Nature Notes from Argyll
(and occasionally other places)

Devon trip, part 2.  (back to part 1)

Fri 7 Oct 2011 Dartington, Devon

Red Admiral on a quince.  This pose gives a glimpse of its glory, but shows how by retracting its forewings even further it could appear like a piece of bark or a dead leaf, and be almost impossible to spot.

Water Chickweed, with its blue stamens, on the banks of the River Dart.

Sat 8 Oct 2011 Dartmouth, Devon

Wall Brown butterflies, male and female.  Several were seen along the coast path south from Dartmouth.  Red Admirals were very numerous here.
 

Small Coppers were also frequent.  This one is on a Corn Marigold, one of several arable weeds that are no longer seen back home in Argyll.  Field Pansy, on the right, is another.
 

Two more: Field Madder and Common Poppy.
 

I was baffled by this thistle but am assured by members of the UK botany forum that it's a Musk Thistle without the usual recurved bracts.  The flower shape seems completely different to the normal Musk Thistle.  They were plentiful on rough clifftop grassland, and all had the same appearance.

A Silver Y moth disguised as part of a twig.  There were several of these about, perhaps just arrived from across the Channel or perhaps the descendants of immigrants that came earlier in the year.
 

Looking back along the coast in the direction of Dartmouth

Mon 10 Oct 2011 Dartington, Devon

The caterpillar of the Pale Tussock moth, found walking across the grass, probably looking for somewhere to pupate.
 

Tue 11 Oct 2011 Totnes, Devon

Two forms of the Harlequin Ladybird, an invasive alien which is displacing our native species.  The only other ladybird species seen on the trip was the 7-spot Ladybird.

 

All photos and other content copyright © Carl Farmer