Aylesbeare Common, 4th June

Aylesbeare Common, 4th June

What a lovely day for a stroll! There were thin clouds and no wind as we greeted familiar faces at the car park. A few members saw a Spotted Flycatcher as it flew too and fro from a nearby tree. Maybe it had a family to feed, I hope so. The undulating flight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker was all too brief as it disappeared into the fresh green foliage. Linnets and Goldfinches perched in the roadside bushes.

About 25 people, including young Thomas, set off with high hopes of a Dartford Warbler to enjoy. We were soon successful, with two perching on top of some gorse, confirmed as a pair with a telescope view. There were several other brief sightings as we continued our morning walk. The small wood had a striking bright carpet of bluebells, which made such a contrast to the greens and yellows of the common.

Yellowhammers, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were singing but the special one was the Garden Warbler. That took some spotting as it hid in the tree top. It has a large dark eye and a very tuneful song - not unlike the Blackcap, but better.

As the cloud moved away the hot sun brought more insects out on to the wing. By the pools, Southern Hawker dragonflies were whizzing about amongst the smaller Four-spot Chasers and various damselflies. We checked the tin shelters for snakes but only found one Slow Worm, which was examined closely by some. A small lizard, probably Common was glimpsed as we moved on. At the last pool, a pair of Broad-bodied Chasers were preparing for a new generation. A sharp-eyed lady noticed the empty casing of a dragonfly larva gripping the stem of a water plant. After checking carefully that the dragonfly had left, it was held in the hand for us all to admire the fragile case will its tiny legs all perfect. David Jannaway gave us some interesting information about the life of the dragonflies.

No Hobbies were seen today, but a Lesser Redpoll was on the list of a few. Tree Pipits had been seen on the open common, while three Common Buzzards were way up in the pale blue sky. A Green Woodpecker was added to the growing list.

Sharp eyes gave us the chance to view a Green Hairstreak butterfly at the side of the path, almost invisible on the plant. Brimstone and Peacock Butterflies were amongst several others enjoying the warmth. Back on the farm road we had time to admire the glorious scenery, with a patchwork of fields in the distance, going on to the hills beyond. As a finale, a Buzzard gave a spectacular display as it flew high in the sky then swooped down at great speed - its wings tucked tight into its large body, only to repeat this time and again.

Marvellous. Thank you Richard for another enjoyable meeting.

Carole Murray

Number of bird species seen: 29

Butterflies & Moths

Small Heath

Gatekeeper

Brimstone

Peacock

Green Hairstreak

Cinnabar Moth

Dragonflies

Broad-bodied Chaser

Four-spot Chaser

Emperor

Southern Hawker

Reptiles

Common Lizard

Slow Worm

Birds seen, in BOU order or alphabetic order

BOU order

Pheasant

Buzzard

Kestrel

Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Tree Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Wren

Robin

Stonechat

Blackbird

Song Thrush

Blackcap

Garden Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Raven

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Linnet

Lesser Redpoll

Yellowhammer

Alphabetic order