The Best of 2021

Another year draws to a close after another 12 months of COVID-19 restrictions, lock downs and social tension plus another 12 months of the continuing stresses and strains of working in a battered and beleagured NHS, all of which has made for an "interesting" year.

It has been a great year though for wildlife despite the travel restrictions in place at the beginning of 2021, getting out and about into nature has been for me a soothing balm in a very fraught world and has kept me (semi-) sane. 

And so here are the Top 10 highlights of my wildlife year :-

1. Wally the Walrus - the undoubted highlight of the year for me. I watched the news about him with interest when he was first found in Ireland before he took up residence at Tenby in Wales but COVID restrictions prevented us from going to see him. Eventually a travel window appeared in May and off we headed and he didn't disappoint - an absolutely gorgeous animal. 

Wally, Tenby

Wally

He eventually departed Tenby and reappeared in Cornwall, France, Spain and then the Isles of Scilly before returning to Ireland and then on to Iceland where news reports have since dried up. Where ever he is I hope he is healthy and happy as he brought a huge amount of joy to me and to  many others during his wanderings. 

2. Back Yard Mothing -  after failing to reach my target of 100 species of moth in the back yard last year I decided to up my game and have another go in 2021. The spring weather was dire and prevented me from getting the moth box out much but a concerted effort over the summer involving checking out every micro moth and with much help from @MothIDUK on Twitter I reached a total of 123 species - result! 

Jersey Mocha, Back Yard

3. Butterfly Trips to Cumbria - a trip to The Lake District booked for June last year was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID but this year's rebooked trip went ahead and with the Butterfly Gods smiling down on me I saw all of my target species - Northern Brown Argus, Large Heath and Mountain Ringlet. We were very lucky with the weather and had a great trip away, our first proper holiday for almost 18 months. 

A further trip to Cumbria in August was equally successful with some great weather and some excellent views of Scotch Argus, another new UK butterfly for me and leaving me with just Chequered Skipper left to see. 

Large Heath and Mountain Ringlet

Northern Brown Argus and Scotch Argus

4. Isles of Scilly Day Trip - I missed my annual autumn day trip to The Scillies last year due to COVID but this year I was determined to go and what a great trip I had. The weather was perfect with sunshine and a flat calm sea and from the decks of the Scillonian Ferry I saw my first UK Rissos Dolphin along with Common Dolphins, Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Balearic Shearwater and Great Skua.

The Islands themselves were stunning in the sunshine and while I dipped the Bonellis Warbler I very much enjoyed my wanderings around St.Marys before returning home exhausted but very happy. 

The view from The Garrison, St.Marys

5. Sea Watching - I have really started to enjoy sea watching and was hoping for some opportunities to get some hours in this year but the weather and timings haven't worked out well for me and I only managed 2 trips to Berry Head in Devon and a trip to St.Ives in Cornwall.

The trips to Berry Head weren't in the best of conditions but I enjoyed them anyway and managed to see Great and Arctic Skuas and frustratingly a probable Pomarine Skua along with excellent views of Harbour Porpoise. 

The trip to St.Ives was much better with a strong North-Westerly blowing but I arrived a bit later than I should have and missed some of the good birds reported although I had great views of Manx and Balearic Shearwaters and Arctic and Great Skuas. 

Next year I'm hoping for a bit more success on the sea watching front but again it is all about weather and timing so I will keep my fingers crossed. 

6. UK Lifers - A total of 5 UK lifers this year is very good for me and especially considering the travel restrictions in place for some of it. The Northern Mockingbird dip at Exmouth was a bit of a bummer but I managed to see Goshawk, Night Heron and American Herring Gull (all UK but not life ticks) and American Golden Plover and White-tailed Lapwing. 

American Herring Gull, Night Heron, White-tailed Lapwing and American Golden Plover

Other rare/scarce/uncommon bird highlights for the year included Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Snow Bunting, Rose Coloured Starling, Great White Egret, Red-necked Grebe and Shore Lark.

A total of 186 species for the year is one of my lowest final totals but not too bad considering the restrictions and I've enjoyed local birding instead of regularly travelling further afield. 

7. Local Birding - With the lock down from January to March and then ongoing travel restrictions into June I spent a lot of time getting out and about close to home and again I have been amazed at what birds I have seen - Osprey, Spoonbill, Little Tern, Cirl Bunting, Scaup, Cattle Egret, Yellow Wagtail, Black-necked Grebe, Avocet, Black Redstart, Glaucous Gull, Balearic Sheareater and Arctic Skua to name a few and all within 10 kilometres of my house.

