With Spring being mixed up with Winter many more people are reporting sightings on Dartmoor in the last few months. Thanks to everyone who have contacted us sorry we cannot acknowledge them all but they are still noted.

A group of ten Lapwings was seen by Nigel Rendle while on a DPA walk in February. They also saw twenty-five Fieldfare on Hanger Down near Cornwood.

It is good to see the work the DPA are doing on High House Waste near Cornwood in helping the Dartford Warblers. The DPA have a programme of cutting down some gorse bushes but leaving others so forming a patchwork which is helping the birdlife. Dartford Warbler numbers have been increasing over the last few years on High House Waste and they are starting to nest in the area. On 10th February six were found and most were singing males. A bit early to be calling for a mate but Spring is early this year.

A Barn Owl was spotted beside the road near Moretonhampstead in February at 9.30 in the morning. He was looking for his breakfast.

 
Nigel Rendle from Buckland Monachorum reports: ‘Driving up from Shaugh Bridge at the end of February, I happened on a Sparrow Hawk in the middle if the road with a pigeon in its grip. It merely flew (with some difficulty because of the weight of the pigeon) to the roadside, whereupon we sat and watched each other for several minutes. When I drove off, it remained there with its prize. Also I still have six Bramblings on my feeders in the garden.’


Paul Rendell saw his first Bluebells of the year at Long Timber Woods, Ivybridge on Sunday 9th March. Later in the day he saw six Buzzards circling together near Harford Bridge near Peter Tavy. The day before he saw two Yellow Hammers eating seeds put out for the Chaffinches at Badgers Holt, Dartmeet. It is unusual to see Yellow Hammers eating seed that has been put for other birds.

In March Tom Soby was leading a walk in the Teign Valley and was surprised to see an Otter in daylight. It made the day for the group.

A group of walkers spotted around a hundred Golden Plover flying over Venford Reservoir on 16th March. The Editor also saw Woodcock at Venford.

Roger Paul who is a Volunteer Warden for DNPA reports: ‘While putting up Lambing Signs between  Scorhill and Shilstone Tor on the 1st March I saw my first “moorland lamb” on the moor as opposed to those in the fields. My wife Stephanie saw her first foal of the year 18th March at Harford Moor. It was probably a day old.’


Liz Miall saw a pair of Crossbills in the conifers at Teignhead Farm on 17th March, and several Wheatears too, also two or three pairs of Stonechats near the East Dart.

Pauline Greenwood was out walking with her daughter and son-in-law in Fernworthy Plantation at Easter and saw two female Red Deer.

Nigel Rendle and Ken Rickard were walking in Gidleigh Woods on 20th March when they saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Stonechats near Kes Tor.

Ian Crawford who lives in Throwleigh saw a Wild Boar at 6pm on the 18th March at Yarnerpits Cross which is on the way from Blackaton to Murchington. This is the first sighting of Wild Boar in the area.

Paul Rendell and Pauline Greenwood saw a very rare bird on the edge of Dartmoor at Easter. The Water Rail is extremely elusive and not often seen but the Editors saw this bird on farmland in West Devon within the National Park Boundary after the local farmer pointed it out to them. Paul took a picture but just got the backside of the bird as he ran off. He plans to go back to try again. The farmer said there were two birds near the pond but only one was spotted on this day. This bird is like a Moorhen but smaller.

Thanks to everyone who reported seeing Red Grouse in March it seems to have been a good month for sighting. Bob Bruce was walking with Tony John and another ornithologist in the O Brook area on 16th March. While walking from Skir Ford towards Deep Swincombe they came across a single Red Grouse. ‘It rose about 10 miles away from us,’ said Bob. They could not tell whether it was a male or female. Tony said. ‘It is surprising now-a-days to see a grouse at all on the South Moor’.

Tom Soby was out with his group and saw two near Birch Tor on 26th March and the next day David Tyrell saw a pair of Red Grouse to the north of Dinger Tor, beside the military track. ‘Both looked in very good condition with the male in full breeding colours.,’ reported David. ‘On the same day, in some ponds just below the summit of Great Kneeset, frog spawn was just about to hatch out. At over 500 metres, these must be some of the highest tadpoles on Dartmoor. Perhaps we could start a competition for Tadpoles with altitude! As a matter of interest, the impact of differing altitudes and conditions have on breeding cycles is illustrated by the fact that the tadpoles in my pond, beside the River Walkham in Horrabridge, have been swimming around for the last three weeks or so. The first lots of spawn were laid on January 8th.’

Spring migrants have been arriving and Val Barn reports hearing her Chiffchaff on 27th March in Sticklepath and 28th at Parke. ‘Also my first Wheatear near Widecombe on 18th March. Two Kestrels close together near Higher White Tor 30th March, and Bog Violet in flower near Powdermills.’  

On 1st April the Paul Rendell saw a lone Fieldfare at Postbridge so winter had not gone yet. On 31st and 1st April Keith Bromidge saw Brimstone butterflies at Shaugh Halt.

The first Cuckoo was heard on 16th April on Belstone Tor and few days later on 19th it was heard in nearby Skaigh Valley by Pat Berwick and her friend.

Peter Thomson was out walking with two other friends at Buckland Beacon on 5th April and saw a lone Swallow flying north. This is the first recorded sighting of this bird on Dartmoor this year unless you know different. If so please contact us.