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Matts Holistic Devon list 2010 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Matt Prince
- Start date
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Indeed - UK has one clubtail and three emeralds, of which only one emerald (downy cordulia aenea) occurs in Devon. I was lucky enough to find one newly emerged earlier this year.
Hello Andrew, nope still gripped by the wife on that one!
Carrying on with the odonata theme - have you seen any interesting dragons down on the canal lately? Thinking of Scarce Chaser, but also White Legged Damsel and Banded Demoiselle...
Cheers,
Matt
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
BioBlitz Devon Information
Here's a little bit more info on the BioBlitz I mentioned earlier that is taking place at Mothecombe June 11/12
http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/bioblitz/national-bioblitz/south-west/devon.html
Here's a little bit more info on the BioBlitz I mentioned earlier that is taking place at Mothecombe June 11/12
http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/bioblitz/national-bioblitz/south-west/devon.html
Andrew
wibble wibble
Been very tied up lately but Ray did a dragonfly survey on the canal recently at Westcott/Ebear bridges and had two Hairy Dragonfly, a few Scarce Chasers and a Banded Demoiselle amongst many others.
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Monday 31st May
Finally Braunton Burrows, with much expectation.
<rant>Initially I have to confess I was in "foul" mood, as you first have to escape the DMZ (dog muck zone). No skylarks near the car park, wonder why? </rant>
Anyway..
It was mostly sunny, with a bit of cloud cover and blustery, but fairly sheltered amidst the dunes, and butterflies were everywhere, especially common blue. Small Blue was relatively easy to find (for a change) and marching onwards we stopped at an area of ponds where both Smooth and palmate newts were easily observed, plus several interesting plants. Using Mary Breeds book on the flora of the area was invaluable in sorting out some of the specialist vegetation - I think even Nicola was a bit out of her depth in this specialised environment at least with the sedges and rushes! Tiny pearlworts, and strapping hawkweeds were a nightmare. The more familiar Early Marsh Orchids (including ssp coccinea), Vipers Bugloss and Sand Pansy (Viola Tricolor ssp curtsii) and Round Leaved Wintergreen were a pleasant contrast. Several dragons were on the wing, including Four-Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer and Empreror, with exuvia (the spent casing as a dragon emerges from the water) scattered around the edges of the pond. A brief view of a jumping spider amongst a horde of Grey Bush Crickets was frustrating as its yellow palps suggested (wrongly) that I might have been able to id it later.. A few spiders, a hawkweed loving leaf beetle, and a rhombus shaped shieldbug were identifiable, at least from photographs later.
Finally arriving at the sea the book gave us an easy "in" and we found most of the specials of this habitat, including Sea Stock, Sea Spurge, Sea Couch Grass (anyone spot a theme here?)
The walk back turned into a bit of a trudge, with a few more interesing plants including Heath Speedwell, and we (predictably) got lost (perhaps we should have used the GPS we took with us).
A brief stop on the way out produced Brown Trout and Water Figwort plus a figwort weevil Cionus Sp.
Long day, and at times frustrating, but an excellent site and we will hopefully be back soon...
Sites : Braunton Burrows
Species : Brown Trout, Smooth Newt, Tetragnatha Extensor (spider), Mangora Acalypha (spider), Emperor (Dragonfly), Four Spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly,Small Blue Butterfly, Small Heath, Grey Bush Cricket, Poplar Leaf Beetle, Crypotocephalis Hypochaeridis (hawkweed leaf beetle), Cionus sp (Figwort Weevil), Syromastes Rhombeus (Shieldbug), Pineapple Weed (naturalised), Common Comfrey, Fennel, Sand Pansy (viola tricolor curtsii), Biting Stonecrop, Round-leaved Wintergreen, Blue FleaBane, Grey Club Rush, Sharp Rush, Early Marsh Orchid (incl ssp Coccinea), Few Flowered Spike Rush, Brackish Crowfoot, Sand Catstail, Sea Couch Grass, Frosted Orache, Sea Rocket, Prickly Saltwort, Sea Stock, Sand Sedge, Broad-leaf everlasting Pea (naturalised), Heath Speedwell, Water Figwort,
Fish ;R&A 4; Butters 22; Dragons 11; Groppers 2; Spiders 18; Flora 294; Misc 42
GT : 727
Finally Braunton Burrows, with much expectation.
<rant>Initially I have to confess I was in "foul" mood, as you first have to escape the DMZ (dog muck zone). No skylarks near the car park, wonder why? </rant>
Anyway..
It was mostly sunny, with a bit of cloud cover and blustery, but fairly sheltered amidst the dunes, and butterflies were everywhere, especially common blue. Small Blue was relatively easy to find (for a change) and marching onwards we stopped at an area of ponds where both Smooth and palmate newts were easily observed, plus several interesting plants. Using Mary Breeds book on the flora of the area was invaluable in sorting out some of the specialist vegetation - I think even Nicola was a bit out of her depth in this specialised environment at least with the sedges and rushes! Tiny pearlworts, and strapping hawkweeds were a nightmare. The more familiar Early Marsh Orchids (including ssp coccinea), Vipers Bugloss and Sand Pansy (Viola Tricolor ssp curtsii) and Round Leaved Wintergreen were a pleasant contrast. Several dragons were on the wing, including Four-Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer and Empreror, with exuvia (the spent casing as a dragon emerges from the water) scattered around the edges of the pond. A brief view of a jumping spider amongst a horde of Grey Bush Crickets was frustrating as its yellow palps suggested (wrongly) that I might have been able to id it later.. A few spiders, a hawkweed loving leaf beetle, and a rhombus shaped shieldbug were identifiable, at least from photographs later.
