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David

Devon, February 2022: scorpion vetch

Devon, February 2022: scorpion vetch

Shrubby scorpion-vetch (Coronilla valentina) flowering in the middle of last month. A small shrub was one of the plants growing on the stabilised sand dunes to the landward side of Marine Drive, Exmouth.

Devon, February 2022: scorpion vetch

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David

Devon, February 2022: blackbirds

Devon, February 2022: blackbirds

The bird on the ground is another example of birdwatching in comfort. It landed right in front of me while I was sitting at one of the picnic tables of the Bridge at Topsham and drinking a beer. The other was a few minutes walk distant, in one of the bushes in the lane by the RSPB Bowling Green Marsh reserve.

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David

Devon, February 2022: heather

Devon, February 2022: heather

Heathers flowering. Plants with purple and white flowers were directly next to one another on a roadside bank.

Devon, February 2022: heather

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David

Devon, February 2022: merganser

Devon, February 2022: merganser

Every day around high tide, a merganser drake would swim up and down the same short stretch of the River Exe directly in front of the Quay at Topsham, frequently diving for fish.

It was evidently a productive spot. On some days he was fishing alongside one or two cormorants.

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David

Devon, February 2022: whitlowgrass

Devon, February 2022: whitlowgrass

Common whitlowgrass (Draba verna) forming a small patch of vegetable carpet as it flowers. Presumably it used to be thought, for some reason, that it had a use in curing the finger infection.

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David

Devon, February 2022: jackdaws

Devon, February 2022: jackdaws

A pair of jackdaws on a TV aerial. This pair were keeping an eye on gardens overlooking the River Exe at Topsham, while grooming their feathers.

Devon, February 2022: jackdaws