Time to catch up

Hi there!  Things have been busy since I last posted - there's so much to catch up on.  Spring has really happened now, even up on Dartmoor, and the last summer migrants are finally here.  It's starting to feel like summer now, but we had several weeks of very cold, windy weather in April and the early part of May.


Since I last posted I've had guided walks with visitors from Australia and Thailand, who between them unfortunately experienced some of the worst of Dartmoor spring weather, but still managed to see some interesting birds, including Kestrel, Peregrine, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Cuckoo.  Other birds I've seen on Dartmoor recently include Great Crested Grebe, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, Tree Pipit, Kingfisher, Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher.


It's bluebell time now, so here are some photos from near Hexworthy, taken yesterday.

 The white blur is my spaniel, Dot!

 Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly on a rowan leaf

 Hawthorn blossom

 Broom flowers

 My son Joe on the bank of the West Dart, trying to catch trout fry.

 I flushed a Kingfisher from the willows here yesterday.