Birds, Brimstone and Bugs - Reculver to Chambers Wall 22/05/19

I headed for Reculver today with the aim of walking through to Chambers Wall. The tide was out when I arrived but coming in quite fast. There was a light north westerly that gradually swung round to north easterly as the day went on and it was warm and sunny but with building cloud.

I could hear Common Sandpipers calling as I walked from the car park and saw at least three.

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

A smart Small Copper Butterfly was sunning itself and is the first one that I have seen this year. They are lovely little butterflies.

Small Copper Butterfly

 There was a small movement of Swallows west during the first part of the visit and I saw 56 in total. I also had a couple of House Martin west as well. 5 Sand Martin were hawking for insects over the oyster farm. 2 Greylag Geese flew from the back of the oyster farm and I tried for a photo as one of them came past.

Greylag Goose

A Kestrel was hovering above the oyster farm and was joined by a second bird for a while. The immature male Eider was at the edge of one of the exposed mussel beds and a pair of Oystercatcher flew noisily back and fore. Sedge Warblers were singing away and I sat on the sea wall for a while and just enjoyed listening to them. One of them had a perfect Ringed-necked Parakeet call as part of its repertoire. Whitethroat, Dunnock, Linnet and Reed Warbler were all singing as well and with the Skylarks overhead I was surrounded by bird song.

Sedge Warbler

I had a check of a sheltered area for insects and a Common Lizard scurried away as I approached. There was a Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis and also what I think is a Oedemera lurida. A small Weevil was also on the same plant. A moth was resting on a leaf and I think, from looking it up, that it may be a Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas Postvittana.

Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis

Oedemera lurida

Weevil

Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas Postvittana

A Shelduck was on the oyster farm and a couple of Mallard were tucked into the bank. A Hairy Dragonfly zoomed past me but I did not see it settle. A male Stonechat was atop a bush and a Little Egret flew past and allowed some good views.

Little Egret

Little Egret

A handsome male Yellow Wagtail flew in and posed briefly and a young Stonechat was busy fly catching.

Yellow Wagtail

juvenile Stonechat

A Ringed Plover did some display flights back and fore and gave some good views as it did so. Over at the back, towards the embankment I could see a pair of Carrion Crows giving a Marsh Harrier a hard time.

Ringed Plover

A pair of Oystercatchers were on the shore and one of them obliged with a few wing stretches. 6 Turnstone flew in and amongst them was a bird almost fully moulted into summer plummage. The heat haze was fairly bad by now so the photo of the Turnstones isn't very clear but makes a good memory shot.

Oystercatcher

Turnstones

There were 2 Shelduck at Coldharbour, one on the shingle bank and a female on the water. A youngster suddenly appeared briefly from under cover and in total I ended up seeing 4 youngsters. Each time they appeared I could hear her calling and they disappeared back into cover again. A Redshank was also tucked in at the back.

female Shelduck and young

I got a very nice surprise when I saw a Brimstone Butterfly patrolling beside the sea wall. It was very active but did settle briefly on a couple of occasions allowing some distant photos. The photos really are pretty poor but I was very pleased to get them as they make great memory shots for me.

Brimstone Butterfly

Brimstone Butterfly

Brimstone Butterfly

As I turned towards Chambers Wall a Common Tern flew past carrying a fish and calling. I was not quick enough for a photo but it was good to see it. I saw an insect that I have not seen before and, on looking it up, it is a Denticulate Leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus.

Denticulate Leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus

Denticulate Leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus

A Hobby was hawking for insects. It is such an agile bird and not the easiest to try and get a photo of. I did not manage a good one but was pleased to get what I did.

Hobby

It had turned a fair bit cooler by now and clouded over a lot. It meant I saw fewer insects but I did get a good view of a Red-eyed Damslfly. A Red Admiral Butterfly was less obliging and stayed tucked down into the grass.

Red-eyed Damselfly

A Cuckoo was calling away but stayed further along and I only saw it distantly. The pair of Mute Swan have done well and they had eight youngsters, 2 of which were 'polish'.

Mute Swans and young

Mute Swans and young

I saw a large number of bugs gathered together, easily several hundred in small to large groups. I didn't know what they were so looked them up when I got home and they are European Cinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti. They were fascinating to watch and quite varied in appearance, in body colour, size and wing length. Lots of them were in the process of mating.

European Cinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti

European Cinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti

A pair of Blue-tailed Damselflies were mating and a Variable Damselfly was nearby, as well as another Red-eyed Damselfly. A couple of Swift were high overhead.

mating Blue-tailed Damselflies

As I approached the walk up to the road a male Yellow Wagtail was fly catching from the top of a bush and another couple were in the road. There was a small moth resting on a leaf which looked a little like a bird dropping.

A Corn Bunting was singing away with gusto and I saw several of the same type of Ichneumon Wasps. These had distinctive white rear tarsi. I am not sure exactly which it is at present so I will come back to it when I do.

Corn Bunting

Ichneumon Wasps

It had been an interesting visit. I hope that all the various youngster that I saw today get on well.

Birds seen this visit include: 3 Common Sandpiper, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, 44 Starling, 13 House Sparrow, 8 Oystercatcher, 56 Swallow west, 6 Magpie, 18 Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 1 House Martin, 3 Mute Swan, 14 Meadow Pipit, 1 male immature Eider, 5 Linnet, 17 Mallard, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Collared Dove, 26 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Kestrel, Skylarks, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Shelduck and 4 young, 9 Turnstone, 2 Stonechat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Blackbird, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Marsh Harrier, 7 Reed Bunting, Cormorants, 2 Pied Wagtail,  1 Great Tit, 1 Redshank, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, 1 Hobby, 5 Wren, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinches, 2 Blackcap, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Corn Bunting, 2 Swift,

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,