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

Four-spotted Chaser and Ladybird Larva - Highstead 27/05/20

I had a wander along at Highstead today to see if I could catch up with any dragonflies. It turned out to be very quiet on the walk up and I only saw one Azure Damselfly as I made my way along. The sheep around the pond area had been sheared and a mum and her lamb looked on curiously as I passed by.

Sheep

A red Kite circled lazily above and a Common Buzzard was up over the far trees. It was nice to catch up with my first House Martins (118) and Sand Martins (119) with several swooping round as they caught insects above.

Red Kite

I saw a dragonfly fly up briefly from the grass and luckily for me it settled again and I was able to get some very nice views of it. It was a beautiful Four-spotted Chaser and in the cool conditions it returned several times to the same perch, pausing for quite a while each time, and enabling views from several angles as it landed on the stem at various heights and angles. They are really striking dragonflies.

female Four-spotted Chaser

female Four-spotted Chaser

female Four-spotted Chaser

female Four-spotted Chaser

I came across a Ladybird larva that I think is a 7-Spot Ladybird larva. Further along I came across a small and very spiny and bristly larva which I think could be a 24-Spot Ladybird larva. It was fascinating to see.

7-Spot Ladybird larva

24-Spot Ladybird larva

24-Spot Ladybird larva

There was a small moth tucked down amongst the vegetation which I still need to identify.

Moth

A Dandelion clock formed a perfect sphere.

Dandelion Clock

A Kestrel was hovering a little way away and I liked how the light shone through its tail feathers as it fanned them. At one point it veered off and flew above me and looked stunning with the light shining through its flight feathers. I did not do very well with the photograph but it gives a good memory shot of the moment.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Wandering along a little further I came across a striking immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly violacea form resting up, the violet sides to its thorax really catching the eye.

immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly violacea form

A pair of mating Azure Damselflies landed and rested up for a while with their bodies forming the usual heart shape before they took to the air again and moved on.

mating Azure Damselflies

A Black-tailed Skimmer was on the ground ahead and was a beauty. I think it might be an immature male but it could be a female.

immature male or female Black-tailed Skimmer

On the walk down to Marshside for the pick up point a Common Blue Butterfly gave some lovely views as it rested up between short sorties.

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue Butterfly

The bright flowers of Grass Vetchling caught my eye and were a lovely splash of colour amongst the green.

Grass Vetchling

I had a peep in the dyke at Marshside and could see a bright fish fairly close to the surface. I am not sure what it is and have not been able to find it in my books at the moment and wonder if it is something that has been introduced.

It had been an enjoyable walk through and I had ended up seeing a good selection of dragonflies and damselflies.