2020 highlights of a wilder Devon life – part 2

In July I went walking with my son on Dartmoor and he took a rare portrait of me Walking the Hunters’ Path:

David on the Hunters Path - photograph (c) Gabriel Bailey

I’d been busy documenting the local South Devon fields which are due to be ruined for nature and make the local farmer a multi-millionaire by building houses all over it.

It’s a precious habitat, close enough to a large population to give a great deal of pleasure to thousands, as well as providing vital wildlife habitat.

It was summer. The seasons turn, circle by circle. Bud becomes flower becomes fruit, ripening in the long days. When you know it’s summer:

One of the most exciting times of 2020 was finding a Reed Warblers’ nest and placing a remote controlled camera near it. I managed to shoot so much wonderful, intimate, family videos with it I’ll be processing and sharing the rest of it this year.

Aren’t they fabulous? It’s a long journey from Africa to South Devon to breed here.

There was a delightful evening in Teignmouth:

Teignmouth - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I had the closest of close encounters with a Sparrowhawk for over an hour:

Sparrowhawk - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I watched Stonechats at Emsworthy Mire:

Stonechat - Emsworthy Mire - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

And then Meadow Pipits at Emsworthy Mire:

Meadow Pipit - Emsworthy Mire - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

And then I watched their parasites, Cuckoos at, you guessed it, Emsworthy Mire:

Cuckoo - Emsworthy Mire - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Meadow Pipits weren’t impressed by their presence.

There was the joy of finding orchids:

And a return to Challacombe Farm:

It wasn’t despite the lockdown and global pandemic, but because of it, that I managed to have so many wonderful nature experiences in 2020.

I hope to have many more in 2021 and to share them all with you here. Thanks for joining me.

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