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X-WR-CALNAME:South Devon National Landscape
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for South Devon National Landscape
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260424T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260424T123000
DTSTAMP:20260404T093941
CREATED:20260402T081957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T081957Z
UID:13717-1777026600-1777033800@southdevon-nl.org.uk
SUMMARY:Life on the Edge Volunteers and Surveys - (8) Oil Beetle & Bee-fly Surveys
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] \nLife on the Edge volunteers spend time in the fresh air\, being active\, meeting new people and making a real difference for nature. Come and join the crew!\n  \nCome and join Life on the Edge this Spring to survey the invertebrates of our beautiful coastline and work on your insect identification skills! Starting on February 27th\, we will be going out every Friday from 10.30am to 12.30pm to sites along the coast. We will start our survey season looking for the Black Oil Beetle and Short-necked Oil Beetle\, and as the weather warms up will also survey for the Dark-edged Bee-fly and Dotted Bee-fly. These creatures are useful indicators of a thriving\, species-rich coastal habitat ideal for numerous plant and insect species\, so going out and recording is a vital element of our work to restore these habitats. Your survey results will be uploaded to iRecord\, and will help us to target our nature restoration work to protect and grow their populations. \nSee below for dates and survey locations\, and please get in touch for more information on meeting points and to book your place. We are providing transport in a 9 seater van for those that do not have their own transport\, with pick-ups at Follaton Arboretum in Totnes and en route – please let us know when you sign up if you would like a lift and we will let you know further details. Sorry\, but we are unable to take dogs in the vehicles. \nThis opportunity is open to anyone who has an interest in nature and our coastline\, or wants to get more experience surveying the variety of nature on their doorstep 😊 \n  \n  \nImportant booking information \n\nFree event\nPre-booking essential via email to lote@southdevon-nl.org.uk – contact us to book and for more information on meeting point. Let us know if you would like to use the LotE transport.\n\n  \nKnow before you go \n\nFridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm\nMeeting point / location: See attached poster for survey locations\, and email for further specifics on meeting points and lifts\nWalk distance: approx 3-5km\nAccessibility: this event is taking place on the unsurfaced footpaths and is not suitable for people who might have difficulty in these conditions.\nSorry\, no dogs\nTo bring: weather-appropriate clothing\, sturdy boots\, snacks and drinks. If you have one\, a hand lens and a note pad would be useful.\n\n  \n\nBlack Oil Beetle & Short-Necked Oil Beetle \nFrom early spring in South Devon\, you can find three of the five native UK Oil Beetle species\, Black Oil Beetles (Meloe proscarabaeus)\, Violet Oil Beetles (Meloe violaceus)\, and Short-necked Oil Beetles(Meloe brevicollis) . Both Black and Violet Oil Beetles are relatively widespread in South Devon\, however their abundance does seem to be declining. However\, the Short Necked Oil Beetle has a very restricted\, fragmented range nationally\, with it being equally rare in South Devon being known from one stretch of coast between Bolt Tail and Bolberry Down..   \nViolet Oil Beetles are often found inland in woodland edges\, sunny glades\, and hilly\, unimproved grasslands\, whereas Black Oil Beetles are more commonly found on coastal cliffs and open\, sandy\, or well-drained grasslands. To distinguish between Black and Violet Oil Beetles\, examine the base of the thorax (pronotum). The Violet Oil Beetle has an indented lower edge with a distinct\, sharp\, raised tooth at the base. The Black Oil Beetle has an almost straight lower edge to the thorax with only a small\, rounded\, or almost absent tooth.  \nBlack Oil Beetles have a square thorax and kinked antennae\, and can be up to 30mm in length. Short-necked Oil Beetles are smaller\, up to 24mm long\, and have an oblong shaped thorax resembling a ‘short neck’ with shorter\, straight antennae. Any records of the Short-necked Oil Beetle should be submitted to iRecord with a photo clearly showing the thorax (ideally a dorsal view\, i.e. top-down of its back).  \nBlack\, Violet and Short-necked Oil Beetles are found from March through to June (although can be spotted as early as late February in the milder Devon climate) when the adults emerge to feed and mate. Look near wildflower-rich sites\, patches of bare ground on the coast path that females will burrow into to lay their eggs\, and grassy tussocks that can provide shelter on colder days. Their life cycle is intertwined with that of solitary bees\, so any habitat that is good for solitary bees is a good sign there might be Oil Beetles nearby! \n  \nDark-Edged Bee-Fly and Dotted Bee-Fly\nBee-flies\, although they look like bumblebees\, are actually flies. Their distinctive features are their fuzzy bodies\, long tongues\, and hovering darting flight.  Their tongue – which can be almost half as long as their body – is technically called  a proboscis\, and is used to feed on  nectar from flowers. A good way to tell different species of bee-flies apart is to look at the patterns on their wings.  The Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) is a  widespread species to look out for in South Devon from March through to June\, identified by the solid dark band along the front edge of their wings. A rarer species is the Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor)\, identified by the dark spots on the front edge of their  wings. \nDuring flight\, identification is much harder as their distinctive wing patterning becomes a blur – so if you spot one still\, snap a clear photo and upload a record to iRecord. \nDark-edged Bee-flies can be found throughout South Devon in a variety of open habitats\, including gardens\, grassland\, woodland rides and clearings\, and the coast. The Dotted Bee-fly has more scattered records\, but is most commonly seen between Prawle Point and Start Point. Their life cycle is intertwined with that of solitary bees\, so any habitat that is good for solitary bees is a good place to start looking! \n  \n \nThanks to National Lottery players \n          [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/event/life-on-the-edge-volunteers-and-surveys-8-oil-beetle-bee-fly-surveys/
LOCATION:South Milton
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=application/pdf:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Spring-invert-surveying-poster.pdf
ORGANIZER;CN="South Devon National Landscape LotE":MAILTO:lote@southdevon-nl.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260424T184500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260424T211500
DTSTAMP:20260404T093941
CREATED:20260320T081204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T081204Z
UID:13588-1777056300-1777065300@southdevon-nl.org.uk
SUMMARY:Sharpham Trust dusk chorus – a birdsong walk
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] \nDusk Chorus – a birdsong walk\n  \nExplore the Sharpham Estate – and the sounds of the birdlife here – with expert Mike Langman. \n  \nHe’ll guide & inspire birdsong fans\, from raw beginners to seasoned listeners\, with his observations\, facts and knowledge about our feathered friends\, their habits and habitats. \n  \nAt this time of the year\, many different bird species are returning after overwintering in warmer climes\, and will be in full song establishing their territories and attracting mates. \n  \nSharpham is home to a variety of winged creatures\, from tiny firecrests and blue tits\, to ravens and raptors. \n  \nImportant booking information \n\n\n\nEvent cost £2 – £12\, children go free\nBooking and more information via Sharpham Trust website\n\n\n\n\nKnow before you go\n\nSuitability – this day is for you if you are:\n\nAdult or child of any age and experience\, looking to discover more about birds\nInterested in learning more about the natural world\nA fan of The Great Outdoors\nLooking for a fascinating wildlife event\n\n\nDogs\n\nSorry\, no dogs\n\n\nWhat to bring\n\nBinoculars! Although if you don’t have any\, we can supply some\nPaper and pen if you want to take notes\nCamera if you want to take pictures\nHat & warm clothes\nWaterproofs\nGood comfy outdoor shoes or wellies\nSnack – bring a health snack if you get peckish along the way\nBottle of water\n\n\nAccessibility\n\nThe event will be a circular walk\, roughly 2km\, downhill to the river and back up again.\nThe terrain will be on footpaths that may be muddy underfoot and steep in a couple of places.\nUnfortunately it will not be suitable for pushchairs but babes in carriers are welcome\n\n\nParking\n\nIn parking bays behind Sharpham House\n\n\nFacilities\n\nNone\n\n\n\n\nMeeting point\n\nMeet near the parking bays behind Sharpham House TQ9 7UT\nW3W ///wished.cobras.decoding\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/event/sharpham-trust-dusk-chorus-a-birdsong-walk/
LOCATION:Sharpham estate\, Sharpham Trust\, Totnes\, Devon\, TQ9 7UT\, United Kingdom
ORGANIZER;CN="Sharpham Trust":MAILTO:bookings@sharphamtrust.org
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