Friday 19th July was hot and sunny again so I headed out to Wembury for a walk, primarily to look for butterflies but also to look for any birds on the move. It was quiet on the bird front as expected but a juvenile Wheatear and a Curlew (maybe last years wintering bird?) seen along the beach and an adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gull flying past offshore heading east hinted that summer is beginning to end. A brief male Dartford Warbler at The Point was the only other bird of note.
There were a few butterflies on the wing, still seemingly in lower numbers than usual but I managed to find 2 Small Copper, 4 Small Skipper, a very fresh looking Peacock, a Marbled White, 3 Common Blue, around 6 Red Admiral, a Large White, a Small White and my first Wall Brown of the year along with Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood.
Small Copper
Wall Brown
A female Beautiful Demoiselle along the stream and a very inquisitive and active Southern Hawker at The Point were of note. I also saw Mavis and Mike up on the top path at The Point while I was walking back to the cafe along the bottom path to meet up with David for some lunch, unexpected and a bit surreal waving at each other while chatting on the phone!
Southern Hawker
We had a walk around Burrator Resevoir on Monday 22nd July, it was dry but overcast and surprisingly quiet on the people and wildlife front too. The highlight were 2 Crossbill flying high overhead, giving themselves away by calling as they went. A Silver-washed Fritillary dashing around was an all too brief sight and a few Sundew were seen in flower in their usual spot.
Sundew
I decided to head off to Dawlish Warren on the train for a visit on Tuesday 23rd July, the return ticket was going to cost £18 (!) before 9am so I caught the 9:30 train which only cost me £6.75 with my railcard. I used to visit Dawlish Warren quite regularly, it's an easy day out on the train (and can be relatively inexpensive) but after all the winter gales (and the spring, summer and autumn gales) having all but destroyed the dune ridge path and the bird hide being closed down I haven't really bothered, a shame as it is still a great place for wildlife.
I arrived off the train at around 10:30 and headed off straight away to the dune ridge overlooking The Bight to catch the ebbing tide. With Roseate, Arctic, Common and Little Terns being seen erratically amongst the Sandwich Terns over the past few days I set my scope up in anticipation but I was out of luck. However seeing and hearing the Sandwich Terns flying overhead as they moved between the estuary and sea was wonderful and it was good to see a fair few juvenile birds amongst them after the recent ravages of bird flu decimating breeding colonies.
Waders were on the move too with Whimbrel, Greenshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Redshank all seen feeding in the estuary on the dropping tide. The 6 long staying Eider (a female and 5 immature male) were roosting on Finger Point and 3 Little Egret were feeding in the salt marsh. Offshore a distant male Common Scoter was picked up and along the beach at least 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls moulting into winter plumage were feeding amongst the Black-headed Gulls.
A Kestrel, at least 10 Swift, a House Martin and Swallows were noted overhead and a male Whitethroat, a pair of Cirl Buntings and a male and 6+ juvenile Stonechats were noted in the dunes.
Stonechat
Butterflies were on the wing with a Peacock, a Red Admiral, 2 Small Copper, Gatekeeper, 4 male Common Blue, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White and a Small White all seen along with a few Silver Y and 6-Spot Burnet.
6-Spot Burnet
A Weasel and a Sand Lizard only gave brief views but a male Emperor Dragonfly patrolling the main pond while a female was oviposting showed very well along with a Common Darter and a Blue-tailed Damselfly. Also present were probable Black-tailed Skimmers and Small Red-eyed Damselfly but they were too quick and too distant to fully confirm. Plenty of Marsh Helleborine were in flower too and amongst all the Bees buzzing around I managed to ID Silvery Leafcutter Bees amongst them.
Marsh Helleborine
Silvery Leafcutter Bee
Silvery Leafcutter Bee
A very enjoyable day out indeed, I really should consider visiting Dawlish Warren more often although I do like to stay more local to Plymouth these days. I certainly have the spare time now having finished work a year ago to the day, I can't believe how quickly that year has gone, it has just flown by, and despite a few doom mongers at the time I certainly haven't been bored. Note to self - consider a visit to Dawlish Warren, you never know what you may find!