Glaucous Gull, Scaup and Cattle Egret

My lock down walks around Plymouth Hoe were a particular highlight with Purple Sandpipers, Great Northern Divers, a Long-tailed Duck, a Red Kite, a Chough and an Otter all found on my walks and which I probably wouldn't have seen without the travel restrictions. 

I just managed to reach my target of 100 species of birds in January, all achieved locally during the lock down, and also my target of 100 species of birds at Saltram and the River Plym (103). Unfortunately I never reached my 100 target for Wembury, only achieving a still impressive 92 species.

8. Moths and Butterflies - Back yard mothing has been very interesting but other mothing highlights of the year were finding male Emperor Moths on Dartmoor using a pheromone lure, finding a Convolvulus Hawk Moth at Wembury twice, possibly the same individual, and moth boxing in my Mums Garden where lots of Box Tree Moths were seen.

Emperor Moth and Convolvulus Hawkmoth

Butterflying was a bit more low key this year other than the Cumbria trips and I didn't undertake any other Butterfly Days. I failed to see a Clouded Yellow in what seems to have been a poor year for them which was disappointing, I also failed to see a Hummingbird Hawkmoth too and it wasn't a good year for Painted Lady either. 

I did manage to get some good views of Essex Skipper again in Suffolk and White-letter Hairstreaks at Oreston in Plymouth along with Dark Green and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Green and Purple Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper. Hopefully next year will be better. 

9. Birthday Dolphins - a baking hot, sunny and totally calm boat trip out of Falmouth on my birthday gave some absolutely amazing views of Common Dolphins bow riding, a perfect birthday treat.

Common Dolphins

10. Buntings, Pipits and Larks - An influx of Snow Buntings into the UK this autumn had them appearing all over the place including Devon and after a dip at Slapton and then Wembury I wasn't hopeful of catching up with them. However a return to Slapton eventually gave me some fantastic views of 2 birds and totally absorbing they were too.

A search for Water Pipit at Wembury for my 100 birds target kept drawing a blank but eventually I found one in November, a month that usually sees me finding one there, and an absolute cracker it was too.

A return visit to Wembury to try and refind it drew a blank but I did find a nice colour ringed Scandinavian Rock Pipit instead which was ringed in Finland earlier in the year and which brightened up my walk and mood no end. 

Snow Bunting, Scandinavian Rock Pipit and Water Pipit

And finally a trip to Suffolk at the end of the year saw me catching up with Shore Larks, a total of 5 feeding together along the beach at Shingle Street and only my second UK sighting of them after a single bird at Minsmere in May 1982.

I've always watched the bird news sightings for Shore Lark with envy when I've visited family in Suffolk over the winter but the birds have always been too far away or in difficult to reach places and I've also dipped them too so to finally catch up with them was a nice end to the year.

Shore Larks

So here's to 2022, hopefully the new Omicron variant of COVID won't scupper any plans but time will tell. And the birds and wildlife are always there to keep me going.

Merry Christmas! 

A Butterfly Trip to The Lake District

We had planned a trip to The Lake District for June 2020 but with the COVID-19 Lockdown and subsequent restrictions it had to be cancelled. We rebooked the same trip for June 2021 and with the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions we weren't sure if we would get to go again but as our date of departure loomed ever nearer we had a green light for travel and so off we headed on Sunday June 13th.

It was a baking hot day, the hottest day of the year so far, but the drive up to Shifnal near Telford for a 2 night stay to visit nearby Ironbridge wasn't too bad. We then drove up to The Lakes on Tuesday 15th June, staying at Nether Wasdale near Wast Water for 3 nights before travelling to Witherslack on Friday 18th June for 2 nights. Finally we then headed back home on Sunday 20th June, stopping off near Leominster for a night before arriving back in Plymouth on Monday 21st June.

The weather for our trip was fantastic, far better than expected and fortunately perfect for butterflying with only 1 day of mist and murk and rain (Wednesday 16th June). And it was just so nice to get away and have a holiday for a change, our first holiday away for 18 months and such a restorative joy despite having to pre-book meals out at pubs and restaurants and pre-book visits to houses and gardens and museums, curtailing some of the usual random spontaneity we enjoy whilst being away.

The trip was filled with wildlife sightings too and I managed to see all 3 of my target butterfly species, the whole purpose of my trip, so I was very pleased indeed.

