Common Lizard

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
A quick look after work from the main pool to the boardwalk pools. A Holly Blue was the best of the Butterflies. Dragonflies included Southern Hawker, Beautiful Demoiselle, Keeled Skimmer, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Common Blue Damselfly and Small Red Damselfly. I pleased to see a Common Lizard. The first I’ve seen there for a while. A nice selection of Bees with Red-tailed Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee.

Common Lizard

Common Darter 

Red-tailed Bumblebee 

White-tailed Bumblebee 

Wood Sandpiper And A Nice Selection Of Waders

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
The Wood Sandpiper was reported late morning so after work I thought I would swing by on my way home. I only had my binoculars but obtained really nice views to the left of the hide with a few Green Sandpiper. On the main spit were a few Eurasian Whimbrel and Common Greenshank. A nice finish to the visit was a Ruff moulting out of summer plumage.

Balearic Shearwater

Exmouth sea front, Devon 
I had I quick look after work and got a dark phase Parasitic Skua. Not much else on offer so I had another go this evening. A number of Sandwich Term about but too distant to see if anything else was in the mix. Best bird by far was a Balearic Shearwater. It was a little way out and I had to battle the on coming wind but just enough to get a positive ID.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
I then saw the report of 2 Wood Sandpiper. So it seemed rude not to have a quick look. No sign of the birds and the best on offer was a sleepy Green Sandpiper.

Black Arches

County Hall, Exeter, Devon 
This cracking Black Arches was stuck on the outside of a lower window all day today at work.

Black Arches

Bystock Meadow, Exmouth
A quick look after work got me a Silver-washed Fritillary, Ringlet, lots of Meadow Brown, a few Gatekeeper and Common Blue. Also a Keeled Skimmer and Common Darter.

Common Blue (Male)

Small White 

Bicton Common Dragonflies And Butterflies

Bicton Common, Devon 
A few quick walks after work today and yesterday produced some Butterflies and Dragonflies. Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Silver- washed Fritillary made up the Butterfly species. Keeled Skimmer and Common Darter made up the Dragonfly species. There were also a few flowers around with Yellow Evening Primrose, Foxglove and Montbretia species.

Common Darter

Painted Lady

Yellow Evening Primrose 

Foxglove 

Montbretia Species

Sea Watching

Berry Head, Devon 
I had the afternoon off so as conditions looked good for a sea watch I gave it as shot. On arrival, I discovered I had missed out on a few Balearic Shearwater and Atlantic Puffin. I only stuck around for around and hour and a half as I had to get back to Exmouth. I did see 2 groups of Manx Shearwater equaling 15 birds. A number of Mediterranean Gull of various ages. Good numbers of Northern Gannet. A few Northern Fulmar, a Tufted Duck and a Great Skua that got a conversation going about South Polar Skua.

Osprey

Exton, Devon 
I had a quick look off the station very early this morning but there was no sign of the Osprey. I had to work from home this afternoon so I quickly swung by and there it was sat on a post. It was very distant and the haze hampered viewing but as always pleasure to see one.

Gatekeeper

Maer, Exmouth, Devon 
The family had some time on the beach and then the Maer. Not much to report but I had my first real opportunity to photograph this Gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper 

European Nightjars And A Pink Grasshopper

East Devon Commons
I took my daughter and nephew to see the local European Nightjars. First of all we had fun exploring for an hour or so and came across a pink Grasshopper. From reading up quickly on this it seems this is an unusual genetic mutation. I think the species is simply a Meadow Grasshopper though. The sun started to set and we were treated to amazing views of several European Nightjar. My nephew was pleased as he has never seen one before.

Dartmoor Pony

Busy explorers

Meadow Grasshopper (pink mutation)

Aylesbeare Dragonflies And Butterflies

Aylesbeare Common, Devon 
A had a quick walk before work down to the ponds. Dragonflies included Keeled Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. Butterflies present were, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Large Skipper and Small Skipper. As I was leaving, a cracking Male Dartford Warbler was seen briefly singing on top of some gorse. Lots of European Stonechat and Common Linnet around too.