Finally arriving at the sea the book gave us an easy "in" and we found most of the specials of this habitat, including Sea Stock, Sea Spurge, Sea Couch Grass (anyone spot a theme here?)
The walk back turned into a bit of a trudge, with a few more interesing plants including Heath Speedwell, and we (predictably) got lost (perhaps we should have used the GPS we took with us).
A brief stop on the way out produced Brown Trout and Water Figwort plus a figwort weevil Cionus Sp.
Long day, and at times frustrating, but an excellent site and we will hopefully be back soon...
Sites : Braunton Burrows
Species : Brown Trout, Smooth Newt, Tetragnatha Extensor (spider), Mangora Acalypha (spider), Emperor (Dragonfly), Four Spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly,Small Blue Butterfly, Small Heath, Grey Bush Cricket, Poplar Leaf Beetle, Crypotocephalis Hypochaeridis (hawkweed leaf beetle), Cionus sp (Figwort Weevil), Syromastes Rhombeus (Shieldbug), Pineapple Weed (naturalised), Common Comfrey, Fennel, Sand Pansy (viola tricolor curtsii), Biting Stonecrop, Round-leaved Wintergreen, Blue FleaBane, Grey Club Rush, Sharp Rush, Early Marsh Orchid (incl ssp Coccinea), Few Flowered Spike Rush, Brackish Crowfoot, Sand Catstail, Sea Couch Grass, Frosted Orache, Sea Rocket, Prickly Saltwort, Sea Stock, Sand Sedge, Broad-leaf everlasting Pea (naturalised), Heath Speedwell, Water Figwort,
Fish ;R&A 4; Butters 22; Dragons 11; Groppers 2; Spiders 18; Flora 294; Misc 42
GT : 727
Attachments
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Thanks to Ficedula for an identification of a Snipe Fly found at Exminster Marshs - Rhagio Scolopaceus and the Snake Fly at Lydford Atlantoraphidia maculicollis
A Snail Eating Beetle at Dawlish Warren was more problematic, so is going down as Silpha Sp (possibly Silpha Atrata).
Beetles 19; Misc 44
GT 730
A Snail Eating Beetle at Dawlish Warren was more problematic, so is going down as Silpha Sp (possibly Silpha Atrata).
Beetles 19; Misc 44
GT 730
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
4 June 2010
Popped by the canal on the way home (Swindon to Exeter, via Wales..) for a quick look to see if any of the Scarce Chasers were hanging up in the cooling evening. Sure enough a mated male gave good bin views, but refused to hang around for its picture. Also on site Canary Reed Grass, Alder Buckthorn and nearby a big stand of Hemlock, purple stained, rank smelling and fairly poisonous.
Sites Visited : Tiverton Canal
Species : Scarce Chaser, Alder Buckthorn, Canary Reed Grass, Hemlock, Silver Ground Carpet
Moths 32; Dragons 12; Flora 297
GT 735
Popped by the canal on the way home (Swindon to Exeter, via Wales..) for a quick look to see if any of the Scarce Chasers were hanging up in the cooling evening. Sure enough a mated male gave good bin views, but refused to hang around for its picture. Also on site Canary Reed Grass, Alder Buckthorn and nearby a big stand of Hemlock, purple stained, rank smelling and fairly poisonous.
Sites Visited : Tiverton Canal
Species : Scarce Chaser, Alder Buckthorn, Canary Reed Grass, Hemlock, Silver Ground Carpet
Moths 32; Dragons 12; Flora 297
GT 735
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Saturday 5th June
Slow start, weather OK to start with as we headed towards Cramers cross off the A38 for a couple of plants. Corky Fruited Dropwort was present, and some insect activity including the Linford Christy of the spider world (a Philodromus sp, possibly aureolus) and a Hawthorn Shieldbug. Good to see that the surviving greater butterfly orchids were now well developed. Next we moved onto the ponds to look for small pearl butter and great crested newt, no list ticks on those accounts, but we did find a few insects - and a lot of real ticks.. Including all over us!
After a thorough de-ticking we moved hastily onwards to Ramshorn Down, were the Small Pearl Bordered butterflies were all over the place.
Then Challacombe bog, but the weather had become quite cool and blustery, and the hoped for insects were few and far between, though we did find Mountain Bumble-bee and Round Leaved Sundew. Same story over on Moretown Bog, which was surprisingly dry, at least we found the other Sundew (Oblong leaved, though round leaved and everything in between was also present..). As an aside, I almost trod on a magnificent female adder, which reluctantly slunk down into some burnt gorse.
The final part of the day was spent hunting across a couple of the tors, we found Fir Clubmoss and a few more insects including yet another Meta spider species, and several tor hopping Vanessid butterflies and a distinctive black moss.
Sites : Cramers Cross, Chudleigh Knighton Ponds, Ramshorn Down, Haytor Vale, Challacombe Down, Moretown Bog, Leeden Tor, Leather Tor
Taxa : Common Frog, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Red Admiral; Painted Lady, Hawthorn Shieldbug, Bombus Monticola (Bumblebee), Meta Merianae (Spider), Philodromus sp (Spider), The Drinker (Caterpillar), Common Carpet (Moth), Lead Bell (moth), crambus lathoniellus (moth), micropteryx calthella (moth), The Lackey (caterpillar), Corky fruited dropwort, Common Knapweed, Hard Rush, Common Sedge, Rough Chervil, Heath Bedstraw, Heath Rush, Many-stalked Spike Rush, Deergrass, Round-leaved Sundew, Oblong-leaved Sundew, Marsh St Johns Wort, Fir Club-moss, Soft Rush, Purple Moor Grass, Andreaea rothii (Black Moss)
(Omission from 31 May Braunton Burrows - Great Pond Snail )
Rept&Amph 5; Butters 25; Moths 38; Spiders 20; Flora 315; M&L 10
GT 769
Slow start, weather OK to start with as we headed towards Cramers cross off the A38 for a couple of plants. Corky Fruited Dropwort was present, and some insect activity including the Linford Christy of the spider world (a Philodromus sp, possibly aureolus) and a Hawthorn Shieldbug. Good to see that the surviving greater butterfly orchids were now well developed. Next we moved onto the ponds to look for small pearl butter and great crested newt, no list ticks on those accounts, but we did find a few insects - and a lot of real ticks.. Including all over us!
