Shoveler, Longhorn and Variable Damselflies - Reculver to Shuart 28/05/21

I started out from Reculver on a cloudier and cooler day than yesterday with a south easterly wind that was keeping it on the chilly side but with it due to get warmer as the morning went on. The tide was well out and still falling. House Sparrows were busily collecting food around the towers and a Sparrowhawk scattered Starlings and Wood Pigeons as it shot through. A Hobby was moving out to sea in the distance as I made my way to Coldharbour and small numbers of Sand Martin were hawking for insects over the oyster farm. The song of a Lesser Whitethroat carried well from the oyster farm. I enjoyed watching a young Stonechat while on the sea ward side it was surprisingly quiet with the exposed shore having few occupants.

A Cuckoo was calling away and a Great Black-backed Gull made its way east. An Oystercatcher was tucked down amongst the shingle and did not seem too bothered by any passers by on the sea wall, only calling when a group of cyclists came past before settling again.

Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

Coldharbour was very quiet apart from the usual Rock Pipit and a few Mallard. I still failed miserably at being able to either hear or see a Grasshopper Warbler but the nice thing with bird watching is you never know when you might just finally catch up with something and often it's when you least expect to. I came across a patch of Salsify that was a beautifully rich purple compared to the paler flowers I had seen up until now.

Salsify

Salsify

A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song and above a few more Swift moved west. A single Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar was on one of the bushes.

Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar

A Common Tern was out to sea and a Common Sandpiper on the rocks as I made my way to Plumpudding. Another Cetti's Warbler was singing at Plumpudding and a pair of Yellow Wagtails and 4 Pied Wagtails were active at the back of the lagoons on Plumpudding itself. A couple of Mallard were on the water and 2 Shoveler were resting up on one of the islands with the male keeping a watchful eye.

male and female Shoveler

A male Marsh Harrier was starting to thermal higher as I carried on along and a Common Buzzard joined some Herring Gulls thermalling high above. As I approached the turn off for the stables a Herring Gull was persistently pursuing a couple of Sanderling along the length of the outflow pipe, each time they settled it would lift off to intercept them, chasing them from concrete block to concrete block.

Herring Gull and Sanderling

The male Marsh Harrier flew past carrying prey and another Common Buzzard was up over the fields. A Longhorn micro moth landed on an umbellifer and had impressively long antennae. I looked it up when I got home and I think it is a Adela reaumurella.

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Longhorn Micro Moth Adela reaumurella

Reed and Sedge Warbler song filled the air as I made my way to Shuart with more Reed Warbler than Sedge singing today. A beetle was making its way up a grass stem but I do not know which it is at present.

A male Tufted Duck was down the usual dyke and a Lesser Whitethroat's song carried well. I was keeping my eyes open for damslflies and once I reached the sheltered areas at the base of the hedgerow there were several Azure Damselflies making the most of the sunshine that had broken through and the air was already feeling much warmer.

Azure Damselfly

Several Variable Damselflies were also on the wing.

female Variable Damselfly

I caught sight of a teneral damselfly that from first glance I thought was going to be a Blue-tailed but it turned out to be a Variable.

teneral Variable Damselfly

The only butterflies that I could see were several Holly Blue's and an active Orange-tip butterfly. One of the Holly Blue settled on an Ivy leaf and as it partially opened its wings to take advantage of the warmth from the sun its underwing was lit beautifully as the light shone through.

Holly Blue

A Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler were filling the air with song and above a Lapwing swooped, twisted and turned as it did its display flight breaking off to chase a Carrion Crow that invaded its space. As yesterday, I came across another damselfly that had broken antehumeral stripes but no post ocular bar. Apart from the lack of post ocular bar all other features suggested male Variable Damselfly. One wing was badly crumpled but it he seemed to be able to fly and manoeuvre well despite that.

