Sunday 9 May 2021

Migrants

I spent ages listening to the wonderful song of this morning's Garden Warbler. Shame I couldn't get a better photo.

Took a while to get going this morning but a thorough search of the usual spots eventually paid off with what is probably the best 'fall' for me this spring (it has been awfully quiet on Orcombe). No real numbers but a bit of variety and, to be honest, a bit of relief to get a couple species that I was starting to worry might elude me this spring - 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat and several Blackcaps and Whitethroats.
Off Mudbank - 7 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and c25 Sanderling.


The first view of this morning's Whinchat. I caught up with it a bit later on, as it moved inland along the hedgerows, but it was always against the light...



This was the only photo I managed of this morning's singing male Lesser Whitethroat. They're always extremely camera-shy on Orcombe.

Heath Spotted Orchids are starting to pop up on the commons. These photographed on this morning's dog-walk with Lu.






Still finding it difficult not to grab photos of the Green-winged Orchids on Orcombe. Many are just past their best now.




Joel played football with Exmouth Town U 18s out at Bickleigh Mill this afternoon. This Early Purple Orchid was found whilst we were waiting for kickoff!

Pink Purslane - Bickleigh Mill. Below are a few plants that I'm struggling with...


A small umbellifer that I just can't match with anything in the books. Although out of focus the leaves can just be seen - pinnate (?) and almost frond-like, similar in some regards to Fennel. Possibly Pignut?


A small fern growing out of a mossy wall along Wright's Lane. Some sort of Spleenwort?


No clue what this stunning little flower is. I assumed it was some sort of bellflower but perhaps a garden escape?



Rough Clover

2 comments:

  1. Some great plants again Matt! Agree with Pignut & believe the fern is a Black Spleenwort. The bellflower does superficially look like a Campanula but looking at the leaves I'm pretty sure it's not. I think it's the Borage relative Borago pygmaea, which is a garden escape, but don't think it's grown much unlike Borage, B. officinalis.

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  2. Ah - thank you Neil - that's brilliant. I did wonder about Black Spleenwort. Went back to see the Pignut flowering after work this afternoon. All the best. Matt.

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