this large family chase each other all around the garden which they share with a blackbird, a couple of dunnocks, a beautiful rusty wren and two blackcaps.

Late afternoon, when the light goes, they scoot up into the ivy-clad wall of an old barn to rest.

By morning they are back again, much refreshed and busily chattering and cheeping as loud as can be!

Words & Illustration : Hazel Brown

Goosanders on the Dart river

I’m seeing pairs of Goosanders fishing for trout in the fast flowing supercharged River Dart this winter (and also on the little river Mardle that streams through the town)

A very chasey and pacey sort of duck.

The female is the one with the brown head.

Best to make the most of them while they’re around. They’ll be gone by Spring.

Words & Vid: Ian Nisbet