Hovering Kestrel, Dragonflies and Insects - Highstead to Marshside 31/05/20

I made a return visit to Highstead today to see if I could manage to catch up with the Norfolk Hawker I saw the other day. While I was scanning the bushes near the old stables a Kestrel was hovering nearby and then moved much closer and gave some fantastic views as it hung in the wind, adjusting its wing strokes to keep itself completely steady.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Once the Kestrel moved on I started out along the track and came across a Large Skipper butterfly resting up. I had not realised just how long its probiscus was until it unravelled it. I am always amazed at the level of control and accuracy that butterflies have over it.

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

I caught sight of blue and could see a Broad-bodied Chaser resting up before recommencing hunting sorties. I am presuming that the markings are down to age but it was very striking all the same.

mature Broad-bodied Chaser

mature Broad-bodied Chaser

A beautifully fresh Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly looked great in a patch of sunlight and I saw a moth that I think may be a Common Carpet Moth although some aspects don't look quite right for it so I will need to look into it further.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

It was nice to catch up with some Azure damselflies but I did not have any luck with the Norfolk Hawker. One of the Azure's had a marked kink in its abdomen.

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly with kinked abdomen

A Yellow Shell Moth was tucked down amongst the vegetation and a Dock Bug was making the most of the sunshine.

Yellow Shell Moth

Dock Bug

I had a wander down to Marshside to reach the pick up point and a Kestrel was tucked into the hedge shining pale against the dark leaves.

Kestrel

I caught sight of a Norfolk Hawker flying along the dyke but unfortunately it kept going and I wasn't able to get a photograph. It is the first time I have seen one at Marshside and I suppose that it is not inconceivable that it could be the nearby Highstead one. A couple of unusual colouration Ladybirds were climbing stems. I am not sure if they are in fact Harlequin Ladybirds which could explain the colour forms. I couldn't see an 'M' on them but it may have been down to the angle I was viewing them from.

I finished the visit with good views of a Broad-bodied Chaser and it made a nice way to finish, they are beautiful dragonflies.

Broad-bodied Chaser

A Crossbill Encounter and Large Red Damsleflies - Thorndon Wood 30/05/20

I paid a visit to Thorndon Wood today and had a walk through. The morning started well when I caught sight of a speck of red ahead and saw a Large Red Damselfly settled in a patch of sunshine. Unfortunately a cyclist shot past and it was off and I did not see it again but hoped that I might catch up with another one with a bit of luck further along. A little further on I came across a few Heath Fritillary butterflies flitting around and paused to enjoy the spectacle.

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

I was really pleased when once again I caught the sight of a speck of red and ended up getting some superb views of a Large Red Damselfly. It was a beauty and is a damselfly that I do get to see very often.

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Nearby I could see a small pond that though it couldn't be accessed, as it was fenced off, I could still see a good amount of it from the path. A male Broad-bodied Chaser was perched between making hunting sorties and gave some very nice views as it returned repeatedly to the same perch.

male Broad-bodied Chaser

male Broad-bodied Chaser

I could hear Crossbills (123) and looked up from watching the chaser to the fantastic sight of several Crossbills drinking from the pond at the back. I have never seen a Crossbill so close and it was a truely unforgettable experience. They were only there for a few moments but I felt so lucky to have seen them.

Crossbill

Crossbill

Crossbill

Crossbill

After that excitement it was back to watching damselflies as a pair of Large Red Damselflies in tandem visited.

Large Red Damselflies

Large Red Damselflies

The Broad-bodied Chaser settled even closer and gave some superb views. There were 3 males over the pond.

male Broad-bodied Chaser

male Broad-bodied Chaser

male Broad-bodied Chaser

male Broad-bodied Chaser

I carried on down the track and the air was full of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler song. A flock of 15 Crossbill flew overhead, calling away, and a little further along I could see a Crossbill perched in the top of a tree.

Crossbill

Crossbill

I came across a striking moth and on looking it up it is a Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia.

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia

I had a short wander up a side path and met a ranger who had come to feed the Konick Horses and sure enough they had heard him coming and came to meet him. I had not realised they were in the wood. They are lovely horses. A little further along I was pleased to hear a Nightingale (124) singing and paused to enjoy its song. The horses were making their way back and looked lovely in the sunshine.

Konick Horse

Konick Horses

I made my way back to the main track and a Fox crossed the path in front of me before disappearing into cover.

Fox

I came across some Heath Fritillary with some trying to attract a mate and others attempting to mate. Any that were paired did not tend to get much peace as other Fritillaries also tried to mate, pushing their way in where they could and trying to oust the other male.

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillaries

Heath Fritillaries

It was proving to be a good day for dragonflies and a Black-tailed Skimmer gave some nice views as it perched in between trying to catch insects.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Black-tailed Skimmer

Black-tailed Skimmer

I heard rustling and a Grey Squirrel peaked out at me as it made its way up a tree trunk and a little further along another Broad-bodied Chaser gave a great view.

Grey Squirrel

Broad-bodied Chaser

I came across an area with lots of Foxgloves which was a beautiful sight.

Foxglove

Foxglove

Foxglove

As I neared the pick up point I saw a small bird fly into a tree and couldn't believe it when I found myself looking at a gorgeous Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (125). It only stayed for a moment before moving on but had definitely made a great end to the visit. A Holly Blue butterfly looked beautiful as the light shone through its wings and brought a great visit to an end. 

Holly Blue Butterfly