May!

May has finally arrived and I have just 10 more weeks of misery to endure before I will be free of working in the NHS after almost 29 years. I have mixed feelings about it all but I am too old and too tired to put myself through the increasing stress and strain of trying to do my job and to do it well.

May is my favourite month of the year though but it is going to be a very busy one this year with lots of night shifts to plod through in between life stuff, other things and trying to catch up with spring migrants and emerging butterflies. Hopefully I'll be able to get out and about a bit and also get the old moth box out in the back yard too although the weather remains very unsettled and often cool.

The end of April was uneventful but the Black Guillemot off Plymouth Hoe made a reappearance, this time in summer plumage and presumably the same bird from earlier this year and possibly the same as the bird present here last year. I has a look for it on both Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th April but without any luck although I did see up to 7 Sandwich Terns, 2 summer plumaged Turnstones and a Holly Blue for my troubles.

Wednesday 3rd May was forecasted to be sunny and indeed it was although it was a little hazy. It was also cool in a strong easterly breeze but it didn't mar my visit to Grenofen too much with a few butterflies seen in sheltered spots out of the wind - 2 Speckled Wood, a male Orange Tip, a Red Admiral, a Peacock, 3 Green-veined White and Brimstones were noted, the most butterflies I've seen on a day out this year. There were lots of Violets in flower too but unfortunately no sign of any Fritillary butterflies.

Glorious Grenofen

It was also good on the bird front too - 2 Swifts and 3 House Martins with Swallows overhead, a singing male Yellowhammer, 3 Tree Pipit (1 songflighting), 2 singing Redstart (only 1 seen), a singing Garden Warbler, a Dipper along the river and a singing Whitethroat were the highlights with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush and Raven also noted.

Thursday 4th May was earmarked for a birdy day out with Mavis to Exminster Marshes, the weather forecast wasn't great and it was cool, breezy and claggy but the rain mostly held off until we were back in Plymouth.

The cool weather meant very little insect activity but we did find 2 Nettle Tap resting on nettles by the footpath.

Nettle Tap

There were plenty of Swift, Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin trying to hawk insects low over the marsh and a Hobby briefly flying through was probably looking for a hirundine snack.

Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing away and we had some decent views of them at times. Cettis Warblers were also vocal but kept well hidden along with a Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcap but Chiffchaffs were seen as well as heard.

Sedge Warbler

The highlight though were 3 Spoonbill feeding out on the marsh, unfortunately they were flushed by a cyclist before we got close enough for any photos and they quickly disappeared out onto the Exe Estuary. 

A lovely day out as always although the weather wasn't the best but at least we managed to see most of our target birds.