We set off at 1pm and drove for 4 hours to Weeting Heath nature reserve in Norfolk, near the Suffolk border. We watched a distant pair of Stone Curlews with two chicks. We walked through the woods for a bit, then checked in to the Crown and Mundford, a few miles down the road. Nice …
We did a similar walk to the walk we did when we last stayed here four years ago almost to the day. Up Gallox hill behind Dunster, but by a different route this time, through mixed woodland with birdsong, Squirrels, Roe Deer, Exmoor Ponies. On the top of the hill was Bat’s Castle, the remnants …
We stopped at Steart Marshes WWT reserve on the way to Dunster. Lots of birds, including Spoonbills. At Dunster we checked into the Luttrell Arms hotel (our third visit). Dinner was nice.
At Cley we parked at the visitor centre and went over the boardwalks to the hides. Lots of ducks, waders, Avocets, Marsh Harriers. It was cold and bright and windy. On the beach, breakers were crashing into the shore. We had corn chouder for lunch in the busy visitor centre cafe. After lunch we went …
After breakfast we went to Titchwell RSPB reserve. Lots of Marsh Harriers, most of the Plovers (Green, Grey, Golden, Ringed), waders, ducks (Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Pintail, Shoveler, Shelduck, etc), Avocets. 40+ bird species seen. Lunch at the hotel at 2:45. In the evening we played scrabble.
On Friday we went to Romsey and went for lunch at the Olive Tree with Vera. Wendy came round in the afternoon. We left at 3:30 and drove to the Fox and Hounds at Whittlebury, near Towcester. Nice meal in the pub. Just down the road the house where J’s uncle and aunt had lived, …
We went to Lydford gorge, a few minutes down the road from the hotel. Paid our National Trust entrance fees and had a coffee in the cafe then went down the gorge to the Devil’s Cauldron. Steep paths and steps down to the river. We stopped to watch a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail on …
We left Hope Cove House (very nice food, great spot with views, friendly, smart and relaxed place, bed a bit uncomfortable, no tea and coffee in the room so had to make an expedition downstairs to get it in the morning, 7/10) and went to the New Bridge (16th Century). We parked at the side …
We set off for Prawle Point to look for Cirl Buntings. There was a sign saying the Prawle Point car park was closed for maintenance so we parked in the village of East Prawle, next to the green. We walked down the lane a bit and saw our first Cirl Bunting sat high up on …
Yesterday we arrived at Hope Cove House hotel at Inner Hope around 7pm. Dinner was oysters, scallops, soup and a large brill to share. Today we walked along the coast path a bit. We watched two seals bobbing in the bay and saw ravens mobbed by lesser corvids off the cliffs above us. We turned …