After a thorough de-ticking we moved hastily onwards to Ramshorn Down, were the Small Pearl Bordered butterflies were all over the place.
Then Challacombe bog, but the weather had become quite cool and blustery, and the hoped for insects were few and far between, though we did find Mountain Bumble-bee and Round Leaved Sundew. Same story over on Moretown Bog, which was surprisingly dry, at least we found the other Sundew (Oblong leaved, though round leaved and everything in between was also present..). As an aside, I almost trod on a magnificent female adder, which reluctantly slunk down into some burnt gorse.
The final part of the day was spent hunting across a couple of the tors, we found Fir Clubmoss and a few more insects including yet another Meta spider species, and several tor hopping Vanessid butterflies and a distinctive black moss.
Sites : Cramers Cross, Chudleigh Knighton Ponds, Ramshorn Down, Haytor Vale, Challacombe Down, Moretown Bog, Leeden Tor, Leather Tor
Taxa : Common Frog, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Red Admiral; Painted Lady, Hawthorn Shieldbug, Bombus Monticola (Bumblebee), Meta Merianae (Spider), Philodromus sp (Spider), The Drinker (Caterpillar), Common Carpet (Moth), Lead Bell (moth), crambus lathoniellus (moth), micropteryx calthella (moth), The Lackey (caterpillar), Corky fruited dropwort, Common Knapweed, Hard Rush, Common Sedge, Rough Chervil, Heath Bedstraw, Heath Rush, Many-stalked Spike Rush, Deergrass, Round-leaved Sundew, Oblong-leaved Sundew, Marsh St Johns Wort, Fir Club-moss, Soft Rush, Purple Moor Grass, Andreaea rothii (Black Moss)
(Omission from 31 May Braunton Burrows - Great Pond Snail )
Rept&Amph 5; Butters 25; Moths 38; Spiders 20; Flora 315; M&L 10
GT 769
Attachments
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Saturday 5th June Update
Having spent a bit of time on the net researching scorpion flies, I’ve been hoping to get a half decent picture of one - finally managed at Cramers cross on the 5th showing most of the key features (wing venation, wing markings, top of the male pincers, though I missed the lateral view of the tail segments). The indications are .. this really is panorpa communis. Not just a panorpa that looks like it.
Of course I only recorded the prevous scorpion fly as panorpa sp. so this adds nothing to the tally - however it does mean if I find another panorpa that isn't communis then I'll be able to add that as well...
Unid'd stress level - basking in a minor win.
Having spent a bit of time on the net researching scorpion flies, I’ve been hoping to get a half decent picture of one - finally managed at Cramers cross on the 5th showing most of the key features (wing venation, wing markings, top of the male pincers, though I missed the lateral view of the tail segments). The indications are .. this really is panorpa communis. Not just a panorpa that looks like it.
Of course I only recorded the prevous scorpion fly as panorpa sp. so this adds nothing to the tally - however it does mean if I find another panorpa that isn't communis then I'll be able to add that as well...
Unid'd stress level - basking in a minor win.
Attachments
Last edited:
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Sunday 6th June
Nicola insisted we had to get back at a reasonable time today to get stuff done.. So we had a 'morning' at Watersmeet, primarily to look for flora. A typical slow morning start from me, not helped by a last minute panic to get some info on the site was sidetracked by the discovery of the 'no parking tree'. Still - printed out the info including a couple of pictures of the 'famous' sorbus admonitum. Cutting through foreign lands to get on site as quickly as possible we eventually rolled up at 10AM.. Listening to singing wood warbler from the car park, walked down the road.. and there it was ! On the edge of the staff car park an old whitebeam in flower, unmistakeably the tree that gave its species a name. Just as well really, because checking through no less than three ID guides on the whitebeam complex reduced us to a state of bewilderment. Another target on site was hay scented buckler fern and again - out of our depth as we struggled with the huge arrays of dryopteris, mostly affinis (golden scaled male), broad buckler and what looked like Lady Fern (plus plenty of hard and harts tongue and soft shield and black spleenwort and so on). A party of hikers going past included a lady who stopped to ask us what we were looking at, as I was checking out what looked like a lady fern but with a dark stalk. Surprisingly for someone dressed up in straight hiking gear she knew exactly what we were looking at and rattled off the latin names, confirming that the dark stemmed plant was indeed a lady fern. It turns out by chance that this was Mary Breeds, the author of the book that had served us so well on Braunton Burrows. We had a bit of a natter during which we thanked her for the help the book gave, and she suggested another site for hay scented buckler fern and invited us along to some of the walks she was giving on Braunton - a very nice, enthusiastic naturalist. Sadly she was busy with another group so we had to search for hay scented, wood stichwort et al on our tods. The only site speciality that we did find easily was the Irish Spurge, I wasted a lot of time looking for filmy ferns around the rocks and crevices but to no avail. We found several ferns that looked like they might have been hay scented buckler, on shape and size at least, but none had the dark stem stated in the literature, or indeed smelt of anything but fern (what does hay smell like btw?). There were a lot of naturalised alien plants on site including american willowherb, welsh poppy and pick-a-back. Eventually we left site at 2PM - just stopping briefly to watch a spotted flycatcher, and without a confirmed hay scented buckler or any sorbus other than the no parking tree!
