I have nothing but Moths to update you all on I'm afraid...
Part of the reason for this is that we spent four days in North Wales last week, which was absolutely amazing. However it is also because I haven't seen any birds locally worth mentioning! Saying that though, we all might have missed a Curlew Sandpiper reported twice on Black Hole Marsh via BirdGuides on 31st May - although several people tried for it on the day and didn't see it which is a bit of a mystery. In more recent news, Clive has just turned up what we can probably quite safely call our first autumn migrant of 2025, with a Cuckoo near Black Hole Marsh this morning.
The weather has clearly broken from those weeks and weeks of sunshine, however before this happened to the extent it has now I enjoyed two absolutely stonking moth nights in the garden. Not only am I absolutely thrilled my new garden (which we are always trying to improve wildlife-wise) is producing such good numbers, but also that there are these numbers about - last spring/early summer was a disaster for insect numbers and it still haunts me.
On the morning of 23rd May I had 151 macro moths of 47 species in the trap, and on the morning of 31st May 142 macro moths of 46 species. I won't list them all, just pull out the highlights starting with the two migrants...
The Gem - captured on 23/5
Cream-bordered Green Pea - not exactly a stunner - caught on 31/5.
Let's get this one out the way! Least Black Arches - captured on 23/5
How about this, a stunning Puss Moth from 23/5. Never numerous but always spectacular.
Another moth that is never numerous, Peach Blossom. Such an amazing creature!
Love how contrasty Alder Moths are, and three on one night was a great capture on 23/5
Scorched Carpet - captured on 23/5
The best of the resident Hawkmoths the Privet Hawkmoth - pleased to be catching a good supply of these, three on one night the best so far
A trio of Eyed Hawkmoth. Eyed Hawkmoth were fairly irregular
when I trapped at Mum and Dad's, so nice to be seeing these in most catches with this three the highest number in a single catch.
Probably the commonest Hawkmoth locally - the Elephant Hawkmoth - but my first two didn't arrive until 31/5 when they became the fourth species of Hawkmoth trapped in the garden so far.
Am looking forward to the next calm night so I can try again! I am yet to trap in June so it will be interesting to see what new species for the garden, and maybe me, the month brings...
This post is all a bit insecty I am afraid...well we are coming towards the end of the spring migration (not that there was much of one!) so what do you expect?
Saying that though, Rob and Steph managed to grip all locals off yesterday with a brief young male Montagu's Harrier over Axmouth. Only the fourth for the patch, and the first for nine years after we were all treated to a lingering female in the Axe valley in May 2016. It's one of those species that you don't know how many more chances you are going to get to see, with the rapidly declining status of it as a breeding species - not just in UK but in many parts of Europe too. Screenshot of a Tweet from Steph below...
Gripping! I was in the middle of the county show when I first saw these images - at least it wasn't a Pallid!
I enjoyed a lovely walk around Lower Bruckland Ponds yesterday, and it was great to see more of the larger species out. Scarce Chaser in particular were abundant, with 35+ counted including several tandem pairs...
Male Scarce Chaser
Scrace Chaser female
Scarce Chaser pair
Several Four-spotted Chasers and my first Black-tailed Skimmer of the year were also noted. Two (more?) Hairy Hawkers were present too, on different ponds to where I found the patch's first two earlier in the month. I spotted the first of yesterdays through my cameras LCD screen as it photo-bombed a male Scarce Chaser! I never managed a better photo of it so here are the two photo-bombs...
Male Scarce Chaser with Hairy Hawker incoming
Wish I was focussed on the Hairy! Still, a quirky photo!
My first Black-tailed Skimmer of 2025
Long-term readers of this blog will know I dip in and out of moths, but when I do trap it is always at my Mum and Dad's. The family home has a lovely large garden on the edge of Seaton, and is high up, meaning over the years I have accumulated a nice list of species here. This includes some really nice rarities and plenty of local specialities, and am really pleased with my Hawkmoth total of ten species too - but frustrated never to have caught a Pine Hawk there (Bedstraw and two Striped were lovely though!). Although I will no doubt still trap here occasionally, having moved into a new place at the end of last year with a nice sized and well-sheltered garden, I can now trap much closer to home...
