Devon weekend highlights: 23rd - 24th April

Rachel and I spent the weekend visiting our good friends Jaffa and Helen in Budleigh Salterton in south-east Devon. Walked the coast path through the Otter Estuary, across White Bridge and eastwards around Otterton Point on Saturday, and on Sunday we walked northwards along the River Otter from Otterton Mill. No sign of the European Otters on Saturday evening that have been showing very well along the River Otter near Otterton Mill over the last month, and very little in terms of bird migration noted over the weekend either, but a few records made it into the notebook.

23rd: 1m Northern Wheatear (Otterton Point), 1H Common Sandpiper (River Otter at Otterton Mill), 1-2 Kingfisher (River Otter), 1 Cetti's Warbler (showed well by White Bridge - take note Staines Moor birds), and 2 Barn Swallow (White Bridge). Also, 1f Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus found on Otterton Point and 1 Stoat Mustela erminea seen briefly from the car near Otterton (at the junction of Frogmore Road and Fore Street).

24th: 3 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin and 3 Barn Swallow (all near Otterton), and 1m Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus and 2 Bloody-noded Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa along footpath beside the River Otter just north of Otterton.

Female Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus, Otterton Point, 23 April 2016

Male Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus, River Otter near Otterton, 24 April 2016

Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa, River Otter just north of Otterton, 24 April 2014

All photos and the (shakey) video above taken with a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Good guides to oil beetle identification can be found on John Walter's website and also from Buglife. Take part in the Buglife survey here.

High Brown Fritillaries at Aish Tor: 7, 8 and 9 July

Visited Aish Tor on Dartmoor a few times over the last few days to look for High Brown Fritillary and other butterflies. Sadly, the High Brown Fritillary has declined in Britain by 90% since the 1970s and extinct over 94% of its former range. Categorised as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (one of only two Critically Endangered butterflies in Britain, the other being Large Blue Glaucopsyche arion), south-west England is now the species stronghold. There is some good news though - last year their numbers increased by more than 180% compared to 2013 - a ten year high.

A walk from Aish Tor to Newbridge and back on the 7th produced at least 8 High Brown Fritillary (including a female egg-laying beneath the bracken), 1 Dark Green Fritillary, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Comma, 2 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Heath, several Gatekeeper, lots of Meadow Brown and several Ringlet, and lots of unidentified fly-by fritillaries. A single Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha still in flower beneath the Bracken at Aish Tor was a nice surprise, and 1 Grey Wagtail on the River Dart and a Yellowhammer were the best birds noted.

A quick visit late afternoon on the 8th found just a single High Brown Fritillary, 1 Dark Green Fritillary and a Red Admiral. A few Stonechat and a Yellowhammer were also noted.

Several hours from dawn on the 9th were best for photography, when there was a short window between the fritillaires emerging from the bracken and becoming too warm to settle for long. Along with several High Browns a Silver-washed Fritillary was also seen. Birds noted on the 9th include 2 Raven, 2-3 Bullfinch and 1m Stonechat.

High Brown Fritilary, Aish Tor, 9 July. A worn individual but a shot of the underwing showing the diagnostic ocelli just inside the
outer margin on of hindwing.

High Brown Fritillary, Aish Tor, 9 July

High Brown Fritillary, Aish Tor, 9 July. Note the missing third dot from the apex on the forewing on this one (compare with above).
Saw a few like this - an aberration perhaps?

Female High Brown Fritillary egg-laying, Aish Tor, 7 July

Western Bee-fly: 10 July

Spent some time watching Western Bee-flies Bombylius canescens, at Chudleigh Knighton Heath Devon Wildlife Trust reserve today. Found a colony of around five or six that were firing eggs into the nest burrows of their host mining bee species. Not still for a second, these are darn tricky to photograph! All were females as far as I could see (eyes do not meet at the top).

Female Western Bee-fly Bombylius canescens firing eggs into the nest hole of a mining bee by flicking their abdomen downwards,
Chudleigh Knighton Heath, 10 July

A bee-fly's view of the target - a mining bee burrow entrance, Chudleigh Knighton Heath, 10 July

Two or three were often depositing eggs into the same mining bee nest at a time

They periodically collect dust from bare patches of soil with the tip of their abdomen, to coat each egg to give it extra weight to help it
reach it's target

You can clearly see the 'basket' of dust and soil collected on the tip of the abdomen in this shot

They spent very little time resting. Note the dark femora as well as the dark bristles amongst the pale hairs behind the eyes which
help distinguish from the even rarer Heath Bee-fly Bombylius minor.

