Lopwell Dam on the River Tavy - Devon

[Stomperone]

If you are anything like me you are always on the lookout for new places to visit to see what birds you can spot. I would like to recommend Lopwell Dam in Devon
I have been there a few times as it is very close to my home.

I went there on Thursday and was spoilt for things to watch.. I stayed there for 3 hours in that time I saw 3 kingfishers or it may have been the same one 3 times I didnt get time to ask it I even managed to accidently catch it on video diving into the river (not bbc standard just a blue blur and splash in the background) I was actually trying to film an Egret at the time and it wasnt until i got home and started editting the video that I spotted it .. Also egrets, a heron, grey wagtails, wagtails,robin wren, blackbirds,buzzards, cormorant (I watched it catch and eat a small salmon), several normal river birds moorhen ducks of several types and a coot. I will post the video I made of my time there and add a link in here later if anyone would like to see it. It is a very beautiful spot and well worth a visit.

Well not only was the bird life great but I also witnessed Salmon trying to jump the weir for the first time in my life. There were some big fish jumping up that weir (must be the few that John west missed)..

To top it all on my way home I was driving along the narrow lanes and a fox ran into the road about 50yards in front of me I managed to stop and get a couple of pictures through the windscreen.. Then Blow me furhter along the lanes nearer home I looked into a gateway and there was a Deer in the field I managed to get a couple of pictures of it running away just to prove I saw it...

It was a great few hours well spent.. The area is a convservation area run by South West Lakes and there are lovely walks through woods.. The only thing you need to remember is that the crossing is tidal and if the tide comes in and you are on the other side it is either a very long walk around or a 2hr wait for the tide to go out far enough.

[Stomperone]

Well I have shrunk the video from over 1gig down to 23mb sorry but I couldnt do it smaller without making it un watchable .. If you have set up windows media player correctly it should automatically stream to you .. If you haven't then its a 23mb download .. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed being there.

If you know what the bird is after the wagtail please could you let me know.

Three Hours at Lopwell Dam - Video 23mb

[aeshna5]

The bird after the Grey Wagtail is a Little Grebe, also known as a Dabchick, our smallest true waterbird.

[Wild-Woman]

Great footage of a spell of time you obviously enjoyed very much. Thank you for sharing it with us.
The Grey Wagtail was very obliging! Smashing little bird.

[Stomperone]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The bird after the Grey Wagtail is a Little Grebe, also known as a Dabchick, our smallest true waterbird.

Thank you.. It is little isn't it. there were several of these there but they were quite a way off, too far to film or photograph with the lenses i had.