Damselflies and Hairy Dragonflies - Chambers Wall to Shuart 15/05/19

As I had a day off today I thought I would try for a walk from Chambers Wall to Shuart. It was beautifully sunny but with an increasing east north easterly wind. Luckily the wind never increased beyond a little breezy although it was fairly cool. A couple of Yellow Wagtail were alongside the road and Skylarks were singing away. A Common Buzzard was circling high above. I was hoping for some Damselflies today and I was pleased when I came across an Azure Damselfly as it boded well. I saw a couple of Holly Blue Butterflies and a Large White Butterfly but they were very active and did not settle where I could see them for a photo.

Azure Damselfly

A male Blackcap was singing away and I stood for a while just listening and enjoying the beauty of its song.

male Blackcap

I was surrounded by bird song as I walked down the track with Blackcap, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers all singing away and a Cuckoo repeatedly cuckooing. Blue Tit and Great Tit were active and 5 Swallow's were hawking for insects over the fields. I came across a Squash Bug that looked different to the other ones that I have seen. It had a narrower abdomen and very pointed shoulders and I think, from looking it up, that it is a Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus.

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus

In a sheltered area from the wind I came across several Damselflies and enjoyed looking though them. Azure appeared to be the most common. I saw a smart male Variable and he allowed some good views. The thoracic stripes were very broken in this male and the thick black wine goblet on S2 and the bar between the eye spots showed very well.

male Variable Damselfly

male Variable Damselfly

I also saw a male and female Red-eyed Damselfly.

female Red-eyed Damselfly

male Red-eyed Damselfly

In the same area there was also another couple of Variable Damselfly, both of these being female blue forms.

female blue form Variable Damselfly

It was lovely walking down the path. It seemed that, in every sheltered area in the sunshine, there were good numbers of damselflies. It is the first time this year that I have seen so many together at the same time. It was great to be able to have a slow wander along, just admiring all that I saw. I had an insect I did not recognise but, from looking it up, I think that it is a Dance Fly - Empis tessellata. I also had a couple of Common Blue Damselflies, neither of which wanted their photo taken and a couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies, one of which was slightly more obliging.

Dance Fly - ? Empis tessellata

Blue-tailed Damselfly

I finished off the walk down to the embankment with another male Variable Damselfly and a male Red-eyed Damselfly.

male Variable Damselfly

male Red-eyed Damselfly

On the embankment I came across a very smart looking beetle which I think is a Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus. For the length of the embankment the air was so full of song from Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers that I decided to just enjoy listening to them rather than worry about counting them, while looking out for insects, as any count was likely to be inaccurate anyway as I kept getting distracted by what I was seeing.

Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus

Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus

A Sparrowhawk passed overhead causing a Yellow Wagtail to shoot across, alarm calling like mad. I saw a dragonfly whizz past, which looked like a male Hairy but unfortunately it disappeared from sight. However a little further along I saw another dragonfly that appeared to go down a little way ahead. Once I reached the spot I searched for it but without any success when suddenly it flew in and settled in front of me allowing some really lovely views. I was well chuffed to see it.

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

 I was pleased when I saw my first Small Heath of the year and ended up seeing 5 during my visit.

Small Heath Butterfly

 I heard several Reed Bunting singing and a Grey Heron gave a flypast. I caught sight of something and saw a beautiful Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata. It looked stunning in the sunshine.

Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata

Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata

The embankment was fairly quiet for damselflies and I only saw a few Azure dotted here and there. Some Holly Blue butterflies were active and one allowed a photo.

male Azure Damselfly

Holly Blue Butterfly

As I passed one of the dykes I could see a male Tufted Duck tucked in fast asleep whilst there were a couple of Lapwing and a Hare in one of the fields. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song almost next to me but I couldn't manage to see it at all. A male Hairy Dragonfly was much more obliging and flew in and settled in front of me. It only paused briefly before setting off again but long enough to enable me to grab a shot so I was very lucky.

male Hairy Dragonfly

I came across a couple of things that I am not sure what they are at the moment and will update if I get any further forward with them. I saw something that appeared to be almost fluorescent orange on a Wild Rose. It looks more yellow orange in the photo than it did in real life. I thought it must be some kind of gall and the only one that I have been able to find that it might be is Orange Rose Rust but I am really not sure. I also saw a moth that I have not been able to identify either. It was very worn but I have not been able to find anything that looks like it.

