Local Summer Wildlife

I had a quick walk around Saltram and The Plym on Tuesday 15th July, it was much cooler than of late with the heatwave having dissipated somewhat although it was still warm and humid despite the overcast sky and stiff breeze.

I arrived off the bus at around 1pm and walked a loop starting from Marsh Mills. The tide was still heading out when I arrived although it was lower than I had expected it to be, however Blaxton Meadow was still full of water and there were 10 Curlews and 3 Greenshanks still roosting there while an Oystercatcher and Redshanks were feeding on the estuary nearby.

Other sightings of note were 4 Mute Swans along the river at Long Bridge where a female Mandarin was keeping an eye on 3 quite well grown ducklings, a Nuthatch feeding around the duck pond, a flyover Stock Dove and a pair of Shelduck with 6 very well grown ducklings roosting on the mudflats near the gas pipe.

Mandarin Duckling

Noon Fly

I headed out to Wembury for a walk on the 9am bus on Thursday 17th July, it was warm and humid and a little bit misty but as I arrived at Wembury it was a complete pea-souper of fogginess with hardly any visibility!

The main beach at Wembury!

The fog did eventually clear around Midday when offshore I picked up 2 distant small Shearwaters heading east. I also saw 2 distant Dolphins offshore heading west, one was breaching and making a lot of splash as it landed on its side and it was quite dark looking, both of them also had large looking dorsal fins so possibly Bottlenose Dolphins.

As the fog cleared there were a few butterflies flitting about in the overcast conditions including 2 Wall Browns, a Red Admiral, a pair of Common Blue and a Ringlet.

Wall Brown

Wall Brown

A Whimbrel and a Mediterranean Gull were roosting with the Oystercatchers at The Point along with 5 Little Egrets while a Common Sandpiper and a Sandwich Tern (or possibly 2) were heard but unseen in the mist.

A male Dartford Warbler was singing away and showing very well at The Point despite the fog but went silent and disappeared when the fog cleared.

Dartford Warbler

I headed up to Roborough Down on Saturday 19th July for a walk although I didn't arrive there off the bus until almost Midday. It was warm, humid and overcast with occassional sunny spells but as the afternoon wore on the breeze picked up and it cooled down somewhat with the odd mizzley shower blowing in on the wind.

There were plenty of butterflies on the wing though and I soon found my first Graylings of the year although they were just as flitty as usual.

Grayling

Grayling

Also seen were numerous Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, a Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 male Brimstone, a Holly Blue, 2 Red Admiral, a Common Blue, Speckled Woods, a Wall Brown and a few Whites. A Hornet Robberfly was a nice find too.

Hornet Robberfly

I heard a Tawny Owl calling briefly, a nice surprise and my third Owl species of the year, usually I'm lucky to see or hear even one. I also heard 2 Green Woodpeckers while sightings included a Meadow Pipit, a Raven, a Buzzard, 2 Jay, at least 11 Swifts, 3 Bullfinch and a Song Thrush. It was also good to see a few juvenile Willow Warblers flitting about and looking very smart in their lovely lemony plumage tones.

Willow Warbler

Birdy continues to go from strength to strength but is surprisingly small in comparison to the adult birds when they arrive with food, presumably "he" is in fact a "she" although all our other previous chicks have been considered male. She is very cute looking, very inquisitive and very chilled and her parents seem as equally laid back but I don't think it will be long now before she flies off.

Birdy 2025

I had a quick walk around The Plym on Tuesday 22nd July, I caught the bus to Marsh Mills and walked to the duck pond and back via Blaxton Meadow. The estuary was already covered in water but the tide was only just entering the sluice gates of the Meadow and I found 28 Curlew, Redshanks, 9 Greenshank, a Whimbrel and 2 summer plumaged Dunlin feeding and roosting there amongst the assorted Gulls. Feral Pigeons, 3 Collared Doves and 2 Stock Dove were feeding out in the saltmarsh vegetation and there were just 1 adult and 2 juvenile Shelduck present this time. 

Blaxton Meadow

The female Red-crested Pochard was back on the duck pond amongst the Mallard, Mandarin and Moorhen but there was no sign of the male bird from the spring. Presumably she is here for her feather moult with the duck pond being a safe place to do so and with food from human visitors being readily available.

Red-Crested Pochard