Im still Meandering

Ha, well hello there.

Whilst out pursuing my new hobby of Field Archery at a private l;ocation near Castleside Co Durham i came across this beauty. I spent all of last summer looking for one of these and here it was right in front of me today.



A Golden Ring Dragonfly.

Also seen today whilst not looking for were Tree Pipit, Redstart, Yellow Hammer, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler and two yes two Tawny Owls along with nesting Curlews Red Kite and Buzzard not bad for not actually going out birding.

Good to be back will keep posting any more unusual sitings whilst out playing Robin Hood.

This is field Archery by the way if anyone interested.




Club i belong to is Butsfield Bowmen we play around in a secluded tree lined valley shooting at 3D Targets of Lions, Tigers and Bears oh my. Nothing is harmed though.

Part of the NFAS.

An evening at Holywell

Quick late evening trip to Holywell yesterday. There was a Yellow Wagtail, Green Sandpiper and a couple of Snipe from the public hide. Two Sparrowhawks above the members hide.

Loads of Wall Browns on the footpaths through the wheat fields. Barn Owls knocking around the fields in the same area.

A few pics below














Nice evening good to meet Bob and Cain again.

Garden Hedge

Firstly, Hello to Anthony and welcome to the Blog. I answered your comment sorry about delay Ive just seen it.

In the garden the other day whilst hanging out the washing, i noticed the Box Hedge was absolutely covered in insects. There was about five variety of Bees and three types of Butterflies. I let the hedge grow this year to try and block out the annoying neighbours and thus in doing so it flowered which Ive never seen before.

So here's a few pics from the garden.



















Canny Eh !

Only Five weeks left and counting.

Last couple of days

I went to Kielder area on Sunday with my bro to see if we could clock Black Darter up at Falstone Moss. When we got to the Mire in the bleak windy conditions we found nothing flying at all. We did come across this bonny little plant.



Bog Asphdel

And this cracking Toon Army Lichen, Black and White.





So next stop we headed to Sidwood near Greenhaugh. Here we were after Golden Ring Dragonfly.

It wasn't long before we came across a Common Hawker weaving along the forest ride.
That was to be the only one though. For the rest of the trip we saw no Dragons at all. However, we did see some more nice Lichens including this Cladonia.



And for the Fungi fans among you:





So not the best of trips having seen nothing that we set out to see.


Washington Survey part three on Sunday had all the usual with Common Darter, Emperor, Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly and Blue Tailed, Common Blue and Emerald Damselfly. Butterflies were Meadow Brown, Green Veined and Small White. A few pics below to show findings.












So the holidays drag on. The kids have bankrupted me already and i mark the days left until they return to school on the wall. Lets hope it rains everyday for the next six weeks so i dont miss anything.

Life comes to a halt

That dreadful time of the year is again once upon us, the school holidays. My life will now come to an end for the next six weeks whilst i entertain the kids. No birding, no photographing no nowt.

So there will be little posting activity on this blog for that time period but please drop in now and again as i may get the odd day in.

My survey at washington will of course continue and i will update on that.

As the Americans would say Happy Holidays. I can feel the tears starting to well up already.

Washington WWT Survey part 2

Part two of my Dragonfly survey at Washington this morning produced some more cracking sights. This Broad Bodied Chaser was oviposting on the Lilly pond, a very good sign. Just press play.



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.

Silverlink Shuffle

Quick visit to Silverlink Bio Park produced loads of Meadow Browns, Small and Large Skipper, Common Blue, Burnet Moths, Large White, Speckled Wood, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. Common and Blue Tailed Damselflies. Emperor Dragonfly, Common Darter and this cracking Four Spotted Chaser.

Washington WWT Wow.

The Survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies began yesterday and what a start i had.

As i was walking down to the ponds something rather large caught my eye. Upon further inspection i came across this beauty. Only a Southern Hawker Dragonfly. WOW !






This cracking Dragonfly has only recently started to spread to our part of the country so it was a very nice and unexpected find.

As i continued my walk i saw a Common Darter resting on the floor.


Fandragontastic Mate

So with stool set up by the pond i began my survey. There was plenty to see with Common Blue, Blue Tailed and Azure Damselfly.




Both Azure Damselfly



Common Blue


The Damselflies were mating and laying eggs so a good sign of a healthy Damselfly world. I also spotted two Common Blue Tenerals drying their wings out.

Then something glimmered like a jewel in the sun. And it was indeed a jewel. A stunning Emerald Damselfly.


Emerald

Three male Broad Body Chasers did what there name suggests and chased a female around the pond for a good twenty minutes. They proved very hard to photograph but i eventually manged to capture a couple of record shots.




Broad Body Chaser

A single Large Red Damselfly tried its best to have a rest but the Common Blues were having none of it and kept chasing him away.




There was also a good number of Butterflies visiting the area around the pond. Four Comma put on a show amongst the leaves. Chasing each other away until only one remained. Although he was a little Moth eaten (excuse the pun) .



Other species noted were, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Painted Lady and Meadow Brown.

A few pic below to show the variety of species found.









Other creatures of interest seen were, two Newts and a Frog of which type i have no idea.

So a truly enjoyable day which i shall repeat next Sunday.

New Role

From this morning i became an official Wildlife Survey Assistant at Washington WWT.
For the next couple of months i will be monitoring Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies within the reserve. Then moving onto another survey after that and so on. I will be covering all Flora and Fauna so its all very exciting and i cant wait to get stuck in. So expect lots of photos of the above.

Anyhoo's, heres some Moths i clocked this morning resting in one of the bird hides.



Brimstone


Coxcomb Prominent



Yellow Shell


Snout


Light Arches

I take it they were all night flying Moths and will find out asap.