Simply outclassed!
Sites : Watersmeet
Species :Rhagium Mordax (Longhorn Beetle), No Parking Tree (Sorbus Admonitum), Irish Spurge, Welsh Poppy (naturalised), Wych Elm, Downy Birch, Remote Sedge, MeadowSweet, Goldilocks Buttercup, Lady Fern, Pick-a-back Plant (naturalised), Wood Melick (Grass), American Willow-herb (naturalised), Conocephalum Conicum (Great Scented Liverwort)
Flora 327; Beetles 20; M&L 11
GT 782
Unid'd Stress Level - Massive.
Nicola insisted we had to get back at a reasonable time today to get stuff done.. So we had a 'morning' at Watersmeet, primarily to look for flora. A typical slow morning start from me, not helped by a last minute panic to get some info on the site was sidetracked by the discovery of the 'no parking tree'. Still - printed out the info including a couple of pictures of the 'famous' sorbus admonitum. Cutting through foreign lands to get on site as quickly as possible we eventually rolled up at 10AM.. Listening to singing wood warbler from the car park, walked down the road.. and there it was ! On the edge of the staff car park an old whitebeam in flower, unmistakeably the tree that gave its species a name. Just as well really, because checking through no less than three ID guides on the whitebeam complex reduced us to a state of bewilderment. Another target on site was hay scented buckler fern and again - out of our depth as we struggled with the huge arrays of dryopteris, mostly affinis (golden scaled male), broad buckler and what looked like Lady Fern (plus plenty of hard and harts tongue and soft shield and black spleenwort and so on). A party of hikers going past included a lady who stopped to ask us what we were looking at, as I was checking out what looked like a lady fern but with a dark stalk. Surprisingly for someone dressed up in straight hiking gear she knew exactly what we were looking at and rattled off the latin names, confirming that the dark stemmed plant was indeed a lady fern. It turns out by chance that this was Mary Breeds, the author of the book that had served us so well on Braunton Burrows. We had a bit of a natter during which we thanked her for the help the book gave, and she suggested another site for hay scented buckler fern and invited us along to some of the walks she was giving on Braunton - a very nice, enthusiastic naturalist. Sadly she was busy with another group so we had to search for hay scented, wood stichwort et al on our tods. The only site speciality that we did find easily was the Irish Spurge, I wasted a lot of time looking for filmy ferns around the rocks and crevices but to no avail. We found several ferns that looked like they might have been hay scented buckler, on shape and size at least, but none had the dark stem stated in the literature, or indeed smelt of anything but fern (what does hay smell like btw?). There were a lot of naturalised alien plants on site including american willowherb, welsh poppy and pick-a-back. Eventually we left site at 2PM - just stopping briefly to watch a spotted flycatcher, and without a confirmed hay scented buckler or any sorbus other than the no parking tree!
Simply outclassed!
Sites : Watersmeet
Species :Rhagium Mordax (Longhorn Beetle), No Parking Tree (Sorbus Admonitum), Irish Spurge, Welsh Poppy (naturalised), Wych Elm, Downy Birch, Remote Sedge, MeadowSweet, Goldilocks Buttercup, Lady Fern, Pick-a-back Plant (naturalised), Wood Melick (Grass), American Willow-herb (naturalised), Conocephalum Conicum (Great Scented Liverwort)
Flora 327; Beetles 20; M&L 11
GT 782
Unid'd Stress Level - Massive.
Attachments
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Addendum Leeden Tor (5th June)
Marchantia Polymoprha (ssp Polymoprha) Star-headed liverwort
MLL (Mosses Lichens and Liverworts) : 12
Thanks to Nicola for the id work on all the MLL's so far.
Marchantia Polymoprha (ssp Polymoprha) Star-headed liverwort
MLL (Mosses Lichens and Liverworts) : 12
Thanks to Nicola for the id work on all the MLL's so far.
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Friday/Saturday 11th/12th June
Mothecombe Bio-blitz
Having volunteered to help out in any way a generalist could at the the bio blitz we turned up on site not knowing quite what to expect at about 10AM Friday morning. The site was new to us, a rather pleasant little sandy estuary and sheltered bay, with the survey area extending out into meadows and woods either side and a short way out to sea including some rocky reef. We were soon bedecked in official t-shirts, the recording zones and sheets explained to us and we were off recording. Over the course of the day we helped out where we could and got to meet many knowledgeable people, most of which were specialists in certain fields (beetles, seaweeds, birds, flora, lichens etc) or keen students and volunteers. In any case due in part to the scale of the survey site, even a pair of generalist naturalists could provide useful records. Friday was schoolkids day, where groups of schoolchildren filtered through on various bug hunts and rockpool rambles, whereas friday evening was bats and moths, and Saturday a public day. Too much went on to go into great detail, but some highlights included Nicola finding three species of Plantain in a very small area, the continued cheer of the cetacean watchers despite cetacean free seas, two cracking snorkel sessions, identifying some common insects and spiders, a very educational seaweed ramble (promoting the current seaweed survery - see here) and an excellent moth session hosted by two excellent lepidopterists we are fortunate enough to know - Barry Henwood and John Randall. A big shout out to all the organisers, volunteers and experts involved in this impressive event and personal thanks to those that allowed us to tag along and those that shared some of their finds with us. As we left on Saturday after 28 hours of recording by dozens of people, the total was well into the 700's and rising as much was yet to be identified and logged.
