Cirl Bunting

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon 

I've not been able to birdwatch for nearly 2 weeks due to contracting Covid. Despite being double vaccinated, it was still not a pleasant experience. Today was the day of my freedom after isolation and after obtaining a negative test I was keen to get out. 

I decided to keep it simple and go somewhere very quite so I popped to Stantywell Farm. I gave the sea an optimistic look which drew a complete blank but I was entertained by a cracking Male Cirl Bunting along the footpath from the sewage works to the coastal path. Also in the fields was a nice Brown Hare. 

Not a trip for quantity but it didn't matter as it was so nice to get back out into the field and in the fresh air. 

I also had this cracking Silver Y moth in my garden the other day. 

Silver Y

Cinnabar Moth

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

No birdwatching today due to family commitments but had this lovely Cinnabar Moth in the garden today.

Cinnabar Moth

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 

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

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 

A Dreadful Day

Byron Way, Exmouth, Devon
No birding done today as I worked from home and I couldn’t drag myself out in the dreadful conditions. The most action I saw today was this Feathered Thorn Moth in my house. Thank to Matt Knott for the ID help.

Feathered Thorn

Not Too Shabby

Berry Head, Brixham, Torbay
I had a day off today so I thought I would visit Berry Head for a change of scenery. Porthgwarra (as always) stole the limelight but a sea watch from the headland produced Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater (looks like another one went through after I left), Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Kestrel and Common Whitethroat. However that action was overshadowed by the amount of Short-beaked Common Dolphins in the area.Several Pods were seen and some at rather close range. The largest pod contained around 40 individuals. I would guess (as some pods were probably already seen) around 70 individuals in total. I decided on the headland (rather than the sea watching site) to open up Butterfly options. It paid off as there were Wall, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue on offer.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin  

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Short-beaked Common Dolphin   

Wall

Red Admiral   

Speckled Wood    

Northern Fulmar  

Chudliegh Knighton Heath, Devon 
I had a quick stop off here on route to my next venue. Strangely I’ve never visited this reserve but I enjoyed the pools (that are very quick to get to). Dragonflies on offer here were, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. I was gutted that the later wouldn’t sit still for a portrait! The best bird on offer was a solitary Male and a few female Yellowhammer. 

Small Red Damselfly  

Yarner Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon
I done a walk from the car park up to the top hide area. Birds here were, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bullfinch (Male) and Grey Wagtail. 

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I finished off with a quick stroll around the point. Not much action apart from a Male Peregrine Falcon that drifted along the coastal path. I came across a micro Moth which I at present have got no idea on the identification. 

Peregrine Falcon (Male)

Unidentified micro Moth

Another Walk Around Bystock

Exton Station, Devon 
I decided to check the Estuary before work in the hope of seeing the Osprey. No luck and not much to report but I was pleased to find this Jersey Tiger Moth in the bushes by the entrance gate to the platform.

Jersey Tiger Moth    

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
I managed a walk around the main pool to the boardwalk after work. The aim was Dragonflies and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Around the main pool were a few Sourhern Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. On the walk to the boardwalk ponds were a few Beautiful Demoiselle, Keeled Skimmer, Red-eyed Damselfly and a Holly Blue. Surprisingly there wasn’t anything around the ponds!

Holly Blue  

Azure Damselfly 

Red-eyed Damselfly (Female Black form)

Dragonflies, Butterflies And Some Birds Too

Aylesbeare Common, Devon 
I has a walk around Aylesbeare Reserve after work for a change of scenery. It was nice to see a stunning Male Yellowhammer as I haven’t been to the right places to see one for a few months. A few Common Linnet, Willow Warbler, European Green Woodpecker and Coal Tit. Plenty of Dragonfly species and a variety of Butterflies. 1 Southern Hawker, several Keeled Skimmer, a rather bedraggled looking Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Emperor Dragonfly, double figures of Common Blue Damselfly and a handful of Blue-tailed Damselfly provided the Dragonfly action. The Butterfly entertainment came from good numbers of Greyling, 4 Holly Blue, lots Small White and Large White, many Large Skipper and a few Small Skipper, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Dark-green Fritillary, 1 Red Admiral, a couple of Speckled Wood and plenty of Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. A few Silver Y moths made up the supporting act.

Common Blue Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser  

Emperor Dragonfly  

Keeled Skimmer (Male)

Southern Hawker   

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

 Greyling 

Cornflower 

A Productive Lunchbreak

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
A very quick lunchtime look around was mega productive for Butterflies and other critters. The following Butterflies species were seen, Silver-studded Blue, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Comma, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary. Dragonflies included an Emperor Dragonfly, a Male and Female Keeled Skimmer. On the Moth front were good numbers of Silver Y, Six-spot Burnet, Common Grass Veneer and a new one for me in the form of a Common Purple and Gold.

Common Blue (Female)

Holly Blue

Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Gatekeeper

Silver-washed Fritillary

White Admiral

Common Purple and Gold

Six-spot Burnet

Silver Y

Mottled Grasshopper

Field Grasshopper

White-tailed Bumblebee

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

Crocosmia