Suffolk Bits and Bobs

 Following our week in Suffolk there are a few more sightings to report.

First up is the Small Red-eyed Damselfly. We saw this species in both Aldeburgh and Southwold. In Aldeburgh, it was on the garden pond of the house where we were staying. In Southwold, it was found on the boating lake, by the pier.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Also by the pier was a new species for me, an Emperor Moth caterpillar. One I wasn't expecting to find!

Emperor Moth

The final record was a beautiful Mint Moth (Pyraustra aurata) that I found in the garden in Aldeburgh.

Mint Moth

Mannington Gardens - 30th July 2023

 After our walk in Holt Country Park, we drove across to Mannington Gardens. We had a walk around the grounds and spotted some nice wildlife.

First up were the butterflies: Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Large White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and 1 Silver-washed Fritillary. 

Dragonflies seen were: Emperor ( 1 male and 1 female ovipositing in the moat), Black-tailed Skimmer (1 male), Common Darter and Small Red-eyed Damselfly (2 males seen).

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Other insects seen were: Roesel's Bush-cricket (my second in one day!!) and another new species, a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes). 

Roesel's Bush-cricket (female)

Red-legged Shieldbug

Birds were far and few between, but we did spot a single Swallow, a fly-over Hobby, Mallards, Moorhens and a fishing Common Tern.

Edible Frogs were on site, but we didn't see any this time.

UPDATE: We went back last night (2nd) and managed to see and hear the Edible Frogs from the bird hide. Whilst there, we also saw 2 Marsh Tits (176), coming to the feeders and a Kingfisher catching a fish.

Edible Frog (honestly!!)

Hardwick Ponds - 24th July 2021

 Jayne and I had a walk around the ponds at Hardwick Hall yesterday. It was 20 degrees, with a lot of cloud cover and a few sunny spells.

Whilst there we saw 6 species of odanata, the highlight being my first record of Small Red-eyed Damselfly for this site. Other species seen were: Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Butterfly species seen were: Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and Large White. We also saw this caterpillar, which I think is a Large White. and a single Volucella pellucens (Great Pied Hoverfly).

Birdwise, it was pretty quiet, but there were Mallard and Tufted Duck ducklings as well as young Coots, Moorhens , Canada Geese and 2 adult Black-headed Gulls.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

 I spent a couple of hours at Pleasley Pit Nature Reserve yesterday afternoon, after seeing reports on social media, of both Small Red-eyed Damselfly and Brown Hairstreak (butterfly) there.

When I arrived I went straight to the "dragonfly ponds", where I met (by accident) the person who had posted details of both species the day before. He gave me directions of where to find the damselfly, and I managed to get excellent views (about 2m away) of at least 4 males. This is only my fourth siting of this species (see here), and my first in Derbyshire. I managed to get lots of photos, but this one is my favourite as it shows the diagnostic features, separating it from the much commoner Red-eyed Damselfly.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

The key identification features include a smaller size, the blue sections on top of segments nine and ten (last two segments at the end), and on the sides of segments eight (third from the end), one and two, of the abdomen, paler red eyes and a black "X"-shaped marking on the top of segment ten. One other feature, shown nicely in this photo, is the way the abdomen is held slightly up turned (Red-eyed Damselflies hold it straight when at rest).

Whilst on site, I also managed to spot several other species, including Emperor (female ovipositing), Migrant and Southern Hawker, Emerald Damselfly, Common and Ruddy Dater.

Ruddy Darter (obelisquing to keep cool)

The other reason for my visit was to hopefully see Brown Hairstreak butterflies. Despite a couple of "possibles" I didn't confirm a siting (this time!) as the rain started. I did, however, see 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone and 1 Meadow Brown.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Jayne and I have had a week in East Sussex, staying in Rye Harbour. Whilst there, we had a couple of walks around the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

Our first walk, with the ranger, on 27th July, saw us visit the shingle ridges and scrapes. We were introduced to a wide range of interesting flora, and also spent time looking at birdlife, including dozens of Dunlin, 1Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Redshank, Curlew and Whimbrel. There were also several Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns (adults and juveniles) still present. Whilst there, Jayne also spotted a small bee that turned out to be a Sharp-tailed Bee (Coelioxys conoidea).

Sharp-tailed Bee

We had a second walk around this morning, and this time we visited the Castle Water side of the reserve. This area is very different, consisting of large areas of reedbed, and deeper lakes. Here we saw: Mallards, Coots, Mute Swans, Greylag Geese, and then.....a juvenile Green Woodpecker, a Kingfisher (1), a Great White Egret and at least 2 juvenile Bearded Tits!!

Although it was quite overcast we also managed to see a few insects including Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (1), Common Carpet (moth), Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Volucella inanis (hoverfly), Common and Ruddy Darter.

Common Carpet

We also managed to spot 3 Marsh Frogs (a new species for us both), a non-native amphibian from Europe, that was introduced into Kent in 1935, and has set up feral populations in the south east.

Marsh frog

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Small Red-eyed Damselfly is a species that was first recorded the UK in 1999, and, as far as I know, hasn't been recorded in Derbyshire yet (see the British Dragonfly Society's website here for more details about this species). I'd heard that the National Trust's Felbrigg Hall estate had a colony, so whilst visiting there I had a look for them. I couldn't find any on the main lake, but I did manage to find 3 males on the Lily pads  in the Walled Garden.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (male)

 As well as the adults, Jayne spotted this young dragonlfy, which looks like one that has just emerged and has yet to "dry out". As you can see, it has yet to attain the colours of a full adult.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (newly emerged)