Some recent photos

Pied flycatcher breeding success!

Looks like we're on course to fledge 13 pied flycatcher youngsters from two nest boxes!  Six fledged within the last few days, and these seven (pictured below) are due to leave the nest any day now.  The warm, dry spring has undoubtedly helped; now we need a bit of rain to keep the vegetation perky and the insects abundant for the new fledglings of all species.

Seven pied flycatcher chicks, getting ready to fledge.

River of orchids

Mid June in a Dartmoor hay meadow; purple, white, pink and yellow orchids pushing up through the yellow rattle and eyebright.  Makes me think of the song River of Orchids by XTC ('the world overgrows').

Meanwhile, here are some actual orchids - newly emerged and looking terrific.  It's certainly a great time to be here, hay-fever notwithstanding.

Common or heath spotted

Southern marsh?

Greater butterfly orchid

Insects in the ascendant

In mid June we have now entered that part of the summer in which insects are in the ascendant.  Beautiful demoiselle damselflies have been abundant, and butterflies seem to be active in good numbers on Dartmoor, including Green Hairstreak and Marsh Fritillary butterflies close to my home.

Below is a selection of insects seen recently.  The Clouded Buff moth, newly emerged and pristine, gave me particular pleasure.  There's so much to see at this time of year!

Bloody-nosed beetle (larva)

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

Small pearl-bordered fritillary (showing diagnostic underwing pattern)

Clouded buff

Black oil beetle

Green hairstreak

Mating damselflies

Keeled skimmer (female)

Holly blue (underwing)

A dusk walk from Prince Hall Hotel

Last week I took out Mr and Mrs Coleman from Prince Hall Hotel for a dusk walk.  We walked over the West Dart, past Moorlands Farm and out to Ruelake Mire, looking for Snipe and Grasshopper Warbler.  We were rewarded with both equally strange sounds heard at a distance, a fox crossing the mire, and excellent views of Redstart and Grey Wagtail.  It was a muggy, atmospheric evening - amazingly warm for nightfall out on the open moor.  A June dusk is a terrific time to be out and about on a peaceful Dartmoor evening - except for the midges.

Bluebell time

May has been a glorious month here in this Dartmoor valley - Cuckoos calling day in, day out, Snipe calling from the bogs, two nesting pairs of pied flycatchers.  The other day I saw a Honey Buzzard passing over.  Now the bluebells are here in force, and summer is just around the corner.  The best time to be out and about looking for wildlife on Dartmoor.  Come and join us!

Gorse and blackthorn

Milkmaid (cuckoo flower) and hoverfly

Apple blossom (with spider)

The start of a pied flycatcher clutch (there are now seven eggs in this nest!)

It's been a bluebell extravaganza

Hawthorn blossom

Mating small heath butterflies

April flowers bring forth showers...

Some spring photos for you from Dartmoor and around.  The blackthorn in particular has been glorious (I love the combination with lichens); but then the wind and rain went and knocked most of it down... temperatures rising now, migrants arriving, and eggs in a blackcap's nest (pictured).  See you soon, hopefully with more nesting news!