Blog

31 August 2026

Birds update

Not really been out this last month much but have seen a couple of new birds for the list while out in the car, sadly no pics, Osprey while driving past Powderham and a Peregrine Falcon while I was driving on the A38 which brings the total to 117

31 August 2026

Mammals count for June, July and August

Spent a lot of time on the roads this last few months especially in August with my Grandkids and work so seen quite a bit sadly a lot of road kill.

Lets do the negative stuff first, 2 Roe and 1 Fallow Deer dead, 1 Fox, 15 Rabbits, many of these were young and very small, 1 Hare, sadly 4 Hedgehog ( not seen a live one this year). 10 Grey Squirrels and 1 Rat.

On the live front 5 Fallow,3 Roe and 1 Red Deer,7 Rabbits, 3 Hare, so many Grey Squirrel I lost count, 2 mice sp and possibly best of all 3 Stoats ran in front of me crossing the road, thankfully I didn't hit them!

08 August 2026

River Exe

Spent this morning looking around the Exe, stopping by the River Kenn and the outflow, parking at Powderham church before walking up to Turf and back.

On the River Kenn by the road in the reeds Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff busy after flies etc and on the river itself Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Little Egret, Grey Heron, mallard and Teal.

On the River Exe the tide was on the turn and starting to come in again and on the shoreline plenty of Gulls mainly Black-headed, also Oystercatchers, Red and Greenshanks, a couple of Godwits and Curlews further up, surprisingly no Mute swans seen?

Parked up at Powderham Church car park, Plenty of House Martins hawking over the trees, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Jackdaws, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird and Chaffinch.

Along the walk along the River Exe, plenty of Gulls, more Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls in this section,several Grey Herons, Carrion Crows and Swallows over the fields, small flock of Linnets around the bushes, on the river small flock of Ringed Plover with the odd Dunlin, Little Egrets dotted along the shore line all the way up to turf, Shelduck, Mallard with a large flock of Curlew on the mud further up past Turf.

Around Turf flock of House Sparrows and Starlings and that was about it!

Lots of nice humans all behaving themselves!

07 August 2026

Final chase for 26

Went up to Dorset to try and catch the last of the seasons Butterflies and managed another 2 new ones for the year, Chalk hill Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper.

The Chalk hill was seen at the High Angle Battery on Portland, just managed a shot as all I saw where very mobile. The Silver-spotted was seen on the side of Fontwell down, in fact I saw 3 but couldnt get a pic, the hill was dry and brown, suprised to see anything here but loads, Adonis and Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, painted Lady and a couple of Clouded Yellow.

So the total is 45 and the list goes

The list goes-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Marbled White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Wall, Speckled Wood, Dark Green Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Silver Washed Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Greyling, Comma, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Chalk hill Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Holy Blue.

© Simon Thurgood 2026
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