Budleigh Salterton is somewhere I always visit when down in Devon. I used to have family that lived in the area and, in fact, my first memorable wildlife encounter was here.
I must have been eight (or younger) and we went for a walk around the salt marshes that lie just a stones throw from the beach. Not far into our stroll a brazen robin jumped out of the hedgerow beside the footpath, danced around my feet, completely encircling my family before flying back into the hedge. It must have lasted less than ten seconds but it is a memory that has stuck with me all this time.
The salt marshes are part of the tidal estuary of the River Otter.
Reeds provide the perfect sanctuary for warblers and waders.
Lapwings ooze charisma! They are amongst the most beautiful birds we have here in Britain, but they always seem so far away from my camera.
A little egret was playing hide and seek.
Near the estuary’s mouth the bushes were rustling ever so slightly, immediately I reached for my camera and managed to catch a quick shot of a female stonechat (a first for me).
Walking along the pebble beach and listening to the waves was just what Chris and I came to Devon for.
Checking the beach for pretty shells is a must. Budleigh delivered a lot more than just shells…
Is this a dragon skull? Because I watch Game of Thrones and this looks a lot like a dragon skull. Can someone definitively tell me that this isn’t a dragon skull? Yeah, didn’t think so.
Animal Sam 