Mediterranean Gull

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon 

I had to drop one of the daughters off to stage school in Exmouth so I had a few hours to kill before needing to pick her up. I had a look off Mudbank Lane and was pleased to get what I hoped for in the form of a Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gull 

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 

Despite having seen 10 species of Butterfly in my garden, I have missed seeing a few species so I popped here. It didn't fail as I spotted White Admiral, Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Skipper, Large Heath, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Common Blue. Dragonfies where great too with Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker, Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Common Darter. 

Large Skipper 

Keeled Skimmer 

Mandarin Duck

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I had a wander around the bridge area mid afternoon and the first bird I heard was a Common Kingfisher and within seconds I had nice views before it Spotted me and flew off down river. Oddly, my first sightings this year. Also around the Bridge were a few Sand Martin and a Little Egret. Near the entrance to the wooded area was a busy Southern Migrant Hawker and in the wooded area were Eurasian Treecreeper and Eurasian Nuthatch.

Gosford Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I moved on to this area and made my way north. Last year I saw Mandarin Duck at this location and after a patient wait they are still there. Also more Sand Martin and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Not a Common sight here. 

Lesser Emperor

Lower Bruckland Ponds, Devon 

I had the day off today as needed an eye test mid morning (ouch, expensive). Afterwards, I decided to visit this long overdue site. All my time in Devon, I've never been here. Wow! what a site I've been missing. The place was alive with Dragonfly and Damselfly.  This was the reason I popped here as there has been a Lesser Emperor hanging about. It took me a while to track it down as there are large numbers Dragonfly to look through but I eventually had decent flight views around the 3rd pond. A lifer Dragonfly for me so I was extremely pleased. I didn't manage a photo though as it wouldn't stay still and kept moving on to the 4th pond and back. 

Other species on site were, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Scarce Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Beautiful Demoiselle. 

I was so engrossed by the Dragonflies that I kept forgetting to look out for anything else. Bird wise seemed rather quite but Butterfly species I did manage to log were, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White and Small White.

Small Skipper 

Common Blue Damselfly 

Golden-ringed Dragonfly 

Emperor Dragonfly (Female)

Sedge Warbler

Seaton Marshes, Devon 

Now that my work loads have calmed down and the Euros are over, I decide I needed to get out. I popped here early evening and was treated to a few year ticks. A few Common Sandpiper and a single Green Sandpiper were seen from the island hide. Both being year ticks (what have I been doing this year?) Below the hide was a Small Tortoiseshell too. Along the path to the tower hide was a Sedge Warbler (also a year tick). Wow, have I been lazy this year. Also a nice Keeled Skimmer. 

Sedge Warbler 

Green Hairstreak

Bystock Pools, Devon 

I decided to give the birds a rest today and focus on other winged critters. I do love Butterflies and Dragonfies so I popped to my best local place in search of some good species. This Small reserve never fails to deliver on both families I was targeting. My Butterfly species seen were, Green Hairstreak, Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Small Heath, Peacock and Common Blue. 

Far more Dragonfly species were on offer with Black-tailed Skimmer, Keeled Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly and Common Darter.

It was also nice to see numerous Common Spotted Orchids in the meadow area. I didn't have one good bird moment with a day churring European Nightjar. I couldn't locate it though. 

White Bridge, Budleigh Salterton

I moved on to the River Otter as I haven't visited here for a while. I managed to add Red Admiral, Large White and Banded Demoiselle to the day list.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Female)

Keeled Skimmer (Male)

Large Red Damselfly (Male)

Black-tailed Skimmer (Female)

Six Spot Burnet

Small Heath

Marbled White 

Large Skipper 

Green Hairstreak 

Beautiful Demoiselle (Male)

Emperor Dragonfly 

Large Red Damselfly (Pair)

Black-tailed Skimmer (Male)

Banded Demoiselle (Male)

Common Spotted Orchid

Large Yellow Underwing in the
garden the other day

Somerset Marshes

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I woke up to this amazing garden tick. A Northern Wheatear on my neighbours roof

Northern Wheatear 

Shapwick, Somerset

Had the day off so had a few hours around the marshes. I was treated to a Great Egret almost straight way on the way to Noah's Lake. At the hide at Noah's lake I just caught sight of the Osprey as it circled over the lake and out of sight. The Black-necked Grebe showed well, if not distantly. 3 Western Marsh Harrier gave pretty good views too. Back at the main path, another 2 Great Egret. 

