23rd July 2006 Buxton Heath, Hockering & Hoe Rough
Continuing in a same vein as yesterday, after taking 2 hours to empty the moth trap (click here for Lilac cottage moth records), a group of us headed off for Buxton heath where we caught up a with a superb female Yellow-winged darter, also in the area was several keeled Skimmer, and a few Silver-studded Blue's still on the wing. We also saw one of the Marsh Gentians in flower
Myself and another mate then headed off to a small pool near Hockering where we scored with 5-6 Small Red-eyed damselfly, conveniently there were several Red-eyed Damselfly present for comparison
A slightly too late visit to Hoe rough resulted in us failing to see the male Yellow winged Darter present on the morning, we did have Marsh Tit & Kingfisher.
Double click to ed July 2006
norfolkbirding with chris mills
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8th July 2006 Felmersham Gravel Pits 0830 - 1100
I headed off with some friends today for some insect watching and specifically 3 target species.
We arrived at Felmersham for the first, and in the warm sunny morning were treated fairly quickly to superb views of White-legged Damselfly, this was a new species for me and we were able to watch at least 12 individuals varying from teneral pale white through to the pale blue of adults (see pictures below), they were all easily identified by their obvious pale white legs - this feature was also very noticeable if flight.
We were also ttreated to several other "goodies", not least was amazing views of White-letter Hairstreak normally a butterfly you watch with your neck craning skyward!!
The individual below (see photographs) showed down to a few inches for several minutes before returning to their usual location high up in the canopy.
Other ordonata at this site were:- Common Blue Damselfly (num), Blue-tailed Damselfly (20), Brown Hawker (2+), Common Darter (5+), Red-eyed damselfly (10+), Azure Damselfly (5+).
Other butterflies:- Large Skipper (10+), Meadow Brown (NUm), Ringlet (50+), Speckled Wood (12+), Red Admiral (2) White-letter Hairstreak (1)
8th July 2006 Fermyn Woods, Northants 1200 - 1440
After a long wait, the sun warmed and the developing afternoon cloud broke, there were several bouts of activity, this produced excellent views of Hummingbird Hawk-moth (pictures below), followed by a good flush of 20+ White Admirals and eventually after frustrating tree top views of Purple Emperor a single female showed very well on the track (pictures below)
8th July 2006 Glapthorn Wood, Northants 1520 - 1645
This was going to be the toughest of the target species as Black Hairstreak was right at the end of it's flight period.
Patience here eventually paid off with firstly frustrating brief flight views, but ultimately excellent views perched of Black Hairstreak on it's food plant Blackthorn, although not approachable to get great photographs we were grateful for just having scored!
We headed home well satisfied with our haul of rare insects for the day.
My day was not finished though I returned home had tea and headed off for Sheringham Deadman's Wood for evening Moth trapping session - to see the results click on Moth trapping records Sheringham
9th July 2006 Titchwell
I took a guided walk this morning at Titchwell. It was firly quiet for migrants the highlights were 2 juv Bearded Tits, 15 Ruff, 40 Sand Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, adult Mediterranean Gull, a single juvenile Cuckoo over the car parking area, 12 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Ruddy Duck and a Little Grebe with 2 juvs. ck to edit
I took a guided walk this morning at Titchwell. It was firly quiet for migrants the highlights were 2 juv Bearded Tits, 15 Ruff, 40 Sand Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, adult Mediterranean Gull, a single juvenile Cuckoo over the car parking area, 12 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Ruddy Duck and a Little Grebe with 2 juvs. ck to edit
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16th July 2006 Dersingham Bog
This was a targeted Dragonfly trip! The target species was Black Darter. After wandering around 2-3 miles of the area we eventually found the main holding pools for this species. If you are heading there, you need to park in the Dersingham Bog car park, walk down the hillside steps to the board walk area. We did not find any around the board walk area. Turn right with the boardwalk area in front of you and walk for about 3/4 mile until you come to an area with a rise and some trees, the heather is also intense in this area, almost behind this rise is a pool and this is the area we found the Black Darters in.
Just here we had 6 Black Darter, 20+ Azure Damslefly, Large Red Damselfy, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed damselfly, & Common Darter. This area was also good for Oak Eggar.
Failed to get any really good shots of the Black Darters so shall be going back!
There is a much bigger pool almost another mile on it is against a barb wire fence and adjacent to the woodland behind it.
This pool produced the "blues" & 6 Black-tailed Skimmer, 100+ Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Emperor & Large Red damselfly.
A few birds were noted, 1 Nightjar adjacent to the path and flew just a few feet before dropping down, 3+ MarsH Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk.
The heatwave continues todays temp around 31c mid afternoon, no rain of any measure now for 5-6 weeks.
This was a targeted Dragonfly trip! The target species was Black Darter. After wandering around 2-3 miles of the area we eventually found the main holding pools for this species. If you are heading there, you need to park in the Dersingham Bog car park, walk down the hillside steps to the board walk area. We did not find any around the board walk area. Turn right with the boardwalk area in front of you and walk for about 3/4 mile until you come to an area with a rise and some trees, the heather is also intense in this area, almost behind this rise is a pool and this is the area we found the Black Darters in.
Just here we had 6 Black Darter, 20+ Azure Damslefly, Large Red Damselfy, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed damselfly, & Common Darter. This area was also good for Oak Eggar.
Failed to get any really good shots of the Black Darters so shall be going back!
There is a much bigger pool almost another mile on it is against a barb wire fence and adjacent to the woodland behind it.
This pool produced the "blues" & 6 Black-tailed Skimmer, 100+ Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Emperor & Large Red damselfly.
A few birds were noted, 1 Nightjar adjacent to the path and flew just a few feet before dropping down, 3+ MarsH Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk.
The heatwave continues todays temp around 31c mid afternoon, no rain of any measure now for 5-6 weeks.
18th July 2006 Sheringham - Weybourne
An evening walk, and an hours seawatching produced 1 Barn Owl, 2 1st sum Little Gull 1 on the beach and another 1 east, 1 ad Med Gull west, 12 Common Scoter west and around 100 Sandwich Terns hunting offshore
An evening walk, and an hours seawatching produced 1 Barn Owl, 2 1st sum Little Gull 1 on the beach and another 1 east, 1 ad Med Gull west, 12 Common Scoter west and around 100 Sandwich Terns hunting offshore
13th July 2006 Costessey River Wensum
During an evenings fishing I managed no fish! But did have a Green Sandpiper over as the light was fading and & Kingfisher up and down.o edit
During an evenings fishing I managed no fish! But did have a Green Sandpiper over as the light was fading and & Kingfisher up and down.o edit
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22nd July 2006 Dersingham Bog
More insect watching and specifically to get some decent pics of Black Darter. This time there was at least 50 on the wing and the piccies were secured!!
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Ordonata today were:- 50+Black Darter, 30+ Emerald Damslefly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed damselfly, & 1 Common Darter, 10 Black-tailed Skimmer, 20+ Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Emperor & Large Red damselfly.
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