A misty start, the sun not breaking through till 11:15. After that sunny and increasingly hot!
Middleton Nature Reserve
I started at 09:50 (Malcolm) it felt more like dawn than mid morning with the mist rising off the main pond.
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| This was the main pond at 09:50. It was already warm (21°C) but there were no dragonflies over the water |
Red-Veined Darters at least 8 males with 2 females in tandem. I had seen three as I walked around the edges, but it was 10:30 before the first one was seen over the water, but by 11:00 they seemed to be everywhere.
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| Not a great shot, but it gives a sense of the action. There are a couple of RVD in tandem here plus 2 males |
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| The grey sky made some areas of the pond into a mirror |
Common Darter several
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| Common Darter |
Black-Tailed Skimmer 12 males and 4 females
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| Male Black-Tailed Skimmer and his shadow |
Emperor at least 8 males and 2 females
I got back to the bottom car park at 11:30, just as Pete and Janet arrived.
Pete only had time for a quick scan through his scope, but managed several of the Red-Veined Darters, plus a male Lesser Emperor flying across the pond
Janet had a walk around
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| Emperor |
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| Male Red-veined Darter |
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| Four-spotted Chaser |
I returned to the main pond at 13:45 (Malcolm)
Red-Veined Darters 11 males minimum
Lesser Emperor 1 male
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| Lesser Emperor being chased off by a Blue Emperor |
There were lots of Emperors, not just on the main pond but on the "no swimming" and the waterways in the central marshes. No other different dragonflies were seen.
Other stuff
Kingfisher 1 - it had been on one of the bushes by the feeding area at 13:45. The bread thrown out for the ducks and swans here will also feed the fish. But it needs to be quiet for a Kingfisher to be there. The artificial feeding perch erected in the NE corner c5 years ago chose this year to fall down! (It was made of natural materials and only designed to last for 2 years)
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| Kingfisher flying across the main pond, we don't normally see them here until later in the year |
Cetti's warblers were all singing, at least 8
Chiffchaff, Sedge, Reed, Willow warblers all heard.
Earlier Janet had seen and heard a Grasshopper warbler. Care needs to be taken with this species now as there are also actual grasshoppers chirruping
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| Juvenile Song Thrush |
Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Large White and Meadow Brown all seen, but far the most numerous butterfly today were Small Skipper at least 12.
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| There is a possibility that some of the "small" skippers around are actually Essex Skippers. If you see any it's always worth taking a shot, ideally with wings spread out. Even then it isn't easy! |
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| The Roe Deer eventually turned back into the grass |
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| Why did the Pheasant cross the road........ |