Western Bee-fly is a very scarce species, mainly restricted to south-west England, south Wales and eastern Ireland. They fly from May to August.

A beaver on the Otter: 16 April

In Devon this week staying with good friends Jaffa and Helen in Budleigh Salterton while on a ecological consultancy course run by Acorn Ecology. The course has been excellent - I've learn't loads and met some really nice people.

After three failed attempts earlier in the week, this evening Jaffa and I finally connected with one of the Eurasian Beavers Castor fiber that have been introduced on the River Otter in Devon at his local patch. There are apparently nine animals - two pairs and five immatures. Defra agency APHA caught five of them to test for diseases such at bovine TB and Tularaemia and to ascertain the species, and after huge public pressure, re-released them back on the Otter once they we found to be disease free.

Jaffa has become obsessed with the beavers, visiting most evenings and observing their behaviour (check out his blog). In fact, he has become so obsessed with them that he has even named the pair on his patch - Gordon (a male with green ear tags) and Patricia (a female with pink ear tags). Helen and I are more than a little concerned about the amount of time he is spending with them, and wouldn't be at all surprised if he started swimming around and eating willow himself soon.

Female Eurasian Beaver Castor fiber on the River Otter this evening, doing what beavers do - swim about and eat willow

Pat, complete with huge pink earrings

Also notable during the week were a Slow Worm Anguis fragilis and a Grass Snake Natrix natrix at the Westpoint Centre near Clyst St Mary on 14 April (with the Grass Snake again on 15th).

Slow Worm Anguis fragilis, Westpoint Centre, Devon, 14 April - the dark sides indicate this is a female

Mining for moths: 6th - 7th December

Spent the last week visiting friends Kevin and Donna Cox at their place on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon - part holiday and part helping out planting a yew hedge in their newly built walled garden - part of much larger wildlife garden (or rather, grounds).

Yesterday and this morning, we explored one of the old copper mines on the Brook Estate looking for cave-dwelling animals. Copper was mined here from 1845 to 1885 and the main shaft at this particular mine, Pixton’s Shaft, drops vertically to an incredible 305 m! We looked at a short (c15 m) horizontal adit in the woods here.

Found quite a few Herald moths (counted 23 yesterday) as well as lots (c40 yesterday) of European Cave Spiders Meta menardi, including one guarding an egg cocoon suspended from the mine ceiling.

Two of the 23 Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix moths found hibernating in the mine, 6 December

Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix, 7 December

Spot the Heralds, 6 December

European Cave Spider Meta menardi, 6 December

Egg cocoon of European Cave Spider Meta menardi, 7 December

The only other noteworthy sighting from the week is a superb adult Goshawk low over the garden at Brook Manor being mobbed by 2 Common Raven on 3rd December.

South-east Devon: 8th - 9th November

Back from a very enjoyable weekend birding around Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth with my other half the RAW Baker and good friends the Cream Tea Birder and the Cream Tea Bird.

Strong southerlies and rain Saturday morning (8th) promised some good seawatching but unfortunately I missed out due to very painful headache. A look at the sea in much calmer conditions in the afternoon logged just 4+ Kittiwake W, several Northern Gannet, several Shag, a Common Gull and 3 Oystercatcher. A pleasant but equally quiet walk around the Otter Estuary late afternoon produced 1m Stonechat, 3 Black-tailed Godwit (scrape), several Curlew, 1m Shoveler, 134 Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, lots of Eurasian Teal, 1 Little Egret and a Cetti's Warbler (H). A mumeration of 2,894 Starling gave a fantastic display over the reedbed north of the scrape at dusk, along with an immature Peregrine (that made a kill) and a Sparrowhawk (that didn't).

Very light south-westerlies, largely clear skies (4 oktas) and some sea mist this morning (9th) looked good for some late autumn vis mig, and dawn found us in our chosen east-facing position along the South West Coast Path on the west side of Budleigh Salterton. A two hour session produced 856 Woodpigeon W, 1 Stock Dove W, 1f Bullfinch W, 96 Chaffinch W, 42 Goldfinch W, 15 Meadow Pipit W, 6+ (4H) Skylark SW and 4 Linnet E. Robins were seemingly everywhere and 1+ Peregrine, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Goldcrest were also noted. Nearby at Jubilee Park 2 Firecrest and 1 Goldcrest showed very well but proved too quick for photos, and a late Painted Lady shot past.