? Orange Rose Rust

I saw a Dance Fly again but this time it was mating while the female was eating what the male had caught for her. The male was supporting his, the females and the preys weight holding onto a branch with just two legs. Apparently the female will not mate with the male unless he brings her something to eat and she has to approve of the gift before she will allow him to mate. I love being able to take macro photos as it enables me to see things that I might not be able to with my naked eye otherwise.

Dance Flies mating and prey - Dance Fly - ? Empis tessellata's

The patch of water in the field is drying out and was quite a lot smaller today. There was a Lapwing and a Yellow Wagtail at the waters edge but otherwise it was quiet. Sanfoin was in flower and what I think was a Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus lapidarius seemed to favour it as it moved from flower to flower.

Sanfoin

Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus lapidarius

I saw a beetle I have been unable to identify at the moment and a Spotted Cranefly showed just how strikingly marked they are.

Spotted Cranefly

A smart Orange Tip Butterfly also paid a visit to the Sanfoin and another Cuckoo flew past.

Orange Tip Butterfly

At Shuart there were good numbers of Azure Damselfly and I also saw a Blue-tailed and Common Damselfly. I did not see any Red-eyed Damselflies but I did see several Variable Damselflies. Marsh Frogs were singing away. I saw 1 Hairy Dragonfly as it shot past me.

Variable Damselfly

I disturbed 2 Common Lizards, that I had not seen, from the path which scurried across as I approached. I caught sight of a caterpillar and I thought that I had a different type but when I looked closely it appeared to be a particularly bright Drinker Moth Caterpillar. Perhaps the younger they are, the brighter they are. 2 Mute Swan were down one of the dykes.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

While watching some Azure Damselflies I had a striking beetle crawl into view. I looked it up when I got home and I think that it is a Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex.

Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex

Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex

I finished off the visit watching a Mistle Thrush family. I only saw one adult but there could easily have been another one and I saw 2 youngsters. The youngsters were beautifully marked. They made a lovely end to the visit.

young Mistle Thrush

young Mistle Thrush

 Birds seen this visit include: 5 Yellow Wagtail, Skylarks, 3 Common Buzzard, Whitethroats, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tit, 3 Wren, 3 Blackcap, Wood Pigeons, 9 Chaffinch, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, 5 Mute Swan, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Cuckcoo, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Corn Bunting, 13 Swallow, 6 Magpie, Herring Gulls, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Carrion Crows, 5 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet, Cormorants, 2 Dunnock, Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck,  3 Lapwing, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Mallard, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 House Sparrow, 2 Chiffchaff,

Turtle Dove and Great Spotted Woodpecker - Marshside 10/05/19

As walking still wasn't a strong point today, I headed back to Marshside for a bit of from the road birdwatching. I am lucky that it is a good spot for that. It was sunny when I arrived but with building cloud and the visit finished with heavy rain showers.

A Blackcap was singing away and a Reed Warbler's repertoire included mimicking the very first part of the call of a Cuckoo.  I caught sight of a Common Lizard basking in the sun. Its tail was tucked mainly in the undergrowth but when it did show it briefly it looked as if it had lost the tip of it quite recently. Though it could clearly see me it did not seem too concerned as long as I stayed very still.

Common Lizard

A Common Carder Bee was active while a Cranefly gave the opportunity for a photo. Common Nettle-tap Moths were plentiful and lived up to their name today as I saw them mainly on nettles.

