Mainly Moths

Peach Blossom. This common but utterly gorgeous moth is a regular in the trap but it's always a thrill to see the first one each year.

All predictably quiet on the bird front still, with just 6 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Sandwich Terns and 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese off Mudbank. Eight Swifts were noted flying upriver. Thankfully there's plenty of other wildlife to enjoy, on the doorstep, so there's never a dull moment. The moth trap has provided plenty of variety but nothing particularly unusual...

European Corn-borer.

Silver-ground Carpet.

Four-dotted Footman.

Marbled White Spot. I frequently see these up on the local pebbled heaths, during the daytime, but they're a very irregular visitor to the garden.

Common Cudweed. I always pause to have a look this patch, growing on the edge of Blackhill Quarry. There's something about the Cudweeds that I just love. They have a distinctly architectural quality. A few yards away is the only patch of Small Cudweed I've ever found - not as striking looking but still very nice...

Small Cudweed.

Bog Asphodel - this stunning flower is now growing in profusion on the pebbled heaths. 

The majority of Early Marsh Orchids ( ssp pulchella) have gone over now but this one still looked pretty good.

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella.

July Belle.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Still on its favored perch. A creature of habit!

Silver-studded Blue. Good numbers seen today, despite the overcast conditions.

Just two Dark-bellied Brent Geese remain off Mudbank.

Struggling with this distinctive little micro. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Edit - Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella - many thanks to Nick for the identification.

I think this could be Common Spotted x Heath Spotted Orchid.

Common Spotted Orchids at the entrance to Blackhill Quarry.

Ruddy Carpet.

Portland Ribbon Wave.

Thrilled to see this Coxcomb Prominent. I used to catch this classy species more regularly, when we lived out at Rockbeare. It's not a rare one but this is my first in our garden here, in Exmouth.

Red-tipped Clearwing

This was one of at least two, probably three Red-tipped Clearwings to a 'for'  lure, on the river Otter this afternoon, after work. A stunning little moth that I'd have little chance of seeing without the pheromones, although a lucky few do stumble across them from time to time. Clearwings really are an alluring and enigmatic family of moths, and the sight of one zig-zagging its way towards a lure really gets the pulse racing. Well it does mine anyway! Great to catch up with Nick and Martin this afternoon.

Brown Argus - White's Bridge, river Otter.

Bee Orchid - Exmouth.

Pyramidal Orchid - Exmouth.

Ringlet. This is my first of the year.

Ivy Broomrape - hundred of spikes are in flower along Madeira Walk. I think these flowers are stunning. although many people are no doubt put off by its parasitic tendencies.

This is the caterpillar of the Yellow-tail Moth. The larvae apparently feed on a wide variety of plants. This one was on a wild rose of sorts.

Scarce Chaser.

Thrift Clearwing

With both kids working all day, and Lu at her sister's, I decided on a trip out of Exmouth with chief targets being Thrift Clearwing (using Thrift/Raspberry Clearwing lure), Lesser Butterfly-orchid and Marsh Fritillary. I was lucky with all three, and especially pleased with the clearwing as it's a new one for me. It took a bit of effort but eventually I found a thrift-covered slope that wasn't too wind-blown, above Soar Mill Cove - a truly stunning spot in an area that I used to love birding. The only birds today however were several singing Cirl Buntings, plenty of Rock Pipits and numbers of Stonechats, swelled by recently-fledged youngsters. I stopped at a couple sites on Dartmoor on the way there, and enjoyed a cuppa with Mum on the way home.

Looking north-west from Bolt Tail.

This flower is bothering me. The leaves feel familiar but not the flowers. It was growing at the back of the beach in Soar Mill Cove. Edit - this is Sea Milkwort (no relation to other Milkworts). Many thanks to Dave Smallshire for the identification.

WTF?

 Dark Green Fritillary - one of several on the wing in sunny conditions. Saw my first Graylings of the year too.

English Stonecrop. Patches of this gorgeous rose-pink and white flower everywhere!

Marsh Fritillary - Dartmoor.  I think it has been sixteen years since I last saw this species, which is partly why I made the effort today. I'd forgotten how small they are!

Lesser Butterfly-orchid. Exquisite flowers that require some searching, amongst bracken.

Clouded Buff. Rhubarb and Custard.

Common Twayblade.

Common Spotted Orchid - a strongly-marked flower.

Greater Butterfly-orchid.

Silver-studded Blue

Bang on cue - the Silver-studded Blues are on the wing. Always a joy to see.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Small Red Damselfly.

Pearly Underwing - this and a couple Rusty Dot Pearls were the only immigrant species trapped last night. No Silver Ys.

Toadflax Pug.

 Cream-bordered Green Pea.