Bathing Swans, Whinchat and Clouded Yellows - Shuart to Chambers Wall 20/08/20

I headed to Shuart on a sunny but increasingly breezy morning. Overall it appeared quite quiet but I enjoyed just seeing what I could see. A Stock Dove peeped out at me while above a Common Buzzard called and a Ring-necked Parakeet called from the trees. 

Stock Dove

A Jay alarm called as I headed down the track and a Sparrowhawk streaking through caused the local residents and visitors to disappear into cover before venturing out again. Several Migrant Hawkers were on the wing and when they came to rest it gave the opportunity to admire their markings as I made my way along.

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

A pair of Mute Swan were having an enthusiastic wash and brush up in one of the dykes.

Mute Swans

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

As I neared the end of the track a Clouded Yellow butterfly motored past without stopping. A Kestrel hunting near the stables was harassed by a flock of Swallows before moving a little further along. Making my way along the sea wall I was pleased when a Whinchat (134) appeared briefly. Unfortunately with so many people about on the sea wall I only saw it briefly before it was disturbed and I did not manage to pick it up again.

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

A couple of Swift flew west, hawking for insects as they went. I enjoyed watching the various Yellow Wagtails that I saw as I made my way along.

Yellow Wagtail

A Sanderling searching for food along the tide line gave some good views as it did so. They are beautifully marked birds.

Sanderling

As I made my way towards Chambers Wall the wind had increased and it had become increasingly cloudy. Another Clouded Yellow butterfly flew along the path and luckily for me it stopped to feed from some Clover alongside the path giving the opportunity to try for some photos. They are beautiful butterflies.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

A Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were searching for insects in the hedgerow while the cooler conditions meant there were several resting Damselflies, Hawkers and Darters. A single Blue-tailed Damselfy was tucked down low and a smart male Migrant Hawker was hanging motionless from a branch.

Blue-tailed Damselfly

male Migrant Hawker

A Common Darter was making the most of the welcome warmth from the sunshine during the brief breaks in the clouds as was a Ruddy Darter.

Common Darter

Ruddy Darter

I saw a couple of Willow Emeralds one of which had the seed head from a Dandelion flower stuck in its wings.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

I finished off my visit with a Small Red-eyed Damselfly.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Birds seen this visit included:  5 Stock Dove, 4 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Wood Pigeons, 2 Blackbird, 5 Robin, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 5 Wren, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Jay, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 30 Swallow, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Curlew, 15 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Pied Wagtail, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Stonechat, 3 Turnstone, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swift, 1 Whinchat, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Sanderling, 2 Coot, 5 Goldfinch, 15 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler

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.

Cuckoo and a Hairy Dragonfly in difficulty - Marshside 27/05/19

I came down to Marshside after work on an overcast but mild afternoon. Lots of Azure Damselflies were on the wing but it seemed pretty quiet for birds. As it was so quiet bird wise it turned out to be an afternoon that I saw a lot more insects than birds. The Marsh Frogs were very vocal.

A small moth settled briefly. I am not sure what it is and will update when I find out. A female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis was feeding away in a Buttercup flower. I tend to see more males than females of this beetle so it was nice to catch up with a female.

Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis

Chaffinch and Wren were singing away and I could hear a Ring-necked Parakeet calling from the trees but could not manage to see it. Three little balls of baby Garden Spiders were suspended in a fine web, all around the same size as this one.

baby Garden Spiders

An old horse paddock was a sea of buttercups and a beautiful sight. Several Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia flowers showed magenta pink amongst the yellow.

Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia

I saw 2 Common Malachite Beetles, a male and a female. I thought, when I saw them, that they were fighting but the website UK Beetles explained that this was part of the mating ritual. It made fascinating reading.

male and female Common Malachite Beetles

A Chiffchaff was singing away and a Whitethroat and Reed Warbler were also in full song. A Common Earwig was resting up and a pair of Hairy Shieldbugs were mating.

Common Earwig

mating Hairy Shieldbugs

Rooks were back and fore between the rookery and a recently planted field and a male Ichneumon deliratorius gave some good, even if partially obscured views.

Rook

Ichneumon deliratorius

A pair of Great Tit were busily collecting food and made several journeys while I was watching. I was sorry to see that the female Mallard is down to 8 youngsters but those seemed to be doing well.

Great Tit

female Mallard with ducklings

female Mallard with ducklings

I came across a Ptychoptera contaminata amongst the vegetation bordering the dyke and also a beetle that I did not recognise. I haven't been able to identify the beetle and I will update when I can.

Ptychoptera contaminata

The Yellow Iris's were out in flower and are really handsome flowers and always a welcome splash of colour. A Blue-tailed Damselfly colour form rufescens gave a chance to admire that colour form close up.

Yellow Iris

Blue-tailed Damselfly colour form rufescens

I saw a Hairy Dragonfly resting low down in the vegetation at the waters edge. It was only when I saw it from the other side that I realised that its wings were only fully expanded on one side. On the other side one wing was only partially expanded with half of it shrivelled and folded back on itself and the other wing seemed to be missing altogether or else completely unexpanded. It was a sad sight.

Hairy Dragonfly

Hairy Dragonfly

I came across a Red-eyed Damselfly which  was a little too far away for a photo but further on I came across a much more obliging one which I was able to try some photos. They are very attractive damselflies.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly

I had heard a Cuckoo calling at times throughout the visit and it flew in and landed on the power cables. It sat preening until a nearby Wood Pigeon took exception to its presence and flew straight at it. The Cuckoo dropped off the wires and flew to a nearby tree whereupon the Wood Pigeon followed it and once again flew at it until it moved on. This happened three times before the Cuckoo gave up and flew further away before it began to call again.

Cucckoo and Wood Pigeon

Cuckoo and Wood Pigeon

It was nice to hear the Turtle Dove purring away. It is a lovely sound. I had a couple of different Ladybirds, both quite small. One I think is a 24-spot but I am not sure, at present, on the other one. Once again, I will update when I can identify it.

24-spot Ladybird

A Bee was busy amongst a Bramble flower and I came across a snail shell that was surprisingly translucent.

translucent Snail shell

I saw a very distant Barn Owl hunting which came as a nice surprise. It was too far for a photo but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. It always makes my day when I see an owl. I haven't seen one here for a while so it was nice to know that they are still around. I finished the visit with a couple of moths, one of which I will have to update when I can identify it.

Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Carrion Crows, 8 Wren, 15 Blackbird, 6 Robin, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Starlings, 4 Chiffchaff, 8 Reed Warblers, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, 5 Swallow, Great Tit, 5 Sand Martin, 5 Song Thrush, Rooks, Jackdaws, female Mallard with 8 ducklings, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Moorhen, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Collared Doves, 5 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, House Sparrows, 2 Magpie, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Long Tailed Tits, Skylarks, 1 Barn Owl