What to see in February!

February can be bitter but it is also a month which is special because of the clarity of air on those few days on which we experience high atmospheric pressure. Early morning and late afternoon on such days are often quite windless with flat calm water over the estuary. That, when it combines with bright sunshine and some pure white wispy clouds make for incredible fairyland landscapes. I am a keen photographer and many of my best landscapes were taken this month. Try a visit to Topsham or Exminster Marshes and explore the river upstream towards Countess Weir and the Riverside Country Park. This area is great for birds you don't see further down river such as Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler and Water Rail. Goat walk at Topsham is a great place for sunsets on crisp winter evenings.

Fossil hunting at Charmouth and all along this part of the Jurassic coast is great at this time, particularly after prolonged and heavy rain which washes the fossils from the soft muddy cliff. Ammonites and Belemnites are by far the most common fossils found but you never know what you may find. Giant Plesiosaurs and Ichthyosaurs are sometimes unearthed and a friend of mine discovered a new species of ancient Crocodile very recently.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN FEBRUARY

* Winter birds on the estuary will be at their maximum numbers 30,000+.

* Expect special birds such as Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Horned and Black-necked Grebes, Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks on the estuary and off shore.

* A walk at Exminster Marshes can be very good at this time, look out for Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier. Avocets at Turf just after high tide.

* Fossil hunting at Charmouth can be great especially after heavy and prolonged rain. Extreme caution should be taken when walking near sea cliffs!!!

* For the botanist the first flowers of spring will be peeking out along the estuary and Jurassic coast. Scurvy Grass and Whitlow Grass are just two examples, they are small but still worth finding.

Rod Lawrence