We have had a lovely day here today in East Devon, regardless of not feeling my best because of a recent family circumstance, I went out to Exminster Marsh to look for a good Hen harrier photo opportunity in the good conditions. It was, as I expected a nice walk and I did get a really good look at the Hen Harrier which was sunning it's self on fence posts not too far away out on the marsh.I managed another record shot but still didn't get close enough for anything like a good photograph. But here is one of them which also shows the habitat as well.

A walk down the canal was slightly disappointing, I was hoping for ducks, perhaps mergansers again but not today. I wandered never the less and watched a pair of mute Swans bathing in the fresh water.  It was always going to be hard to get some good shots of a common bird like this but I was quite lucky really and am very pleased with one or two of them.

I was very excited when I reached the motorway bridge area, a Cetti's Warbler sang loudly as they do…….. at last , proof that one at least, had survived the December freeze. In the end I heard it 3 times, could have been different birds, but probably and almost certainly the same individual.

When I got back to the lock and ferry, I had a quick look down on the river to see if I could see anything and to my surprise, this hen Salmon that was sitting in the flow of fresh water spilling out of the canal.  It didn't look the best, and I am guessing it was suffering from something or it wouldn't have been exposing it's self to danger so readily. Never the less it was a good sighting.