Why did I choose Dragons?: More Dragons!

Started off yesterday at Little Bradley Ponds arriving around 9.30 and did a slow circuit of the Island lake and saw a few Common Blues, Blue Tailed and Red Damsels, all well hidden and hard work to pick out until we got our eyes in. A word of advice it is very wet around the margins - wear your wellies!

Graham also picked up a few Lacewings but not a lot going on. We decided to have a look at the other lake and then come back once it had warmed up a bit. Again across the road we picked up more of the same Damsels but at least we were getting pictures.

Around 11.30 we went back and there were a few Four Spotted Chasers in action, in all we think around 40 in total around the lake. Then we got good views of a pair of Hairy's who were quite entertaining. Unfortunately every time we thought one was going to settle they got into a dust up with a 4 spot and so never settled where we could get a shot of one. We did see at least 2 other males but they were very active and again no photos. Being wise after the event I will take a video as a record next time.

Graham then had the find of the day when he plunged into the undergrowth after a picture of a pair of Blue Damsels in cop and was confronted by a Downy Emerald. He was so startled all he managed was to point it out to me and the action of raising his camera saw it shoot off at great speed into the trees.

In all we saw 2 males and a female and it was a first for me so made the day worthwhile.

Finally off the small boardwalk by the entrance we got a male Broad Bodied Chaser.

We the moved down to Heathfield and picked up a pair of Broad Bodied Chasers doing the deed and racing around to ensure photography was made as difficult as possible.

All in all only 7 species but as everything is at least a month behind after the awful winter it was a good day and it is just great to be out and about again.

Rather worryingly from a birders point of view there were virtually no birds at Heathfield, which upset Graham as he thought he was nailed on to tick off Yellowhammer there.

List to date: -

Common Blue Damsel
Blue tail Damsel
Large Red Damsel
4 Spot Chaser
Hairy Dragon
Downy Emerald Dragon
Broad Bodied Chaser.

Butterflies
Peacock
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood

Following the destruction of my G10 on hols I have upped my game on the demolition front. I broke the ball head on my tripod and in trying to get it off snapped one of the legs off. So much for lightweight tripods, back to lugging round a robust model!

Today is a beautiful morning in Plymouth but I am on power washing duties for the in-laws so today will be Dragon-free I am afraid.

Selection of Photos follows, nothing done to them yet other than a bit of noise reduction so don't expect too much. All taken with a broken tripod!