West Country Odyssey (Part 2)

 So here it is, the long-awaited second part to our West Country Odyssey, hope it is worth waiting for.

Let's start with a bit of a wildlife adventure, a trip to Avalon Marshes in Somerset. This is an extensive wetland area and we chose to explore the part of it known as Shapwick Heath:

Welcome to Shapwick Heath

Main Path through Shapwick Heath

The main path runs alongside the South Drain, a long narrow body of water which is a haven for all types of wildlife. Beyond the main path and south drain lies various bodies of water, created mainly from the flooding of old peat workings. These ponds and lakes provide even more fantastic habitats for wildlife:

Flooded Peat Bed

Mute Swan and Cygnets

Mute Swan

Great-crested Grebe

This Grebe even performed a bit of its breeding display routine, despite the fact there was no other Grebe to display with:

As if the multitude of water bodies was not enough, there are several other prime habitats including reedbeds and woodlands. Just the sort of place you might find a Marsh Harrier:

Yes that was a Little Egret flying past the Marsh Harrier in the video.

We continued along the main path until we reached the bridge over the South Drain:

Main Path beside the South Drain

Moira on the Bridge across the South Drain

South Drain at Shapwick Heath

South Drain from Bridge

We crossed the bridge and followed the path round to Meare's Heath Hide, where we had a scan to see what was about:

View from Meare's Heath Hide

Apart from a few Mallard, Coot and the occasional Little Egret there wasn't too much to see from this hide so we headed back towards the South Drain.

The one thing that becomes obvious when you fist enter Shapwick Heath is the abundance of Dragonflies and Damselflies. The place is teeming with them, in all shapes and sizes, here are just some of the species I managed to photograph:

Scarce Chaser (Male)

Four Spotted Chaser (Male)

Black-tailed Skimmer (Female)

Black-tailed Skimmer (Male)

Four Spotted Chaser (Female)

Common Blue Damselflies Breeding

After leaving the Meare's Heath hide we crossed back over the South Drain bridge to join the main path again. At the main path we headed directly over to another minor path which took us to Noah's Lake hide. The view from this hide was spectacular:

View from Noah's Lake hide

Noah's Lake

The lake in question is once again flooded peat workings, but on a massive scale. There were plenty of birds on the water (most of them quite far away) and plenty of warblers and other such birds within the reeds (we could hear them but they were reluctant to show themselves).

The highlight was however a Hobby swooping down over the top of the lake to pick off unwary dragonflies and other large insects. I watched it for a while before trying to get a video of this fast-moving bird of prey, as you will see it wasn't my best ever video (I even had to slow it down a bit for you to see it):

The larger bird is a Marsh Harrier, you have to look below it to see the swooping Hobby.

The Marsh Harrier made another appearance a bit later on, by which time the Hobby had gone:

It had been a good day for views of Marsh Harrier....... and it was nice to see the Hobby even though it had been a distant and short-lived view...... however I will finish this visit to Shapwick Heath with the species we got the best views of....... the dragonflies, in particular a female Black-tailed Skimmer:

Nice take-off!

The next day we decided to have a relaxing day at the holiday home and didn't travel too far. So instead of us going to find the wildlife, the wildlife came to visit us; birds in the back garden mainly:

Robin on Garage Roof

Song Thrush in Wood-burner Flue

Dunnock on the lawn

Here's a video of the Song Thrush listening to another bird singing:

We also had a Buzzard that soared above the house before landing in a nearby tree:

Buzzard in nearby tree

You lookin' at me?

In the afternoon I went for a little stroll down the country road that runs past the holiday home:

Country Road (not one that takes me home!)

Across the fields

This led me down to a part of The Drift that I hadn't previously visited:

A shady part of The Drift

Here I found an old WW2 machine gun post (commonly known as a Pill Box) which was one of many such defences dotted along the South of England. They were the 'last defence' in case of a Nazi invasion of the South Coast beaches: 

WW2 Pill Box on The Drift

The Last Defence

Very interesting! but I didn't go inside it.

The next morning it was too bright and warm to sleep so I got up really earlier and made myself a cup of coffee. I sipped my coffee and watched the 'early birds' in the garden:

Young Robin on the Statue

Young Robin in the hedge

Linnet on the fence

Linnet on the driveway

Then a Great-spotted Woodpecker landed on the telegraph pole in the garden:

Just when I thought I couldn't top that for a garden bird, a Green Woodpecker landed on the Lawn:

Green Woodpecker on Lawn

Red nape of Green Woodpecker

Of course I got it on video:

It prodded about a bit on the grass looking for insects to eat before hopping over to the fenced area where the goats live:

Green Woodpecker near fence

Green Woodpecker Looking for food

Here it found an ant's nest beside the fence, so breakfast was served:

What a lovely spot of early morning birding........ and I didn't even have to get out of my 'jammies'

Later on that day we had a trip to Ham Hill near Yeovil to meet up with family members (basically my sister and some of her family). After parking up we went for a walk to the top of the hill where we were treated to some wonderful views of Somerset:

Views from Ham Hill in Somerset

This video probably provides a better panorama of the views:

Shows you how flat parts of Somerset are.

I also tried to get a family photograph, but it was a bit like herding cats:

Family Photo (take 1)

Family Photo on Ham Hill

We continued our walk exploring the top of Ham Hill before we headed back to our holiday home (we  had booked to go out for that evening so had to freshen up after all that hill climbing!) .

