Recent notes about nature and wildlife around Widecombe are to be found in the posts, listed below, with earlier items listed in the section lower down the page.
Posts:
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Fungi on the Moor
A lot of fungi can be found everywhere at the moment (Autumn 2024). Those in the photo were spotted on Hameldown. The colours are amazing. How many varieties can you spot while you are out walking? Which ones are ‘magic mushrooms’? (Don’t spend all your time looking down though — if you do you’ll miss…
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Slow Worms
We were uncovering an area of our vegetable patch recently that we had protected with some black plastic and underneath were two slow worms and a toad. No doubt they were enjoying the protection and warmth that the plastic might have offered plus a (seemingly) unlimited supply of slugs and snails that always seem to…
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A Lovely Beetle, But What Species?
Spotted this beetle in the field. Not particularly rare, I am sure, but good to see. A beautiful iridescent blue colouring. Can you identify it? I have looked it up online but could not find an exact match.
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Deer – A Common Site
Deer are a frequent visitor to the areas around the East Webburn. In fact, they must live there permanently, moving up and down the valley as they are disturbed, little affected by field boundaries. They are always hard to photograph. this is a recent one:
Earlier Nature Notes:
Date
Title
Description
July 2017
Pennywort
Amazed at this pennywort in one of our walls. It is at least 25 centimetres tall.
May 2016
Hemlock Water Dropwort
Have started to notice increasing numbers of this poisonous dropwort down in the marsh area. Seems to be following the river course – probably brought down by the river. It has carrot like poisonous roots. The stems etc are also poisonous but less so.
February 2015
Long Tailed Tits & Nuthatches
Once again back feeding from our bird feeders. Lovely to see these splendid birds.
July 2014
Ferret
We were just walking up our field and peeping out from a rabbit hole was a white ferret, clearly an escapee. It wasn’t phased at all and spent over a minute looking at us before disappearing.
August 2013
Fritillary Butterfly
Seen for the first time: a fritillary butterfly on one of our buddleias. This is one of two seen. The other had a big chunk of its wing missing.
September 2013
Dragonfly laying eggs
Just saw a dragonfly repeatedly dipping its rear quarters into some ditch-water while hovering. Up and down over and over again. You can view the movie clip here
June 2012
Hawthorn in Blossom
The most beautiful hawthorn spotted on Hameldown in a sheltered spot. The only one in the area with the Beech Trees behind. Magical.
July 2009
Hedgehog Family
A loud squeaking sound alerted us to something unusual one evening recently. We discovered a baby hedgehog wandering around in our vegetable patch. Some searching revealed the nest with mother and two other young. We returned the baby but next morning we found it tucked under the raspberries, apparently unable to find its way back to the nest, so again we returned it. That night we heard multiple squeaking noises so they were all on the move and had decamped. Yesterday we spotted a solitary hedgehog (the father?) in front of our barn.
March 2009
Love-Crazed Chaffinch?
In recent days a chaffinch has been perched on our car rear-view mirror, jumping towards the car window and then back to his perch via a quick look in the mirror. This he repeats over and over again. He must be exhausted. We think he has mistaken the reflection for the mate that he sadly lacks, unless anyone can come up with a better suggestion. Picture to follow.
February 2008
Buzzard
A buzzard is a daily visitor to our garden these days. He/she sits on a post waiting patiently presumably in the hope that he will catch one of the moles that appear to have invaded our grass.
January 2008
Long Tailed Tits
We see these down by the marsh next to the Webburn, but very rarely do they come up to the house and feed from the feeders. A delight.
April 2007
Duck and Ducklings (Again!)
We disturbed a duck and her ducklings when walking down on our marshland close to the Webburn. They scooted off but one duckling panicked so much it disappeared under the water. We thought it had drowned but a full minute (at least) later, it resurfaced and shot off to join the rest. Meanwhile the mother had come back looking for it.
April 2003
Fritillary
Spotted by the side of our pond. Beautiful. Click on the picture for a larger image
October 2002
Pheasants
A young pheasant appeared to have wandered into our chicken coop by mistake and couldn’t get back out. The mother was nearby frantically running backwards and forwards and trying to get through the chicken wire. I managed to persuade the pheasant out (the chickens helped – they are very jealous of their space when there is food around).
July 2002
Wild Flowers
Repay closer study. Look here at the Meadowsweet, prevalent at the moment, and there are many others we will cover in future months.
June 2002
Duck and Ducklings
A duck and her eight ducklings spotted making their way up the East Webburn river in single file
March 2002
Heron, Buzzards etc
Disturbed a heron down in the marsh. Saw two crows harassing a large buzzard. Saw a deer cross the marsh and jump the wire into the next field.
Early February 2002
Frogspawn
Just spotted masses of frogspawn in our pond and an army of frogs all going completely mad, making an enormous din. I guess it is that time of year again (and just a little earlier than last year).
