I decided to break my journey to Cornwall by visiting the rspb site at Labrador Bay in Devon, as not only is this just over half way but it is also a good location to spot cirl buntings, which only are found in this part of the UK. It was a twenty minute detour through Teignmouth to get to the car park overlooking the bay which looks spectacular in the sunshine ( though it was damp and cloudy today) and from where you can take a path along the coastal fields where cirl buntings are known to breed.
I couldn't remember what cirl buntings sounded like so I checked my Merlin app and straightaway it came up with cirl buntings. So I knew I must be in the right place!
In the field just below the car park, are a number of bramble bushes scattered amongst the grass and it was from these, that the calls seemed to come, although I couldn't see any birds at first. Then I noticed a silhouette in the distance which turned out to be the bird I sought though it soon flew off.
I waited but could not see any others, I followed the footpath into another field, but I couldn't hear or see any cirl buntings here so decided to return to my original spot and wait. Calls were still coming and I then noticed another bird on a thorny twig but this was different, it looked a juvenile but what sort? I didn't need to wait long before its parent turned up, fed it and flew off again - another cirl bunting , but I was too slow for a photo! I decided to wait and see if the parent returned, it was positioned nicely against the sky so I was hopeful I could get a shot of the parent and juvenile. However, the young bird obviously decided it needed to be less conspicious so hopped down into the brambles. When the parent bird returned they both disappeared into the bush.
However, the parent then reappeared and perched on top of the same bush, and waited almost motionless for what seemed like ages. I was still standing at a distance, possibly camouflaged by the hedge behind me, but decided I may be able to edge closer by sitting down and carefully and slowly sliding down the hill. By doing this, I managed to get up to within a few metres without disturbing it although it did mean I was looking up at it now against the sky and it became slightly obscured by leaves.
Eventually the cirl bunting decided to leave and so did I, as it was time to continue my journey. It had been a nice encounter though.
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