The next day we took a trip to the seaside town of Seaton in East Devon. The main reason for this trip was to visit Seaton Tramway and take a ride in a vintage tram along the side of the River Ax. This was something we had done on a previous trip to the area and we had really enjoyed it.

We boarded the tram at the station, grabbed a couple of seats upstairs and headed on our way, first stop Riverside Halt:

Passing another tram at Riverside Halt

View of the River Ax

As we passed along the side of the River Ax we enjoyed the views and the wildlife on the river bank and in the fields on the other side:

Lovely Views from Tram

Little Egret on shores of River Ax

The next stop was Seaton Wetlands, a haven for wild birds, but most were hiding from us:

Seaton Wetlands

Tram Stop at Seaton Wetlands

This was a busy stop as we had a tram stopped in front of us, and we had to let a tram heading in the other direction go passed:

Tram 12 Approaching

Busy Junction

What drama!

We trundled along to the next station (Colyford), went across the level crossing, passed some horses in a field and arrived at our final stop Colyton:

Passing Horses in a field

Arriving at Colyton Station

We stopped for some coffee and cake on the platform cafe, before heading out for a walk towards the town of Colyton. We crossed over the River Coly and then decided that we wouldn't go into the town centre, so we milled about a bit before moseying on back to the tram station. 

We were in luck a tram was due to leave in five minutes, so we hopped onboard. Co-incidentally it was tram No.12, the one we had passed earlier at Seaton Wetlands:

All aboard Tram No.12

and we were off on our return journey:

And Away!

I tried to capture this first leg of our return journey on video:

Scream if you want to go faster!

Shortly after this we stopped in a passing place to let Tram No.10 go past (after it had struggled up a long incline):

We then continued on to Colyford, across the level crossing and into the station; which boasts an impressive Victorian Gent's Toilet:

Victorian Gent's Toilet at Colyford Station

I didn't see any Victorian gents though (thank God)

We were soon on our way, heading to Seaton Wetlands, where we got a good view across the river to Axmouth:

Seaton Wetlands

Patient Heron

View accros the river to Axmouth

Then we were on our way again, trundling along the side of the River Ax, until we reached Riverside Halt. Once again we had to stop and wait until a tram passed, this time it was the smallest tram I had ever seen:

Tiny Tram Approaching

It took ages to reach us and it was packed full of people. Once it passed we were on our way back to Seaton Tram Station, it had been a very enjoyable trip:

Final Stop: Seaton Tram Station

Worth a visit if you are ever down in the area.

We walked back to the car park, then drove a few miles further along the road to the popular seaside town of Sidmouth. We parked up then headed to the waterfront where we stopped for a spot of lunch. Suitably fed we had a stroll along the promenade (or is it an esplanade?):

Looking West along Sidmouth Esplanade

Looking East along Sidmouth Esplanade

Moira posing on the promenade

Sidmouth beach is a shingle beach flanked with red sandstone cliffs on either side and it is very popular with tourists. The street along sea front has many cafes, bars and guest houses making it an ideal location for tourists who like to take the sea air:

Shingle Beach at Sidmouth

Red Sandstone Cliff at East end of beach

These sandstone cliffs were laid down in the Triassic Period and the red colour comes from the iron-rich minerals contained within the sandstone  which has oxidised over many million years. Basically they are rusty cliffs.

After a stroll along the esplanade we returned to the car and drove back to the holiday home, reflecting on a relaxing and enjoyable day in East Devon.

Next day we headed to the coast again, this time it was in West Dorset, West Bay to be precise. To be even more precise we stopped at Bridport for a spot of brunch then we drove a mile or so down the road to Bridport Harbour, which is basically in West Bay (where the River Brit joins Lyme Bay)

Bridport Harbour, West Bay

Sluice Gates on River Brit

Lyme Bay Rib Charter in Bridport Harbour

The fast moving Rib Charter offers adrenaline filled sightseeing of Lyme Bay, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

We strolled down to the harbour wall where you can get a better view of West Bay Cliffs and the expanse of Lyme Bay:

Dredger at entrance to Bridport Harbour

Moira at Bridport Harbour

Eddie at Bridport Harbour

Looking out towards Lyme Bay

As we were enjoying the views of Lyme Bay and the West Bay Cliffs, the Rib Charter pulled slowly out of the harbour:

West Bay Cliffs

Lyme Bay

Rib Charter leaves Bridport Harbour

Once out in the expanse of Lyme Bay the Rib Charter opened up the throttle and gave it a bit of wellie:

Rib Charter bouncing its way across Lyme Bay

Meanwhile a much smaller private rib was sedately making its way into Bridport Harbour:

Entering Bridport Harbour

We decided not to venture out to sea but to have an ice cream at the little cafe on the harbour wall instead.

It was so hot that after our ice cream and a visit to a few shops (a look round the Customs House Emporium is highly recommended) we jumped in a very warm car and drove back to the holiday home.

The next day was our last full day in Somerset and it was mostly spent getting packed up and ready for our long trip back home. We did go out for a meal in the evening with my Sister, Niece and family, we even got dressed up for the occasion:

Moira in her Glad Rags

More Casual than Smart

And that was basically it for our West Country Odyssey, we had visited Devon, Dorset and Somerset, so we hadn't done too badly. It always rains when I am in Cornwall, so not disappointed that we didn't get there.

Thanks for taking time to read all of this (assuming that you didn't just look at the photos and videos and skip all the text)

Until next time

Cheers

TeddyEdward