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

Exploring My Surroundings

Cadhay Bridge to Otter Nurseries, Devon
I had more time to check the area out today and rain didnt halter things either. The Common Mergansers were in the same place but the number had increased to 10 (3 males and 7 females). They were joined by a Little Egret. I walked a fair way along the wooden public footpath and whilst I didnt see anything I wouldnt expect to see. It was nice to get a feel for the site. Lots of good habitats that include some great stubble fields that can be viewed easily from the path. I'll be keeping an eye on that area. I'm optimistic that this will prove to be a good site and time will tell I guess.

Common Merganser (males)

Common Merganser (male and females)

It was also nice too a number of Snowdrop dotted around.

Snowdrop

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

Bystock Butterflies

Bystock Meadow, Exmouth, Devon
After work I went in search of Butterflies at my local hot spot. There was quite a lot of activity on offer. The best for me being a single Silver-washed Fritillary. I always enjoy seeing this species as they really stand out. This particular one would not sit still for a picture. I loved seeing several Marbled White that were dotted about. There was a decent number of Painted Lady. There’s been a real influx of these this year that seem to be bolstered by Red Admiral, also present in the meadow edges. A single Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper put in a short appearances. Large Skipper and Common Blue were spotted and good numbers of Meadow Brown. It was a joy to see Common Spotted Orchid in bloom. I’m still learning the ropes with Moths so Matt Knott has bailed me out with the ID of the below and it’s a Straw-barred Pearl

Straw-barred Pearl

Common Blue

Large Skipper

Marbled White

Red Admiral (Underwing)

Red Admiral 

Common Spotted Orchid 

Black-legged Kittiwake and Common Firecrest

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
After work I had a craving to see Black-legged Kittiwake so I popped along the coastal path to view the firing range. There were a nice number of birds returning to the site, which is encouraging. Also a pair of Peregrine Falcon were patrolling the cliffs.

Liverton Copse, Exmouth, Devon 
I moved on to look here for Common Firecrest and after a little search I found 2 birds that showed particularly well. Lots of Primrose about the site too.

A Decent Selecton Of Butterflies And Moths

Bystock Pools, Devon
I took a look around the whole reserve late afternoon. The meadow area was full of Butterflies including loads of Meadow Brown, several Large Skipper and Marbled White but best of all a White Admiral. Elsewhere on the reserve were a few Blue-studded Blue. Moth wise there were Common Grass Veneer, Six Spot Burnet, Cinnabar, Common Wave, Marbled White Spot, one I haven’t yet managed to ID (UPDATE thanks Matt for the ID of Straw-barred Pearl) and another that is one of 3 possible species Syncopacma larseniella, S. taeniolella or S. cinctella and apparently the only way to tell is dissect under a microscope.

Large Skipper  

Marbled White 

Silver-studded Blue 

Silver-studded Blue

White Admiral  

Common Wave

Marbled White Spot 

Six Spot Burnet

Cinnabar

Straw-barred Pearl

1 of 3 species (Syncopacma larseniella, S. taeniolella or S. cinctella)

Common Green Grasshopper

Byron Way, Exmouth
I haven’t cut my lawn for a while and I have Common Selfheal flowers. It’s a shame to mow them.

Common Selfheal

More Winged Critters

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 

I thought I would have a look after work for some Butterflies but it was rather quiet apart from Meadow Brown and Large White. However a Common Whitethroat that was gathering food kept me entertained for a while. Followed by a very close Kit European Rabbit that duly done a runner when it clocked me.

Common Whitethroat   

 Common Whitethroat  

Kit Rabbit  

I’m off mate!   

Japanese Bindweed  

Pink Sorrel  

Spear Thistle 

Bystock Pools, Devon 

I then took a walk from the pool end of the reserve to the boardwalk. It was quiet on the bird front but a Eurasian Jay brightened things up. The task today was Dragonflies and Butterflies and it didn’t disappoint. Lots of Common Blue Damselfly and Small Red Damselfly around the pool with a Four Spot Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly. Along the path to the boardwalk were a good number of Beautiful Demoiselle, a few Keeled Skimmer and Black-tailed Skimmer. The Butterflies were quiet with only Large Skipper noted.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Male) 

Beautiful Demoiselle (Female) 

Small Red Damselfly (Male)

Keeled Skimmer 

Black-tailed Skimmer (Female)

Large Skipper