Blog

25 April 2023

Orchids

While at Meeth Quarry today looking for Butterflies found my first Orchids of the year, an Early Purple Orchid well several of them next to a ditch.

A real joy to see

25 April 2023

Chasing Butterflies

It continues to be a struggle to find any Butterflies, since last posting visited Aish Tor, Holden, Dawlish Warren and Meeth Quarry and a Green-veined White makes it 7 species- Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Brimstone and Small Tortishell.

25 April 2023

Grasshopper Warblers

Had an excellent session with these birds this morning, it's a site I have been visiting for a few years now and they seem as strong as ever at this site.

I arrived at 8am which was a bit later than I wanted but could hear one bird "Reeling" as soon as I got out of the car. Two birds where quite showy and heard at least three other birds, by 9.30am the calling had stopped and it was all quiet.

23 April 2023

Dartmoor

Had a great morning on Dartmoor, plenty of Bird Song and lots to see, sadly a lot was at a distance such as the Redstarts both at Challacombe and Soussons so no pictures.

Blackbirds, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Skylark, Meadow Pipits, Wheatears, Whinchat, Stonechat, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Great and Blue Tits, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Swallows, Linnet, Carrion Crow, Raven, Jackdaws, Magpies, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove and a few Buzzard loafing about.

Typically it being a Sunday plenty of Humans about, lot of kids practising for the Ten Tors, Cyclists, on Horses and the odd idiot in a car!

21 April 2023

Whinchats

Great to see Whinchats back on Dartmoor, almost to the same day as last year. As this is there nest area not going to say exactly where as I dont know who is reading this!

Very enjoyable to sit down with my flask watching these birds fly around me. Also saw some Wheatears and Stonechats, both looked like they had paired up.

A couple seen and could have been more further up the Moor.

18 April 2023

Chasing Butterflies

Its continues to be a very slow start, spent a lot of time around areas that normally give me some early Butterflies but very thin on the ground this year. On this date last year I had made 12 species of Butterfly.

Did manage to see some fresh Orange Tip at both Powderham and Exminster Marshes which making it 6 species- Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Orange Tip, Brimstone and Small Tortishell.

14 April 2023

Around the beaches

The joy of the evenings getting lighter and my work finishing at 4pm means I can go walking along the beaches and do some beachcombing. Spent some time around Langstone Rock, Coryton Cove and Boat Cove.

There was some waves coming in and the weather hadn't been that great, I was expecting a lot of debris especially plastic to be washed up, so took a few bags with me to pick it but to my welcome surprise, very little!

There was though a lot of plant matter from Seaweed to bits of Trees washed up on all beaches. Plenty of Whelk Eggs as well, as normal around Langstone had the best collection of shells with all the normal ones I find.

Coryton and Boat Cove had a few Cuttlefish and Crab remains, there was also a few remains of Gulls washed up close to Langstone Rock, probably pushed there by Long-shore Drift, there wasn't a lot left of them, Avian Flu? They looked like young birds so who knows?

Looking forward to getting out more in the evenings and taking advantage of my 4pm finishes!

07 April 2023

Out and about

Spent today looking for new species of Butterfly to add to the list, mainly Whites but although I did see Some Butterflies no new ones. I was looking along the back path at Exminster Marshes, Powderham Marshes and around the ponds at Dawlish Warren.

Did see some Common Lizard, Plenty of Bumble Bees, Hoverflies and some large Beetle flying. The flowers are starting to bloom and at Dawlish Warren the Sand Crocus was out which has nice to see.

Plenty of birds about, especially good to hear several Reed Warblers as well as Chiffchaff, Cettis Warbler and Willow Warblers, also Blackcap, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, Cirl Bunting and Reed Bunting all seen.

A few ducks as numbers are well down with Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Shelduck, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen.

Magpie, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Lapwing seen chasing any danger away such as Crows and the odd Buzzard that flew over, also saw a few Kestrel which was good to see.

So plenty seen but sadly few butterflies.

06 April 2023

Sad Find

Sadly while doing some beach combing on Coryton Cove beach this evening I found a dead Hedgehog.

They do forage on beaches but access to this beach would be difficult, so most probably washed in on the high tide.

I know over the years several have been washed up on Dawlish Warren beach just up the road and the thought is they have been washed down the Exe and with all the rain lately this is probably what has happened to this poor fella.

It would be great to see a live one some day!

04 April 2023

Chasing Butterflies

It's been a bit of a slow start due to all the wet weather but managed to get a fresh Speckled Wood today at Powderham Marshes making it 5 species- Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone and Small Tortishell.

04 April 2023

Fallow Deer Stags

While driving back home from Dartmoor I took a diversion through the countryside and ahead of me I saw a group of Fallow Deer cross the road and into a Corn field, I managed to stop and take some pictures, they could hear the camera but although they could see the car, they couldn't see me.

They were 7 Fallow Deer Stags, magnificent sight as they just walked off, felt very privileged to see these out in the wild!

04 April 2023

Dartmoor

Went up on Dartmoor today and it was a joy to have a day off in the sun instead of raining!

First stop was Yarner and speaking to some birders on my entry, a Pied Flycatcher and Redstart had been seen but I unfortunately didn't see ether although I thought I heard the Pied Flycatcher but don't quote me!

I also heard all three Woodpeckers but didn't see any of them and that was the theme of the walk around Yarner, heard lots but didn't see a lot. The feeders are no longer in use which is normal for the summer at Yarner but still managed to see Great, Coal, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, single Siskin, Robin and Dunnock, fly over Raven and that was it.

The Wood Ants are in full worker mode, several Bumble Bees, Hoverflies and Brimstone Butterflies flying around.

I think I actually saw more humans than birds at Yarner!

Then did a circular drive around Dartmoor visiting many of the usual places, plenty of Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Raven, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Stonechat, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Buzzard and Kestrel.

It being a nice day and the Easter Holidays plenty of people on the moor which brings out the useless drivers who shouldn't be anywhere near the moor!!

© Simon Thurgood 2024
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