Devon SSSI nature reserve and eco lodges - Maggie's Blog

4 September



Close encounters...
We're pround to have gold level approval from the Devon Wildlife Trust. Click here for more on our environmental policies.
The beginning of September - how did it come some quickly? We've been away for a few days and already the farm has changed. Apples are ripening and falling on the grass, mornings are cooler and the dew lasts longer. But there are still plenty of butterflies around - the speckled wood butterflies even look fresh, presumably the second brood of the year. And down by the big pond there are still dragonflies hunting and mating. The hawkers are difficult to photograph. They're always on the move. But this common darter (I think!) likes to perch on the arms of the bench. The dragonflies will even perch on a sleeve if you sit still enough.


If you can snatch a few peaceful moments, an emperor dragonfly may come and inspect you...
And just to prove you can really get up close and personal, here's a clip of a common darter, unpeturbed by baby talk, last October.