Blog

12 May 2026

Butterflies at Giants Hill

Sunshine and some time off means its chasing Butterfly time and a trip to Dorset and Giants Hill at Cerne Abbas!

I gave my knee a good work out, those that have been up there its hard at times to keep your balance as the paths are really sheep tracks. Typically when I arrived the sun went in but after about 30 minutes it came out enough to get them to fly, plenty of help from some lovely people including some National Trust volunteers who where doing a Butterfly count.

Really good session with 10 species found, good numbers of Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Frit, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green V. White and Holly Blue.

So with a Painted Lady I saw at work at the Warren that makes 18 so far-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, PB Fritillary, Painted Lady, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Comma, Small Copper and Holy Blue.

Met lots of nice humans as well today and got talking to a few about Small Tortoiseshells, apparently very few about as they have been infected with a parasite? well worth the trip!

11 May 2026

Dartmoor Birds

Had a couple of visits to Dartmoor trying to focus on the birds, plenty to see, especially from the bins but not close enough for the camera.

Lots of Swallows and House Martins about, nice to see them using the concrete nests at Challocombe Farm, also saw Redstart here as well as Willow Warbler, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff amongst the regulars.

Up the valley plenty of Wheatears but couldn't find a Whinchat which was frustrating as I know they are there as I had seen them before.

Lots of Ravens about, displays etc, a Buzzards but no other Raptors seen.

Visited Yarner, more Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers and the nesting Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers which I had a small visit, like Emsworthy with the Cuckoos iam sure it will turn into a circus!

Heard a few Cuckoos around various places as well as Skylarks, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.

Met a few nice humans which is also a plus!

03 May 2026

Summer Migrants

Been out a few times but the weather has been against me and my camera.

Have been able though to get a few more for the list, in and around Dawlish have seen Swallow, House Martin and today a couple of Swifts from the Sainsbury car park.

Also on Dartmoor while trying to get some pics of Tree Pipit today I could hear the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler.

So with other new ones that makes 125 species so far this year.

On the Mammal front sadly seen 2 x Hedgehogs, my first of the year and run over, also 2x grey Squirrel dead on the rd, sad start to May!

01 May 2026

Mammals for March and April

Will do the depressing side of this first, these are the numbers of dead animals I have seen on the roads driving around while at work etc- 11 Badger, 2 Fox,11 Grey Squirrel, 3 Rabbit, 2 Hare, 1 Fallow Deer and 1 Red Deer seen on the due carriage way at Tiverton.

On the live front some of these are signs such as Mole hills, increase number of Rats close to where I live, 27 where running around the bins!! A wood Mouse in Yarner, 7 Fallow Deer,the joy at seeing a Badger late at night, a Fox, loads of Grey Squirrels around Yarner and Holden, 12+ Rabbits at the back of Sainsburys in Dawlish was great to see.

29 April 2026

Butterflies again

Had the afternoon off and went to the warren to see what butterflies where about, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange Tip and a new one for the year a Small Copper.

Thats 12 so far-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, PB Fritillary, Comma, Small Copper and Holy Blue.

Great to catch up with Steve one of the Rangers.

27 April 2026

Butterflies

Went to Holden Friday afternoon in the sun to see if the Pearled Bordered are out and there was loads of them, great to see.

Unfortunately I bumped into a couple of other Butterfly watchers that were rude and arrogant, get them everywhere but not expecting it here!

Thats 11 so far-Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, PB Fritillary, Comma and Holy Blue.

20 April 2026

Large Red Damsel

My first Dragonfly or Damselfly of the year is a Large Red Damsel Fly at Exminster Marshes.

Also recording in my own sweet way what I see this year, hopefully many!

20 April 2026

Out and about

Over the weekend the weather was a bit changeable but managed to visit Exminster, Aylesbere and Seaton Marshes with the Grandkids.

All the usual stuff with some new Summer Migrants, Whitethroat, Sedge, Reed and Cuckoos, the Sand Martins at Seaton put on a good show but sadly no camera as too busy looking after my Grandkids.

At Aylesbere good views of Yellowhammers and Dartford Warblers, always great to see.

At Exminster in the Discovery area there was Reed, Sedge and Cettis Warblers all singing at the same time, fantastic sound!

On the Mammal front saw my first live Fox, crossing the road close to Seaton Marshes which gave the Grandkids a treat as well!

20 April 2026

Butterflies

In the sun away from any cold wind I found Butterflies, 2 new ones with Small White and Red Admiral which makes 10 seen and the list is Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood,, Comma and Holy Blue.

Managed to get a good shot of a Holly Blue this weekend with its wings open.

10 April 2026

Dartmoor

The weather not really Butterfly chasing weather as it was cold and windy so I went up on Dartmoor to look for some summer migrants that had started to arrive.

First stop was a early call to Yarner that didn't disappoint, then to Emsmorthy, Soussons and around Challacombe Farm and around the roads in between.

Glad I went early to Yarner, so much bird song, birds in the tops of trees that needed my bins, plenty to see but frustratingly mobile and too distant for a pic, several Pied Flycatchers and a couple of Redstarts, Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, GSWoodpecker, Woodpigeon,Siskin, Goldcrest and Chaffinch.I popped over the road to Tremblebere to see both Raven and Buzzard with a Willow Warbler in the bushes, great to hear!

Emsworthy which was bloody cold in the wind but still managed to see M&F Redstarts, very mobile and not hanging around, really difficult to get a shot.

On route to Soussons a few Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, a couple of Bullfinch, House Sparrows, Jackdaws, Raven, Carrion Crows, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves.

Not a lot at Soussons, no sign of Crossbills and not much at Challacombe except a couple of Wheatear along the road with Stonechats.

Cold but good day! Bird count up to 114.

On the mammal front sadly 1 dead Fallow Deer and 2 Grey Squirrel with numerous live squirrels, I noted a couple collecting nest material at Yarner.

© Simon Thurgood 2026
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