An Admiral, Emperor and a Demoiselle - East Blean Wood 30/06/19

I headed to East Blean wood late afternoon. Unfortunately the weather was changing with building thick cloud and few and far between sunny intervals as well as a cool wind. Still, with the hope that it might improve I had a look to see what I could see. A few Meadow Brown butterflies were flitting around the car park area but I couldn't see any dragonflies. A Chiffchaff was calling away and I could hear both Blue and Great Tits but otherwise it was very quiet. I had a wander up the path for a little way. I could see a Norfolk Hawker hawking for insects in a clearing but I did not see it come down. I came across a beetle I haven't seen before. On looking it up it is a Leaf Beetle, a Clytra quadripunctata. From some views it looked rather like an elongated Ladybird.

Clytra quadripunctata

Clytra quadripunctata

Clytra quadripunctata

I could see some Heath Fritillaries resting up. In the duller light the colour of them seemed more intense. One of them enabled an unusual view of the underside of both the upper and lower wings. It was a bit obscured but nice to see. A mating pair were also resting up. They are beautiful butterflies and I always enjoy watching them.

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

mating Heath Fritillaries

I caught sight of a White Admiral butterfly but it did not settle and a little further on I could see a Purple Hairstreak high in the canopy. A Harvestman was sitting out on a leaf and appeared to be the same type that I saw the other day but I was able to get a little bit of a closer photo.

Harvestman

With walking not a strong point today I stopped at the large bramble patch I was aiming for and sat and waited to see what came visiting. It wasn't long before a White Admiral flew in and I enjoyed watching it as it moved from flower to flower. They are handsome butterflies.

White Admiral

White Admiral

White Admiral

A flash of orange caught my eye as a mating pair of Comma butterflies landed and remained tucked down in the grass for quite a while. While watching the two Comma's a Lacewing flew across and landed above me. I think that it is a Chrysopa perla.

mating Comma Butterflies

Lacewing Chrysopa perla

A Common Blue Damselfly was sheltering out of the wind and gave the opportunity for some good views. A moth flew out from cover and settled briefly before moving off again. It was a Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella which was the same species of moth I saw the last time I came but this one was not f. flava. It has given a good chance to compare them.

Common Blue Damselfly

Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella

A White Admiral reappeared and gave some nice views of its underwings as it fed, this time, while a second one was feeding further over.

White Admiral

White Admiral

I had seen a couple of Ringlet briefly but then in one of the sunny spells I saw one settle and though a little obscured and not very close I was able to get some photos. It was nice to catch up with some views of them again and my first for this year.

female Ringlet

female Ringlet

I started to head back and came across a teneral Common Blue Damselfly and a Speckled Bush Cricket nymph. I also saw a couple of Large Skipper butterflies.

teneral Common Blue Damselfly

Speckled Bush Cricket nymph

I had a peep around the car park area again in case there was a resting Norfolk Hawker. I did not come across one but I did come across a handsome male Emperor Dragonfly enjoying the sunshine that had finally come out. It allowed some very nice views.

male Emperor Dragonfly

male Emperor Dragonfly

male Emperor Dragonfly

male Emperor Dragonfly

A White Admiral dropped in briefly before moving on. I could hear a Tawny Owl calling.

White Admiral

I was chuffed when a Banded Demoiselle came out from cover and sat soaking up the sunshine and giving some stunning views. They really are stunningly beautiful damselflies and it was a joy to be able to just spend some time watching it. I felt very lucky and it was a lovely end to the visit.

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, 3 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 2 Wren, 1 Tawny Owl (heard)

Fritillaries and Norfolk Hawkers - East Blean Wood 22/06/19

I headed to East Blean Wood after work for a short visit to see what I could see. I couldn't spend long as I had to be back for a meeting but it was good to be out. It was a sunny and warm afternoon with a light wind. I had a look around the car park area when I arrived but apart from one Common Darter and a Meadow Brown butterfly it was very quiet. Bird wise it seemed very quiet as well. I could hear a Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and also a Chaffinch singing away but surprisingly little else. A family group of Blue Tits were moving through the trees and I could hear Great Tits calling.

I headed along the path and saw a White Admiral butterfly briefly but it was heading away and unfortunately it kept going and I did not manage to pick it up again. I could see a Purple Hairstreak butterfly flying high up in the canopy before it settled back down again out of sight. Another Chiffchaff was calling and I could hear a Jay. It was nice to catch up with some Heath Fritillary butterflies and I enjoyed watching them. I also came across a Heath Fritillary caterpillar. It was in the shade so I had to use a high ISO so the photo is very noisy but it makes a good memory shot. They are striking caterpillars and presumably an efficient design to deter predators.

Heath Fritillary Butterflies

Heath Fritillary

Heath Fritillary Caterpillar

Another Jay flew over and I could hear a Blackcap singing together with Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and Wren. A Harvestman was resting on a leaf.

Harvestman

A moth flew across and disappeared into a bush but luckily it hadn't gone too deep and I was able to see it resting on a leaf. It turned out to be a Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella f. flava. Apparently f. flava occurs in all populations but is more frequent in the south-east.

Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella f. flava

Several Meadow Brown butterflies were present and while watching one a Hornet flew in briefly.

Meadow Brown Butterfly

I started to head back and caught sight of a Black-tailed Skimmer perched. I only saw it from this angle but the yellow costa and black wingspots help to confirm identification. A little while later I saw a Brown Hawker but though I waited as long as I could I never saw it settle.

Black-tailed Skimmer

There was just enough time, once I reached the car park, to have another look round. A male Large Skipper was resting on a leaf and gave some very nice views.

male Large Skipper

male Large Skipper

I was very pleased to see a Norfolk Hawker hawking for insects and even more pleased when it settled and allowed me to take some photos. A second Norfolk Hawker was hawking for insects while I was photographing this one.

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Time was getting on so I had to make a move but I was pleased that I had been able to come and though only short it had been an enjoyable visit.