Wednesday 28th May 2025.
I finally got my Dipper 'tick' of the trip here to Devon.
Not only did I get four more new moths for my year list this morning, but I also got two bird species that were new for the year at Watersmeet, near Lynton. I had planned earlier in the year to visit this place, but it was not what I was expecting when Becky and I arrived in the Car Park adjacent to the East Lyn River. At last, the weather had turned to sunny skies again and a light westerly and so photography was going to be a lot better today.
The Moth Box:
Above, not only a very good moth for the year, but this was only my second ever Pebbled Prominent. Below, my second Peppered Moth of the year.
Kicking off with the Moth Box with a 5am start thrown in, I was rewarded with four more moths that were new for the year, though the numbers are starting to decline somewhat! Among the 18 moths of 15 species included ‘year-ticks’ of Flame, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Pebble Prominent and my first ever Grey Pug! That more than made up for the lack of moths this morning.
Above, a Clouded Silver moth and below, my second Elephant Hawk-moth of the year.
Above, a Shouldered-striped Wainscot and below, a Flame moth.
Above, my first ever Grey Pug.
The Moths present this morning included the following:
Macro moths:
- Orange Footman x1
- Pale Tussock x3
- Flame x1
- Shoulder-striped Wainscot x1
- Bright-line Brown-eye x1
- Green Carpet x1
- Treble-lines x2
- Common Marbled Carpet x1
- Flame Shoulder x1
- Pebble Prominent x1
- Common Pug x1
- Elephant Hawk-moth x1
- Grey Pug x1
- Peppered Moth x1
- Clouded Silver x1
Watersmeet NT, nr Lynton:
The singing Wood Warbler by the Car Park at Watersmeet NT.
On arrival, we found out that the Car Park at Watersmeet was as far as one could drive due to storm damage further up the road which was now closed. As soon as I got out of the car, I heard the distinctive song of a Wood Warbler singing nearby and so, I took a walk further back along the Car Park and managed to pick out this beautiful little warbler perched up in a glade above me. Thankfully, the bird was quite co-operative and only moved around on a few branches and therefore I was lucky enough to grab a few photos before I headed back to the Car. What a great start to the trip here.
Above and below, a Grey Wagtail was on the rocks within the river.
Next, I noticed how steep the footpath going down to the East Lyn River was going to be and so Becky stayed behind in the Car while I took the dogs down the steep footpath and as I made my way adjacent to the River, I quickly picked out a Grey Wagtail perched on the rocks. Moving further along the footpath adjacent to the River, something caught my attention as a plump little bird perched on a large rock opposite me. It was a Dipper and the bird then began preening and giving me not only time to take some nice photos, but also some film footage of the bird preening. Eventually, after a few minutes, the bird then flew upstream, calling in doing so.
The Dipper on the East Lyn River.
Well chuffed, I headed back up the steep footpath to meet Becky back at the Car Park. Our next stop was to go into Lynton itself for a bite to eat and after a tasty lunch in one of the local Cafe’s, we made our way to the Car Park where we encountered at least a dozen House Martins nesting on the houses surrounding the Car Park. I found one particular pair showing really well busy nest building and putting mud on the walls of the nest. House Martins are declining in the UK, but they seem to be doing relatively well here and more were seen on our way back to Chittlehampton.
Above, some photos of the nesting House Martins by the Car Park in Lynton.
The Sat Nav took us mostly through the country lanes on the way back and we came across quite a few House Martins picking up mud from the edge of the road at various locations, but I wasn't expecting a male Goshawk flying low over the countryside as I pointed it out to Becky!
Above, a view of the Lynton countryside from the Car Park and below, back in our garden at Chittlehampton, Buff-tailed Bumblebee's were nectaring on the garden plants.
When we got home around 2pm, we had a lazy afternoon in the garden where I finally saw my first Common Buzzard of the year sailing over the fields in the distance. The Siskins were on show again and perched in a nearby tree and the sunshine brought out a lot of insects including two Red Admirals, a Dark Giant Horsefly, a Pied Plumehorn (Volucella pellucens), which is one of our larger Hoverflies; plus several Buff-tailed Bumblebees, which were all attracted to the large Purple Chokeberry plant growing in our garden.
Above, the Hoverfly Pied Plumehorn and below, a Dark Giant Horsefly.
Above, from left to right, Pale Tussock, Shoulder-striped Wainscot and a Flame.
As I write this, it is still sunny and very vocal out in the garden with the Corvids making their usual din, but also the soft songs of the Robin, Blackbird and Blackcap singing and even the Goldcrest can be heard too.
This Meadow Grasshopper was right outside our front door this afternoon!
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