Sunday 13th June - On the drive up to Shifnal in Shropshire we stopped off at Berrington Hall near Leominster, a National Trust house and garden which we haven't visited before (and which had to be pre-booked). The house and gardens were interesting and after a look around we headed off for a walk around the estate in the heat and sunshine.

We walked around a large lake where at least 3 Reed Warblers and a Reed Bunting were heard singing and Four Spotted Chasers, Broad Bodied Chasers, an Emperor Dragonfly, Large Red Damselflies and "Blue"Damselflies buzzed around.

Four-spotted Chaser, Berrington Court

Monday 14th June - a cloudy day spent visiting Ironbridge and the River Severn Gorge. We parked up (for free) at the ruins of Buildwas Abbey (also free) and walked along the river to Ironbridge and back. Despite the lack of sunshine it was warm and humid and as we walked through the fields by the river there were many Banded Demoiselles and White Legged Damselflies buzzing about in the bankside vegetation.

Ironbridge

Male Banded Demoiselle, Ironbridge

White-legged Damselfly, Ironbridge

White-legged Damselfly, Ironbridge

Cinnabar Moth, Pyramidal Orchid, Common Blue and Small Tortoiseshell were also noted with Swifts, Swallows and House Martins buzzing around overhead.

Tuesday 15th June - another warm and sunny day for our drive to Nether Wasdale in Cumbria with a Lapwing seen flying over the M6 along the way.

We stopped off first at the Cumbrian Wildlife Trust reserve at Meathop Moss for a look around as the skies became increasingly cloudier although it felt warm and humid in the breeze. We walked along the boardwalk over the wet heath and David soon found a Large Heath flitting over the vegetation. More were seen but were flighty and mobile, rarely settling and when they did it was usually out of sight and far from the boardwalk. Eventually we found one resting on the actual boardwalk and I managed to get some great views of it before it flew away.

Large Heath, Meathop Moss

Large Heath, Meathop Moss

Large Heath, Meathop Moss

A female Brimstone and a Holly Blue were also seen while a Cuckoo was heard calling and a Sedge Warbler was heard singing. Bog Asphodel, Cotton Grass, Large Red Damselfly, Kestrel and Buzzard were also noted.

We carried on to Bowness and Windermere which were hell on earth and we drove through both of them without stopping, heading onwards to the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes for a spectacular scenery filled drive to the Roman Fort at Hardknott (free) before arriving at our hotel in Nether Wasdale. Wheatear, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Siskin and Pied Wagtail were seen along the journey and a bonus find was a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary by the roadside when we stopped briefly to admire the view.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 

Wednesday 16th June  - Rain! With the weather turning grotty we visited the Lakeside Motor Museum (pre-booked) which was actually very interesting and very poignant as it contained an exhibit about Donald Campbell and his ill-fated attempt at the water speed record in Bluebird.

The rain had stopped by the time we left the museum but it remained cool and misty and murky and so we visited Ravenglass for a look at the remains of a Roman bath house (free) and a walk around.

A Tree Sparrow flying down to a puddle to drink and bathe was almost overlooked amongst the House Sparrows, as was the cacophonous noise made by Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls as they mobbed a flyby Osprey before it settled distantly on a post by the side of the estuary. 

Osprey, Ravenglass

Oystercatchers, Sandwich Terns and 2 pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers were also noted here before we headed back to our hotel for a quiet evening.

Thursday June 17th - Sunshine! Perfect weather for a walk on Irton Fell and Whinn Rigg seen rising above the back of our hotel at Nether Wasdale. It was surprisingly warm in the sunshine and no sooner had we arrived out on the Fell than David found a Mountain Ringlet flitting past! Many more were seen along our walk and I had some great views of them as they flitted low over the vegetation although they totally disappeared into the grass in brief cloudy moments.

Irton Fell above our hotel in Nether Wasdale

Irton Fell

Irton Fell

Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell 

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Mountain Ringlet, Irton Fell

Also seen were Bullfinch, Redpoll, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Skylark, Small Copper, Small Heath, Silver Y and Green Tiger Beetle and Cuckoo, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit were all heard.

We then drove along Wast Water to Wasdale Head with views of Scafell Pike and it all looked stunning in the sunshine. We sat by the shore of the Lake and I had a rather chilly paddle in the water with a Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gulls Canada Geese, Bog Asphodel and Sundew all seen.

Wast Water

Wast Water

Wast Water 

Wast Water

Bog Asphodel, Wast Water

Sundew, Wast Water

Friday 18th June - another sunny day as we drove to the Stott Mill Bobbin Musueum (pre-booked) via Swinside Stone Circle (free). 