Over the last week I have trapped on three nights, and the total of these have been 122 macro moths of 41 species. Here are some of the highlights, the first being a new one for me in Seaton even though it isn't that rare...
Marbled Brown
One of two Hawkmoth species already on the garden list, this Eyed and a Poplar
Portland Ribbon Wave - so pleased to get one during my second night of trapping!
Purple Bar
An unusual view of a Cream-spot Tiger, but the colours made it worth sharing!
I was so excited to hear rain outside my window this morning that I was out the door whilst it was still dark! Spring rain has been even rarer than grounded spring migrants this year, so I wanted to make the most of it as I knew it was soon to stop.
Although what I saw hardly constituted a fall, the rain did the trick and I enjoyed a lovely hour on Seaton Beach, stood right down by the shoreline as there was virtually no wind. Rain in May = waders.
05:30 - 06:30, with rain for the first twenty minutes and then a constant murk afterwards, I saw: 1 Turnstone, 3 Sanderling, 9 Whimbrel, 14 Oystercatcher and 21 Dunlin.
The only of these to land were three of the Whimbrel and the three Sanderling, everything else just went straight though. The Turnstone was really low, and extremely vocal, and the flock of twenty Dunlin were good to watch as they twisted and turned several times in a tight flock close to the shoreline but never dropped in. The 21st Dunlin I never actually saw, could have actually been a quiet flock of 100 for all I knew, but I heard a single bird call a few times so could only record it as one. Turnstone and Sanderling were both new for the year, for me and the patch I believe.
They managed to sneak in, I never saw them fly in they were just there!
So pleased with this trio, next stop the High Arcitc?
Another nice highlight on my return to my car was a new one for me on patch - a singing Black Redstart! Unfortunately it wasn't a stonking adult male but a dull first-summer, still, hearing that sound took me right back to my 2018 trip to Lisbon where they were constantly singing around me. I watched it singing from a nearby roof for a minute or two before it dropped off, then I didn't see or hear it again.
Distant as you can see!
Five Avocet on Black Hole Marsh were more new arrivals today (joining the one remaining Black-winged Stilt, more about that below), and on the Estuary there was a noticeable increase in Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with 14 amongst a small flock of large gulls.
Overhead my third patch year tick of the day came late afternoon, with a Hobby over Lower Bruckland Ponds. Other overhead highlights today were a Red Kite that flew low north over Colyford Common at the same time as three fast-flying Cattle Egrets flew the same direction over the river. I haven't seen any of the latter on the Axe for almost a month now, so these were presumably new in too.
Two Egyptian Geese north of the A3052 at Bridge Marsh were probably not new arrivals, although it has been a few weeks since I saw the pair that were frequenting Colyford and Bridge Marsh. Other hangers on today were two female Wigeon on Seaton Marshes, it's been a good few weeks since I saw my last one here, and that was a male, as well as the second-year Marsh Harrier which has been with us for almost four weeks now.
Marsh Harrier and Island Hide!
So, back to the Stilts. Friday there was no sign of any Black-winged Stilts all day, with the pair having been with us since Monday. However on Saturday morning the female reappeared (much to the happiness of birders planning to visit over the weekend), and as I said in the above paragraph, is still with us today. I found this really odd, not only that she departed then returned, but also that she ditched the male. My theory is he is no more, taken by either a bird or prey or mammal, which maybe spooked her off, but then having not found anywhere better than Black Hole, she returned?
Last lady standing!
Also from Saturday morning I must mention my first Little Ringed Plover since 26th April, with a very vocal bird right next to the Island Hide on Black Hole Marsh, affording lovely views in the morning light...
Cracking bird - and a late one!
Wish I had exposed the photo correctly though
Looks like we are going back to sunshine after today, which is a massive shame...
No pictures to decorate this post with I am afraid, but it was great to confirm the presence of Nightjar on patch last night.
We have had birds with us on the cleared areas of Morganhayes/Bovey Down from 2013 up until 2023 (a bit more information in my blog post HERE), but I couldn't find any in 2024. Even in 2023 many of the areas previously suitable looked far too overgrown, which is what I think finally saw them off the following year. Saying that though, the very cold spring may also have had an impact.
