Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!stl!aw From: aw@stl.stc.co.uk (Alan Wilkinson) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Birding in Southwest England and Ireland Message-ID: <3257@stl.stc.co.uk> Date: 30 Jul 90 14:35:38 GMT References: <36067@vrdxhq.verdix.com> Sender: news@stl.stc.co.uk Reply-To: "Alan Wilkinson" Organization: STC Technology Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, UK Lines: 100 In article <36067@vrdxhq.verdix.com> edm@vrdxhq.verdix.com (Ed Matthews) writes: > I'm going to be spending two weeks in England and Ireland in > September. Would really like some suggestions about where to go. ... EDM goes on to explain that he plans to visit Dartmoor National Park in SW England, and Kilarney in SW Ireland. A few suggestions for SW England follow. Details of access can be found in 'Birdwatching in Britain' by Nigel Redman and Simon Harrap, though Dave Norman & Vic Tucker's 'Where to Watch Birds in Devon and Cornwall' would offer many extra suggestions for the south-west of England. Both books are published by Croom Helm and easily obtained in London, try Sotheran's, Sackville st., Piccadilly. By September most of Dartmoor's specialities (Ring ouzel and breeding waders on the moors; Redstart, Pied flycatchers and Wood warblers in the bordering woods) will have departed for wintering grounds abroad. The exception is Red grouse which is resident and may be found by walking (for along time!) on the higher parts of the moor especially Cranmere Pool near Okehampton. At this time of year most birders will be concentrating on migrating shorebirds and seabirds, and there are several good areas close to Dartmoor. SHOREBIRDS: The Exe estuary in East Devon attracts good numbers of most of the shorebird species that pass through Britain. At the mouth of the estuary, Dawlish Warren has a large roost of waders at high-tide, including Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed godwit, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot, Ringed plover, Redshank, and with luck, Little stint and Curlew sandpiper. Also several species of gull, terns and ducks; plus, from the beach, Gannets and perhaps the odd skua, auk species or kittiwake. Migrating passerines can also be found in the scrub around the car-park. A couple of hours before high-tide it is worth checking the mud-flats at the north end of the estuary around Topsham and Powderham, for Greenshanks, Spotted redshanks, Black-tailed godwits, Common sandpiper, Green sandpiper and perhaps an early Avocet, as well as many of the species mentioned earlier. BIRDS OF PREY: A BOP watch-point has recently been established at Haldon forest between the Exe estuary and Dartmoor. This is the only widelyPpublicised, wardened site for Honey buzzard in the UK, and Honeys are present from mid-May to at least the first week of September. Provided the weather is dry and reasonably sunny, expect to see Honey buzzard as well as the commoner Kestrel, Buzzard, and Sparrowhawk. Hobby (to mid-Sept), Peregrine and Goshawk are regularly reported. Access to the watchpoint is from the B3193 which runs north of the A38 main road from Exeter to Plymouth. Approaching from Exeter, turn left at the brow of Haldon hill onto the B3344 and immediately turn right onto the B3193 which passes under the A38. The watchpoint is sign-posted on the left about 2 miles north of the A38. SEABIRDS: weather conditions are critical, but in strong south-westerly winds, Prawle point in S.Devon or Porthgwarra in Cornwall can be good for seabird migration. If the wind goes round to West or North-West, from south-westerly (as often happens in the area), St Ives in Cornwall is the place to go. Large numbers of Gannet, Fulmar, Razorbill, Guillemot and Kittiwake occur, with smaller numbers of Manx shearwaters, Arctic skua and Bonxie. If the weather has been severe enough: Sooty shearwaters, Yelkouan shearwaters, Storm petrels, and the odd Sabine's gull or Leach's petrel are possible. Details of access to these sites can be found in either of the guides mentioned above. PASSERINES: perching birds are mainly evident as migrating species at watchpoints such as Prawle point and Slapton Ley in South Devon, or Porthgwarra and Marazion marsh in West Cornwall. In addition to migrants, Prawle point is noteworthy for its Cirl buntings. See the suggested guide books for details. South-west Ireland: Famous for its seabird watching spots of the SW coast, especially Cape Clear island SW of Cork, but presumably the tip of any Western peninsula, in on-shore wind conditions. The same seabird species as mentioned for Devon and Cornwall but usually in much greater numbers. Cape Clear also has resident Choughs. If you're interested in viewing British rarities during your visit, try the British RBA 'Birdline' - telephone 0898 700222 (25p or 38p/minute). Don't be surprised if British birders are chasing after American species at this of the year, though!