Cranefly

Common Nettle-tap Moth

I saw a female Mallard with 10 ducklings and further on caught up with the female with youngsters I saw the other day. Unfortunately she only had six ducklings left out of the nine I saw on Tuesday, which was a real shame. I hope that the six can manage to do well.

female Mallard and ducklings

female Mallard and ducklings

I came across a caterpillar on a silk thread. It was being blown around by the wind which made it hard to get a photo but it showed how strong the silk thread is. I am not sure what caterpillar it is, perhaps a Sawfly of some sort.

Caterpillar on silk thread

Caterpillar on silk thread

The sunshine meant that there was more insect activity today and I enjoyed seeing what I came across.  A Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata was resting on some Ivy leaves, taking advantage of the warmth from the sun. It was a striking insect.

Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

There was also a resting male Mosquito which had beautifully intricate antennae

Mosquito

Mosquito

In the same area I saw a couple of spiders that I think are Tetragnatha - Stretch spiders. I think the one on the reed is a Tetragnatha striata and the one in the web Tetragnatha extensa but I could be wrong.

? Tetragnatha striata

? Tetragnatha extensa

A Kingfisher flew past carrying food and then a little while later I saw it fly back before, once again, it came back past carrying food. I hope that all goes well for them. They are beautiful birds and a joy to watch. I did try for a photo as it flew past but only managed a blurry one. Hopefully I may have more luck another time. A Moorhen showed its fluffed up white under-tail feathers well.

Moorhen

A Reed Warbler had collected some nesting material and paused to call before moving to the edge of the reeds. Its mate came out to meet it and to inspect what it had got before they both disappeared into the reeds.

Reed Warbler

Reed Warblers

I came across an insect that I think is some sort of Cephidae Sawfly. I am not sure which one though. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker settled onto the top of a telegraph post before spotting me and carrying on. A Common Buzzard was circling high above.

? Cephidae Sawfly

I could hear 2 male Cuckoo's calling and a female also called. A short while later I had 3 Cuckoo's fly past, 2 were one behind the other and the 3rd was rapidly catching up. I could not get a good enough view of the first two birds to see if one of them was a female, but the rear bird certainly appeared to be a male.

Cuckoo

I did well for raptors, during the visit, seeing Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. A Cormorant spiralled high above and I liked the silhouette it made with its tail feathers fanned out.

Cormorant

I saw a lot of Squash Bugs many of which were mating. I also saw several Helophilus pendulus.

Dock Bugs Coreus marginatus

Helophilus pendulus

I enjoyed listening to a Reed Warbler that was singing away. I kept getting glimpses of it through the reeds but never managed to get a clear shot. But I was pleased to be able to get a memory shot. He sang repeatedly with only short rests and appeared very aware of another male that was singing nearby.

Reed Warbler

I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly up into a tree and it had obviously just been having a bath which must have been a very enthusiastic one as it was absolutely soaked. It spent the next 7 minutes extensively preening and gradually drying off in the sunshine at the same time. As it wing stretched and tail fanned it gave a good opportunity to see the wing and tail pattern. I felt really lucky to be able to watch it.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

When I came on Tuesday I had listened and looked out for a Turtle Dove but without any success so I was very pleased when I heard a distinctive purring song. It is a lovely sound and I was well chuffed as it is my first Turtle Dove (140) of the year. A little while later I had it display right above me briefly and I tried for a photo. I also managed to get some distant views of it perched. It is amazing how much it puffs up its throat when it is purring.

Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove

I broke off from admiring the Turtle Dove as a Grey Heron did a very low flypast over the top of me giving some great views as it did so.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

I could hear a strange booming call and I could not work out what was making it. I could see white though the hedge and looking through a gap I could see a pair of what I think are either Ostrich or Greater Rhea, I am not sure which, and they appeared to be displaying to each other. I think that the call was coming from one of them.

A Kestrel flew past and its flight feathers appeared very worn.

Kestrel

It had been good to just see what I could see but with the rain showers becoming very heavy and very frequent it was time to head for home.

Birds seen this visit include: 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 9 Whitethroat, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 3 Wren, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Cuckoo, 1 Pheasant, Robin, 6 Mallard and 16 youngsters, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 5 Moorhen, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cormorant, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, Starlings, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush,