Rainy Wembury, Mothing, Leating and Rainy Dartmoor

I awoke early on Monday 16th May despite having worked 2 exhausting long day shifts over the weekend and even though the sky was grey and it was mizzley I headed off on the 07:00hrs bus to Wembury for a walk. The weather and the earlier than usual start meant that it was a relatively people (and dog) free walk which was nice for a change and with high tide at just before 7am I was hopeful of some wader action along the beach. It wasn't quite as good as I had expected but amongst the 25 roosting Oystercatcher there were 9 flighty, vocal and mobile Whimbrel and a very confiding Sanderling. 

Whimbrel

Sanderling

Sanderling

It was good to see some breeding success amongst the bird life with a fledgling Stonechat seen with its parents and also a lone fledgling Robin.

Robin

I didnt take my scope with me but a look offshore revealed adult and immature Gannets flying around along with 9 Manx Shearwater flying west (groups of 6 and 3) and also 4 distant Guillemots (2 of 2 west). Fulmars were wheeling around The Mewstone where a lone Canada Goose was also noted on the grassy slopes.

A Scorpion Fly, a Red Admiral, an Oak Eggar caterpillar, Lackey Moth larval nests, Depressia daucella caterpillars on Hemlock Water Dropwort flowerheads and a Bloody-nose Beetle were also seen despite the cool conditions. It was also good to see Ragged Robin in flower again in the valley to the beach following last years soil disturbance and vegetation clearance caused by the digger being used to repair the beach cafe as it journeyed down to the beach. 

Scorpion Fly

Oak Eggar Caterpillar

Ragged Robin

Goose Barnacle - washed up on driftwood along the beach

A Collared Dove was calling at the bus stop while I waited to catch the bus home and a Swallow flew overhead heading purposefully west. I also picked up 2 distant Swift flying over the village and from the bus as we journeyed back towards Plymouth House Martins were flying around over the village rooftops.

With a mild and dry night forecasted I had the moth box out in the back yard that night, the first proper session of the year, and the next morning I had 17 moths of 14 species for my troubles. The best moth was a Tawny Shears, a new moth for me, and other highlights were Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth and Homoeosoma sinuella. 

Tawny Shears

Homoeosoma sinuella (Twin-barred Knot- Horn) 

Thursday 19th May was a free day and so we headed up to Dartmoor to continue more of our walk along the Devonport Leat. We started off at Whiteworks and walked to Nuns Cross and back and then walked from Whiteworks to Tor Royal and back. It was a lovely walk in the occasional sunny spells, the scenery was stunning and it was relatively people free and I managed a few wildlife sightings along the way. 

A surprise sighting was of a Painted Lady flitting past, there seems to be a big influx of them into the UK at the moment. Small Heath were more expected and I also saw a few Large Red Damselfly and Beautiful Demoiselle (Not so nice was finding my first tick of the year embedded in my abdomen a few days later!). 

Beautiful Demoiselle

Birds were singing away - Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, Wheatears, Stonechats and 2 Redstart - and I also saw a Swallow, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron. 

Wheatear

All in all an interesting and enjoyable walk and we now have just a few short sections of the Leat left to see. 

Friday 20th May and it was up to Dartmoor again for the day, this time to Warren House and Challacombe with Mavis. The weather wasn't great and it was cool, breezy, showery and mostly cloudy but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm or our enjoyment. 

We started at a Warren House with the highlight being 3 Cuckoos, 2 males flying around calling and chasing each other while a female coyly sat in a hawthorn bush watching and giving a very brief bubbling call. At least 3 Whinchat were also heard but they were very elusive until we finally managed to get some good views of one of them. 

Whinchat

A Redpoll flew over giving its cha-cha-cha-ing songflight and at least 3 songflighting Tree Pipits were seen. A Garden Warbler sang from cover while a Blackcap sang nearby allowing for a nice comparison. 

A Small Copper and 2 Green-veined White were seen despite the cool conditions. Sundew were seen in the usual place but there was no sign of any Heath-Spotted Orchid. 

Small Copper

Green-veined White

Sundew

After a lunch of rabbit pie in the Warren House Inn we visited Challacombe Farm for a look about. The weather still wasn't great but we did hear a Cuckoo calling on the hillside and we also saw a nice male Redstart around the farm buildings. 

Heath-Spotted Orchid and Bogbean were seen and the Bluebells were beginning to flower on the hillsides. 

Heath-Spotted Orchids 

Bogbean

Bogbean

Another great day out as always as my favourite month of the year rapidly nears its end.