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

Caspian Tern And Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
After dipping twice on yesterday’s Caspian Tern, I was determined to get it in the bag today. So after work I headed to the marsh. It was busy to say the least so I ended up parking near the goat walk. Whilst there I had a quick scan and picked up 2 Little Tern heading in the viewing platform direction. Off I went for a look there to find a crowd that were on the bird on the opposite side of the river. Despite the bird having its back to us I was able to obtain really nice views. Whilst there I was informed that a summer plumage Spotted Redshank was showing well from the hide. With little time, I hot footed up there and got nice views of it with some Common Greenshank. Yesterday’s evening outing to the goat walk in search of the Tern gave me 19 Mediterranean Gull.

It has been nice to bump into a few birders over the last few days. Too many to mention but must say a huge well done to Matt Knott who found the bird (his second) well done that man, Mark Bailey has been giving great Twitter updates, Dave Stone for some good banter and my good pal Pete. I have to say thanks to Rob Murphy for constant text updates too. I know he is struggling to get to see it (a lifer bird too) but I hope it works out for him and Steph.

Caspian Tern

Bystock Butterflies Take 2

Bystock Meadow, Exmouth, Devon
I took another look around the meadow area after work. Even more activity today on the Butterfly front. The same species as yesterday and I managed to snap a Painted Lady on today’s visit. I patiently waited for 30 minutes for one of the 2 Silver-washed Fritillary to settle down for a pose but I didn’t get lucky. Ironically, one landed on my arm but as slow as I was raising my other arm to take a photo, it didn’t stick around.

Painted Lady

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 

Little Bustard

Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire 
The lure of the reported Little Bustard was too great to resist. I met up with my mate Pete and we headed off in anticipation. The first report had already come out but with such a bird there aren’t any guarantees. We arrived in good time and followed the onsite instructions. There was a decent ensemble already searching frantically when we got to the viewing area. After around 30 minutes the call was made that it was showing. Directions from the chaps next to me soon got me on to the bird. It only showed very briefly and not long enough for a photo attempt but long enough to get the ID. My mate didn’t get onto it so we stayed a for few hours but it wasn’t prepared to show again. Also on site was a Bar-headed Goose in with the Barnacle Goose

Little Bustard Twitch

Exton, Devon 
After dropping Pete off I had a very quick look off the station platform for this mornings Osprey. Unfortunately, I struck out on that one. The only bird of any interest was a Black Swan.

Black Swan

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
Lastly I took a quick walk along the main pool to the boardwalk pool area. Not too many Butterfly species with Brimstone and Painted Lady but I was pleased with the number of the later. Dragonflies were again few and far between with Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Southern Hawker.

A Garden Visit

Exmouth, Devon
Just had a visit from this little fella.

European Hedgehog 

European Hedgehog 

European Hedgehog 

Lots Of Year Ticks In Somerset

Near Lower Durston, Somerset 
I popped along to a site in Somerset that I know holds Common Nightingale. I wasn’t disappointed as I had good but brief views of one bird. Also on site were a few Common Swift, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker and lots of Song Thrush. Also on the Dragonfly front were good numbers of Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Hodders Combe, Somerset
I have never been to this site but inspired by Dave Stones blog I thought I would give it a try. Within 10 minutes of being on site I was on to a Wood Warbler. I eventually came across 2 birds in total. Also on site was White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper and Eurasian Blackcap. I liked this site and I will visit again soon.

Ham Wall, Somerset 
My last stop off to get a few more year ticks. Great flight views of Eurasian Bittern, 2 Eurasian Hobby, a flyby Common Kingfisher and a very distant Common Cuckoo. Also of note where 4 Great Egret, 2 Western Marsh Harrier, what seemed to be a larger amount of Common Swift, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and Common Reed Bunting.

Little Tern

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had a very quick sea watching session this morning from the raised huts. It was rather slim pickings with a Northern Fulmar and a few Northern Gannet but I was rather pleased with a single Little Tern that flew past heading towards the Warren.

Family Holiday To Marmaris, Turkey

Mamaris, Turkey (27/5/19 - 9/6/19)

I’ve just had a two weeks family holiday in Turkey. Ive been to Turkey 4 times before this trip and although they are family holidays I normally have some good species from a few walks I manage to get in or family trips.

Hotel and surrounding area 

We were based on the outskirts of the town near a forest area. Not too many bird species were seen throughout the holiday in this area but there were some quality ones. There were a few Black-capped Jay (the areas subspecies of Eurasian Jay), a Lesser kestrel was seen almost daily. Red-rumped Swallow, Pallid Swift and lots of Hooded Crow were seen every day around the complex. In the adjacent scrub / woodland edge were Sardinian Warbler and on the second day an ever better Eastern Orphean Warbler. Both species I could watch from my balcony and they showed a few days throughout the stay. There was a daily overhead movement of Yellow-legged Gull (morning and evening). On one of my walks around the area outside the hotel, I was lucky enough to spot an Eleonora’s Falcon which gave a slow and exceptional flyby view. On another walk I spotted a pair of Rock Dove and Alpine Swift. The local farm had Helmeted Guineafowl. Not a native species so I can’t add it to my Turkey list. On the last day from my balcony, I was super chuffed to spot a Syrian Woodpecker. This is a species I’ve been hoping to catch up with every time I’ve visited Turkey. More common species included Common House Martin, Eurasian Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Common Blackbird, Common Swift, White Wagtail, Eurasian Goldfinch, Eurasian Blue Tit, Coal Tit. Great Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Tawny Owl, Eurasian Hobby and Eurasian Magpie. 

On the Butterfly front were a few new ones for me with Knapweed Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, Powdered Brimstone and Eastern Bath White. Also Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large White, Painted Lady, Millet Skipper and Comma. Dragonflies included a few new ones with Odalisque and Black Pennant. Other wildlife included a new lizard for me with Starred Agama. On one night I heard what must have been Wild Hog foraging in the adjacent woods. 

Jeep Safari
One day was spent out on a Jeep safari. The first half was a massive water gun fight which I think I loved more than the kids. We did have a few stop offs. One at a waterfall and the other at Jesus Beach. So named because it’s so shallow you can walk out a long way and at a distance it looks like your walking on water. As ever I always tried to have one eye on the wildlife. The highlights of this tour being a Bonelli’s Eagle and Crested Lark. Other species included Northern Lapwing, Corn Bunting, more Red-rumped Swallow and Hooded Crow, Eurasian Magpie, Black-capped Jay, Common Chaffinch, Common Swift, House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared Dove, Barn Swallow and Common House Martin. Other wildlife included Beautiful Demoiselle and Spur-thighed Tortoise.

On a non bird related subject. I jumped off a Waterfall. Scary as hell as it looks very high when your up there.

Boat Trip
We had another trip on the second week where we set sail on a pirate ship. It was very slim pickings on this trip with the most notable species being Yellow-legged Gull. A few stop offs produced Alpine Swift, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin and House Sparrow.

Airport and Coach transfer 

We arrived in the early hours so I couldn’t spot anything. However on the way home I spotted a few White Storks sat on nests and at the airport I had a surprise Isabelline Wheatear. More Crested Lark, Hooded Crow and Red-rumped Swallow. 

Smyrna Earwig

Starred Agama