Wasp Spider, Grasshoppers and Bush Crickets - Highstead 14/07/19

I  paid a visit to Highstead this afternoon to see what I could see. It was sunny when I left home but with rapidly building cloud and a breezy north easterly wind. A sunbathing Blackbird outside the house was enjoying the sunbath, so much so that he did not even move as I came past.

sunbathing Blackbird

As I arrived at Highstead the sun promptly went in and apart from some inceasingly brief intervals  stayed in until late in the visit when the cloud suddenly cleared. Overall it was very quiet for birds. A pair of Collared Doves were flying back and fore and House Sparrows and Goldfinches were in the bushes. Carrion Crows called as they flew past and Jackdaws were in the horse paddock. A small flock of 5 Linnet were moving through and Swallows hawked for insects above. A good mix of butterflies were on the wing with a single Painted Lady, good numbers of Gatekeepers, also Meadow Browns, Large and Small Whites, both Small and Essex Skippers, Peacocks and Red Admirals. The walk down was very quiet with no sign of any damselflies but the wind was proving to be pretty cool and with the cloud turning ever greyer it did not look hopeful. A Labyrinth Spider was outside a funnel web, giving good views, with another one inside the funnel. I could see the long spinnerets, a feature of these spiders.

Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica

Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica

As I came out from the small wooded area a Common Buzzard flew up from the tree and circled away. a couple of Wren scolded away. I came across my first Ruddy Darter of the year which was resting up out of the wind and a little further on another also gave good views. A fresh male Gatekeeper butterfly was also resting up nearby.

female Ruddy Darter

female Ruddy Darter

Gatekeeper Butterfly

A female Yellowhammer came down briefly onto the path and a male was over atop a bush. A Common Blue Damselfly was tucked out of the wind and was the only Common Blue I saw during the visit. A small  moth flew up from the vegetation and landed on the path briefly allowing a quick photo. I looked up from taking the photo to find a fox just a few feet from me but the movement of me looking up startled it and it shot away into the cover of the field. I would have loved a photo of it as it was so close and in tip top condition. I was so intent on the moth that I had not realised the fox had come down the path. Still, I felt lucky to have had such a close encounter, even if only brief.

Common Blue Damselfly

Agapeta hamana

 I saw several Roesel's Bush Crickets and Grasshoppers seemed to be everywhere. A Flesh Fly looked striking in the sunshine and as the light shone through a male Ruddy Darter's wings the effect was beautiful.

Flesh Fly Sarcophaga carnaria

male Ruddy Darter

I caught sight of a striking spider low down in the vegetation. I have wanted to see a Wasp Spider ever since I saw a photo of it in my book on spiders, as it looked a fascinating spider, and I could not believe my luck when I realised I was actually looking at one. She was beautiful and sitting in a large orb web with the stabilimentum - the zig zag band of silk showing well. Apparently they are widespread in the south east but it was the first time I have ever seen one. I would not normally say a spider made my day but this one definitely did.

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

 I started a slow wander back stopping regularly to look at the various countless Grasshoppers that were around. My Grasshopper identification skills are still very poor so I will need to look into exactly which this and many of the others that I saw are at a later date and update when I find out. Good numbers of Cinnibar Moth Caterpillars gave some very nice views.

Cinnibar Caterpillers

The cloud finally started to clear giving some welcome sunshine. Both a Green-veined White and a male Ruddy Darter sat enjoying the warmth.

Green-veined White

male Ruddy Darter

I did well for Bush Crickets seeing Roesel's, Dark and Speckled during the afternoon.

Roesel's Bush Cricket

Dark Bush Cricket

Speckled Bush Cricket

Various Grasshoppers were frequent throughout the walk back. The middle one has green combined with purple which makes a striking combination.

I saw a single Black-tailed Skimmer that landed on the path briefly before disappearing down between the wheat stems in the field. A single Blue-tailed and a single Azure Damselfly were a little further along. It will be worth trying again without the cool north easterly wind and a bit more sunshine.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

I finished off with a couple of Thistle Ermine Moths. They are pretty moths.