Sites : Mothecombe
Species : Greater Sand Eel, Lesser Sand Eel, Pollack, Ballan Wrasse, Corkwring Wrasse, Flounder, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Large Skipper, The Snout, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Sand Dart, Green Carpet, L-Album Wainscot, The Flame, Barred Straw, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Silver, Flame Shoulder, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Nematopogon Metaxella (Longhorn), Ghost Moth, Middle Barred Minor, Mottled Beauty, Hedya pruniana (plum tortrix), Willow Beauty, The Magpie (caterpillar), The Spectacle, Dark Spectacle, The Fern, Ruddy Carpet, Treble Lines, Ingrailed Clay, Common Pug, cydia nigricana (Pea Moth), Small Angle Shades, Barred Red, Heart 'n' Dart, Light Emerald, Scalloped Hazel, Purple Bar, Iron Prominent, Nemophora Degeerella (longhorn moth), Small Fanfoot, Celypha lacunana (micro), Large Yellow Underwing, Orange Footman, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Grey Pug, Rivulet, Pseudoswammerdamia Combinella, White Ermine, Small Square Spot, Brown Rustic, Marbled Brown, Figure of Eighty, Peppered Moth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Burnished Brass, Green Arches, Satin Wave, Cream Wave, Grey Pine Carpet, Straw Dot, Scoparia pyralella (pyralid), plutella xylostella (diamond-back moth), Poplar Hawk Moth, Depressaria Daucella (larvae in Hemlock Water Dropwort Flowers), Mother of Peal (larvae), pammene aurana (micro), micropteryx aruncella, (micro on buttercup pollen), Acrolepia Autumnitella (leaf-miner), Salticus Scenicus (jumping spider), Field Grasshopper, Agrypinus Murinus (Click Beetle ), Athos Haemorrhoidalis (Common Click Beetle), e. nobilis (small green beetle with swollen femurs), Chrysolina Staphylea/banksii (leaf beetle), phylobius rboretanus/viridieranis (small blue weevil), Hedge Woundwort, Common Figwort, Watercress, Sea Plantain, Creeping Cinquefoil, Hairy Sedge, Nipplewort, Black Mustard, Common (Spiny) Spider Crab, Cyanea Capilata (Lions-mane Jellyfish), Cyanea Lamarckii (Jellyfish), Dahlia Anemone, Vollucella Bombylaria (Hoverfly), Dumontia contorta (Red Seaweed), Saccharina Latissima (Sugar Kelp), Himanthalia Elongata (Thongweed), Colpomenia Peregrina (Oyster-thief), Porphyra Dioica (Red Seaweed)
Fish 14; Butters 28; Moths 101; Groppers 3; Beetles ; Spiders 21; Flora 335; Misc 47; Marine 48
GT 881
Unid'd Stress level : Low, lots unid'd but far more gifted from friendly experts!
Mothecombe Bio-blitz
Having volunteered to help out in any way a generalist could at the the bio blitz we turned up on site not knowing quite what to expect at about 10AM Friday morning. The site was new to us, a rather pleasant little sandy estuary and sheltered bay, with the survey area extending out into meadows and woods either side and a short way out to sea including some rocky reef. We were soon bedecked in official t-shirts, the recording zones and sheets explained to us and we were off recording. Over the course of the day we helped out where we could and got to meet many knowledgeable people, most of which were specialists in certain fields (beetles, seaweeds, birds, flora, lichens etc) or keen students and volunteers. In any case due in part to the scale of the survey site, even a pair of generalist naturalists could provide useful records. Friday was schoolkids day, where groups of schoolchildren filtered through on various bug hunts and rockpool rambles, whereas friday evening was bats and moths, and Saturday a public day. Too much went on to go into great detail, but some highlights included Nicola finding three species of Plantain in a very small area, the continued cheer of the cetacean watchers despite cetacean free seas, two cracking snorkel sessions, identifying some common insects and spiders, a very educational seaweed ramble (promoting the current seaweed survery - see here) and an excellent moth session hosted by two excellent lepidopterists we are fortunate enough to know - Barry Henwood and John Randall. A big shout out to all the organisers, volunteers and experts involved in this impressive event and personal thanks to those that allowed us to tag along and those that shared some of their finds with us. As we left on Saturday after 28 hours of recording by dozens of people, the total was well into the 700's and rising as much was yet to be identified and logged.
