First Dragons and Butterflies

 Last week, Jayne and I went to RSPB Old Moor (see last post). Whilst there we had our first damselflies of 2024. The two species seen were: Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Today I went to Pleasley Pit to look at the colony of introduced Small Blue butterflies. There were 6 flying around, and landing on my feet!

Small Blue

My foot (and a Small Blue)

Small Blue

Whilst there, I also saw Large Red (c.5) and Blue-tailed Damselfly (1 male), but, by far the biggest surprise, was a female Hairy Dragonfly ovipositing!! I put the record on IRecord, and it appears that it's only the second record of the year for Derbyshire! In addition, it's my first record for this site.

Hairy Dragonfly

Fineshade Wood - 3rd June 2023

 Jayne and I joined a Butterfly Conservation walk around Fineshade Wood today, in search of the Chequered Skipper. Unfortunately, despite walking around the site for approximately 3 hours, we didn't find any today.

We did, however, record other species, including a "lifer" in the shape of Grizzled Skipper.

Grizzled Skipper

Other species seen were: Red Admiral, Common Blue, Brimstone, Dingy Skipper and Painted Lady.

A couple of day-flying moths were also seen: Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion.

Burnet Companion

A Lackey moth caterpillar was also seen, along with a Green Tiger Beetle. 3 Hairy Dragonflies were spotted and a single Azure Damselfly was also seen.

Lackey caterpillar

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, but we did see/hear Red Kites, Buzzards, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Wren and Robin.

Norfolk - May 2022

 Jayne and I had a few days in Norfolk last week and managed to visit a few sites to add several birds and insects to this year's Year List.

The first addition was Garden Warbler (152), which was singing in the garden of our accommodation. The next were Great White Egret (153)  and Bearded Tit (154) that were found at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. The last species was Swift (155), which was added back home, before we went away.

Whilst at Strumpshaw, we also added a few new damsel and dragonfly species: Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly, Scarce Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly and Norfolk Hawker. Several Common Lizards were also seen here, as were a couple of Painted Lady butterflies.

Scarce Chaser

Hairy Dragonfly

Unfortunately, we didn't manage to see Swallowtail butterflies at Strumpshaw this year, as the rain began. We did, however, drive across to Horsey Windpump, and, as we got there, the sun came out and we got fantastic views of one in the garden, along with another 2 or 3 in the nearby fields and path. Norfolk Hawkers were also seen here.

Swallowtail

The last few species seen were added in the dunes at Heacham, where we saw a Common Blue Butterfly and a new moth, a Marbled Clover.

Marbled Clover

London and Norfolk - Birds and Insects

 Jayne and I have just had a few days away in London and Norfolk. Whilst there we enjoyed a mixture of sightseeing, theatre and wildlife watching.

Two new bird species were seen: Ring-necked Parakeet and Red-crested Pochard. The parakeets were seen (and heard!) all around, whilst the pochard was seen in Kew Gardens. 

Red-crested Pochard

Whilst at Hampton Court Palace we also spotted a new hoverfly species: Merodon equestris and our first Banded Demoiselle damselflies of 2021.

Merodon equestris

Whilst in Norfolk, we went to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, hoping to see Swallowtail butterflies and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies. Unfortunately, due to the cold May, both species were yet to emerge. Thankfully, the Marsh Harriers were a lot more cooperative, as were 2 Cuckoos (heard and seen), pinging Bearded Tits , a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a Grass Snake.

Other insects seen here were: Variable Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly (1), Scarce Chaser (4) and Hairy Dragonfly (5+ seen, including a resting male).

Hairy Dragonfly

The Year List has now moved on to 150 species.

Year List update:

140 - Redstart

141 - Lesser Whitethroat

142 - Peregrine Falcon

143 - Bittern 

144 - Cetti's Warbler

145 - Ring-necked Parakeet

146 - Red-crested Pochard

147 - Marsh Harrier

148 - Bearded Tit

149 - Cuckoo

150 - Grasshopper Warbler

Seymour Ponds - 18th May 2020

On Monday, I visited a set of ponds called Markham Vale or Seymour Ponds in Staveley, Chesterfield. It was my first visit to this site, after spotting a Facebook post about the presence of Hairy Dragonflies there. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to spot any, but I did find an excellent site for dragonflies, damselflies and other insects.

