Interesting selection of finds, just one Common Blue Damsel, no Blue Tails and one Large Red in four hours of searching but 50 + Emeralds, males and females including ovipositing pairs.
On the Dragonfly stakes, we started off with a single Southern Hawker patrolling the large pond without settling. We persevered and eventually when the sun made an appearance we had around 4 males continually clashing and one female ovipositing in the margins. This was also when we started to see the Emerald Damsels.
We also got 2 Migrant Hawkers and a very swift fly past from a female Golden Ringed dragon. We then moved on and found some perfect Butterfly territory and got some nice shots of Brimstones and Small Coppers plus a load of different Hoverflies. I will leave the identification of these critters to Graham as he has far too much time on his hands and likes to make lists!
We also picked up a couple of female Black Darters in the grass but kept losing them and expended a lot of time relocating them in the grass, very frustrating.
We then walked back to the pond as it was heating up as midday approached and we were rewarded by wall to wall Black Darters, they were everywhere. They especially liked Graham and rode around on him like tiny winged jockeys for some time. The posed very patiently on the board walk railings and I now have a very comprehensive library of the left side of male Black Darters, as they all landed facing the same way. Also good shots of an uninhibited pair in cop who were happy to be photographed in the act.
Finally we found a singleton female Common Darter wondering where all her mates had gone.
Can't think of a better way of spending 4 hours (proves I am getting old) and although the variety wasn't huge and no rarities a good day. Photos below.
No comments:
Post a Comment