Blog

07 July 2026

Reptiles

At Aylesbere looking for Adders which to my amazement I didn't see any but did see a Common Lizard and a swimming Grass snake which was quite special to see.

07 July 2026

Butterflies

Went to Aylesbere to se what non bird species I could find and a new one on the Butterfly list is Greyling which brings the total to 41 and list goes-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Marbled White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Dark Green Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Silver Washed Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Greyling, Comma, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Holy Blue.

07 July 2026

Bowling Green Marsh

Went to BGM for high tide today, there had been several sightings of Speckled Redshank in summer plumage which I was able to see but at a distance in my bins, sadly not close enough for a decant picture.

Also saw Spoonbill, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Redshank, Greenshank, Oyster catcher, Godwits, Curlew and a new wader Green Sandpiper, Shovler, Mallard, Widgeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Med, Black Headed, Herring, LBB gulls, Swallow, Sand and House Martins, Moorhen and chicks and Shielduck.

Couple of other new ones seen over this last couple of weeks, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Garden Warbler which takes the total to 134

07 July 2026

Dragons

Went to the pools at Aylesbere and plenty to see with double figures of Emperor Dragonflies, Damselfly and Keeled Skimmers, great to watch

28 June 2026

A week of chasing Butterflies

Still getting over my stay in hospital and the heat Ive been trying to catch up with some Butterflies. I have sen a lot but not been mobile enough to get the pictures I wanted which has been frustrating if not understandable!

Visited Aish Tor, Plantation Forest, Alners Gorse in Dorset, Greenscombe Woods in Cornwall, Holden and Dawlish Warren.

I got another 11 new species , Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, High Brown Frit, Dark green Frit, Silver Washed Frit, Heath Frit, White Admiral, White Letter and Purple Hairstreak and marbled White.

While at Greenscombe Woods I thought I was too late, plenty of Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Skippers, the areas I had found them in previous years seemed to be grown over but then a very worn and battered Heath Frit appeared, I didn't take a pic as it was on its last legs!

Saw lots of Painted Lady's at every place, still no Small Tort which is a bit sad.

So 11 new species making 40, list goes-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Marbled White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Dark Green Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Silver Washed Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Comma, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue and Holy Blue.

18 June 2026

Not been well

Been out of circulation this last couple of weeks with 5 days in a hospital Bed with a viral infection of my Gallbladder. Iam at home at the moment feeling a bit washed out, hopefully get back to normal soon, typical it happened at this time of year!

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.

© Simon Thurgood 2026
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