Perez's Frog...

A brief 15 minute visit to RSPB Ham Wall  on Saturday afternoon allowed me time to check on the introduced population of Perez's Frogs Pelophylax perezi by the car park. Pleased to say they are still showing very well although they are quick to leap off the banks of the ponds and the first you know they are there is when you hear them plop into the water. A couple of nice adults stayed put long enough for photos though and were clearly enjoying the late Autumn sunshine.

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

Pelophylax perezi, Ham Wall:R. Harris

More about them on my post from last summer.

Brown Long-eared Bat...

Despite the recent drop in temperatures during the evenings, the bats around Whitestaunton have continued to be active as they feed up before their winter roost. Over the last week I've recorded Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle  Serotine, Daubenton's, Leisler's, Noctule and Brown Long-eared - all from the garden.

The Noctules have performed particularly well, showing early in the evening and feeding over our garden and the pasture beyond. The Brown Long-eared has been recorded three times this week, unusual considering there have only been two previous records. This is presumably an individual relocating for the winter. The spectrogram below shows its distinctive call with harmonic.

Brown Long-eared Bat echo location calls.

The calls of Brown Long-eared are very quiet and difficult to pick up if more than a few meters away - this one must have been very close! Hopefully another two or three weeks of bat surveying left before winter hibernation.

Lesser Grey Shrike...

This little beauty has been hanging around on Mount Batten Point near Plymouth for the last few days and finally proved too much of a temptation. A brief visit paid off with glorious weather and excellent views of the shrike, on one occasion as close as 10ft away! Dave Helliar got some fantastic photos of it whilst I managed to grab some video.

Close...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Closer...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Closest!...Lesser Grey Shrike: Dave Helliar

Adult Lesser Grey Shrike (video grab): R. Harris

Lesser Grey Shrike: R. Harris

Migrants on the move...

Thanks to Dave Helliar for sending in his photos from the past couple of weeks. A mammoth round-up of migrants - very much on the move starting  with some nice local waders at Seaton and on Dave's local Dorset patch:

Little Stint, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Little Stint, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Curlew Sandpiper, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Little-ringed Plover, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Green Sandpiper, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Redshank, a scarcer visitor at Chard Res: D. Helliar

Common Snadpiper, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Despite challenges from one US birder on Twitter that this was a Lesser Yellowlegs, it is definitely a Greenshank...and cracking pics too:

Greenshank, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Greenshank, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Wood Sandpiper, Black Hole Marsh: D. Helliar

Other birds were on offer too including...

Black Tern, always a good bird to see locally.
This one was at Chard Res briefly on 20th and 21st
of August: D. Helliar 

Black Tern, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Juv/1st Winter Med Gull: D. Helliar
Another scarce but regular visitor
on Chard Res LNR

West Bexington on the Dorset coast had a bit of a fall recently with large numbers of passerines to be found, including:

Tree Pipit, West Bexington: D. Helliar

Whinchat: D. Helliar

Whinchat: D. Helliar

One of at least two Wrynecks present
at the end of August: D. Helliar

Yellow Wagtail: D. Helliar

Whinchat, Blackdown Hills: D. Helliar

Whinchat, Blackdown Hills: D. Helliar

Great White Egret: D. Helliar
Still a rare bird outside the Somerset Levels.
This one graced Chard Res for 8 minutes!

Little Egret, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Little Egret, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Great sequence of shots of a Kingfisher swallowing its prey.

Kingfisher: D.Helliar

Going...: D.Helliar

Going...: D.Helliar

Gone...: D.Helliar

The local Grass Snakes have done well this year with good numbers seen basking on Dave's patch:

Grass Snake: D. Helliar

Grass Snake - this individual is close to
sloughing its skine: D. Helliar

Last but not least a couple of butterflies to finish on a bright note...

Small Copper: D. Helliar

Clouded Yellow - rare 'open wing' shot: D. Helliar

Thanks again to Dave for sharing his excellent photos.

Lyme Regis Rocks...

After the success of our rock pooling session at Lyme Regis recently, I returned with my son on Bank Holiday Monday to try our luck once more. I wouldn't normally venture out onto the roads on a Bank Holiday in the summer but as low tide was quite early we decided to be there two hours before its peak to catch the pools left by the retreating sea. It was a good decision, the car park was mostly empty, it was a beautiful sunny morning and we got to see the pools before the masses descended.

Highlights included...

Stranded Barrel Jellyfish - seen better days

Two more Hermit Crabs...

Hermit Crab, Lyme Regis

Hermit no. 2 - both quite large individuals

Brown Shrimp Crangon crangon

Shanny Lipophrys pholis

Snakelocks Anemone Anemonia viridis

Must admit, apart from the more easily identifiable seaweeds I find them a little difficult to put a name to. There are so many of them and few good sources for ID'ing them - so here are some of the common species:

Gutweed Ulva intestinalis

Sugar Kelp Saccarina latissima

Irish Moss Chondrus crispus

Oarweed Laminaria digitata

Cuvie Laminaria hyberborea - similar to Oarweed
but with a rough stipe that snaps when flexed

Flat Top Shell Gibbula umbilicalis

Acorn Barnacle Semibalanus balanoides

Common Limpet Patella vulgata

Common Periwinkle Littorina saxatilis

Common Piddock Pholas dactylus

Also a couple of hoverflies that posed for pics:

Eristalis tenax

Syrphus sp.