More pied flycatchers on my little patch than I have seen before. Still no female redstarts (a bit worrying) but to make up for it the spotted flycatchers have arrived and were singing and chasing each other noisily in what seemed like every break in the canopy. Very energising!

More pearl bordered fritillaries today at another two sites locally. Doesn't feel like peak yet BC Devon Branch Butterfly Conservation 🦋 We are blessed with fritillaries on Dartmoor but I don't see many Walls, so one today was good to see.

Pearl Bordered Fritillaries trying to mate today. One had only just emerged. I was a little surprised as I thought both were males. Butterfly Conservation 🦋 BC Devon Branch

Most of the pied flycatchers have found a partner on my little patch. At least 5 pairs. The males often bringing food in for the females PiedFly.Net 2 males seemed not to have found a female yet. 3 redstart males but not seen a female with them yet.

Pearl Bordered Fritillaries out on Dartmoor. Some were crawling up stalks getting ready for their first flight. The undersides are stunning BC Devon Branch Butterfly Conservation 🦋

When I've been watching adders a male cuckoo has been very vocal on the hillside. In the drizzle this afternoon I decided to venture up. I was delighted to see this female near some displaying tree pipits. I managed to sneak up close enough to get some great views

A grey wagtail landed right next to me yesterday evening

Female Redstarts with a male singing above

Two males sizing each other up but no fight Amphibian and Reptile Conservation ARG UK

Does anybody have a thermal imaging camera that could help monitor woodpecker nests?
Some holes are too high to use our cameras and a thermal camera could help us know when incubation has started and, latterly, when birds have fledged.

Three males with the same female at different times today. No fighting or mating but great to see nonetheless. Most the males I have been watching have sloughed now so it's got to happen soon! ARG UK

Male adder found a female this morning. He started tapping her to try to mate but she didn't respond to his advances so he slipped off. Two other males visited her later but there was no mating and no dancing of the males as the sun went in and energy levels dropped ARG UK

Newly sloughed males today very active perhaps in search of females. 4 seen. Two females about. Another 7 males seen yet to slough. No fighting as yet. Cant get down again until Wednesday. So beautiful especially when moving ARG UK

Busy day but I did manage an hour with the pied flycatchers in the gorgeous afternoon sun. A real treat to sit and watch as the oak trees come in to leaf. My peaceful place.

Great to see two male redstarts on my local patch chasing each other around. Redstarts 6 male pied flycatchers and 4 females seen including one with nest material in her mouth PiedFly.Net