Sites : Mothecombe
Species : Greater Sand Eel, Lesser Sand Eel, Pollack, Ballan Wrasse, Corkwring Wrasse, Flounder, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary, Large Skipper, The Snout, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Sand Dart, Green Carpet, L-Album Wainscot, The Flame, Barred Straw, Yellow-barred Brindle, Clouded Silver, Flame Shoulder, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Nematopogon Metaxella (Longhorn), Ghost Moth, Middle Barred Minor, Mottled Beauty, Hedya pruniana (plum tortrix), Willow Beauty, The Magpie (caterpillar), The Spectacle, Dark Spectacle, The Fern, Ruddy Carpet, Treble Lines, Ingrailed Clay, Common Pug, cydia nigricana (Pea Moth), Small Angle Shades, Barred Red, Heart 'n' Dart, Light Emerald, Scalloped Hazel, Purple Bar, Iron Prominent, Nemophora Degeerella (longhorn moth), Small Fanfoot, Celypha lacunana (micro), Large Yellow Underwing, Orange Footman, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Grey Pug, Rivulet, Pseudoswammerdamia Combinella, White Ermine, Small Square Spot, Brown Rustic, Marbled Brown, Figure of Eighty, Peppered Moth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Burnished Brass, Green Arches, Satin Wave, Cream Wave, Grey Pine Carpet, Straw Dot, Scoparia pyralella (pyralid), plutella xylostella (diamond-back moth), Poplar Hawk Moth, Depressaria Daucella (larvae in Hemlock Water Dropwort Flowers), Mother of Peal (larvae), pammene aurana (micro), micropteryx aruncella, (micro on buttercup pollen), Acrolepia Autumnitella (leaf-miner), Salticus Scenicus (jumping spider), Field Grasshopper, Agrypinus Murinus (Click Beetle ), Athos Haemorrhoidalis (Common Click Beetle), e. nobilis (small green beetle with swollen femurs), Chrysolina Staphylea/banksii (leaf beetle), phylobius rboretanus/viridieranis (small blue weevil), Hedge Woundwort, Common Figwort, Watercress, Sea Plantain, Creeping Cinquefoil, Hairy Sedge, Nipplewort, Black Mustard, Common (Spiny) Spider Crab, Cyanea Capilata (Lions-mane Jellyfish), Cyanea Lamarckii (Jellyfish), Dahlia Anemone, Vollucella Bombylaria (Hoverfly), Dumontia contorta (Red Seaweed), Saccharina Latissima (Sugar Kelp), Himanthalia Elongata (Thongweed), Colpomenia Peregrina (Oyster-thief), Porphyra Dioica (Red Seaweed)
Fish 14; Butters 28; Moths 101; Groppers 3; Beetles ; Spiders 21; Flora 335; Misc 47; Marine 48
GT 881
Unid'd Stress level : Low, lots unid'd but far more gifted from friendly experts!
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Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Saturday 12th June
Returning homewards, tired after the blitz we stopped off at a couple of flower spots, almost immediately on leaving a rapid application of brakes for the distinctive turrrets of Tufted Vetch, then a detour into the environs of Buckfastleigh for Deptford Pink and finally home and collapse...
Sites : Nr Mothecombe, Buckfastleigh area
Species : 6 Spot Burnet Moth, Deptford Pink, Hairy Tare, Rock Stonecrop, Hedge Bindweed, Common Yarrow, Common Restharrow,
Fish ; Moths 103; Flora 341;
GT 888
Returning homewards, tired after the blitz we stopped off at a couple of flower spots, almost immediately on leaving a rapid application of brakes for the distinctive turrrets of Tufted Vetch, then a detour into the environs of Buckfastleigh for Deptford Pink and finally home and collapse...
Sites : Nr Mothecombe, Buckfastleigh area
Species : 6 Spot Burnet Moth, Deptford Pink, Hairy Tare, Rock Stonecrop, Hedge Bindweed, Common Yarrow, Common Restharrow,
Fish ; Moths 103; Flora 341;
GT 888
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Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Sunday 13th June
During our time at the Blitz we'd been out of mobile range, so apologies to those who tried to tell me about the Red Footed Falcon, thank you for trying... The bird came on the pager this morning as distant, and we were meant to be meeting up with the funghus group.. so we opted to leave it till the evening, popping by the Exe near Stampford Bridge instead to bag White-legged damselfy and Banded Demoiselle before making our way out onto the moor to Fernworthy Reservoir. As various members of the group turned up, it became apparent we'd arrived at a major hatch of Garden Chafers, as the little green and red beetles were swarming all over the grass. Funghi weren't exactly leaping out at us, but a few species were found, and star of the walk was a stunning red necked footman that flew in front of us. Another interesting aside was a set of eyelash funghi which led to a discussion about how to identify the various types and thier affinities with various substrates..
This would prove a very timely discussion as I found yet more eyelash fungus when we walked into Dunsdon farm after the Lesser Butterfly, this type was defo long lashed.. Another fortuitous coincidence was bumping into some naturalists who knew their sedges, the sudden rash of sedge idents are courtesy of their imparted wisdom. To be honest sedges are not that hard.... once someone gives you a leg up!
Finally we headed back to Exeter and hit Pine Hill Ind. Estate to look for the Bee Orchids that used to be in profusion around the tennis courts... Long gone .. except Nicolas tenacity scored two orchid species and Self Heal.
Sites : Stampford Bridge, Fernworthy, Chagford Area, Dunsdon Farm, Exminster, Pine Hill Estate
Species : Red-necked Footman, Banded Demoiselle, White-legged Damselfly, Collybia Dryophila - Russet Tougshank, Lachnum Virginem (Snowy Disco), Scutellina Umbrerum (Eyelash Fungus), Scutelline Scutillana (Eyelash Fungus), Polyporus Brumalis (Winter Polypore), Ground Elder, Flea Sedge, Tawny Sedge, Star Sedge, Whorled Caraway, Wild Angelica, Saw-wort, Sneezewort, Common Valerian, Sweet Vernal Grass, Toad Rush, Pyramidal Orchid, Bee Orchid
Moths 104; Dragons 14; Flora 354;
GT 909
During our time at the Blitz we'd been out of mobile range, so apologies to those who tried to tell me about the Red Footed Falcon, thank you for trying... The bird came on the pager this morning as distant, and we were meant to be meeting up with the funghus group.. so we opted to leave it till the evening, popping by the Exe near Stampford Bridge instead to bag White-legged damselfy and Banded Demoiselle before making our way out onto the moor to Fernworthy Reservoir. As various members of the group turned up, it became apparent we'd arrived at a major hatch of Garden Chafers, as the little green and red beetles were swarming all over the grass. Funghi weren't exactly leaping out at us, but a few species were found, and star of the walk was a stunning red necked footman that flew in front of us. Another interesting aside was a set of eyelash funghi which led to a discussion about how to identify the various types and thier affinities with various substrates..
This would prove a very timely discussion as I found yet more eyelash fungus when we walked into Dunsdon farm after the Lesser Butterfly, this type was defo long lashed.. Another fortuitous coincidence was bumping into some naturalists who knew their sedges, the sudden rash of sedge idents are courtesy of their imparted wisdom. To be honest sedges are not that hard.... once someone gives you a leg up!
Finally we headed back to Exeter and hit Pine Hill Ind. Estate to look for the Bee Orchids that used to be in profusion around the tennis courts... Long gone .. except Nicolas tenacity scored two orchid species and Self Heal.
Sites : Stampford Bridge, Fernworthy, Chagford Area, Dunsdon Farm, Exminster, Pine Hill Estate
Species : Red-necked Footman, Banded Demoiselle, White-legged Damselfly, Collybia Dryophila - Russet Tougshank, Lachnum Virginem (Snowy Disco), Scutellina Umbrerum (Eyelash Fungus), Scutelline Scutillana (Eyelash Fungus), Polyporus Brumalis (Winter Polypore), Ground Elder, Flea Sedge, Tawny Sedge, Star Sedge, Whorled Caraway, Wild Angelica, Saw-wort, Sneezewort, Common Valerian, Sweet Vernal Grass, Toad Rush, Pyramidal Orchid, Bee Orchid
Moths 104; Dragons 14; Flora 354;
GT 909
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Perry Smale
Well-known member
Matt, if you want Slow Worm they're guaranteed on Brian's allotment. My Dad can show you if you want, if you haven't got this one back yet. This diary is fascinating by the way.:t:
Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Thursday 24th June
Got back from a mini break in Scotland at 3AM in the morning, still on holiday - but a slow start today..
When I did eventually surface we decided to concentrate on Berry Head for the dimunitive speciality Small Hares Ear. A quick bit of research and we realised how hard this was going to be, despite being in the same family as the massive hogweeds and hemlocks, this species was about 2mm across - and all we knew was that it was somewhere on the short turf.. After a bit of a wander we were fortunate enought to bump into the ranger, Nigel, who gave us an idea of where to look - and promised to help us out later if we couldn't find it... Indeed three hours later we still hadn't found it and we had to hold him to his promise - he showed us exactly where the plants were - the dry weather meant that there were only a handful - usually there are thousands. Pictures below show the search area and the scale of the problem!
Sites : Berry Head
Species : Scarlet Tiger, Lady's Bedstraw, Ivy Broomrape, Hedge Bedstraw, Great Burdock, Creeping Thistle, Small Scabious, Common Centaury, White Stonecrop, Fairy Flax, Squinancywort, Small Hare's Ear
Flora 365; Moth 105
GT 921
Got back from a mini break in Scotland at 3AM in the morning, still on holiday - but a slow start today..
When I did eventually surface we decided to concentrate on Berry Head for the dimunitive speciality Small Hares Ear. A quick bit of research and we realised how hard this was going to be, despite being in the same family as the massive hogweeds and hemlocks, this species was about 2mm across - and all we knew was that it was somewhere on the short turf.. After a bit of a wander we were fortunate enought to bump into the ranger, Nigel, who gave us an idea of where to look - and promised to help us out later if we couldn't find it... Indeed three hours later we still hadn't found it and we had to hold him to his promise - he showed us exactly where the plants were - the dry weather meant that there were only a handful - usually there are thousands. Pictures below show the search area and the scale of the problem!
Sites : Berry Head
Species : Scarlet Tiger, Lady's Bedstraw, Ivy Broomrape, Hedge Bedstraw, Great Burdock, Creeping Thistle, Small Scabious, Common Centaury, White Stonecrop, Fairy Flax, Squinancywort, Small Hare's Ear
Flora 365; Moth 105
GT 921
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Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Some late ids
Going through previous pictures with a grasshopper book and some patience the following late id's were made.
5th June Chudliegh Knighton Common Green Grasshopper (Combination of photos and memory of the long stridulation)
11th June Mothecombe - Great Green Bush Cricket (Nymph id'd from photos)
Groppers 5
GT 923
Going through previous pictures with a grasshopper book and some patience the following late id's were made.
5th June Chudliegh Knighton Common Green Grasshopper (Combination of photos and memory of the long stridulation)
11th June Mothecombe - Great Green Bush Cricket (Nymph id'd from photos)
Groppers 5
GT 923
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Matt Prince
Sharkbait
Past the 1000 mark!
Friday 25th June
After getting some info in the pub Thursday night - decided to go for a bird for a change ! So popped out to the Mamhead plantation where plenty of Turtle Dove were calling, one from the top of a conifer before flying.
Next onto Lydford Gorge were Nicola had a butterfly transect to perform, and I bagged Ringlet and a couple of plants.
Then Prewliegh Moor for the dragons and a good selection of rare damsels :- scarce blue tailed, small red, mercuriale (southern damselfly) plus keeled skimmers and a couple of plants.
Then Hill Bridge where Nicola remembered Royal Fern from years before. The plant was still there, the water along the leat however was rapidly evaporating in the dry conditions and a bit of impromptu trout tickling was required to bump a few brown trout along from one puddle to a bigger one...
Finally the Devon Moth group were running traps at Andrew's Wood, we arrived whilst it was still light, to see a few of the sites special plants, notably Heath Lobelia and Yellow Bartsia. Once it was dark the mothing began in earnest with micros and macros galore. Despite the clear and moonlit sky 128 species were logged, and I spent the entire session with a female hornet in a pot so she didn't revisit the traps... Also finally identified Common Male Fern by torchlight. Memorable moths were the rather boring looking micro with a part aquatic life style, a whole tray full of elephant hawks, and gorgeous Peach Blossom and July High Flyers, and a complete set of 'y' moths!