Azure Damselfly 

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

Ringlet 

Large Red Damselfly 

Darts Farm Dragonflies And Butterflies

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon
After work I popped here in search of Scarce Chaser. Matt Knott had a few here yesterday. It didn’t take me long to locate a few around the main fishing area. Also on site were Small Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Butterflies present were Comma, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Small White. The only bird of note was a Cetti’s Warbler.

Scarce Chaser (Male)

Otter Dragonflies And Butterflies

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I had a change of scenery today and walked from the white bridge to the Aqueduct. My focus was again on Dragonflies and Butterflies. Dragonflies consisted of good numbers of Banded Demoiselle, a few Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Butterfly species fared better with a Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, a few Ringlet, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Large White and Small White.

Banded Demoiselle (Female)

Banded Demoiselle (Male)

Ringlet

Bystock Dragonflies

Bystock Pool, Exmouth, Devon
Today’s visit was aimed at Dragonflies and Damselflies and it didn’t disappoint. The following species were noted. Southern Hawker, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Common Darter, Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly. I did add another Butterfly to the site species and year list with a lovely Silver-spotted Blue. Site species is now up to 20. I also had 2 Green Hairstreak but the light for the photo was awful as the only angle I could get was looking into the sun. I also made a new friend in a Juvenile European Robin that followed me at close range around the main pool.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly 

Keeled Skimmer (Male)

Four-spotted Chase

Common Blue Damselfly 

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

Beautiful Demoiselle (Female)

Green Hairstreak (Awful light)

Silver-studded Blue

European Robin (Juvenile)

Willow Beauty

Exmouth, Devon
Last night this Moth was in the bedroom. Matt Knott has again helped me on the identity of this species, cheers Matt. The photo is over exposed but it seems to be a Willow Beauty.

Willow Beauty 

Bystock Butterflies Take 6

Bystock Pool Nature Reserve, Exmouth, Devon 
Yet another look after work. You may wonder why I’m not going anywhere else. Well a few reasons really. Last week saw my cam belt go on my car on the A38 and the engine blew. Too expensive to repair, so it’s been written off. A few days later, my wife was involved in a 3 car pile up at the Exton garage on the A376. Again beyond fixing so another right off. So I’m currently borrowing my in laws car, which I don’t want to be driving all over the place. I also wanted to get some time with the Butterflies to get an understanding of their habits etc. Today’s effort added a Small Cooper to the sites species and my year list. Bringing the total species for the site to 19. The only other noteworthy species was a White Admiral. It was far too busy to stop for a photo though!

Bystock Butterflies Take 5

Bystock Pool Nature Reserve, Exmouth, Devon
Yet another look around the Reserve after work. 2 White Admiral but again no photos. 1 Silver-washed Fritillary and Large White. No Green Hairstreak or Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary but plenty of Marbled White and all the commoner Butterfly species I’ve mentioned over the last few posts. A few Dragonflies about the meadow area. Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Keeled Skimmer.

Small Skipper

Common Blue (Female)

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

Keeled Skimmer 

Bystock Butterflies Take 4

Bystock Pool Nature Reserve, Exmouth, Devon
Another look around the Reserve after work added 2 more species that I hadn’t seen yet this year. With a group of stunning Green Hairstreak and a White Admiral. This is the first time I’ve had a real opportunity to photograph Green Hairstreak, so I am very pleased with that. Unfortunately, the White Admiral wouldn’t settle for a portrait. This Reserve seems to be doing remarkably well this year for butterflies. So far I’ve recorded 18 species there in a matter of a few visits.

Green Hairstreak 

Bystock Butterflies Take 3

Bystock Pools Nature Reserve, Exmouth, Devon
Today I took a walk from the main pool, taking in the boardwalk area and continued up to the meadow and back. Not much in the way of birds but again a good variety of insect life. Butterflies noted were Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Small Heath and Meadow Brown. Dragonflies included Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Keeled Skimmer, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly and Beautiful Demoiselle. Also of interest was a Green Tiger Beetle.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Heath

Beautiful Demoiselle (Male)

Green Tiger Beetle