There was also a male Broad Bodied Chaser who kept chasing off a Four Spotted Chaser.
The numbers of dragonflies/damselflies were high on all the ponds. With Common Blue, Azure, Emerald and Blue Tailed. There was lots of pairs in tandem and in wheels and oviposting.
On blades of reed i noticed a couple of Exuvia clinging to the stems. So this all points to a successful cycle of breeding at the ponds.
Other species seen included Common Hawker and Common Darter. The former being a first for me and what a cracking sight to watch. It wouldn't land though so no pics. Butterfly wise there were a few knocking around. Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Comma, Large White, Small White (high numbers), Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Strangely no Burnet Moths seems a bit early for them to have gone ? A few pics of the Butterflies seen.
Something else I'm just getting into are Bees and their vast variety. I got a fantastic book describing the different types and how to id them. Something else i have to study now along with Dragonflies. I came across this subdued individual who let me come within macro distance of him. Now looking at the photo i can see why, his wings are rather torn and tattered. I havent id him yet but will get onto it as soon as possible.
A flower I'm not sure of, it looked like an Orchid of some kind. Standing about three foot high amongst the grass.
I met some nice folks whilst doing the survey. They showed a lot of interest in what i was doing and why i was doing it. I met Scribbley Jack of Bird Forum and his lass who name escapes me to which i apologise and had a good crack with them.
So if you see a handsome, well toned, strapping lad sitting by the pond ignore him because i will be the old fat one counting Dragonflies over the other side, come and have a chat.
I had a quick stop of at the bird hides on wader lake. There were some good waders knocking around the best being a Green Sandpiper. Year tick for me.
Ok very poor record shot but it was miles away.Canny day.
Hope i haven`t spoilt it for you Davy, but the Bumble looks like Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed Bumble Bee) and the orchid type flower is Marsh Woundwort.
ReplyDeleteBloody hell Dean is there nowt you dont know ;-)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was and i would say a female by the black face, no ?
Cheers mate.
"i would say a female by the black face, no ?"
ReplyDeleteThat`s something i didn`t know Davy. So the answer to your first question is no ;-)
There must be a BBC in Northumberland somewhere ,like the vid ,had a dragon ovipositing in the same manner at Holywell ,although not BBC, FSC or BTS.
ReplyDeleteBrian
You would think so Brian, but so far i aint come across one.
ReplyDeleteYour Washington work looks interesting, Davy.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you should say there were no Burnet moths. Many years ago, when I lived at Killingworth, I used to regularly pop up to the ponds at Brenkley - it was always good for birds, water voles in those days, flowers etc. I have some slides of five-spot burnets taken there too. I always look out for them these days but haven't seen a burnet for years. A pity really because my experience was that they sat about, happy to have their pictures taken.
Re Sidwood: there were some dragonflies about yesterday. I had a look around the stream that runs down from the pond but didn't see any damselflies.
Hi Davy, just dropping by to say great work your doing on this here blog. Do you have any idea why one day there can be lots of frantic activity with dragons and damsels around a pond and on another nothing!
ReplyDeleteOh, we got lots of five spotted Burnets at the moment in the meadows around Sherwood Forest area, although they are looking a bit old and knackered now judging by the state of their wings.
Hi Antony just read your comment sorry about delay and welcome to the blog.
ReplyDeleteIts all to do with optimum conditions. Most Dragons need a certain temperature before they can fly. Also if it is overcast and cold then it is much more likely that their food source will not be flying.
Thanks for taking the time to answer Davy, I was thinking along those lines but a little bit confused as it has been pretty much fine weather and warm yet a definite lack of our Odonata type friends. Just gotta keep getting out there I guess.
ReplyDelete