A big thank you to all the moth group members involved.
Sites : Mamhead Plantation, Lydford Gorge, Hill Bridge, Andrew's Wood
Species : Turtle Dove, Golden Ringed Dragonfly, Marbled White, Ringlet, Chimny Sweeper, Enchanters Nightshade, Pale Sedge, Apoderus Coryli (Leaf Roller Beetle), Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Keeled Skimmer, Southern Damselfly, Bog Pimpernel, Bulbous Rush, Royal Fern, Purple Toadflax (naturalised), Yellow Bartsia, Heath Lobelia, Purple Loosestrife, Common Male Fern, Lampyris noctiluca (Glow Worm)
Moths :- Udea Olivalis, Agapeta Zoegana, Aethes Cnicana, Barred Fruit-Tree Tortrix, Brindled White Spot, White Pinion Spotted, Olindia Schumacherana, July Highflyer, Archips Podana (Tortrix), Argyresthia conjugella, Buff Arches, Small Rivulet, Waved Carpet, Green Oak Tortrix, Riband Wave, Purple Clay, Archips Xylosteana (Variegated Golden Tortrix), Lobster Moth, Light Emerald, Common Emerald, Coronet, Bramble Shoot Moth, Marbled White Spot, Peach Blossom, Common Wainscot, The Uncertain, Single Dotted Wave, The Miller, Sharp Angled Peacock, Acentria Ephemerella (Water Veneer), Bee Moth, V Pug, Green Silverlines, Common Lutestring, Scorched Wing, Brown China Mark, Grey Arches, Dark Arches, Double Square Spot, The Clay, Beautiful Golden Y, Dusky Brocade, Triple Spotted Clay, Buff Tip, Pale Prominent, Common Wave, Brussels Lace, Small Magpie, Amblyptilia Punctidactyla (Plume Moth), Eudonia Delunella, Beautiful Snout, Coxscombe Prominent, Eudonia Pallida, Pebble Prominent, Flame Carpet, Plane Golden Y, Clouded Border.
Bird 175; Dragon 19; Butter 30; Moth 162; Flora 376; Beetle 27
GT 1001
Friday 25th June
After getting some info in the pub Thursday night - decided to go for a bird for a change ! So popped out to the Mamhead plantation where plenty of Turtle Dove were calling, one from the top of a conifer before flying.
Next onto Lydford Gorge were Nicola had a butterfly transect to perform, and I bagged Ringlet and a couple of plants.
Then Prewliegh Moor for the dragons and a good selection of rare damsels :- scarce blue tailed, small red, mercuriale (southern damselfly) plus keeled skimmers and a couple of plants.
Then Hill Bridge where Nicola remembered Royal Fern from years before. The plant was still there, the water along the leat however was rapidly evaporating in the dry conditions and a bit of impromptu trout tickling was required to bump a few brown trout along from one puddle to a bigger one...
Finally the Devon Moth group were running traps at Andrew's Wood, we arrived whilst it was still light, to see a few of the sites special plants, notably Heath Lobelia and Yellow Bartsia. Once it was dark the mothing began in earnest with micros and macros galore. Despite the clear and moonlit sky 128 species were logged, and I spent the entire session with a female hornet in a pot so she didn't revisit the traps... Also finally identified Common Male Fern by torchlight. Memorable moths were the rather boring looking micro with a part aquatic life style, a whole tray full of elephant hawks, and gorgeous Peach Blossom and July High Flyers, and a complete set of 'y' moths!
A big thank you to all the moth group members involved.
Sites : Mamhead Plantation, Lydford Gorge, Hill Bridge, Andrew's Wood
Species : Turtle Dove, Golden Ringed Dragonfly, Marbled White, Ringlet, Chimny Sweeper, Enchanters Nightshade, Pale Sedge, Apoderus Coryli (Leaf Roller Beetle), Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Keeled Skimmer, Southern Damselfly, Bog Pimpernel, Bulbous Rush, Royal Fern, Purple Toadflax (naturalised), Yellow Bartsia, Heath Lobelia, Purple Loosestrife, Common Male Fern, Lampyris noctiluca (Glow Worm)
Moths :- Udea Olivalis, Agapeta Zoegana, Aethes Cnicana, Barred Fruit-Tree Tortrix, Brindled White Spot, White Pinion Spotted, Olindia Schumacherana, July Highflyer, Archips Podana (Tortrix), Argyresthia conjugella, Buff Arches, Small Rivulet, Waved Carpet, Green Oak Tortrix, Riband Wave, Purple Clay, Archips Xylosteana (Variegated Golden Tortrix), Lobster Moth, Light Emerald, Common Emerald, Coronet, Bramble Shoot Moth, Marbled White Spot, Peach Blossom, Common Wainscot, The Uncertain, Single Dotted Wave, The Miller, Sharp Angled Peacock, Acentria Ephemerella (Water Veneer), Bee Moth, V Pug, Green Silverlines, Common Lutestring, Scorched Wing, Brown China Mark, Grey Arches, Dark Arches, Double Square Spot, The Clay, Beautiful Golden Y, Dusky Brocade, Triple Spotted Clay, Buff Tip, Pale Prominent, Common Wave, Brussels Lace, Small Magpie, Amblyptilia Punctidactyla (Plume Moth), Eudonia Delunella, Beautiful Snout, Coxscombe Prominent, Eudonia Pallida, Pebble Prominent, Flame Carpet, Plane Golden Y, Clouded Border.
Bird 175; Dragon 19; Butter 30; Moth 162; Flora 376; Beetle 27
GT 1001
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