White faced Whistling duck-Dendrocygna viduata,

[Chocky]

Here is a beautiful Whistling duck . It comes from South America and Africa south of the Sahara

[Merlin]

So where have you been today Beryl?

Pete.

[Chocky]

Dawlish . There is a brook in the middle of the main road , a flood relief brook that runs into the see and as it is fairly close the the Exe Estuary all sorts of bird stop off and quite a few stay

[Merlin]

Interesting you should reply 'Dawlish' Beryl. Its years ago (probably 30+) we visited here on a holiday in Devon and I distinctly remember the stream you mention which runs down the middle of the road. For all these years I had no idea it served the useful purpose of a flood relief, thinking it was simply an 'ornamental' feature, and a good one at that......learn something every day don't you.

Thanks for that Beryl.


Pete.

[Chocky]

It is actually a natural rivulet, it was reconstructed in the early 19th century to reduce the possibility of flooding and to provide some control by the introduction of small weirs. Running though the town, it is bridged at several places to provide pedestrian and vehicle crossing. It is home to many waterfowl, including the famous Black Swan, and to fish such as Trout.