Thistle Ermine Moth Myelosis circumvoluta

It had been good to be able to have a little time out after work and though the weather could have been better and it was very quiet for birds it had still been an interesting afternoon and I was well chuffed with having seen the Wasp Spider.


Birds seen this visit include: 4 Collared Doves, House Sparrows, 8 Goldfinches, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 6 Chaffinch, 20 Linnet, 11 Swallows, 6 Blackbird, 3 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Jay, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Yellowhammer, 3 Magpie, Wood Pigeon, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Song Thrush, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 1 Robin, Skylarks, 8 Sand Martin

Brown Hawkers, Whimbrel and Marbled Whites - Chambers Wall to Coldharbour 12/07/19

I made my way to Chambers Wall today. It was a sunny with building cloud and a north westerly breeze. As I walked up the road a Sparrowhawk shot through causing alarm amongst the Skylarks and Swallows. Lots of Gatekeepers, and good numbers of Meadow Brown, Large and Small White butterflies were on the wing and a couple of worn Painted Ladies soaked up the sunshine as they settled on the road. Overall it seemed very quiet. A Whitethroat gave a brief burst of song as did a Reed Bunting and a couple of Reed Warblers were moving through the reeds carrying food. As I approached the hedge a Chaffinch was singing away and a couple of Linnet and a Yellow Wagtail called as they flew over. The car park area was very quiet for birds. I could see a Brown Hawker and an Emperor Dragonfly hunting over the river. At the waters edge small fish were in the shallows but I do not know which they are. Good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting on the pond weed or chasing each other. A Black-tailed Skimmer zoomed past but did not stop.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

A male Common Darter flew up from the vegetation but then disappeared from view. A little further along I came across another Common Darter who was more obliging and allowed some photos. The yellow line on the black legs showed well. Several more Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting up nearby.

Common Darter

I wandered along for a little way to see if I could catch up with the Brown Hawker. A Willow Emerald flew up from the vegetation and settled briefly before moving off.

Willow Emerald

Bush Crickets were plentiful today and I came across several striking Roesel's Bush Crickets. They tended to be fairly camera shy, disappearing into cover at the first sign of movement but a male was a little more obliging, pausing briefly before it moved off.

male Roesel's Bush Cricket

Gatekeeper Butterfly

The clouds had built a lot by now and with the sun covered for a while I hoped I might be lucky enough to catch up with a Brown Hawker settled but I did not have any luck. The sun soon came out again and I could see 4 Brown Hawkers in flight at the same time, 2 up river and 2 down river. I tried again for some flight shots but though the one I was trying for regularly flew along the far bank of vegetation it was so fast that I found it difficult to keep in the view finder. I didn't end up with any decent photos but enjoyed trying for them and was pleased to get these as at least they make good memory shots even if somewhat blurry.

Brown Hawker

Brown Hawker

I saw a couple of female Emperor Dragonflies ovipositing and a smart male flew down the river.

female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing

It was still very quiet for birds. A Blue and a Great Tit family were busy feeding and Reed Warblers were kept busy carrying food. A Whitethroat was back and fore with food and as it reappeared multiple begging calls could be heard from within the bush. A Grey Heron fishing in the river gave the chance to try for a photo. There seemed to be plenty of fish. In any of the shallows there were large schools of little fish and in the deeper water there were some sizeable fish near the surface.

Grey Heron

There were multiple pairs of mating Blue-tailed Damselflies and good numbers of females ovipositing. Small Red-eyed Damselflies were resting up. They are attractive damselflies. In the shaded areas several female Scorpion Flies were feeding well on small insects that they had caught.

mating Blue-tailed Damselflies

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

female Scorpion Fly

As I approached the railway crossing a Peacock butterfly looked stunning as it waited for the sun to come back out and a micro moth also caught my eye, as did another Common Darter. I will need to try and identify the micro moth as I do not know which it is.