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest male Variable Damselfly

despite no post ocular bar other features suggest male Variable Damselfly

As I made my way to the pick up point I was struck with how the cloud formations appeared to be reflecting the pattern of the furrows in the field, all radiating to a central vanishing point.

I finished with watching pairs of Swifts. Each pair would stay close to each other as they swooped and dived after insects at breakneck speed. I enjoyed trying to grab a photo as they came past but did pretty badly with it, most of the time not even managing to keep them in frame. Keeping my balance and tracking a fast moving object turned out not to be a strong point but it didn't affect my enjoyment during the time spent watching these masters of the air.

Swift

Swift

Swift

Birds seen this visit included: House Sparrows, 12 Blackbird, Wood Pigeons, 5 Pied Wagtail, 15 Mute Swan including 3 cygnats , 5 Swallow, Starlings, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Whitethroat, 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 2 Collared Dove, 15 Sand Martin, 14 Mallard, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Meadow Pipit, 6 Stonechat, 16 Linnet, 8 Sedge Warbler, 13 Reed Bunting, 2 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 14 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Coot, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Wren, 15 Reed Warbler, 1 Rock Pipit, 7 Goldfinch, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Sanderling, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Lapwing

Beetle, Micro Moth, Dragonflies and Damselflies - East Blean Wood 28/05/20

I had a wander along to East Blean wood today on quite a windy day but with some good sunny intervals. It was very nice to be able to have the chance to pay a visit and the variety of greens in the various leaves looked lovely as I made my way along with the sunlight streaming through the trees. 

East Blean Wood

I could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a little further along a Green Woodpecker yaffled. I came across a Longhorn Beetle and on looking it up it appears to be a White-clouded Longhorn Beetle Mesosa nebulosa. It seems unlikely that it is one as they are rare in Southern England and apparently the adults are nocturnal but I have not found anything else that looks like it. 

White-clouded Longhorn Beetle Mesosa nebulosa

White-clouded Longhorn Beetle Mesosa nebulosa

I could hear Chiffchaff singing and a Nuthatch (120) called from a fair way away. I came across a very pretty micro moth Alabonia geoffrella. It really was a little beauty.

Alabonia geoffrella

Alabonia geoffrella

Alabonia geoffrella

Scorpionflies were resting up here and there before flying on hunting sorties. I came across one that had less banding on its abdomen than I have seen before.

Scorpionfly

A Treecreeper (121) was working its way along by spiralling up the trunks of the trees before dropping to the base of the next one. A Heath Fritillary was resting up and its underwing pattern looked lovely in the sunshine.

Heath Fritillary

Blue Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits were calling away from various trees as I made my way along a couple of Grey Squirrel were chasing each other round. A Norfolk Hawker was on the wing and settled nearby allowing some good views even though it was against a very bright background so I struggled to get the exposure right. They are lovely dragonflies.

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

I came across what I think is a blue form female Variable Damselfly going from the bar between the eyes, the shape of the pronotum and the size of the blue on S4 and 5.

Variable Damselfly

I started to make my way back and stopped to admire a female Broad-bodied Chaser with the light streaming from behind through its wings. As I moved past it I was able to see it from different angles and it gave some superb views. What a beauty.

Broad-bodied Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

I had a look around the car park area. The advantage of it being closed was that the Dragonflies there were able to hunt and rest up without disturbance. I could hear a Tawny Owl (122) calling in the distance which was a welcome sound. Another Norfolk Hawker was resting up and allowed some good views.

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Hairy Dragonflies were on the wing and, again, allowed some very good views while resting up. They are striking and beautiful dragonflies and it was nice to be able to see both male and female.

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

Male Hairy Dragonfly

I finished the visit watching Wood Ants around their nest moving sizeable pieces of vegetation with often 2 or 3 appearing to work together when a piece proved to be too big for just one.

