Another visit to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh followed by a walk past the grounds of Powderham Castle on the other side of the estuary - 18th March 2026

On Wednesday, 18th March, I went by train to Topsham and visited Bowling Green Marsh for a second time during my week long visit to East Devon

One Spoonbill was standing at the end of the grassy land in the middle of the lagoon

It preened its feathers

and then flew away!

There were lots of Wigeon on the lagoon

a Black swan sailed majestically past all the Wigeon and other ducks

Pair of Eurasian Teal in front of the bird hide

and a pair of Wigeon in the same place

As I walked away from Bowling Green Marsh, I spotted a Rove beetle on the muddy lane

I then went on the train to Starcross on the other side of the Exe estuary and walked down the lane past Powderham Castle

There was a large group of mainly female Fallow deer sitting on the grass inside the grounds of Powderham Castle.  They were easily viewed from the lane through the wire fence.

I think that they were disturbed by the sound of my clicking camera as they suddenly stood up

When I walked further down the lane, I could see the castle in the distance

Lovely large tree on the estate

A few stags were gathered together in the distance

More interesting trees

Little Egret standing near a pool in the Powderham grounds

Further on, I crossed over the railway bridge and saw two Oystercatchers on the Exe estuary at low tide

A train from Exmouth trundled along the railway line on the other side of the estuary

Sleepy Curlew standing on the river bed

Lympstone Village on the other side of the estuary

On my way back to Starcross, I took a photo of Powderham church

and was startled by a train traveling along the railway line between the estuary and the lane!

 

Spoonbills, Wigeon, Godwits and Black Swans at Bowling Green Marsh nature reserve, Topsham - 15th March 2026

I was staying in East Devon for a week and, on Sunday, I took the train from Exmouth to Topsham.  Then I walked to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh and sat in the bird hide for some time.

Row of Black-tailed Godwits in both summer and winter plumage

Wigeon feeding on the grass

Spoonbill and Shelduck on a narrow island in the lagoon

In fact, there were two Spoonbills on the little island

Spoonbills and a long row of Black-tailed Godwits

Little Egrets flying above some Black-tailed Godwits

A pair of Black Swans were on grass at the other side of the lagoon

Pintail on the lagoon

The two Spoonbills were feeding when the Black-tailed Godwits decided to move

Spoonbills preening behind two Godwits

The pair of Black Swans moved into the water and sailed past the bird hide

talking to one another as they sailed along the water

I came across a male Blackbird on the lane leading from Bowling Green Marsh

Curlew and Redshank feeding on the mud in front of the Goat Walk in Topsham

 I had a great time and planned to visit again later in the week.

Birds at Rye Harbour nature reserve on 28th February 2025

Our coach left London on a drizzly morning and stopped off at Castle Water so that we could walk along a muddy path to the viewing platform there.  

It was still overcast when a male Marsh Harrier flew above the water and in front of sheep in a field

We then drove to Rye Harbour, where a Stonechat was sitting in brambles near the Visitor Centre

A Redshank was standing on the edge of grass in front of four sheep

Oystercatcher searching for food in the wet mud at low tide

Redshank refused to turn round for a photograph

A Turnstone was searching for food on the ground near the edge of the river Rother

Group of Golden Plovers on a spit of land in the lagoon near the Visitor Centre

Group of Avocet standing together in another part of the lagoon

Flocks of birds were spooked by something as I sat in one of the bird hides in the centre of the lagoons

Lapwings took to the sky

Shelduck striking an usual pose

Lapwings were standing on a small island in a lagoon with the old Lifeguard building at the back

Just caught a couple of ducks before they flew out of sight!

Male Kestrel sitting at the top of a tree

Group of Wigeon and a few Redshank near the water with the Visitor Centre in the background

Walking Wigeon with a couple of Redshank at the edge of the water

At the end of my walk, I took a photo of the famous black tin shed with red roof at the edge of the river