The stone circle was interesting and we arrived just as a film crew was setting up for some video production or other. Chimney Sweeper moths were seen flitting about in the grass and Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Green-veined White were all noted too.

Swinside Stone Circle

The Bobbin Mill was also very interesting and we had an enjoyable visit before walking up the hillside to a dam and a small lake built to power the mill. A Male Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Four Spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly were seen but the highlight was a male Wood Warbler briefly singing in the trees before flying off.

We headed onwards to The Derby Arms at Witherslack, our next hotel stop for the following 2 nights, and with the skies beginning to cloud over we walked over to Latterbarrow nature reserve right next to the Inn for a look around. I began looking around for Northern Brown Argus but I wasn't hopeful as the sun finally disappeared behind the clouds but David called me over towards a group of people busily photographing something which turned out to be a Northern Brown Argus roosting on a grass stem.

Northern Brown Argus,  Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus, Latterbarrow 

I managed to get some great views but unfortunately it kept its wings resolutely shut when at rest.

Northern Brown Argus, Latterbarrow 

Saturday 19th June - I awoke early at around 7am and a quick look out of the hotel window revealed sunny breaks amongst the clouds and so I headed down to Latterbarrow again for a look around before breakfast. 

I found the Northern Brown Argus in the same spot I had left it the previous evening and when the sun shone it finally opened its wings to bask, showing a small white halo around the black spot on its forewing.

Northern Brown Argus, Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus,  Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus,  Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus,  Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus,  Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus, Latterbarrow 

Northern Brown Argus 

Also seen were 2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, a Dark Green Fritillary which was too quick for the camera, Meadow Brown, Marsh Tit, Greater Butterfly Orchid and Common Spotted Orchid.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary,  Latterbarrow

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary,  Latterbarrow 

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Latterbarrow 

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Latterbarrow

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Latterbarrow 

Common Spotted Orchid,  Latterbarrow 

Common Spotted Orchid,  Latterbarrow 

Common Spotted Orchid, Latterbarrow

After breakfast we visited Sizehergh Castle ( a National Trust house and garden which oddly we didn't need to pre-book) and along with more Meadow Browns I found some Common Twayblade in the grass.

Grey Wagtail, Sizehergh Castle

Common Twayblade, Sizehergh Castle

After our visit to Sizehergh we headed on to Foulshaw Moss, another Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve with a boardwalk over the wet heath. It was mostly cloudy but with very brief sunny spells and when the sun shone I managed to see a few Large Heath flitting about. Also seen were a few White Faced Darters, a rare and reintroduced species of Dragonfly, but they rarely settled for long and totally disappeared when the sun went behind the clouds.

Large Heath, Foulshaw Moss

Large Heath, Foulshaw Moss

White-faced Darter, Foulshaw Moss

A songflighting Tree Pipit, a Tree Sparrow on the bird feeders, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Common Lizard were all seen too and Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler were heard. The nesting pair of Ospreys were also seen although very distantly with a bird flying on to the nest with a fish to feed the 3 chicks where it was also joined by its mate.

Tree Sparrow, Foulshaw Moss

Another quick look around Latterbarrow on our return to the hotel was unfortunately Northern Brown Argus free but I did find a Dingy Skipper flitting past and briefly settling like a moth on a grass stem before it dashed off again. A Common Lizard and a Small Tortoiseshell were also noted and I enjoyed a last look at the Common Spotted Orchids and Greater Butterfly Orchids before heading back to the hotel for the night. 

Common Spotted Orchid, Latterbarrow

Small Tortoiseshell, Latterbarrow

Sunday 20th June - time to head back to Devon and a flyover Red Kite was seen before we stopped at Croft Castle, a National Trust property (pre-booked) near Leominster. It was cool and overcast and a quick look around the estate revealed a pair of Mandarin Ducks with 2 well grown young, Grey Wagtails, Buzzards and Chiffchaff. 

Mandarin, Croft Castle

We stayed the night nearby at Wickton Court, a marvellous old country Manor house, 400+ years old with wooden beams, wooden panelling and creaky wooden floors and in totally secluded countryside. A good night's sleep and a great breakfast the next morning was enjoyed before the final push back to Devon, a rainy journey with another Red Kite seen overhead along the way. 

And so an amazing trip away, loved every minute of it, very lucky with the good weather, saw 3 new species of butterfly, ate too much, drank too much and had fun, something that has been lacking in life in the last 16 months.