1 of the 4 ponds on site

The first species spotted was Large Red Damselfly. This species was very common, with 30+ individuals seen, including many pairs "in tandem". Blue-tailed Damselflies were also present and mating, whilst 1 male Azure Damselfly was also seen.

Whilst on site, I spotted 2 species of dragonfly, namely Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser. The "Four spots", at least 10 individuals, were all newly emerged and hanging around in the long grasses around the ponds. The Broad-bodied Chasers, 1 male and 1 female, were also newly emerged and also "warming up".

Four-spotted Chaser

Other insects seen included: Small Heath (very common, 30+), Peacock (1), Common Blue Butterfly (3+ males and at least 1 female), Mother Shipton moth (3 individuals), a Thick- or Swollen-thighed Beetle and a stunning Spiny Mason Wasp, Odynerus spinipes.

Mother Shipton moth

Swollen-thighed Beetle

Spiny Mason Wasp

I spoke to another photographer whilst there, and he mentioned there being Dingy Skippers and Brown Argus butterflies on site as well. I didn't see either species on my visit, but it will definitely be worth another trip here, later in the year, to try and catch up with them, along with some of the other summer-flying insects.

Bird wise it was quite quiet, but I did see and hear Reed and Sedge Warblers (year ticks), as well as Swifts (5), Swallows (1), Skylark, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler ( all heard singing) and Common Buzzard (1).

UPDATE: I returned to this site today (21st May) in much sunnier weather, and managed to spot 2 Hairy Dragonflies. LIFER!!! I got great views as they flew around two of the ponds, chasing the Four-spotted Chasers. Unfortunately no photos, as they never stood still, so here's a link to see what one looks like.

Minsmere again!!

RSPB Minsmere really is a wonderful place, so I popped down again yesterday morning at 5:30am, and spent 3 and a half hours walking around the reserve!

I started off at Island Mere hide to listen out for a singing Savi's Warbler that had been reported. It started singing as soon as I sat down in the hide - a wonderful "year tick", and only my second ever record. Bitterns were heard booming here, and Marsh Harriers were also seen. From here, I moved on to the rest of the reserve where I  heard Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers, singing. 5 Little Egrets were on the levels, whilst Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls were present on the scrapes along with Common Terns. There were at least 2 broods of Shelduck, including this one with 9 chicks.

Shelduck and ducklings

There weren't too many waders about, but Avocets were seen along with a couple of Redshank and a flock of c.20 Black-tailed Godwits. Ducks were represented by Mallards, Tufted Ducks and a single Gadwall. Both Canada and Barnacle Geese were seen with young.

My final stop was the small pond by the Reception, where I looked, unsuccessfully, for Water Voles. I did, however, see a single Hairy Dragonfly (again, no photo!!!), Large Red, Blue-tailed and Azure Damselflies.

Large Red and Azure Damselflies

Driving back at 9am, I saw a Barn Owl hunting over a field near Leiston.

Year List update:
160 - Savi’s Warbler
161 – Barnacle Goose
162 – Barn Owl

RSPB Strumpshaw Fen

Jayne and I had a few hours at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, on Sunday. We went in search of Swallowtail butterflies, and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies, and got great views (but no photos) of both species. The Swallowtails were newly emerged, and we saw 6 in total, including 2 pairs in courtship or territorial fights.

As well as these insects, we also saw several Banded Demoiselles, Azure Damselflies, Hairy Dragonflies (new species for us, but unfortunately, no photos), Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers. A Ruby-tailed Wasp sp was seen in the Reception garden, and several Red Admiral , Brimstone and Green-veined White butterflies were also seen.

Banded Demoiselle (male)

Birdwise, we saw Marsh Harrier, Hobby (one hunting from the Reception hide), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler (singing in the car park), Moorhen and Coot.

Finally, a Water Vole was seen on the pond by the Reception Hide.

Year List update:
158 – Garden Warbler
159 - Hobby