Late January/Early February 2002
Floods
Back again, a bit later than last year. The enduring memory will be of the horse fatalistically standing up to its belly in water, not attempting to seek higher ground.
December 2001
Snow
Again, snow falls on Christmas Day, in the afternoon. Boxing Day and thereafter were glorious, perfect for sledging.
November 2001
Pheasants
Three cock and two hen pheasants spotted in our garden (several times) presumably grazing on the acorns from the Oak trees. A few days later this was increased to five cocks and two hens and they were happily grazing with our chickens and some local wood pigeons.
October 2001
Mushrooms and other funghi
Are everywhere at the moment. Have fun (?) trying to identify them and deciding whether or not they are edible. Fly Agaric is easily spotted. Clouded Agaric, field mushroom, parasol mushroom, inkcap all common around us.
September 2001
Pony Drift
The annual pony gathering has happened today (10th). Sad to see them gathered up, many not to return. There is talk of the numbers reducing still further. How can we do this to the symbol of the National Park? The nightly sound of hooves on the tarmac outside our bedroom window will be absent for a while.
September 2001
Feather (click on image for a larger view)
Found on the ground in the garden. Only 1.5 inches long and the photo sadly does not do justice to the vivid electric blue colour. We believe it is from a jay. Beautiful.
Early September 2001
Tawny Owl
Seen on road at 10.00 p.m. picking at a small catch.
August 2001
Heather
Beautiful all over the moor. How many varieties can you spot?
Late June 2001
Yellowhammer
Spotted on a hawthorn bush close to Chinkwell Tor.
Late June 2001
Flycatcher
Nesting under the eaves close to our bedroom window.
June 2001
Ragged Robin
Plenty of Ragged Robin in the marshy areas.
Early June 2001
Orchids (Click on image for a larger view)
Abound in those secret areas, not to be divulged!
Mid-May 2001
Bees
We managed to take a swarm of bees and get them established in a hive. This was our first swarm. Let’s hope we keep them happy and they develop into a large colony.
Early May 2001
Bluebells
Are now the dominant flower in the woodland areas and along the hedgerows.
Late Winter/Spring 2001
Deer & Pheasant (from Edward Lamb). Some locations edited out.
I have seen more roe deer this year than any other. Last weekend I saw a male roe deer in the woods while out shooting. The day after that we were out driving and we saw four in a field near Bellever, which is very unusual. Also yesterday I was wandering around the rough below the fair field and saw a male and female roe which are more than likely the ones mentioned above. Some time in the middle of winter I also saw a roe while shooting, which I followed for quite a while and about 5-10 minutes afterwards I saw another pair run off from where I first saw the first one. So there must have been three in the same area at the same time. There are also a lot more pheasants around this year.
20 April 2001
Cuckoo
First one heard
20 April 2001
Swallows
Have returned (and there’s more than one!). We’ve tried to keep them from nesting in the barn this year. So now, if we leave the kitchen door open, they fly around the kitchen and sitting room looking for a nesting site!!.
Mid April 2001
Crows (Jackdaw)
Two crows found in dining room!! Most unwelcome. Made their way down the chimney. They have been very persistent recently trying to find nesting sites. Apparently they drop twigs down chimneys until they wedge and then they build up their nest. Sometimes they make a mistake!
Mid April 2001
Heron
A large grey heron was disturbed whilst wading in the boggy ground close to the Webburn (probably looking for frogspawn).
Mid April 2001
Bank vole
or similar, spotted in a rocky bank, quite unconcerned at nearby human presence.
Early April 2001
Greater Spotted Woodpeckers
A pair of greater spotted woodpeckers seen playfully chasing each other in the trees at Dunstone.
Late March 2001
Deer
A pair of Roe Deer were spotted in the boggy land close to the East Webburn.
Mid-March 2001
Nuthatches
Another pair has appeared. There are now at least three in the vicinity.
Early March 2001
Bats
A bat flew in through our bedroom window by mistake. We opened all the windows and eventually it found its way out after flying round and round for about twenty minutes.
Late February 2001
Foot & Mouth
This outbreak has led to the effective closure of the moor. No walking on grass is allowed and all the car parks are closed. Everything is very quiet. Farms are completely cut-off as they try to ensure that the disease stays away.
Late February 2001
Nuthatches
A pair of nuthatches regularly feed at our bird-feeders. Sadly one was found dead by a neighbour’s house, believed it flew into a window. This is really sad, as they are a delight to watch.
Mid February 2001
Buzzards
Seven seen gliding and soaring above the valley. Unusual to see so many at one time.
Mid February 2001
Frogspawn
Masses of it in our pond and lots of frogs leaping around and croaking.
Early February 2001
Snowdrops
Are out in force around the valley
January 2001
Wrens roosting in the Nesting Box
In the last few evenings, at dusk, we have noticed 14 (yes 14) wrens go into the box and stay there, presumably to roost. They must literally all be piled on top of one another, we suppose to keep warm.