Great Egret

Black-necked Grebe 

Ham Wall, Somerset 

A quick walk up to the first viewing platform. All rather quite on the birding front with the best bird being a Common Kingfisher at the bridge. On the Dragonfly front there were loads of Southern Hawker plus a nice Migrant Hawker. Disappointingly no Eurasian Bittern seen on either sites.

Nice Clear Water

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
I had to run an errand to my in laws today so I had a cheeky stop off at Bystock pools on the way home.

A pair of Tufted Duck were on the main pool. I've not seen any here for ages and sounds wierd to be pleased to see as I've not seen any since way before lockdown. A pair of European Stonechat were about and a nice Yellowhammer.

A few dragonflies were out too with Common Darter and Large Red Damselfly

I was amazed at how clean the water was in the pool. I could see how deep it actually is and the fish were as clear as day. Perhaps this lockdown has had an effect with less air pollution? Any way, it was nice to visit a familiar site.

Nice clean water

Nice clean water 

Spotted Crake

Greylake, Somerset 

I had a day off so me and Pete went to Somerset for the Spotted Crake. Very soon after arriving at the hide the bird showed extremely well very close to the hide. Rob and Steph Murphy arrived as it was showing and we all got superb views. Also on site was a Great Egret and a Eurasian Hobby was around the car park.

Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Ham Wall, Somerset 

Next stop off to look for the Black-winged Stilt. We made our way to the second viewing platform to stake it out. A Great Egret popped in as did a Western Marsh Harrier. A few Waders kept us entertained with a Green Sandpiper and 2 Ruff. Rob and Steph joined us after a while but relocated to widen the search and up our chances. Unfortunately the bird was nowhere to be seen. 

A Couple Of Bits

Pullabrook Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon
Had a family day out and had a picnic along the river. The only bird of note was a Grey Wagtail. On the Butterfly front was a few Silver-washed Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Red Admiral and Large White. The only Dragonfly seen was an Emperor Dragonfly.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
A walk around late evening produced very little with a Female Northern Wheatear, Female Common Whitethroat and Common Swift being the best on offer. Well done to Matt and Derek for getting a Tawny Pipit this morning.

Bystock Pools Again

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
I had a wander around most of the Reserve today. Not much in the way of birds but some good insects around. Butterflies included, A single (faded and bedraggled) Silver-washed Fritillary, several Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Large White, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Dragonflies on offer were, Migrant Hawker, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Emperor Dragonfly, Southern Hawker, Beautiful Demoiselle and Common Blue Damselfly.

Black-tailed Skimmer 

Painted Lady

Red Admiral 

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Common Darter (Female)

Bystock Dragonflies

Bystock Pools, Exmouth. Devon
A quick look after work produced a few dragonflies with Keeled Skimmer, Southern Hawker, Common Darter and Golden-ringed Dragonfly. A few Common Lizard around and the only Butterfly species was Gatekeeper.

Common Darter

Bee Species 

Golden-ringed Dragonfly 

Bits And Bobs

Dartmoor, Devon
I had a few hours to kill this afternoon so I visited a few sites between Postbridge and Warren House Inn. Nothing special seen with the best bird being a Peregrine Falcon. However, 2 groups of Highland Cow were nice to see.

Highland Cow

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
After Dartmoor I couldn’t resist a quick look around. 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Southern Hawker and Keeled Skimmer. Common Lizard are like buses for me at the moment. My first in ages yesterday and today several seen. I also (surprisingly) saw my first Grayling of the year.

Common Lizard

Grayling

Speckled Wood

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 

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