Fritillary Frustration at Dartmeet

A cloudy and breezy but warm and humid day on Monday 26th June saw us heading off to Badgers Holt at Dartmeet on Dartmoor for a cream tea and a walk. The forecast for the afternoon was for breaks in the clouds to appear and indeed the cloud did break up a little but it was for brief spells only.

Badgers Holt has been taken over by new owners and the cream tea was as good as ever - the scone cakes were much improved since our last visit but the Langage Farm clotted cream was a little past its best. As we left though the Langage Farm delivery truck arrived bringing fresh supplies of clotted cream but never mind.

We headed off down the River Dart and as we walked along the riverside there were grey wagtails feeding amongst the boulders in the river and beautiful demoiselles flitting around in the waterside vegetation.

 Male Beautiful Demoiselle

 Male Beautiful Demoiselle

 Male Beautiful Demoiselle

Female Beautiful Demoiselle

Singing chiffchaff, blackcap, willow warbler and yellowhammer were heard and 2 male yellowhammers were also seen., 2 juvenile dippers flew downriver and out of sight and I had a brief view of 2 goosanders flying upriver, glimpsed briefly between the trees.

I disturbed a butterfly from the vegetation by the path which dashed off and out of sight, a dark green or high brown fritillary, and 2 faded fritillaries flew past in a brief sunny spell, either pearl bordered or small pearl bordered fritillaries. A silver washed fritillary also flew past at break neck speed but at least I was able to confirm ID despite the brief view.

The only other butterflies seen were 2 meadow brown, one with a damaged left wing but still able to fly, and I found an oil beetle looking a little worse for wear and a nice longhorn beetle which I think is a Strangalia maculate.

 Meadow Brown

 Oil Beetle 

Strangalia maculate

Strangalia maculate

Brown silver-line were flitting about amongst the bracken and I had a brief view of a chimney sweeper before it flew off. Bilberries by the path side were very tasty although very tongue and finger staining and a few moths were disturbed from the leaves, I managed to get  record shot of one as it landed on a mossy covered rock before flying off again, not sure what it is but maybe a July highflyer.

 Brown Silver-Line

Brown Silver-Line

July Highflyer

An enjoyable walk but with mostly frustrating views of the wildlife and I also managed to pick up 2 ticks, my first of the year, but that is Dartmoor in June for you.