Blog

30 May 2026

Dragons

While on Dartmoor today caught up with another Dragonfly, a couple of stunning Goldenrings.

Also some Beautiful Demoiselles living up to their name!

30 May 2026

Dartmoor Birds

Spent a great day on Dartmoor visiting all the usual places and spending a bit of time walking around Sousons and Challacombe Farm.

While driving around did notice lots of Herring Gulls on the floor feeding also Rooks, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows.

Must have been some insect of some kind and a lot of them!

Also saw Magpie, Jay, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Meadow and Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush, Swallow, House Martin, House Sparrow, Starling, Wren,Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Siskin, Blackcap, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and several Cuckoo heard.

Thats 37 species, not bad if i say so myself!!

30 May 2026

May Mammals

Lots of mammals about, these sightings are all seen from a car while out with my camera or at work, normally within a 100 miles from Dawlish.

First the depressing bit, dead on the road, 5 Rabbits,1 Hare, 3 Hedgehogs, 7 Grey Squirrels, 1 Fox, 3 Badger, 1 Fallow Deer, 2 Roe Deer.

Alive-7 Rabbits, Lost count of Grey Squirrels about, 1 Fox, 3 Fallow Deer and 3 pairs of Roe Deer which was great to see.

29 May 2026

Chasing Butterflies

Had an amazing day at Binden Hill at Ludworth in Dorset today.

A bit windy and slow going to start off with but ended up well worth the trip.

Ended up with 12 Species and 5 of them new for the year, went there to get the Lulworth Skipper which I saw but also the Small and Large Skippers, Small Heath and 2 Clouded Yellows which was fantastic!

Also lost count of the Painted Ladies as they were everywhere, the most I have ever seen in one spot.

Also Several Brown Argos, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Adonis Blue, Dingy Skipper and loads of Burnett Moths.Plus plenty of other day flying moths that I have no idea what they are?

Still not found a Wall or Small Tortoiseshell which is getting frustrating!

So that's another 5 species making 29, list goes-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Comma, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Holy Blue.

28 May 2026

Bat Safari

Went on a bat Safari orginised by the Bovey Bat group which met up at the National Trust site at Parke in Bovey.

Nice group of people of about 20 being led by 4 volunteers from the local group who passed on lots of information, was impressed by some of the technology which I will be looking into. I have a Magenta Bat 5 Detector which will do me for a start.

The walk started at about 8.45 after a little chat, went down to the courtyard where the first Bats were Greater and Lesser Horseshoes which came up as 80 and 108 on my detector, the sound was amazing, like some alien being!!

Then a walk to the two bridges and the water which brought in the Common Pipistrelle and Daubentons was picked out by a volunteer both at 45.

I moved the dial to 55 and picked up a Soprano Pipistrelle which was great to hear the difference in sounds.

One of the other participants picked up a Noctule high above which sounded totally different at 22.

Really enjoyed this and hopefully going again! Dont think there will be any pics though.

26 May 2026

Emsworthy

On a baking hot day I went for a walk around Emsworthy.

Not really expecting much because of the heat but pleasantly surprised!

Saw and heard several Cuckoos, Redstarts, Skylark, Willow Warblers, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting and Robin.

I also met lots of nice humans which was also great!

23 May 2026

Challacome and Headland farms Dartmoor

Walked around Challacombe and Headland Warren and the road in between lots to see and hear.

New one would be the Spotted Flycatcher, in fact I saw 2 darting about the trees but sadly unable to get a pic, Redstarts, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackbirds, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Swallows, House Martins, House Sparrows, Wren, Stonechats, Jackdaws, Ravens, Buzzard, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Wheatear, Cuckoos and Whinchat. Finally able to get a picture too!!

With some new ones that brings the total bird species to 130 for me and still missing some common birds so need to pull my finger out!

23 May 2026

More Dragons

Around the pond at Challacombe farm plenty to see with Azure Damselfly's, Broad-bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselles and along the ditch a possibility of a couple of Black-tailed Skimmers, very mobile but managed to pick up some features.

22 May 2026

More Butterflies

Went to the Warren and Aish Tor on Dartmoor today looking for more Butterflies for the list.

At the Warren I found Common Blue which is a new one as well as Red Admiral, Peacock and a worn Painted Lady, surprisingly not a lot else.

Off to Dartmoor and Aish Torr, plenty of Butterflies here with New SPB Frits as well as worn PB Frits.

Also more Painted Ladies, Green Hairstreak, Brimstone and Holly Blue.

So that's another 2 species making 24, list goes-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Painted Lady, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Comma, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Holy Blue.

22 May 2026

Dawlish Warren

Went to the Warren today to try and get some pictures of the Sanderling in summer plumage and to see what Butterflies were about which I will talk about in a different post.

Got to the beach and the tide was coming in, surprisingly very few humans for a sunny day?

Managed to find 6 birds on the beach running the tide, beautiful birds, always moving!

Apart from these I saw quite a few other birds in the bushes, Stonechat,Woodpigeon,Robin,Kestrel, Great,Blue and Long-tailed Tits,Chiffchaff,Wren, Blackbird,Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow,Collard Dove,Magpie,Linnet,Little Grebe, Moorhen,Blackcap,Skylarks,Reed Warbler,Herring Gull,Swallow,Cormorant, Song Thrush and Dunnock.

Nice to meet up with Steve and other Rangers.

© Simon Thurgood 2026
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