Freedom!

My last actual working day was Saturday 8th July but due to annual leave accrual my last contractual working day was Sunday 23rd July and so from Monday 24th July I am officially unemployed until I claim some of my NHS Pension from 1st August! It feels very weird, I haven't been without a job since May 1988, some 35 years ago, and it feels odd to say the least. I also feel quite sad that I ended up feeling the way I did in my last job, I don't really know what happened but I guess that is just the way life goes sometimes.

Anyway, I now have endless possibilities ahead of me (as I and everybody else always has ahead of them without properly knowing it) but for the moment I just want to sit quietly in the corner and let everything go on around me while I try to catch my breath and sort out the mess in my head.

One thing I have noticed is how much my sleep has improved, I still feel absolutely knackered all the time but I am sleeping better, probably due to no longer having to work night shifts but also helped by Birdy 2023 having fledged and leaving the chimney stack resulting in quieter dawns. Just the one chick fledged this year but an improvement on last years failure and this one didn't come down our chimney for a change. It has also been quieter than usual in the mornings as the 2 other Herring Gull nests on nearby chimney stacks have been vacant this year so all in all it has been a relatively drama free nesting experience.

Anyway, I attended the Hen Do of the lovely Catherine from work on Saturday 22nd July where I was able to say my Goodbyes to all the people I liked from work but afterwards I felt a bit rough with a cold. By Tuesday 25th July I felt better and with a small window of some sunny weather forecast for a change I headed off to Berry Head.

I endured the usual train and bus delays but eventually I reached the quarry at Berry Head  to be greeted with the sight of lots of butterflies flitting about. However after around 10 minutes it had clouded over and the heavens opened for a good 20 minutes and apart from brief spells of sunshine appearing through the cracks in the clouds now and then it remained mostly overcast afterwards.

I had hoped to see Small Blue as there had been reports of them on the wing a few days before but despite searching around and getting fooled by flypast female Common Blues I had resigned myself to a dip. However I eventually managed to find one as it flew into cover, I had a brief view of it before it flew off but I never refound it.

Small Blue

Small Blue

Other butterflies were much showier and I had lovely views of Peacock, Red Admiral, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper, Large White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small White, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Common Blue, Holly Blue and Silver-washed Fritillary. There were also plenty of Silver Y and Six Spot Burnet around too as well as Hummingbird Hawkmoths including egg laying females.

Peacock

Common Blue

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Silver-washed Fritillary

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 

A Peregrine flying over the quarry and a flock of around 20 Common Scoters seen distantly flying into Torbay were the bird highlights but it was good to see Razorbill, Gannet, Kittiwake, Shag, Herring Gull, Guillemot, Black-headed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull offshore. Also offshore were a distant but showy pod of around 10 Common Dolphins leaping out of the water and which included a small calf.

Autumn Squill

Blunthorn Nomad Bee

Wednesday 26th July was grey and overcast and with rain forecasted by lunchtime I headed out to Wembury for a short walk. I has planned to catch the bus at 7am but overslept so I caught the 9am bus instead. It was overcast and cool and grey and after a few heavy showers the forecasted rain arrived just as I was heading back to the bus stop to catch the bus home.

The lack of sunshine meant a lack of insects but I did find 2 Gatekeeper resting on leaves and I flushed a Shaded Broad Bar and a Common Carpet from the grass as I walked by.

Gatekeeper

Shaded Broad Bar

It was a high low tide and it was heading in when I arrived and along the beach I found 4 Little Egrets, 3 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpipers amongst the increasing numbers of Oystercatchers.

There were Gulls roosting on the rocks and feeding on the washed up seaweed mass and I counted 16 Mediterranean Gulls (14 moulting summer plumaged adults, 2 juveniles) but they were mobile and flighty so more may have been present. Sadly none were sporting any leg rings.

Mediterranean Gull (Juvenile)

I scanned through the Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed Gulls present and eventually found 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls amongst them. Both caught my eye initially but neither were especially striking amongst the numerous juvenile Gulls present, a case of hidden in plain sight and not helped by the poor light and rain.

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull 

Yellow-legged Gull 

Yellow-legged Gull 

Yellow-legged Gull 

Yellow-legged Gull 

Yellow-legged Gull 

They were doing the usual Yellow-legged Gull  thing of being aloof and keeping apart from the rest of the Gulls but occassionally bickering with any Gull coming too close. Interestingly they would move out of the way of any Great Black-backed Gull that ventured too near!

Fledgling Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Whitethroat and Stonechat were seen and Cirl Buntings were vocal and showy and included fledglings too. Swallows were skimming low over the grass around the cattle, House Martins were flying around the houses in the village and I was pleased to finally see my first Wembury Swifts of the year with 4 also feeding over the village too.

Offshore was quiet but Gannets were on the move, both east and west and a mix of adults and juveniles, and a few Fulmar were flying around The Mewstone.

The poor weather meant a short visit only, I don't know what is going on with the summer at the moment but I hope it improves soon. I guess we have been spoilt by the last few years of good summer weather we've had and I've just forgotten how grotty summer in the UK can be.

