New Year rainbows, soggy walks. and counting birds.

I am feeling a little “under the weather” so I’m not getting much gardening done. According to the RSPB this is the best time to cut back trees or trim hedges before the mating season, which tends to start in February, so I really am eager to start. After such a turbulent start to the New Year, you’d think the birds would be quite wet enough  but this week both the male and female Blackbirds were splish-splashing in the tinfoil bath in the back garden and today a Starling was going at it like a jet skier in a water filled planter in the front garden. So by the look of it the birds  are already beginning to rouse themselves. There is a little more action also on our bird feeder and on the hedgerows and field nearby. Spotted two Buzzards today, the Starlings were enjoying the stubble on the field earlier in December and this week they have been gathering in quantity on the telephone wires  beside the A39. Last week, after the storm, we took a soggy walk on a debris strewn beach at Instow on the Torridge Estuary then moved on to a seemingly tranquil Fremington Quay where a small cluster of seabirds, an Egret and one lone Curlew were quietly drilling down in the mud. We returned via Bideford and spotted a Murmuration swooping and swirling above Bideford Long Bridge. As light was fading we parked awhile on Brunswick Wharf to enjoy the spectacle. Meanwhile back in my garden the Chaffinch, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Sparrows are constant visitors, Mr. Robin is already stating his claim with an occasional song, and the Blue Tits continue to sneak nuts out from under the beaks of our resident Doves which plonk themselves on the feeder. Rainy days have been lit up by rainbows after some short bursts of sunshine. The only down side to this perfect little scenario is a local ginger cat that languishes below the feeder and waits.... What’s the betting that all this action disappears when it’s time for the Big Garden Birdwatch which this year is over the weekend of 25^th and 26th January

A little under the weather and ragged round the edges, just like me

The first rainbow of 2014

Lone Curlew off Fremington Quay

Count the wildlife that's counting on you. Bird populations are a great indicator of the health of the countryside. That's why it's so important to take part in surveys like the Big Garden Birdwatch to keep an eye on the ups and downs of the wildlife where we live.  All you need to do is spend an hour over the weekend of 25-26 January counting the birds in your garden. It's that simple! The more people involved, the more we can learn. So, grab a cuppa and together we can all help to give nature a home. For more info and to register, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Click here for Big Garden Birdwatch 2014 Results

• Explore Instow with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour
• Explore Fremington Quay with the North Devon Picture Tour
• Explore Bideford with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour

Artist finds his muse in former clay quarry

A Westcountry artist has been appointed to the position of 'Artist in Residence' at one of the region's largest nature reserves. Peter Baker moved to the north Devon village of Meeth just two years ago. As a life-long artist, Peter soon found himself searching for a new local muse - to act as a focus for his painting and artistic expression. So when Devon Wildlife Trust bought the 150 hectares of Meeth Quarry in 2012, opening the site as a nature reserve in May 2013, he was delighted to find that this inspiration actually existed right at the bottom of his garden. Devon Wildlife Trust's work over the past year improving the former clay quarry (production ended in 2004) as a place for people and wildlife has provided Peter with a focus for his art. The tracks, paths, woodlands and lakes of the new nature reserve have given Peter a huge new outdoor studio. The nature reserve is now providing the stimulus for a series of works in pen and ink and some watercolour studies. Peter's approach means he often spends hours each day exploring and sketching the reserve. He spoke of his fascination for Meeth Quarry: "'When I moved to the lovely village of Meeth I had no idea that my wife and I were going to be living next to the Tarka Trail and the new Meeth Quarry nature reserve. Peter continued: "The 'mood' of the reserve changes with the weather and the season giving endless inspiration to any painter. Being a marine artist I have had to change my style and method of working, you don't find many trees growing on beaches, but I find this unique challenge exciting and I am looking at nature with young eyes. I hope that my recent artwork will illustrate my curiosity and pure pleasure in depicting my new surroundings." Meeth Quarry is one of 48 nature reserves owned by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust. Tamasine Addie, Community Outreach Officer for the Trust's Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area project, said: "Peter's work is wonderful. It beautifully captures the spirit and wild atmosphere of Meeth Quarry nature reserve. It's just the kind of connection we hoped people in the local community would make with this place. Peter's art may be one man's vision of the reserve, however it's a vision that he very much wants to share. We think his work will really help people see the landscape at Meeth Quarry and appreciate it in a different way. It may even encourage people's own artistic responses to this wonderful place." Tamasine continued: "Peter is working on the first of what we hope will be a series of paintings and studies that showcase elements of the nature reserve in a new light. When complete, we plan to make these accessible with, perhaps, a local show of work or may be even on the nature reserve itself." At the moment you can see a selection of Peter Baker's pen and wash depictions of Meeth nature reserve at the Society of Graphic Fine Art's website www.sgfa.org.uk or see them at the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area website, www.northerndevonnia.org where you can also find out more about the NIA project and its links with local communities. 

'Meeth Quarry Works' - (Image copyright Peter Baker , all rights reserved)

'Autumn' -  (Image copyright Peter Baker , all rights reserved)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Hi there, I would just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and would also like to thank you all for visiting and supporting the North Devon Focus Coast and Country Chronicle site this year. I do hope you have enjoyed the news, photographs and posts. I love North Devon, it's events, towns and villages and of course the wonderful local flora and fauna. I hope my photographs capture the beauty and diversity of the area throughout the seasons. After promoting North Devon in one way or another for nearly thirty years, I now just take photographs and blog for fun but no matter what time of year, whatever the weather there is always something to see and enjoy in the Bideford Bay Area. The last of the Christmas Fairs, Markets and Fun Days are on Saturday 21st December. Be sure not to miss the last day of Bideford Winter Fairs, Saturday 21st Dec from 10.00am at the historic Pannier Market.There will be lots of family friendly fun including some festive antics from the 'Entertainingly Different' gang. There is also a Farmers' Market at Jubilee Square, Bideford from 9-1am and of course The Big Sheep at Abbotsham are also holding the last of their Christmas Farmers Markets. Just a reminder that the last Quince Honey Farm Christmas Fun Day in South Molton is also on the 21st. Click here for Local Church Services and Events

North Devon Focus Picture Tour 

Promoting the Coast and "Country" Side of Bideford Bay since 2002
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