Gavin Haig

Onwards and Upwards... Wheatears are here already. Also Sand Martins and Little Ringed Plovers . Which is lovely of course, and a galvanising source of ins...

Onwards and upwards...
#DevonBirds
#TeamMoth

Brindled Pug in plastic pot

Angle Shades caterpillar on wooden fence post.

A surprising 45/15 last night, including Brindled Pug NFG and Angle Shades cat.

Don't recall getting anything like these early-March numbers in Bridport. Hopefully bodes well for this tiny Axminster garden.
VC3 #TeamMoth

What a rare treat! Nicely done, Thomas. 😎👍

When it comes to what might be expected locally I've not done too badly in three springs, but this beauty kept me waiting! I think you'll like it.

PS. You'll like Streamer too! 😄

😂

Shoulder Stripe in plastic pot

You know those really smart moths you always see in other people's Bluesky posts, but never in your trap? The ones that come to make up your 'most wanted' list?

Well, tonight's drizzle has produced one of mine...

Shoulder Stripe 😎

#TeamMoth

I have similar reservations to Tim. Some Casp-ish traits, but too much HG vibe for me. Coverts much too chequered, for example. I've had a few similar down here over the years, and these days just look away! 😄
Just wait for the next cracker. It'll be along soon enough...😁👍

Intermedius LBB Gull among Common Gulls. Note basically uniform blackness across coverts and primaries on open upperwing.

2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull on stony estuary bed. Herring Gulls in background.

Some pretty cool late-afternoon gulling on the Axe included a handful of super-dark intermedius LBB Gulls, as well as 2w and 3w Yellow-legged Gulls (2w pictured).
#DevonBirds

Oak Beauty, with wings partially opened, on slate.

Second Oak Beauty of the year, this one pristine. Highlight of last night's 9/7.
A simply stunning moth. 😍
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth

I might be mistaken, but maybe *three* Little Gulls?

Yep, cannot resist. 😄
Full moon and streetlights, but doesn't feel too chilly here in Axminster. At least 4 months in so far. 👍👍
#TeamMoth

Three moths on wooden fence. From L to R: Hebrew Character, Twin-spotted Quaker, Early Grey.

A taste of early spring. 😎
#TeamMoth

Was more than a bit breezy last night, so I'm not going to grumble about the moth tally of two. Common Quaker in the trap, plus NFG Early Grey tucked into the lee of the outside socket! 😁
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth

Female-type Black Redstart facing camera, perched on granite boulder.

Nice walk from Axmouth Harbour to Beer Head and back made nicer still by this Black Redstart at Seaton Hole. 😊
#DevonBirds

From 31 to 46 Making arrangements for a funeral sent me to Newton Abbott on Thursday 29th January. Instead of heading straight home afterwards, I gra...

The mothometer needle twitches a little...
#TeamMoth

Three Agonopterix moths (labelled beneath each image) L to R: A. yeatiana, A. heracliana agg., A. ocellana.

Two Buffs and a Brown added to the Axminster garden list recently: Common Brindled Brown...probably (strictly speaking, A. heracliana agg.) has turned up a few times now, but Coastal Buff (A. yeatiana) and Red-eyed Buff (A. ocellana) both new last night.
VC3
#TeamMoth

That's a beaut, Steve! ❤️

Tawny Pinion blending in with edge of a feather-edge fence board.

Tawny Pinion. A chip off the ol' fence panel. 😎
#TeamMoth

Up and running! 😎👍

In 3.5 yrs I've had one county first with M. jurassicella. I don't expect another any time soon. Even the Druid was something like 5th or 6th for Dorset!

Nice! 👍

Hi Stew. A quick bit of googling suggests Devon has c4x population of Northumberland, at c3x density. Factor in *ridiculous* number of retirees, and I reckon we've probably got c20x number of moth traps! 😂

Yep, I would imagine Devon is pretty well covered, Stew! 😄

Tawny Pinion in plastic pot

Already there is excitement tonight! Only ever caught a single Tawny Pinion in the Bridport garden, and it seems to be one of those '15-20 records a year' species in Devon. Nice. 😎
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth

Cliffs E of Axmouth Harbour, Devon. Many strata on view. Blue sky, shingle beach. Zero humans.

Flock of Oystercatchers on shingle beach, backed by many breaking waves on grey-blue sea. Little Egret flying right, just above horizon.

Walking the beach E of Axmouth Harbour this afternoon, could be forgiven for thinking spring was here. Few birds, but much solitude...☺️

Excellent, thanks Chris. 👍👍

Thanks Dave. 😁👍

Pale Birch Tortrix (Acleris logiana) in plastic pot

With just 26 Devon records to end of 2025, this Pale Birch Tortrix is the pick of last night's seven moths.
Assuming I've got the ID correct of course...😏
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth

ND&B return It has been 10 months since I last posted, a post which I suggested might be the last made on 'North Downs & Beyond' - I have never known wh...

Back again…

northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/02/nd-r...

Glad you're finding it hard to deny the old urges. 😉 Looking forward to future ND&B content...😊👍