Hartland Moor Summer wildlife

At last summer seems to have arrived and in was on an already hot sticky morning when we met our Sunday monthly group for a walk over Hartland Moor.  Walking along the tramway we first encountered Greenfinch singing and also on the path, a Blue Tit calling and the first of many Stonechats and Meadow Pipits.  A Dartford Warbler was heard singing on the other side of the hedge-line, we stopped trying to peer through then the sound got much closer and a beautiful male sat up on the top of the bush then went into a display flight, then disappeared!  Swallows twittered as they flew low over our heads.

Gatekeeper butterflies were enjoying the sunshine and definitely the most numerous on the wing today.  Someone's sharp eyes found a Common Footman moth hiding under a leaf and was a little surprising.  Nick wandered down to a pond and boggy area hoping for dragonflies but only found lots of  Common Damselflies.  Small Heath butterflies flitted about on the path, trying to find a sunny spot  without being disturbed by us and on the hedges Small  and Large Skippers and Ringlets.  It was nice to see the Ragwort was covered in Cinnabar moth caterpillars, now well grown in looking bright in gold and black stripes.

Cinnabar moth caterpillars © Jackie Hull

A Skylark sang and looking up for this lovely songster and then we noticed a soaring Buzzard to the left of the hill, but others looking right had a falcon.  Switching across and looking through the 'scope Nick was able to confirm it was a Hobby, not only that there were three of them!  The only shame was that they didn't come closer.   As we reached the end of the tramway where we were turning off we had Goldfinches and Linnets.  In the field a Green Woodpecker flew up and disappeared into the wood and a female Pheasant dashed off in the other direction.

Blue-tailed Damselfly - ischnura elegant imm fem rufescens © Nick Hull

Just along we had a Silver-studded Blue butterfly and with so much heather coming into flower I was surprised not to see more on the wing.  A few female Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly were warming themselves on the bracken.  We were then lucky to find a rather unusual Blue-tail Damselfly, an immature female of the species ischnura elegans rufescens.  

Silver-studded Blue © Jackie Hull

A Common Lizard ran across my path but Fran was quick to see him in the heather, when we noticed the large green caterpillar of Emperor Moth.  Then our first Grayling, another species found on the heath.  A Kestrel came over as we approached the road and heard Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing, then an adult Raven with a noisy juvenile, the joys of parenthood.  We also added Marbled White and Small Copper to our butterfly list and a couple of moths with Silver Y and 6-spot Burnet.

As we said goodbye to everyone and turning the car round two Wood Larks flew across, a wonderful way to finish a very warm but excellent walk.