Wood Ants

It had been a very enjoyable time spent.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Med Gulls and Greenshank - Reculver to Chambers Wall 17/07/19

I headed to Reculver today. It was a sunny and warm day with initially a south south easterly wind which gradually swung round to southerly. 6 Pied Wagtail were active around the car park area, a mix of adults and youngsters. a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls flew east. Lots of House Sparrows were chirping away. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across and Blackbirds and Linnet were busy feeding amongst the cut grass.

As I neared the sea I saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding from the plants by the last section of Roman Wall. It was ever active and, as always, an absolute joy to watch. It had an amazing turn of speed and such control when hovering. It would feed for a couple of minutes then shoot off and return a few minutes later. I tried for some photos and was lucky as the light was very good which enabled me to get some shots. It was really beautiful to watch and had such precise control over its long proboscis.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Out to sea appeared to be quiet except for a single Teal that flew west. A Little Owl was perched on one of the telegraph poles I tried for some photos but as I was taking into the light I struggled to get exposure right but was chuffed to have been able to get any at all. As a dog walker came past the owl flew over to the fence by the pumping station and after watching the ground intently dropped down and came back up with a mouse which it promptly swallowed.

Little Owl

A juvenile Black-headed Gull was with 4 Black-headed gull on the shore and a Common Gull dropped in briefly.

juvenile Black-headed Gull

There was a huge number of insects on the wing and a mixed group of Black-headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls were making the most of them. I could see 6 Mediterrranean Gull and a couple came close and gave superb views as they swooped after the insects.

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull

I could see a Little Ringed Plover in the same place as the other day. A Mute Swan was also there having a wash and brush up while a Kestrel hovered over the oyster farm. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly zoomed by on the lower path without stopping. A summer plumaged Turnstone looked gorgeous in the light.

Turnstone

The rest of the walk up to Coldharbour remained quite quiet. A Whimbrel flew west and I had a single Common Tern. On Coldharbour itself there only appeared to be a few Black-headed Gulls. I was pleased to see a Greenshank on the shore and it gave some good views.

Greenshank

Greenshank

Before heading up to Chambers Wall I had a short look along the bottom path. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly was patrolling but never paused long enough for a photo. A Conehead nymph had lost part of one of its antenna while a metallic beetle shone in the sunshine. I am not sure what it is at the moment.

Conehead nymph

A Sedge Warbler was working its way through the vegetation and a couple of mating Gatekeeper Butterflies fluttered past before settling. Peacock butterflies were enjoying the Red Clover as was a single Painted Lady. Small and Essex Skippers were plentiful and a few Small Heath were here and there.

Sedge Warbler

mating Gatekeeper Butterflies

A couple of Skylark were on the path up to Chambers Wall and gave some good views. A Yellow Wagtail called as it flew over.

Skylark

Skylark

By the river at Chambers Wall Small Red-eyed Damselflies were plentiful and there were also good numbers of Red-eyed. Many females were conjoined and and ovipositing. Blue-tailed damselflies fluttered about.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Large Red Dameslfly

I saw 5 Emperor Dragonflies and 3 Brown Hawkers. I also saw a Norfolk Hawker. Once again I tried for some flight photos and once again did really badly. Still, as before, at least they make good memory shots.

Brown Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

There were a few Ruddy Darter here and there and I saw a single Willow Emerald. I saw some handsome metallic beetles and will need to try and find out what they are.

Ruddy Darter

I finished the visit with some very nice views of a female Banded Demoiselle sheltering out of the wind.

Banded Demoiselle

Birds seen this visit include: 8 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrows, Starlings, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, 4 Blackbird, 40 Linnet, Cormorants, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Teal, 1 Common Gull, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Kestrel, 21 Meadow Pipit, 6 Little Egret, 8 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 7 Oystercatcher, 8 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 4 Ringed Plover, 7 Reed Bunting, 18 Sedge Warbler, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Partridge calling, 1 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Shelduck, 2 Magpie, 2 Grey Heron, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Carrion Crows