Sunday 24th May 2026.
Dawn over Chittlehampton this morning.
The day got off to a clear and bright start, though at 5am this morning, there was a lot of mist over the fields behind our garden here in Chittlehampton, but the birds were in full song in and around the garden. The Rooks were very vocal in the nearby Rookery, while Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and both Goldfinch and Greenfinch were also heard singing nearby. Siskins were flying overhead and I could see several Swifts and House Martins searching the skies for a tasty insect.
New moths for the year included these two; above, a Lobster Moth and below, a Flame moth.
When I got out into the garden after making a coffee, I was surprised to find so many Cockchafer Beetles scattered around the patio. It seems that once they land upside down, they are totally helpless as there is nothing for them to grab hold of! So, before I checked the Moth Box thoroughly, I had to pick up well over a dozen Cockchafer Beetles so nobody trod on them!
Well over a dozen Cockchafer Beetles were rescued this morning.
My Moth Box:
My first ever Cream-spot Tiger moth.
Twelve moth ‘year-ticks’ was most certainly a superb start to our holiday here in sunny Devon and that included a ‘Lifer’ for me, a Cream-spot Tiger moth! What a stunner! There were 32 moths of 19 species this morning and though the numbers of moths it seems was quite low, the quality was amazing. Yet all the moths were ‘Macro moths’ and not one ‘Micro moth’ among them! Very odd.
Above, one of two Large Yellow Underwings and below, a superb Buff-tip moth.
Above, my first Sharp-angled Peacock moth of the year and below, my second Cinnabar Moth for the year.
Another EIGHT more ‘year-ticks’ this morning to add to my increasing year list and that included the moths Buff-tip, Small Fan-foot, Pebble Prominent, Sharp-angled Peacock, Lobster Moth, Flame and Large Yellow Underwing. Some incredible moths and this bodes well with the oncoming heatwave predicted as temperatures here are set to soar into the 80’s!!!
The following Moths were present in and around the Moth Box:
MACRO MOTHS |
|
Buff-tip * x1 |
Silver Y x2 |
Maiden’s Blush x1 |
Willow Beauty x1 |
Small Mottled Willow x3 |
Orange Footman x4 |
Small Fan-foot * x1 |
CREAM-SPOT TIGER * x1 |
Garden Carpet x1 |
Pebble Prominent * x2 |
Pale Tussock x6 |
Cinnabar Moth x1 |
Sharp-angled Peacock * x1 |
Lobster Moth * x1 |
Flame * x1 |
Large Yellow Underwing * x2 |
Buff Ermine x1 |
Heart & Dart x1 |
White Ermine x1 |
Our Buddy had this Green Shieldbug perched on his nose before I rescued it!
I took the boys (my dogs) for their early morning walk down the lane where Jackie and I walked last night. This time, I checked out the local wildlife in the area and came across a few notable sightings including a startled Hare that ran past our feet and into a neighbouring field! I had taken a lot of photos and so kept the decent ones to put on my blog. The temperature was rising all the time and I could feel the warm sun on my back at 8am this morning.
Above, a Swallow on an overhead wire in the village and below, this singing Wren sang from a TV Aerial.
Above, a pair of Stock Doves flew over our heads and landed on a nearby Barn roof and below, lambs were abundant in the neighbouring fields.
Above, this female Linnet on an overhead wire was one of several seen on our walk and below, a stunning view of the countryside.
Above, a Goldfinch landed briefly by the side of the road and below, the dawn mist was slowly clearing over the countryside.
Above, Honeysuckle was growing within the hedgerows and below, the Steeple of The Church of Hieritha.
Above, a male Blackbird in the Sheep field eyeing up a potential prey. Below, another photo of the obliging Swallow.
Above, Cow Parsley grows along the hedgerows and below, a pair of inquisitive Jackdaws!
Above, a pair of House Sparrows within the village and below, another view of the countryside.
Above, a Blackbird perched on a rooftop within the village and below, looking west along East Street.
Above, a Wren perched on an overhead wire within the village and below, this male House Sparrow was seen singing.
Above, a preening Jackdaw within the village and below, Navalwort growing on an old stone wall.
Above, one of the many Swifts over the village and below, a dawn photo from the garden.
Good numbers of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows were flying around the village and a lot of the more common birds showing nicely in the bright sunshine. The familiar Navalwort was growing on one of the stone walls by a Cottage and the likes of Birds-foot Trefoil and Cow Parsley decorated the hedgerows as well as Honeysuckle and White Campion.