Peacock Butterfly

Common Darter

Originally I had planned to carry on to Shuart via the embankment but as walking wasn't playing ball today I decided to have a slow wander to Coldharbour instead. A couple of Skylark were on the path and a small group of Sand Martin were hunting for insects over one of the fields. The odd Reed and Sedge Warbler were carrying bill fulls of food but otherwise it was very quiet. I could see another 3 Emperor Dragonflies along the river. As I came up to Coldharbour a Herring Gull was just escaping having been mugged for the Starfish it was carrying. It had managed to hold on to it despite being chased for several minutes by another Herring Gull.

Herring Gull and Starfish

Coldharbour was very quiet and I could only see a single Black-headed Gull on it. As it was so quiet I had a short walk along the bottom path to see what I could find. I saw an insect that I have not seen before and have not, at the moment, been able to find out what it is. I will update when I do. Both Large and Small White Butterflies as well as Peacock Butterflies were enjoying the Red Clover.

A female Roesel's Bush Cricket gave some good views as it moved about amongst the vegetation. There were certainly plenty of these around today.

female Roesel's Bush Cricket

female Roesel's Bush Cricket

A couple of Oystercatcher flew over calling and a Sedge Warbler popped up nearby allowing some close photos. A Speckled Bush Cricket remained mainly obscured by vegetation but was nice to see. Several Marbled White Butterflies were active and I was pleased to catch up with my first ones of the year.

Sedge Warbler

Marbled White

A Five-spot Burnet Moth caught my eye and though I could not get a clear shot through the grass it was nice to be able to see both upper and inner wing. I saw a Robberfly that I have not seen before, a Slender-striped. A Shaded Broad Bar Moth flew up and a Lattice Heath Moth was also present.

Five-spot Burnet Moth

Slender-striped Robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica

I headed back up to Coldharbour and a Little Egret was giving almost perfect reflections as it looked for food but otherwise Coldharbour remained quiet.

Little Egret

I sat on the sea wall for a while and could see the family of Shelduck off shore and I enjoyed watching them as they drifted by. The parents have done really well to keep all ten youngsters. 4 Whimbrel were on the shore and, unfortunately, were soon disturbed by dog walkers. They flew past me before settling back down on a patch of exposed mussel bed. 3 Mediterranean Gulls flew west as did 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull while 3 Little Egret flew east. Both Common and Sandwich Terns were out to sea and a Great Crested Grebe was on the sea.

Whimbrel

Shelduck family

Whimbrel

I headed for home and as I walked back up to Chambers Wall a Common Tern flew down the river. A Black-tailed Skimmer was resting briefly on the ground. A Yellow Shell Moth flew up but when it settled back it was obscured by vegetation.

Common Tern

Black-tailed Skimmer

I came across a very hairy hoverfly which on looking it up is a Cheilosia illustrata. Mating Common Red Soldier Beetles seemed to be everywhere. I was pleased to hear the purring song of a Turtle Dove. As I walked back up the approach road I could hear a couple of Corn Bunting and a male Marsh Harrier flew over. A Yellow Wagtail was catching insects from the road and I ended the visit with Skylarks, Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler singing away.

Cheilosia illustrata

mating Common Red Soldier Beetles

Yellow Wagtail

Birds seen this visit included: 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 House Sparrow, 11 Whitethroat, Wood Pigeons, 21 Swallow, Skylarks, 12 Reed Warblers, 7 Reed Bunting, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Chaffinch, 33 Linnet, 1 Wren, 2 Blackbird, Carrion Crow, 4 Grey Heron, Cormorant, 4 Magpie, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 9 Sedge Warbler, 8 Sand Martin, 10 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7 Little Egret, 12 Shelduck, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Greenshank, 1 Curlew, 5 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover, 7 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, 2 Pheasant, Starlings, 1 Moorhen, 3 Wren, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Dunnock