A WRYNECK TURNS UP IN DEVON

My very good birding mate and partner in crime Steve Bool and myself haven't  been on a road trip in a while, so when Steve discovered that a Wryneck had turned up in Devon we both decided to get down there to take a look.

The Wryneck has bred in Scotland in open park like woodland but with hardly any records in recent years it's now considered a rare passage migrant. The Wryneck gets it's name because of the birds ability to twist it's neck around and it's cryptic plumage is like tree bark which can make it look virtually invisible whilst at rest in a tree. Another non interesting fact is that Steve and myself have never seen one so this would be a lifer for both of us. 

This particular bird had already been there for three days so we were feeling a bit  anxious hoping that it would still be there. After setting off at 5am we arrived at an area where the bird had been reported called Turf Locke at about 7.20am. A stunning location with a canal that ran opposite an estuary with mudflats and a beautiful pub. 

There were a few birders already there and when one of them told us it was showing really well on the floor near the pub we were both relieved and excited. Walking to where the birders were gathered we spotted it there it was our first Wryneck it had only taken us 61 years to see one but it was well worth it "what a bird".

our first wryneck

I started taking pictures and Steve set up his scope to get some video footage.

what a bird

Here's one of Steve's video clips of the Wryneck.

                                            

The bird Started moving around the location but still staying fairly close giving me a good chance of getting photographs of the bird on different perches in between it going to the floor to feed.

Here's another of Steve's excellent video clips.

 After spending some time with the Wryneck we decided to take a look at what else was about.

We saw Little Egrets, loads of Black Headed Gulls, a couple of fly by Curlew and this Black tailed Godwit with the Redshank close by.

black tailed godwit

and another

redshank

At the side of the canal in the reeds we could hear Cettis Warblers calling but no picture I'm afraid.

it's me looking for the cettis

We had come here though to see the Wryneck, here's some of the birders that had made the trip to see it (whose that dodgy looking guy at the back?) also below is another one of Steve's clips, another one of my photographs of this stunning bird and a selfie pic of two very happy birders.

birders photographing the wryneck

two very happy birders

A brilliant morning and an experience that we might never have again so we were both glad we made the effort. A massive thank you to Steve for doing the driving and getting us there top man, it was an excellent trip.