A full-day visit to Challacombe Farm

The weather was cloudy with a cool breeze when 19 of us met in the car park. A redstart was singing from a high perch and a cuckoo flew over – a lovely start to the day.

We were joined by Mark Owen who runs the farm with his wife Naomi, and Nik Ward (Devon Birds Ringing Officer). Mark explained how they farm organically for the benefit of wildlife, landscape and archaeology with the sheep and cattle being key to maintaining the diverse range of habitats across the approx. 1 square mile holding. Their sheep (mostly Icelandic x Shetland) and cattle (mainly Welsh Black) are entirely ‘grass fed’ so they mature more slowly and produce a richer flavour meat, which they sell direct through their website http://www.dartmoorfarm.com/ and through ‘Good Food Exeter’ – a virtual farmers’ market. Care of their animals is very important to them and they were the first upland farm to be accredited as ‘Animal Welfare Approved by the Greener World Organisation’.

As we prepared to set off on our walk Nik drew our attention to a grey wagtail, followed immediately by a pied wagtail. He told us that the swallows and house martins which we saw circling around the farm buildings were over four weeks later breeding this year, mainly caused by the extremes in weather. Our walk took us firstly to the more open part of the farm and then lower down into the river valley where there is a pond and wetter areas being improved for wildlife, with marsh fritillary butterflies particularly in mind. Mark told us there are ten farms in the area taking part in the scheme to join up different habitats for wildlife.

Whilst we were enjoying their species-rich hay meadow a tree pipit was singing and eventually seen. We then walked along the road below the farm and were lucky to see two redpoll flying over plus three cuckoos and three buzzards. A garden warbler was singing but unfortunately didn’t show itself. In the roadside fields we saw many heath spotted orchids, bogbean and a beautiful marsh fritillary butterfly. Nearer the farm Nik pointed out siskins high up in the conifers. We were all thrilled to see the masses of bluebells flowering on the hillsides which were at their absolute best. As we were about to leave the road on our way back to the farm a very smart male wheatear gave us excellent views.

Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated somewhat after lunch with a fine drizzle drifting in. Undeterred most of us joined Mark in an afternoon walk which took us by the Golden Dagger ruin with other reminders of the mining past in the area. On the way we saw a song thrush (one of many seen during the day), stonechat, chiffchaff, willow warbler and a blackcap. Our bird count for the day was 38 species.

This was a most enjoyable and informative day. Our thanks go to Mark for leading us around such a lovely environmentally-friendly farm and to Nik for sharing his knowledge of the birds in the area. Lastly thanks also to Richard for organising the trip.

Audrey Wolstenholme

38 species recorded (H = heard only): Mallard; Cuckoo; Woodpigeon; Herring Gull; Buzzard; Green Woodpecker; Jay; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Skylark; Swallow; House Martin; Long-tailed Tit; Willow Warbler; Chiffchaff; Blackcap; Garden Warbler (H); Wren; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Robin; Redstart; Stonechat; Wheatear; House Sparrow; Grey Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; Tree Pipit; Chaffinch; Linnet; Lesser Redpoll; Goldfinch; Siskin; Reed Bunting.