Last night there were two separate churring males, both within Morganhayes, one at the west end and one at the east end. The bird at the west end was in the clearest area remaining - which makes me wonder whether there was a bird or birds out here last year, maybe they just didn't show on the nights I went looking.
Whatever the case may be - it is really good to have them with us again/still. Hopefully they will be doing well with all the recent sunny days and still nights.
Well the local grapevine sprung into action at 12:15 today, when Claire C found two Black-winged Stilts on Black Hole Marsh! Finally some rare bird action for the Axe this spring...
A cracking pair of Black-winged Stilts!
I didn't get to them until later in the afternoon, but had some nice views of them feeding on the southern edge of the marsh, a male and a female although not really acting that much like a pair as they mostly fed separately. I wonder if they are one of the few UK breeding pairs, returning for this season?
Male Black-winged Stilt - the black bits are so black with a lovely glossy finish
Such a lanky beast!
The male in flight
The female, with a brownish cast on its back and slightly duller legs
These are the Axe's second and third Black-winged Stilts, with the species only being added to the patch list as recently as 16th April 2023 when a female spent four days on Black Hole Marsh.
I can summarise the rest of my recent birding quite succinctly, as it hasn't been overly busy! This clear weather is really not helping down migrants on the south coast.
Red Kites have been frequent however, either they are in less of a hurry to pass through this year or there are a lot more of them! I have seen singles or more most days over the past week, with four together over Holyford Woods on Friday being my biggest 'flock'. It's worth saying I have seen all these without having spent any time actually sky-scanning, so have probably missed loads whilst doing other things.
On the Estuary, Whimbrel are finally around in slightly better numbers, there were six and a Curlew on the Estuary all of today for example. I had four Dunlin yesterday and a Greenshank or two has been loitering for about a week now. I missed a Wood Sandpiper which Tim had on Black Hole Marsh one evening last week, which was a shame as it is always good to see a spring Wood Sand - especially as they seem to be getting scarcer in the autumn now.
Lovely light on this resting Whimbrel
This Whimbrel has not just laid a stone - despite how it looks!
The Marsh Harrier is still here, as are at least five Greylag Geese. Swift and House Martins I am pleased to say have increased in numbers over the last week, with at least 14 of the former over Seaton this morning - including a low flying screaming flock of five zigzagging between houses which was nice. Sand Martins are doing excellently locally, with two breeding colonies south of the A3052, and it's nice to have the breeding Swallows back at work, one of only few breeding pairs (less than ten?) in Seaton now, sadly...
The very handsome male who has lovely copper-tinged underparts
The Lesser Whitethroats seemed to have settled down to breed along the Estuary, it is amazing how quickly the male stopped singing after he had attracted a mate. I was worried these were the only breeding Lesser Whitethroats locally, I haven't come across any at Axe Cliff in recent visits (despite excellent numbers of Common Whitethroats), but I stumbled upon another singing male off Cownhayne Lane, Colyford, yesterday. Hopefully a local breeder rather than a passing migrant but I will revisit the site just to make sure.
Lesser Whitethroat singing
Lesser Whitethroat not singing
Hopefully these Stilts will prove the start of a nice run of rarities for us. I do hope so because spring 2025 is clearly not going to be a spring remembered for the quantities of birds - despite the promising start to it.
For the last twelve years, at least, I have been seriously frustrated by the lack of Hairy Hawkers on the Axe so have always put extra Odonata-effort in, in late spring. To the west of us, they are on the Otter near Budleigh, north of us they have been seen in Chard and are super abundant on the Somerset Levels, and east of us they are on the Fleet and have colonised Weymouth. Can see no reason why Hairy Hawkers are not seen here regularly, let alone the fact that as far as I am aware not a single one has ever been recorded on the Axe!
Most years I try and cover as much likely habitat as possible during early May, but this year I changed tack. Lower Bruckland Ponds is by a mile our best dragonfly site, plus it's 100% fresh water whereas any water body in the river valley is always likely to have some salinity to it. So in 2025 I decided to focus all my effort here.
