We have arrived at Chittlehampton.

 Saturday 23rd May 2026.

This male Siskin favoured this Ash Tree to begin singing near our garden.

Day one of our holiday to North Devon and now a pleasant week’s stay within the small village of Chittlehampton. We have been here several times now and this time, it looks as though the weather is looking very good for our stay here. The drive up to the location wasn't too bad as we left sunny Portsmouth around 10am and arrived here, after a brief stop, around 2.3pm. The gorgeous cottage we are staying at has not changed much since the last time we were here last year and with the superb weather, I am so looking forward to checking out the area and its wildlife. I have brought along with me a portable Moth Box and hope to get a lot more ‘year-ticks’ throughout the week.

Chittlehampton, North Devon:

A singing male Greenfinch sharing the same tree as the Siskin.

I couldn't resist grabbing a few photos of the birdlife here by my Cottage as a lot of the birds were making use of certain trees to sing from. We have a Rookery nearby, which I know is going to be quite noisy, especially early in the morning; but with all the other birds here, it should keep me occupied, if not the Moths! Painted Lady butterflies are coming into the UK in big numbers and I wasn't surprised to see one in the garden this afternoon. Both Hornet and a Honey Bee were seen around some of the garden plants while I was checking out the back garden for the first time.

The singing male Greenfinch again in the Ash Tree and below, one of many Swifts soaring over the countryside here.

Above, the male Siskin and below, a pair of Goldfinches also settled in the same tree.

Above, a Honey Bee and below, the Painted Lady butterfly.

Above, a Common Buzzard distantly soaring over the nearby fields and below, a view of the garden.

Above, my Moth Box is all set up for tonight and below, Rooks in one of the fields behind our garden.

The birds came in thick and fast with Siskins, Chaffinches and Goldfinches using a large Ash tree in a neighbouring garden to sing from. A Goldcrest was singing from a Conifer within the garden and overhead, there were good numbers of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins (plenty of the latter are nesting under the eaves of the houses within the village) hawking overhead and a Common Buzzard was seen soaring over the countryside. Other birds noted this afternoon included a singing Willow Warbler heard in someone's garden on the opposite side of the road and a Raven soaring high over the countryside nearby. So begins a relaxing week for both Becky and myself and we also have our good friend Jackie staying with us too.