Blog

10 June 2025

Aish Torr

Managed to get up to Aish Tor this afternoon after work, the cloud was starting to come in and I was lucky enough to see 3 new species of Butterfly before it got too dark and cold.

Saw quite a few High Browns who I was able to positively ID after seeing their underneath and a single Dark Green Fritillary.

While I was looking, another new one for this year decided to fly to me and land at my feet, a Meadow Brown which was great if not unexpected!

So the total so far is 33, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown, Wall, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Dark green Frit, Duke of Burgundy Frit, Glanville Frit, Heath Frit, High Brown Frit, Marsh Frit, Small Pearl-bordered Frit, Pearl-bordered Frit, Small Copper, Brown Argos, Large and Small Skippers, Ludworth Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small Blue, Holly Blue, Adonis Blue and Comma.

05 June 2025

Swifts, Martins and Swallows around Dawlish.

I have been on several walks around Dawlish and while its great to see about 6 Swifts have nested in the Strand Church and sounds successful as you can hear them from the main street, not one Martin or Swallow seen around town.

You used to see them hawking over the brook but none this year and house Martins were seen nesting in the housing estate by the side of Sainsburys but Ive seen none this year.

Have seen a few down at the Warren and all seen down at Exminster Marshes so they are around just seem to have given Dawlish a miss this year!

23 May 2025

Heath Fritillarys

Unfortunately because of the failure of the heath Frits at Lydford , I had to go a little further to Greenscombe Woods in Cornwall to see them, Luckily they are doing well here.

So the total so far is 30, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Wall, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy Frit, Glanville Frit, Heath Frit, Marsh Frit, Small Pearl-bordered Frit, Pearl-bordered Frit, Small Copper, Brown Argos, Large and Small Skippers, Ludworth Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small Blue, Holly Blue, Adonis Blue and Comma.

20 May 2025

Bindon Hill

Went to Bindon Hill in Dorset today to chase some Skippers, especially the Ludworth. Had a good morning with not only getting the Ludworth but Large and Small Skippers plus the Brown Argos as all new ones with Adonis Blue, Spotted Wood, Small Heath and Wall also seen.

So the total so far is 29, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Wall, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy Frit, Glanville Frit, Marsh Frit, Small Pearl-bordered Frit, Pearl-bordered Frit, Small Copper, Brown Argos, Large and Small Skippers, Ludworth Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small Blue, Holly Blue, Adonis Blue and Comma.

19 May 2025

Aylesbere

Went to Aylesbere today as in the area, not much to see, weather a bit cloudy.

A few Dartfords about but very mobile and no chance of a pic, loads of Stonchats about, giving away their presence by their alarm calls.

Around the ponds, loads of Dragonfly Larva casings, must have been a site to see these all coming out, must of happened over the weekend, just missed them again!

16 May 2025

Chasing Butterflies

Spent time this week at Giants Hill and Compton Down in Dorset as well as Dawlish Warren, Holden, Aish Tor and Dunsford Meadow in Devon.

Found 14 new species for this season, some defiantly earlier than last year but not surprising considering the better weather.

The Glanville for example compared with previous years and dates see the Butterflies quite worn.

New Frits are Glanville, Marsh, Duke of Burgundy and Small Pearl-boarded Fritillary.

Blues are Common, Small, Holly and Adonis Blue.

Two Skippers with Grizzled and Dingy Skippers.

Others were Painted Lady, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak and Wall.

So the total so far is 25, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Wall, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy Frit, Glanville Frit, Marsh Frit, Small Pearl-bordered Frit, Pearl-bordered Frit, Small Copper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small Blue, Holly Blue, Adonis Blue and Comma.

Iam hopeful that the weather will continue to be good, also good to say met lots of nice humans as always out with the Butterflies

11 May 2025

First day of holiday

First day of 2 weeks off and typically the weather doesn't look great for today, not put off I got myself ready and went to my car and very pleased to see 4 Swifts over head, I think they will be passing through, sadly they didn't nest in the usual places as the nest holes boarded up to stop Pigeons using them.

So decided to go up on Dartmoor and didn't stay up there too long due to rain and mist so came back down to Exminster to see if I could see the Lesser Whitethoat, I heard but didn't see it as it was in the midle of the bush.

Did see and hear plenty of other birds on my walk to the Discovery area and back, plenty of Reed, Sedge and Cettis Warblers in full song, Swallows, House and Sand Martins over head and around the pond area on the edge of the Discovery area plenty of Canada Goose and Cygnets plus Lapwing and Chicks, great to see!

A few Butterflies to see, Speckled Wood, Green veined White, Orange Tip and Red Admiral.

06 May 2025

Seaton Wetlands

There had been reports of a pair of Black winged Stilts at Seaton so traveled over hoping that they had stayed which they had and since my visit it has been announced that they have been seen mating, so hopefully they will breed here.

They put on quite a show both being close and far being mobile around the whole site.

They seemed to be in close contact with the Black-tailed Godwits which were also onsite, as well as Oystercatchers, single Dunlin Curlew and Greenshank. Other birds seen were Sand Martins, Blackbird, House Sparrows, Reed Warblers, Cetti Warblers,Robin, Wood and Feral Pigeons, Carrion Crows, Magpie, Moorhen, Shelduck and Mallard.

Saw 3 Raptors, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Buzzard all in flight, around the river there was Black-headed, Herring and both Great and Lesser black Backed Gulls, Cormorant, Little Egret and Mute Swans.

Great to see the Sand Martins in the nest Boxes and Swifts had also been reported using their boxes as well.

Met lots of humans and all seemed happy enough, great day out!

03 May 2025

Cuckoos on Dartmor

There seems to be plenty of Cuckoos on Dartmoor this year.

I haven't been to the circus that is Emsworthy yet but might visit soon.

This bird was further into the moor and heard several more so looks like a good year.

02 May 2025

Whinchats

Went up on Dartmoor today and the Whinchats have finally arrived back on the moor, this is my 3rd visit this year looking for them and they are a bit late compared with previous years.

Good to see them, 3 in total, 2 paired up and a single male.

© Simon Thurgood 2025
Images on this website may not be put as any part of any collection without any prior written permission.