Nature with Nick

Nature with Nick Wildlife photography tuition and courses. Nature walks in rural Devon

03/05/2026

Worth turning the sound up as these two foxes have a little set to.

02/05/2026

Today marked the start of the Little Dart River Festival, organised by North Devon Biosphere, and it kicked off with an art walk. We were led by Amy, Claire Kate and Katie, searching for items and ideas we could use to create art and spoken word while on our journey. Our brave band had a rather wet walk down Rock Hill, watching out for the tawny owlet still roosting in a tree. We joined the river at the old footbridge and proceeded to walk the water meadow and bridleway to Park Mill, stopping on the way to hunt for bullheads and river fly larvae. The blackcaps were singing and a pair of dippers flew down the river. We were welcomed by Luke and Danielle with cake and shelter by the junction of the Huntacott Water and the Little Dart. After lots of chat and cake we disbanded for our homes a little bit soggier than when we started.

Thanks to The Craft Room - Workshops & Supplies after school club for the poster.

Song: Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release]�Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds�Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/TooFarGone�Watch: http://youtu.be/60XUgHQo71Q

Devon Wildlife Trust

I popped into the sentry to check the bird feeders this morning. It all seemed quiet so I assumed the tawny owls had mov...
02/05/2026

I popped into the sentry to check the bird feeders this morning. It all seemed quiet so I assumed the tawny owls had moved on. A few minutes later I spotted the owlet roosting in a tree. I went about my business topping up the feeders and retrieving trail cameras. I knew the adult was in the overgrown laurels that border my neighbours just from the scolding sounds the blackbirds were making. It wasn't long before the adult bird (possibly female although I am unsure) flew down, chased by jackdaws and joined the owlet. They both settled together and slowly dozed off in the tree. I really hope they stay. Such beautiful birds.
Devon Wildlife Trust

Just settling folks into the hide to watch the badgers and saw this tawny owlet 'branching'. There are lots of bank vole...
30/04/2026

Just settling folks into the hide to watch the badgers and saw this tawny owlet 'branching'. There are lots of bank voles and wood mice nearby so I think parents will have no problem looking after this one.

Devon Wildlife Trust

Today was all about checking nest boxes at West Week woodland. Most bird boxes are now occupied. Manly blue t**s and gre...
26/04/2026

Today was all about checking nest boxes at West Week woodland. Most bird boxes are now occupied. Manly blue t**s and great t**s and a few nuthatches. The main aim though is to provide suitable nest sites for pied flycatchers. This bird has travelled all the way from Africa to nest in our woodlands. Unfortunately we don't have the right quality of old trees, with lots of cavities for them. So instead we provide them with artificial homes which they take to readily. Today there were several male and female pied flycatchers flitting through the woodland feeding on insects.
Our half of the woodland did have newly built pied flycatcher nests but no eggs yet. It is early in the season and i'm pretty sure there will be lots of eggs by next week.
This is all part of the national PiedFly project. A science based network co-ordinating community participation in monitoring Pied Flycatchers and other hole-nesting woodland birds.

We went for an early supper at our friend Dorette's yesterday then ventured to the viewing platform to hopefully catch s...
26/04/2026

We went for an early supper at our friend Dorette's yesterday then ventured to the viewing platform to hopefully catch sight of the beavers as they swim out onto the lake. The air was alive with birdsong, all the summer migrants returning. Blackcaps, chiffchaffs and willow warblers, we even heard a grasshopper warbler. A roe doe wandered along an old forestry track below the lake, oblivious to our presence high up. The pigs and Exmoor ponies have done an expert job of creating a mosaic of habitats and made their presence known by closely examining our activities and 'stealing' a few apples from the back of our vehicle. We waited quietly watching the lake for any sign of activity, occasionally distracted by the sploosh and slurp of some big carp breaking the waters surface. We eventually saw two beavers as the light was diminishing. They appeared as if by magic. They always surprise me by how stealthy they are. As darkness fell, the air cooled and the midges started to bite we retreated back to Dorette's home for tea and cake. What a magical experience. Devon Wildlife Trust

25/04/2026

Violet Oil Beetle in the sentry. They love sunny days. They have an extraordinary life cycle. here's some facts from Buglife.

Size: Adults can be up to 30mm in length. Beetle larvae are around 2mm in length.
Life span: From egg to adult, approximately 1 year
Diet: Adult oil beetles feed on the leaves and petals of flowering plants and grasses; favourites include Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), soft grasses (Poaceae), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Cleavers (Galium aparine). Larvae (known as triungulins) feed on stores in solitary bee nests, including the pollen and the bee egg and/or larvae. After leaving the nest, triungulins are often found on Lesser Celandine and Dandelion, but will use other flowers.
Reproduction: Oil beetles have one of the most extraordinary life cycles of any British insect – they are nest parasites of solitary mining bees. Females dig a short burrow into which they lay up to a thousand eggs. For Violet Oil Beetles, these eggs develop and hatch quickly, emerging later in the same season. Once these hatch the larvae (triungulins) climb to the top of the nearest flower and wait for a bee to arrive. They then grab onto the bee and hitch a lift back to its nest; the triungulin will then consume the pollen stores and either the egg or larvae of the bee. The triungulin will then stay in the bee’s nest, where it will pupate and emerge as an adult oil beetle when conditions are right the next spring.
When to see: Adults can be found from March – June in woodlands, meadows and coastal grasslands throughout Britain. They are most active on warm, sunny days. Triungulins can be found from April to June.
Population Trend: Declining.
Threats: Oil beetles are reliant on solitary bees to compete their life-cycles. The health of oil beetle populations is therefore dependent on the health and diversity of wild bees. The wildflower-rich habitats that oil beetles rely upon have declined in quantity and quality due to intensive management of the countryside. Oil beetles are sensitive to changes in land management and are a good indicator of the health of our countryside.
Fun Fact: The triungulins take 1 year to hatch from their eggs. This means that the triungulins found alongside the adults in spring are the larvae of the adults from the previous year!

Devon Wildlife Trust

24/04/2026

The bank voles are getting a bit feisty in the sentry.

Devon Wildlife Trust

Happy Earth Day! Great day on Exmoor with a wonderful couple. We had lovely views of common sandpipers, dippers and grey...
22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! Great day on Exmoor with a wonderful couple. We had lovely views of common sandpipers, dippers and grey wagtails and some violet oil beetles. No ponies seen today but we did have distant views of red deer hinds. Also saw what I hope was a fleeting glance of a ring tail! Sent a dodgy photo to an expert and hoping for the best!

Last night I found out why the old girl was a bit flighty the other evening. On the trail camera, about ten minutes afte...
19/04/2026

Last night I found out why the old girl was a bit flighty the other evening. On the trail camera, about ten minutes after me leaving the hide I caught a group of five younger badgers dashing in and scoffing all the food. They were whickering and barging each other out of the way. She's obviously sensible enough to get in early before the rowdy crowd turn up!

Craven Badger Group Badger Trust Shropshire Badger Group Stand with Badgers Somerset Badger Group Devon Badger Group

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