Local Wildlife

It feels quite autumnal at the moment with the weather having turned from hot and sunny to wet and breezy and leaving behind a lot of brown and scorched vegetation in its wake. However it still remains warm and humid and so with a high tide at around 06:30hrs on Monday 17th July I caught the 07:00hrs bus to Wembury for a look at the wader roost in the hope that there would be some autumnal waders present. Unfortunately that was not the case and there were only 2 Curlew, 2 Little Egret and a summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull present along with the usual Oystercatchers but it was an enjoyable morning out anyway.

Gorgeous Wembury

It was mostly sunny with occassional cloudy spells and a hint of drizzle in the breeze but the air was clear and it smelt fresh. I took my telescope out with me, something I haven't been doing much due to my ongoing back pain issues and despite being sore by the end of my walk I was glad to have had it with me as offshore I saw my first ever Wembury Common Dolphins! They were just out past The Mewstone and were attracting the attentions of Gannets but they were very unobtrusive and difficult to view amongst the waves as they broke the water surface quickly and briefly.

Also offshore were the usual Fulmars, Herring Gulls, Shags, Cormorants and Great Black-backed Gulls but with the scope I picked up 3 male Common Scoters and a Manx Shearwater heading west. I also found 2 Auks sat on the sea together, one was noticeably smaller than the other so presumably a young bird with its parent but they were too far out to confidently ID although I think they were Razorbills.

It was quiet on land too but Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Cirl Bunting were all still singing away and 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, a Swallow and House Martins were seen overhead.

There were plenty of butterflies about too with a Comma and 2 Wall Brown making first for the year appearances at Wembury. There were also 2 Marbled White at The Point but only 2 Small Skippers and it was nice to see some mint fresh Peacocks on the wing. 

Wall Brown

Peacock

One or possibly 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths were nectaring on Valerian flowers and Six Spot Burnett were on the wing with a mating pair seen. An interesting sighting was of 2 Ectophasia crassipinnis, a parasitic fly from Southern Europe that is starting to be recorded more frequently in the UK.

Ectophasia crassipinnis

David duly arrived and we enjoyed a pasty lunch and a coffee while admiring the views from the main beach where there were Bee-Wolfs buzzing around before it was time to head off home, a very enjoyable morning out indeed.

Bee-wolf

I had the moth box out in the back yard that night but the next morning it was a little disappointing with just 7 moths of 5 species present - Large Yellow Underwing, Uncertain/Rustic, Knot Grass, Garden Grass Veneer and 3 Light Brown Apple Moths.

Wednesday 19th July was forecast to be a mostly sunny day and so we headed over to Cawsands on the ferry from The Barbican for a beach day. It was very pleasant with occassional clouds rolling over the sun keeping temperatures more bearable and we had a relaxing time.

There were good numbers of butterflies flitting about and enjoying the Buddleia flowers which included Silver-washed Fritillary and Comma and also a single Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Out on the rocks off Sandways Beach were a group of around 30 adult Mediterranean Gulls moulting out of summer plumage and including around 5 juveniles. A pair of adult Sandwich Tern with a juvenile and a Common Sandpiper were also present.

Thursday 20th July saw me heading out to the edge of Dartmoor for a walk, it was mostly cloudy but with some warm and sunny spells and I managed to eventually find Graylings but in a different area than I usually see them.

Grayling

Grayling

Grayling

A Silver-washed Fritillary was also seen along with a Hornet Robberfly but the highlight were a pair of Dartford Warbler with the male regularly singing.

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Hornet Robberfly

Dodder

Dodder

Willow Warbler

Yellowhammer

Glad I'm not a Dartmoor Pony!

David duly arrived in the car and we headed off to The Garden House for lunch and a look around the gardens, somewhere we haven't visited for quite a few years now and it was interesting to see how much it has grown and matured.

At least 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen flitting about amongst the Gatekeepers, Small Whites, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Peacocks, Red Admirals and Large Whites along with 2 Common Darter buzzing around the pond in the arboretum and a lone Small Skipper resting on a flower.

Silver-washed Fritillary and Peacock

Common Darter

Small Skipper

To finish the week off I headed out to the River Plym on Friday 21st July for a look at the high tide roost on Blaxton Meadow. It was quiet as expected but waders are beginning to return from their breeding grounds with 8 Greenshank, 18 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher and around 100 Redshank present. A juvenile Shelduck was out on the water and the female Red Crested Pochard flew downriver before changing her mind and flying back up towards Marsh Mills.

It was quiet around the Park too but 4 Kestrels hovering over Chelson Meadow were a nice sighting, presumably a family party, and good numbers of Swallows were hawking insects overhead with the adults feeding their fledglings in midair.

A Comma, 2 Holly Blue, a Green-veined White and 2 Small Skipper were also noted amongst the usual butterflies and a very smart looking Roe Deer showed well before running off into cover.

All in all an interesting week of wildlife and all within around a 10 miles radius from home.

