I haven't been to Highstead for quite a while and thought I would give it a try today as it allowed for less walking and would give me a chance keep my eyes open for any interesting insects. Their was a fairly cool north easterly wind but with wall to wall sunshine. A few Swift and Swallows were hawking for insects around the old stable area and as I wandered down the track I was accompanied by the song of Whitethroat, Blackcap and an exuberant male Linnet was giving it everything he had with his song. Initially I could not see any sign of any damselflies but the wind was keeping the temperature down. As I came to the more sheltered areas, though, it was nice to find a few Azure Damselflies.
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| male Azure Damselfly |
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| female Azure Damselfly |
A moth fluttered up from the vegetation at the side of the path as I passed and settled briefly before disappearing back into cover. Having looked it up I think that it is a Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana.
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| Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana |
The local Carrion Crows and Jackdaws started alarm calling and looking up I saw one of the local Common Buzzard's coming over low, its eye glinting in the light as it did so.
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| Common Buzzard |
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| Common Buzzard |
I miss very much being able to see the flooded gravel pit, which is no longer visible since the land was reinstated as farmland once the quarry lease ended. I could, however, hear Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe calling coming from there. I caught sight of a Broad-bodied Chaser on the field side of the vegetation but it disappeared from view and I didn't see it again. I was pleased to catch up with my first Silver-Y Moth of the year.
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| Silver-Y Moth |
A couple of Chiffchaff were singing and above a Sand Martin had taken an exception to a Swallow and was in hot pursuit. I caught sight of a red and black Shieldbug and as it made its way through the grass stems and I grabbed some photos before it moved further into cover. I couldn't believe it when I looked it up at home to find that it was an Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata, which with the best will in the world did not seem possible as it has very restricted range and I don't think occurs in this part of the country. However, without a doubt that is what it was, it has all the identifying features and it was a little beauty and not something I thought I would ever see.
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| Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata |
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Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata
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| Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata |
A funnel web was glistening with dew that had lingered on in a shaded area. A small spider was active at the edge of the web but I will need to look it up to see which it is as it does not appear to be a Funnel Web Spider..
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| Funnel Web |
Skylarks were singing away as I started to make my way back and a Cinnabar Moth briefly settled.
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| Cinnabar Moth |
I finished the first visit of the day with a Red Kite passing high overhead. Two of the local Common Buzzards flew to meet it, thermalling with it while calling loudly but not mobbing it. Once the Red Kite moved on the Common Buzzards dropped height, still calling to each other, before moving off to hunt.
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| Red Kite and Common Buzzard |
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| Common Buzzard |
I came out for another visit in the afternoon and driving through Marshside stopped to check out a patch of vegetation that is often a good spot for Broad-bodied Chasers. I was chuffed when after a few minutes one flew in and perched. I grabbed a quick shot and moments later as the Chaser lifted off to pursue an insect a female House Sparrow suddenly flew from one of the bushes and tried to catch it. I didn't think that the House Sparrow would stand a chance of catching such a fast moving insect but actually it came within a hairs breadth of doing so, appearing to take the Chaser totally by surprise. Luckily for the Chaser its lightening quick reflexes saved the day and it shot past me and did not return.
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| Broad-bodied Chaser |
A single Blue-tailed and several Azure Damselflies were in the same area and with no sign of the Chaser returning we drove on round to Chitty Lane.
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly |
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| Azure Damselfly |
It was still beautifully sunny and though the wind was still cool I was nicely sheltered here and Azure Damselflies were plentiful in the sheltered areas. A sub-adult male Marsh Harrier was searching for prey following the line of one of the dykes.
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| sub adult male Marsh Harrier |
I enjoyed watching the Azure Damselflies as I made my way along but suddenly caught sight of a flash of red and was pleased when a female Large Red Damselfly settled, which was a very welcome sight, and was my first for the year. What a beauty. I haven't seen a Large Red Damselfly at Marshside for 3 years now so it was certainly a very welcome sight.
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| female Large Red Damselfly |
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| female Large RedDamselfly |
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| Large Red Damselfly |
The Marsh Frogs were very vocal and I could see a couple of Hairy Dragonflies patrolling the dyke but unfortunately, though they settled, it was always on the nearside of the bank and out of sight for me. A Tibellus species Spider was making short work of a fly that it had caught. I think that is is a Tibellus oblongus.
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| Tibellus oblongus |
I could see 6 Lapwing sitting, well spaced out on a large bare patch in one of the fields. Another was investigating the border of one of the other fields.
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| Lapwing |
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| Lapwing |
A Common Lizard was sunning itself amongst the grass stems and a little further along a patch of Yellow Flag Iris shone out, giving a vivid splash of colour amongst the greens.
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| Common Lizard |
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| Yellow Flag Iris |
A very worn and battered and torn Painted Lady rested up briefly before moving on. It was still managing to fly well despite the state of its wings. On the other side of the path I could see a large Drinker Moth Caterpillar making short work of a blade of grass. They are always a really impressive sight.
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| Painted Lady Butterfly |
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| Drinker Moth Caterpillar |
I started to head back with Skylark, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler song surrounding me. An Ichneumon Wasp was very active and Red-and-black Froghoppers were plentiful.
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| Ichneumon Wasp |
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| Red-and-black Froghopper |
I could hear Lapwing alarm calling and two were in the air and chasing off a Herring Gull that had flown into their territory.
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Lapwing and Herring Gull
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I caught sight of movement from the dyke and a female Hairy Dragonfly was ovipositing in the dyke and she would pause briefly to oviposit before moving on to the next suitable piece of vegetation.
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| female Hairy Dragonfly |
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| female Hairy Dragonfly |
I finished an enjoyable visit with a couple of newly fledged Linnet. One was quite active while the other was having a quick snooze in the bush as I passed by. I hope they both get on well.
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| newly fledged Linnet |
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| newly fledged Linnet |
Birds seen morning visit included: 5 Swift, 8 Swallow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, Carrion Crows, Rooks, 1 Linnet, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Blackbird, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Sand Martin, 4 Skylark, 2 Coot, Moorhen, 1 Little Grebe, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Red Kite
Birds seen afternoon visit included: 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Lapwing, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Mallard, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Linnet
