Monday 15 July 2013

A walk on Friday afternoon produced some brilliant views of a Hobby which circled over the orchard with a flock of 100+ Swifts which were feeding low over the fruit trees.
Our walk took us up to Sprivers where we found three adult Spotted Flycatchers feeding over one of the ponds.
Spotted Flycatcher
Saturday afternoon saw me looking for more Damsels and Dragonflies down at the lake. I found my first Common Darter of the year:-
Common Darter
I also refound the Golden-ringed Dragonfly:-
G-r Dragonfly
and photographed a White-legged Damsel:-
White-legged Damselfly
Sunday saw me adding a species to the year list in the shape of two Crossbills(107) which flew over the lake and landed on the pine trees on the Shirrenden side.A most unexpected  bonus! 


Thursday 11 July 2013

Time just flies by!

It's been quite a while since my last post and I don't know where the time has gone.
June continued with lots more species producing young. Both Great Spotted Woodpeckers nests that I found fledged three young successfully, as did Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. I think that Willow Warbler have also fledged. Interestingly another brood of Grey Wagtails have appeared on the stream below the lake. Do they double brood are or these likely to be a different pair?
On a more sombre note the Kestrels don't seem to have been successful.
I saw a male Peregrine a couple of times in the month and on the 29th I saw another Red Kite. Hobbies don't seem to be very abundant on my patch although my time has been very limited during the last month so I could just be unlucky.
A Mallard has appeared on the lake in the last couple of days with six ducklings, here's hoping they make it!
Mandarins have pretty numerous with double figures most days.
I've managed to have a walk this afternoon. Still trying to get my head around Damselflies. I've taken a few pictures and attempted to name them, hopefully correctly.
Large Red Damselfly
Blue tailed Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly?
Black tailed Skimmer
Whilst photographing the Damsels I noticed a large Dragonfly on the small stream opposite the pumping station, which turned out to be a Golden-ringed Dragonfly,what a beauty and the first time I've seen one on my patch and only the second one ever.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
There were also a couple of Emperor Dragonflies plus a Downy Emerald on the lake but all refused to sit for a picture.Still I went home very happy with my efforts.