Riband Wave Aberration

 

This extraordinary, presumed aberrant Riband Wave (top with ordinary Riband Wave f. remutata below) had me trawling through the leps.it website, which illustrates all European and north African species, in case it was a different species. There remains a possibility that it's an adventive from farther afield, but I suspect it will prove to be an aberration.

 

Crescent Dart - only the third one I've trapped but the smartest by a mile.

Barred Yellow - always a joy to see this neat 'carpet'.

 

 

Ivy Broomrape - Madeira Walk, Exmouth. Thanks to Kev and Debs for the tip on where to locate this amazing flower. It lacks any green chlorophyll so is unable to photosynthesise. Instead the plant's roots attach to those of a host plant, in this case Ivy, and steal its water and nutrients. A parasitic plant nonetheless and one I was very keen to see.

 

Marbled White - so much easier to photograph butterflies in the rain if you can find them...

 

Small Skipper

My first Gatekeeper of 2020.

Banded Demoiselle - River Otter.

Himalayan Balsam - an invasive and problematic species but undeniably attractive.

Dawlish

Quite possibly Epiblema sticticana but at least two other species can't be ruled out without dissection.

Did some survey work in Dawlish today - a few interesting bits and pieces picked up along the way...

Hare's-foot Clover

 

Commom Comfrey

 

 

Good to see Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars (on Stinging Nettle) - I've probably seen more adults this year than I have in a while, but nowhere near the numbers I used to see as a kid.

 

 

This Mullein Wave hasn't read the chapter on camouflage.

 

 

Common Fumitory

 

Sheep's-bit

 

Sea Rocket (and below)

 

 

Rock Samphire

 

 

Scarlet Tiger

Unidentified Plants - Update Edit

1. Viper's Bugloss

 

I'd really appreciate help with what's starting to become a back-log of unidentified plants. I've tentatively put a name to some but with many I don't know where to begin. I've tried using some online keys but that hasn't been too successful because I haven't yet grasped the basics of plant topography, if that's even the right term?

Birdwise - just a quick look at the river on the in-coming tide - 2 Common Tern, 15 Sandwich Tern, 5 Mediterranean Gull and 5 Whimbrel.

Edit - a huge thank you to Seth and Kev for their assistance. They have the knowledge that I wish I had! Following their comments (see below) I've put a name to the majority of the plants that have been causing me headaches.

2. Hogweed - Warren View.

3. Yarrow - Warren View.

4. Wild Madder

5. Corn Marigold

6. Wild  Radish - Ludwell Valley Park.

7. Perennial Cornflower -  Exminster Marshes.

8. Probably Greater Skullcap -  Dawlish Warren.

9. Probably Common Stork's-bill

10. Field Speedwell

11. Possibly Short-stemmed Willowherb

12. Possibly Cut-leaved Crane's-bill

13. Black Medick

14. Smooth Sowthistle - Warren View

15. Vervain - non-native garden escape.

16. Common Mallow

17. Green Alkanet

18. Germander Speedwell?

19. Willowherb species

20. Naturalised pink oxalis species?

 

21. Germander Speedwell?

22. Wild Onion - the Maer.

23. Nipplewort

24. Pale Flax - tonnes of this on Orcombe Point.

25. Rock Sea-spurrey

26. Unidentified

27. Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea - The Maer.

28. Field Pansy - photographed on Orcombe Point in the autumn.

29. Tutsan

30. Dotted Loosestrife - Blackhill Quarry.

31. Lucerne

32. Possibly Common Stork's-bill

33. Unidentified - abundant plantain sp on the Maer.

34. Feverfew

35. Water Forget-Me-Not - wet areas - Stover CP.

36. Hemlock Water Dropwort - Stover CP.

 

37. Marsh Valerian

38. Sea Lavendar - found by the estuary between Mudbank and West Lodge.