An afternoon walk along the Ex Estuary from Exmouth to Mudbank produced 1 Greenshank, several Little Egret, numerous Curlew, several Brent Geese, and a superb 1st winter male Black Redstart flycatching from a roof at Harbour Court, Exmouth (many thanks to Matt Knott).

A look at the Otter Estuary late evening added 1 Kingfisher and a single Northern Lapwing on the scrape, along with 1 Redshank, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and 3 Rock Pipit and c40 Pied Wagtail on the beach. Curiously, no Starlings came in to roost at the reedbed this evening.

1st winter male Black Redstart at Harbour Court in Exmouth, 9 November 2014

European Robin, South West Coast Path, Budleigh Salterton, 9 November 2014 - almost trod on this chap

Common Starling, Otter Estuary, 8 November 2014

Common Starling, Otter Estuary, 8 November 2014

Moth trapping on Dartmoor

Just back from a week staying with our friends Kevin and Donna Cox at their 'pad' Brook Manor, in the Mardle Valley on the east side of Dartmoor. We made good use of Kevin's Robinson MV moth trap and recorded a huge diversity of species over four trapping sessions. White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda was the most abundant species, but we also recorded a wide diversity of species, a few regional specialities as well as a few migrants. Here's a selection of the species trapped during the week.

Double Line Mythimna turca, 10 June - largely confined to south-west England and south Wales

Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi, 10 June

Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria, 10 June

Buff-tip Phalera bucephala on a broken Silver Birch twig - amazing camouflage!

Mating Buff-tips Phalera bucephala, 9 June

Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor, 9 June

Small Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila porcellus, 9 June

Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac, 9 June

Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana, 9 June

Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara, 9 June

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda, 9 June

Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria, 9 June

Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea, 9 June - note the rather worn look, even though it is fresh

Peppered Moth Biston betularia, 9 June

Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina, 9 June

Peach Blossom Thyatira batis, 10 June

True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea, 13 June

Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata, 10 June

Brindled Plume Amblyptilia punctidactyla, 10 June

Rare ground beetles on Dartmoor: 13 June

Rachel and I met up with John Walters again this evening, this time to visit Dendles Wood - a patch of ancient oak pasture woodland situated on the southern edge of Dartmoor, to search for Britain's largest ground beetle - the Blue Ground Beetle Carabus intricatus. Blue Ground Beetles are nocturnal, spending the day in the soil and emerging after dark to climb the moss-covered oaks to hunt slugs. Spring to early summer is the best time to see them, when the adults are most active searching for mates¹.

Blue Ground Beetle is an Endangered Red Data Book species now restricted to just seven sites in south-west England and a single site in Wales, with southern Dartmoor being the species stronghold. They have only ever been recorded at 15 sites in Britain, and have been considered extinct more than once².

A couple of hours lamping moss covered oaks produced 2 Blue Ground Beetles, 1 Lesser Searcher Calosoma inquisitor devouring a caterpillar - a behaviour very rarely witnessed in the wild as this rare beetle tends to feed high in the canopy, 3 Ridged Violet Ground Beetles Carabus problematicus, and a single Moorland Ground Beetle Carabus arvensis. Also, another previously captured Lesser Searcher was released by John.

Tonight was quite dry so slugs were thin on the ground, apart from a single Leopard Slug Limax maximus. Also noted were a Nalassus laevioctostriatus - a Darkling (Tenebrionid) beetle, and a colony of Tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria.

Blue Ground Beetle Carabus intricatus, Dendles Wood

Lesser Searcher Calosoma inquisitor, feasting on a caterpillar (that was still alive when we first found it), Dendles Wood

Ridged Violet Ground Beetle Carabus problematicus, Dendles Wood

Moorland Ground Beetle Carabus arvensis, Dendles Wood - more commonly found on the open moor

Tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria - an epiphytic Lobariaceae lichen indicative of ancient forest, widely distributed across the
northern hemisphere and even recorded in tropical rainforest in Costa Rica (more here).

A huge thanks to John Walters for a fascinating and very memorable evening. I learn't a lot about these amazing insects and their ecology, and being eaten alive by midges was a small price to pay! For more information on the Blue Ground Beetle see John's website (where you can download some identification excellent guides) and the references below.

References

¹ Baldock, N. & Walters, J. (2008) The Wildlife of Dartmoor. Newton Abbot: Wotton Printers.
² Boyce, D. & Walters, J. (2001) The conservation of the Blue Ground Beetle in south-west England. British Wildlife 13: 101-108.