A Trip to Suffolk

We headed off to Suffolk to visit my family on Monday 10th July, it was cool and cloudy as we set off from Plymouth but by the time we reached my Mums house it was hot and humid and we were frazzled after a nightmare journey in the car (8 hours!) beset by delays and traffic jams.

Along the journey the usual road kill was sadly seen by the kerb side and the usual patrolling Red Kites were seen overhead but the highlight was a singing Corn Bunting heard near Stonehenge whilst we were stuck in a queue of traffic.

The weather during our time away was mixed with sunny spells, breezy spells, cloudy spells and showers but it was quite warm and humid and I planned my wildlife watching activities based on the weather forecasts which mostly worked out quite well.

Wednesday 12th July saw me heading off early to catch the 07:34hrs train to Darsham and then a taxi to RSPB Minsmere for a few hours birding before meeting Mum and David at the Visitors Centre for lunch. It was breezy and warm and mostly sunny until I rendezvoused with Mum and David at 13:00hrs when it had clouded over but I had a fantastic time, very reminiscent of the days I used to spend at Minsmere in July and August when I was in my early teens.

I did my usual walk starting at the Island Mere Hide and finishing at the Visitors Centre, visiting the Bittern Hide, West Hide, South Hide and East Hide along the way. The Island Mere Hide was quiet but out on the water amongst the assorted wildfowl were a male Pochard and a male Tufted Duck with Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe also present. Marsh Harriers were quartering over the reed beds giving some great views and Common Terns were hovering over the water while both Reed and Sedge Warblers were heard singing.

I stopped off along the path between the Island Mere Hide and the Bittern Hide in a sheltered spot out of the wind and spent a good hour watching all the insects present, longer than I had planned to but it really was a hive of activity. Dragonflies and Damselflies were flitting about and very active in the warm and sunny conditions but I eventually managed good views of Ruddy Darter, Norfolk Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer and Four-spotted Chaser along with assorted Blue Damselflies and probable Brown Hawkers which were just too quick and active to view properly.

Ruddy Darter

Ruddy Darter

Ruddy Darter

Norfolk Hawker

Black-tailed Skimmer 

Black-tailed Skimmer

Four-spotted Chaser 

Four-spotted Chaser 

Four-spotted Chaser 

Plenty of butterflies were present too including a White Admiral nectaring on brambles with Painted Lady, Comma and Red Admiral. There were Essex, Small and Large Skippers dashing about amongst the grass along with Small Copper and Brown Argus and there were Purple Hairstreaks flitting about in the Oaks, some were quite low down allowing for some good views.

White Admiral 

White Admiral 

Painted Lady

Essex Skipper 

Essex Skipper 

Essex Skipper 

Essex Skipper 

Purple Hairstreak 

Green-veined White

It was quiet at the Bittern Hide too but a Great White Egret showed briefly as it flew across the reeds. However The Scrape as viewed from the West, South and East Hides was alive with birds and it was nice to see the Tern colony thriving with Common, Little and Sandwich Tern all seen amongst the Black-headed Gulls although there were signs that Avian flu is still present with a few corpses dotted about. Also present were 2 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull and 4 Little Gull but only 1 Herring Gull and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull which both flew overhead.

The Scrape from the East Hide

Common Tern

Little Gull 

There were plenty of waders too with a Knot, a Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 moulting Spotted Redshanks and 3 moulting Ruff amongst the usual Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher. 

Ruff

Avocets

Avocets

A pair of Egyptian Geese with small goslings was a Minsmere first for me and feral Barnacle Geese were also seen along with 2 Spoonbills fast asleep as usual and hidden amongst the vegetation on one of the islands. At least 3 Hobby were hawking insects high overhead but they were quite distant and Bearded Tits were heard pinging in the reeds but unfortunately not seen.

A quick look along Digger Alley gave some nice views of Bee-wolfs and a quick look at the pond revealed my first ever Emerald Damselfly.

Bee-wolf

Bee-wolf 

Emerald Damselfly

After lunch in the cafe we all headed off to Snape Maltings where I had a short walk along the river with a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, 2 male Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, a Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Kestrel all seen and a Water Rail heard before it was time to head home.

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Reed Bunting

Swift boxes at Snape Maltings - calls being played too, Swifts overhead but unknown whether boxes being used

Thursday 13th July was originally forecast to be the best day of the week and so we headed off to Bradfield Woods to look for butterflies. Unfortunately the forecast had changed and it was cool and cloudy and breezy but eventually the sun did appear for short periods and the butterflies duly appeared. Sadly there was no sign of any Purple Emperors again and White Admirals were conspicuous by their absence but Silver-washed Fritillaries were everywhere with Comma, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Meadow Brown also very obvious.

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Silver-washed Fritillary 

Comma

Comma

Red Admiral

Ringlet

Friday 14th July saw us heading back to Plymouth and we endured another nightmare journey (8 hours again!) beset by delays and traffic jams and not helped by unseasonably wet and windy conditions but it had been a very enjoyable trip away as usual.