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)

Purple Hairstreak

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon 

A great evening spent on site today. 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Male Ruff, Water Rail, several Mediterranean Gull from the island hide. Best of all though we're 2 Purple Hairstreaks in oak trees near the tower hide. Thank to Steve Waite for the heads up.

Little Ringed Plovers

Mediterranean Gull

Ruff (Male)

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

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

Common Firecrest

Axe Undercluffs, Seaton, Devon 

I popped here today for a quick loon for Butterflies. A few Wood White on offer but none wanted their picture taken. But a Common Blue was obliging.

Common Blue (Male)

Undisclosed Site, Near Exmouth, Devon 

I wanted to visit a few of my old haunts in the Exmouth area. I won't say where I saw these as they maybe in a breeding location but at least 2 Common Firecrest were rather showy. So close in fact, I couldn't phone scope a picture so I could only take heavily zoomed phone picture. Not the greatest but you get the jist.

Common Firecrest 

Common Firecrest

Common Firecrest

Common Firecrest 

River Warbler

Ham Wall, Somerset 

The lure of this amazing lifer was too great today so I popped up this evening. I also gained a companion for the trip. Kevin Hale joined me for this great bird. Once on site and on route a fellow birder advised us its really showy, so we were confident we would see it. We could hear the bird reeling on our approach and we're on to the bird before even setting up scopes. The reports say "showing well" and they aren't lying. The whole time we were there it only went into cover for around 15 minutes. I wish every lifer was as easy as this. Also on site was a stunning Male Western Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Egret and plenty of Common Swift. On the way back to the car Kevin got a Eurasian Bittern that I missed. A great bird and great to meet and chat with Kevin. A very enjoyable evening.

River Warbler 

River Warbler 

River Warbler 

Red Kite

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I was beginning to think I would go another year without seeng Red Kite as I missed every single one on last year's migration. I had been out most of the day and got home and opened the patio doors to let some air in and BOOM! A cracking individual was circling low over the house. It started to gain some height before heading off north. 

Earlier on in the day I saw my first Common Blue Butterfly and an obliging Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood 

American Golden Plover And A Possible European Honey Buzzard

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

Due to family commitments, I spent most of my day at home. I was treated to my first ever true garden Northern Jay first thing but it was ever so brief. I was constantly watching the skies for a Red Kite. No such luck but did get a few Common Swift and Common Buzzard. however, late afternoon a distant raptor was making its way east. For me, a possible European Honey Buzzard. All the characteristics where there. Large tail, large wings, very pale underside with wide bands and dark carpals. Slow wing beat and a nice curve to the wings, unlike a Common Buzzars. It was however, too distant for me to be 100% certain. 

Exminster Marsh, Devon 

Early evening I popped along to see the American Golden Plover. The bird showed fantastically and I was able to get a few record shots. I do love this species and have been dying to see it since it was recorded yesterday.

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover 

European Nightjar

Outskirts of Exmouth, Devon 

I have been desperate to look for European Nightjars but this awful weather has got in the way. One of my daughters loves to see these with me so as she is now off school, we popped out to look for this awesome species. We didn't have to wait too long and a cracking Male flew from Gorse a few metres from where we were patiently waiting. A few moments later a few individuals started to sing and we eventually got flight views of 2 Females. Going on calls, I would say there was around 6 individuals on site. We both headed off very happy to have seen them and to know there are a few individuals back on territory.

Parasitic Jaeger

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I braved the wet weather for one and a half hours at the cliffs near the Sewage works. A constant stream of Manx Shearwater, totalling circa 500 birds. 3 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 European Storm Petrel was a lucky spot as it popped into my scope view while track some Manx Shearwater. Around 30 Common Murre some on the sea and some in flight. 10 Common Scoter bobbed around and 10 Black-legged Kittiwake battled their way west. 

Sooty Shearwater

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I wasn't going to go out today as I had been frantic at work and was feeling like I wanted to be a couch potato. Then, at about 6pm. I had the sudden urge that this evening was going to be good. So I dragged my tired carcas off the sofa and headed to the coastal path near the Sewage works. I used to seawatch Orcombe Point with some degree of success but a few years ago I started here and have found it more productive for Shearwater passage but have struggled with Skua species.

No sooner had I pointed my scope at the sea, I was watching 4 Manx Shearwater passing by. OK, I thought, Worth getting out for. Within 10 minutes I had seen 30 Manx Shearwater. Then out of the gloom, I picked out a Sooty Shearwater. It battled its way west into the strong south westerly winds.  At on point it came in close enough to appreciate it before heading further out into the gloomy bay.  On the sea were 10 Common Scoter and there were a few Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet lurking about.

After that the Manx Shearwater passage really picked up with birds close in and distant as did the Black-legged Kittiwake of which I totalled 70 birds. At one point, I was tracking some Manx Shearwater and Black-legged Kittiwake, when a Parasitic Jaeger started hassling the latter. It chased one for a few moments before finally settling on the sea. Unfortunately, way too distant for my phone to scope abilities. An unidentified Auk species flew by just after this as did a Common Loon.

I stayed for a further 30 minutes or so and I was so pleased I did. The Manx Shearwater passage continued and I ended on 132 birds. But to top off a great evening, a Pomarine Jaeger popped into my scope as I was scanning. It always remained distant and I soon lost it. 

A very productive visit and goes to show, you should always go with your gut instinct. Well, it worked this time at least!

Common Grasshopper Warbler

Dartmoor, Devon 

I had the day off and as there was a break in this awful weather we have been enduring, I thought I would explore Dartmoor. I had 5 target species in mind, Common Cuckoo, Whinchat, Common Redstart, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. 

I parked near Warren House Inn and within 5 minutes had enjoyed views of 2 Common Cuckoo. One of which was point blank. Already pleased, I started the walk to Challacombe farm. On route I was treated to a Male Whinchat, 6 European Stonechat, 4 Willow Warbler and another Common Cuckoo. 2 of my species in the bag. 

At the farm I got straight onto a Garden Warbler in full song. And a moment later a Spotted Flycatcher. 4 species I the bag now, I started to think, this is one of those great days. With that, yet another Common Cuckoo put in an appearance. I saw zero last year so this more than made up for it. Also at the farm was a Female Common Whitethroat, a Grey Wagtail, numerous Barn Swallow and a few Common House Martin.

I struggled a bit with the Common Redstart but after a bit of a search, I finally caught up with a pair. Job done! Or was it? A little bit away from the farm I caught sight of a brown backside dart into the Gorse. I was going to just dismiss it but decided to hang fire and double check what it was. I was pleased I did as I eventually got brief views of a Common Grasshopper Warbler. Result! 

So, all in all a fabulous time and what a joy to see all those species in one area. Also on the walk we're numerous Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Common Reed Bunting. 

Common Cuckoo 

Common Redstart (Male)

Greater White-fronted Goose

Exminster Marsh, Devon 

I took a quick walk along the railway path this evening. Lots of Barn Swallow, Common House Martin and Sand Martin. Several Common Reed Warbler were the first birds to treat me. Then a got the briefest of views of the long staying Greater White-fronted Goose before it headed back into a ditch. A single Eurasian Whimbrel was hanging about with Eurasian Curlew. Several Common Swift few overhead. Ans a single Common Greenshank.