A late autumn mini break.
18th October 2025
Susan and I have just spent a few late Autumn days down on the Devon coast relaxing after a period of work around the house and garden. It was probably the last opportunity this year for some pleasant weather before the predicted rain and winds arrive.
Although cloudy in the mornings the sun broke through most days by the afternoon, and the weather was mild throughout. After some sightseeing around the local areas in the mornings we were sat outside a nice seafront pub by mid- afternoon enjoying a few refreshing beverages, clad only in tea shirts in the very pleasant sunshine.
We hadn’t intended doing any birding or taking any photographs but I brought my Canon 100-500 zoom lens with me ‘Just in case’ because it’s so easy to carry around, and on one morning we did have a short walk around a local wetland which was very pleasant and I managed to take few images.
One particular area of damp meadow was quite productive because as we were walking along some Black-tailed Godwits flew in to feed.
They were a lovely sight as they spiralled down low in a flock of about twenty birds.
I could see where they landed so we decided to walk back along the board walk near to them to get a better look.
They were quite confiding but inevitably they took flight, but they flew surprisingly very close to us, to the extent that I could barely frame them – what a lovely experience, because you don’t usually get that close to waders in flight.
At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseam, a big prime lens would have been no use in this situation, but my little 100-500 zoom lens mounted on a Canon R6 Mk2 was perfect.
What a combination this is!!
A few cool beers after this pleasant episode went down very nicely.
Later reading a leaflet about the local area I came across by accident a few lines about a heathland nearby where Dartford Warblers were resident. It’s late to get good views of these birds now because after breeding when they can at times be quite showy, they tend to become shy and very awkward to find, but any chance of seeing these enigmatic little birds is worth a try.
On the following morning, which was a bright day we paid a visit, it was only fifteen miles away after all. As soon as we arrived the potential for seeing these birds was obvious, a mixture of gorse and heather and a mild climate what’s not to like if you’re a Dartford Warbler!
Only a hundred yards from the car park along a track we could hear their scratchy song, so we were quite hopeful of at least a sighting. Almost immediately we could see a bird on a gorse bush but a little far away and against a light-coloured sky, not ideal but a sighting at least.
However, after this things got a little frustrating – very brief glimpses of birds disappearing down into the gorse and heather was the norm.
Never mind because one thing wildlife photography has taught me is that you don’t give up easily and after spending an hour walking up and down the track we managed some better views of these lovely little birds – quite satisfying!
After this though things became very quiet, typical behaviour for these little birds at this time of year, and anyway it’s quite hard sometimes to see them even if they are perched out because of the way they blend in to their environment. We left contented and stopped for some lunch before retiring to our favourite watering hole in the afternoon sun.
This was a very nice end to our mini break.
Although cloudy in the mornings the sun broke through most days by the afternoon, and the weather was mild throughout. After some sightseeing around the local areas in the mornings we were sat outside a nice seafront pub by mid- afternoon enjoying a few refreshing beverages, clad only in tea shirts in the very pleasant sunshine.
We hadn’t intended doing any birding or taking any photographs but I brought my Canon 100-500 zoom lens with me ‘Just in case’ because it’s so easy to carry around, and on one morning we did have a short walk around a local wetland which was very pleasant and I managed to take few images.
One particular area of damp meadow was quite productive because as we were walking along some Black-tailed Godwits flew in to feed.
They were a lovely sight as they spiralled down low in a flock of about twenty birds.
I could see where they landed so we decided to walk back along the board walk near to them to get a better look.
They were quite confiding but inevitably they took flight, but they flew surprisingly very close to us, to the extent that I could barely frame them – what a lovely experience, because you don’t usually get that close to waders in flight.
At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseam, a big prime lens would have been no use in this situation, but my little 100-500 zoom lens mounted on a Canon R6 Mk2 was perfect.
What a combination this is!!
A few cool beers after this pleasant episode went down very nicely.
Later reading a leaflet about the local area I came across by accident a few lines about a heathland nearby where Dartford Warblers were resident. It’s late to get good views of these birds now because after breeding when they can at times be quite showy, they tend to become shy and very awkward to find, but any chance of seeing these enigmatic little birds is worth a try.
On the following morning, which was a bright day we paid a visit, it was only fifteen miles away after all. As soon as we arrived the potential for seeing these birds was obvious, a mixture of gorse and heather and a mild climate what’s not to like if you’re a Dartford Warbler!
Only a hundred yards from the car park along a track we could hear their scratchy song, so we were quite hopeful of at least a sighting. Almost immediately we could see a bird on a gorse bush but a little far away and against a light-coloured sky, not ideal but a sighting at least.
However, after this things got a little frustrating – very brief glimpses of birds disappearing down into the gorse and heather was the norm.
Never mind because one thing wildlife photography has taught me is that you don’t give up easily and after spending an hour walking up and down the track we managed some better views of these lovely little birds – quite satisfying!
After this though things became very quiet, typical behaviour for these little birds at this time of year, and anyway it’s quite hard sometimes to see them even if they are perched out because of the way they blend in to their environment. We left contented and stopped for some lunch before retiring to our favourite watering hole in the afternoon sun.
This was a very nice end to our mini break.