Yesterday saw my third visit to the Ponds within the last ten days, and much to my surprise as I walked up to only the second pond on my loop, a small hawker was right there patrolling the near bank... I'D ONLY GONE AND DONE IT!
An in-habitat shot, Hairy Hawker near bottom left corner of shot
I spent half an hour watching at times TWO Hairy Hawkers zooming around on one of the smallest ponds. Neither stopped still even for a second, so photographs were a challenge, and I think I have only captured one of the insects as the other appeared sporadically whereas this one remained on view the whole time patrolling the northern half of this pond, zipping off course only to munch on a tasty flying insect.
The best photo I managed, and am chuffed with it! Can even justabout see the hairs on its thorax which gives the species its name
This shot shows the abdomen pattern well - typical hawker. Stripes on sides on thorax also classic hawker
This is poorest photo I am posting, but shows the antehumeral stripes well, as well as the general colour of the insect
You wouldn't believe how many photos of blurred lilypads I have had to go through to find the above photos!
Despite all this excitement on just one small pond, I did check the whole site. Saw no more larger dragonflies, but my first Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers, and Large Red-eyed Damselflies of the year were good to see.
A fresh out the packet Four-spotted Chaser
A good few months before the smaller version of these emerge
Love it when a plan works out. Even if it does take twelve years...
I spent an early lunch break photographing the returning Swallows at work, when a line of large birds in the distance way to the north of me caught my eye...
My first view. They were probably well over a mile away when I first spotted them
Common Cranes. Fourteen of them!
I have not mastered flight shots yet! Although in my defence they did remain high
I spent the next eight minutes or so watching them slowly make their way south west down the river valley, circling around on several occasions, but they remained high and never looked like they were interested in landing.
Heading away to the west
I lost them as they flew west from Seaton at 11:58ish, but Phil then saw them over Beer and half an hour later they were over Budleigh, now heading north west. They were next seen at 12:40, over Ottery St Mary, so it sounds like they had turned even more north.
Presumably they were birds from the Great Crane Project enjoying a fly around in the clear weather, but when they saw the sea thought twice and headed back home. I must admit though, seeing a flock of Cranes this size flying over on a clear blue day was pretty cool! And not at all what I expected when I woke up this morning!
I enjoyed a couple of hours walking around Axe Cliff this morning, somewhere I haven't been much at all so far this spring. The overcast weather and lack of wind created the perfect conditions for spring optimism - hence my visit here.
It wasn't in any way busy, however it was a really enjoyable morning with a light smattering of migrants, a bit of vismig, and all the locally resident species of bird, and other wildlife, showing well. I could have stayed out all morning to be honest.
I'll start overhead, where Swallows trickled west, along with a single Whimbrel and my first Tree Pipit of the year, passing just off the cliff edge at 06:54 as it buzzed its way west.
Grounded migrants included three lovely (and large-looking) Wheatears, one Sedge Warbler in full song and a really healthy total of 24 Whitethroats - most of which looked to be on breeding territories.
Male Wheatear, love the rusty mantle
Female Wheatear - looking long and leggy!
The Whitethroats along the road love singing off the wires
Another really nice highlight was seeing two Brown Hares. Axe Cliff is the last part of the patch where you can still see Hares, however sightings are seemingly getting more and more sporadic. These were my first for a good few years. One of them will be incredibly easy to track though, because it looked like this...
Thought it was someones escaped pet rabbit on my first view!
Nope - certainly a Hare!
Its mate was of the more regular variety...
Looking great sat up - top animals
Whilst I was at Axe Cliff I was missing what would have been my first Cuckoo of the year, that others were hearing in the river valley. By the time I got down there it had gone silent, but there were still birds to be had...
On Colyford Marsh, two Little Ringed Plovers were on the scrape, with my first Bar-tailed Godwit of the spring (sadly a grey one) feeding with a couple of Whimbrel on the grass towards the River Coly. Three Gadwall flew downriver, the lingering Marsh Harrier remained in view for most of the time and my first two Common Swifts of the year were with the 60+ feeding hirundines above Bridge Marsh.
Looking really settled here!
So not a morning of spring birding that will go down in history, but enjoyable nonetheless.
