Thanks for the confirmation of the Linnets Wurzel
Thanks for the comments Guy, I actually didn't notice the other bird in the background when I took the photo, it probably is another Stonechat, there were a number of them spaced out like sentries along the hedgerow
Thanks for the comment Nick
North Devon 14th-21st June, part 2.
Monday morning started off dull and cloudy with some light rain showers but the wind had dropped and there was a forecast that hinted at some brightness later in the afternoon.
Jane and Sarah wanted to go and have a look at Woolacombe which is just up the coast in the next bay so we headed there for a look around.
Woolacombe is a small town with a long sandy beach backed up by dunes and ‘Woolacombe Warren’, an area that has had a past history as a military training area and a golf course before being taken over and managed by the National Trust.
Whilst the others had a look around and took little Frankie on some kids attractions, I went for a short walk through part of the ‘Warren’. There was still a bit of light rain in the air at this time but even so I saw numerous birds including Meadow Pipits (I think), Stonechats and Whitethroats. I also heard Grasshopper Warblers which according to a sign by one of the paths this is a good site for.
I believe the bird below is a Meadow Pipit but again not absolutely sure on this one. The photo was taken in light rain hence the streaks.
![North Devon 2013 072resize.JPG (295.11 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Meadow Pipit? - Woolacombe 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_18299f107f6db0962ac6a681f07450ea)
- Meadow Pipit? - Woolacombe 17.06.2013
After a bit of lunch (in truth, a huge piece of cod and chips
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
)at a local café we headed back to Croyde as little Frankie was getting tired and Sarah wanted to see if he would have a nap.
By the time we got back it had started to brighten up a bit so whilst the girls chilled out a bit I went for a walk.
Heading through to behind the dunes again there were even more birds around now that the weather was a bit better.
![Devon June 2013 044resize.JPG (330.6 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Looking down behind the dunes at Croyde Bay](./files/thumb_10101_143c924bcf8495c5996a5c816a32b604)
- Looking down behind the dunes at Croyde Bay
![North Devon 2013 100resize.JPG (351.06 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Pied Wagtail - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_dc512f3d1a8cba90a5dc6150375141e2)
- Pied Wagtail - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
I think that the 'scruffy herbert' below is juvenile Dunnock, whatever it is there were a number of them around.
![North Devon 2013 126resize.JPG (336.14 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Juvenile Dunnock?](./files/thumb_10101_c16936d4bd964c405b1f6a3c21d84e75)
- Juvenile Dunnock?
A bit of movement on a dandelion caught my eye and looking closer showed it to be immature stage of what is possibly a Great Green Bush Cricket.
![North Devon 2013 106resize.JPG (313.11 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Bush Cricket - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_d0e5f7318fba747af46fa0a694afe70f)
- Bush Cricket - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
A little further along I spotted a Small Tortoiseshell, closely followed by a second one. The first one was in quite good condition making me think that it had only been around a short while but the second one was quite worn and faded.
![North Devon 2013 114resize.JPG (434.19 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Small Tortoiseshell - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_74247b714aac1c3e6f3fee2eefe113a6)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
![North Devon 2013 121resize.JPG (442.1 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Small Tortoiseshell - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_4ae5f9d08567444edfa191a5e914b30e)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
This made me wonder if the second one was a late surviving hibernator that was actually still flying. Of course it may have also emerged recently and suffered in the weather, but with Brimstones and Peacocks still flying, I suppose there is no reason why a Small Tortoiseshell couldn’t be too.
Circling around back to the site I saw a Wall Brown that in typical fashion I couldn’t get close too and a couple of tired and worn looking male Common Blues plus a fresh looking male Speckled Wood.
After a short spell back with the others they were happy to carry on chilling so after making sure that I wouldn’t be in the doghouse
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
, I went to have a look in a meadow that I had spotted next to the site.
By this time it was around 6.00pm and it had turned into a nice pleasant early evening which was made even better when I found my first Brown Argus of the year basking in the sun
![North Devon 2013 131resize.JPG (324.31 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Brown Argus - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_b3a76c9c0d26951b5849b6e3ae9319cc)
- Brown Argus - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
![North Devon 2013 139resize.JPG (339.57 KiB) Viewed 1118 times Brown Argus - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013](./files/thumb_10101_1a4a124380544330c93daebd7bf08bf7)
- Brown Argus - Croyde Bay 17.06.2013
Things were looking up and later, whilst enjoying a couple of bottles of Rattler Pear Cider, the women informed me that there was a local market next to the site the next morning which they wanted to go to followed by an afternoon on the beach which was within walking distance.
This would leave me free to have the day to myself
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
time to get the map out and make some plans.....
Bye for now,
Neil.