Its good to be back - damsels and butterflies

A hard days slog over my study books and then late afternoon I looked out of the window and the sun was shining- so it was no decision at all but to take a short break at Duck End. First creature I saw was this very pretty green veined butterfly - well camouflaged amongst the plants and flowers.

And a day of only two kinds of damsels- large reds, but in much evidence today the super azure damselfly- both male and female and to be see everywhere- but it seems with a special preference for the blackberry bushes.

And my first skipper butterfly this year- think it is the large skipper due to the mottling on the wings and the slightky curved antennae - could be wrong here though as there is also a small skipper butterfly. All this truely inspired and revived me so back to the books I think but not before I get my moth trap ready for later!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four birds from afar

A few days in Canada and alas no dragonflies to be seen due to a late spring but even though we were mostly in cities there were quite a few birds to see on the journeys and indeed in cities. One of the most exciting for me was this goose- it is the lesser snow goose of the white morph variety, and we saw several hundred on the St Lawrence in Quebec. The rust colouring on its head and chest is due to iron in the earth/mud as it feeds. Locals told me they come each year on their south to north spring migration and feed up for just a couple of days on their passage from Mexico and the Southern USA up towards the High Arctic regions. So for once my timing was just right. Not to be confused with snowbirds who are human Canadians who head south to Florida for the winter months!

Near to a pond whilst on a dragonfly hunt I saw this pretty bird- its the Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, and is a large icterid. This strangely named bird is found across Canada east of the Rockies.

We saw many of these thrush sized American Robins (Turdus migratorius)- they have the most amazing song and are not at all shy. They were at one time hunted for meat but are now protected. Most do not overwinter in Canada choosing instead to spend the cold months in the warmth of Florida or Mexico.

Startling in flight with the flash of red are these red-winged blackbirds.(Agelaius phoeniceus) We saw many of them which is not surprising as they are reported to breed from Alaska down to Florida and to be the most studied North American bird.

Moths and a beetle

I just did not realise how difficult moths were going to be - but thats fine - I like a challenge. Took these a few nights ago but been too busy to try and identify them or blog! Anyway one mystery moth - have looked at my books and webpages but am stumped, probably dead common but time has run out tonight!

More luck with this one -the three lines being a big clue, Charanyca trigammica- but it shows one of the areas that can confuse me- color variatioon- the one in my book is much paler but the descrririptin says it can be brow or strawberry coloured! It is numerous May- July and so ticks the boxes as a Treble Lines.

And this quite big bug a cockchafer -Melolantha melolantha - a very rhymical name. Wondered what it was but the poinnted abdomen is the clue and it is a night flying beetle which eats the roots of many plants - so not really a welcome garden visitor. Apparantly it is noisy in flight and I just love its feathery antennae. Also called the May-Bug. Think I prefer the mayfly.

Heart and Dart

Left the moth trap out a couple of nights ago as it looked cloudy and warm. It rained! But I had the most moths so far including this one which I think is a Heart and Dart. The book shows they have a lot of colour variances but the blotches (technical term) look about right. So another for my list. But I did not realise how hard it is to identify moths - took photos of several others but am only just learning what I need to be able to see. But its good fun and the warmer evening made me look forward to a good summer gettign to know moths.

A cuckoo in more ways than one

It is really appropriate to start with the cuckoo flower. After a day in London at the fabulous Afghanistan exhibition at the British Museum it was a pleasure to have a stroll across Flitton Moor and enjoy the breeze. Three swallows were insect catching above me and the cuckoo was calling loudly in the wood by the pond.

The pond was quiet but staring down into the fringes where it was quiet boogy I noticed these small flowers - they were quite luminous and I think are some sort of crowfoot although the leaves d0 not look right. Anyway they were pretty little things.

I always liek ragged robin and although there are non this year near the gates there are several in the meadow which look lovely.

Dragons were not much in evidence but there were a small number of red eyed damsels which were good to see and common blue damsels, and one bluetail. I was pleased to find several azures along the River Flit including this female. It was a lovely stroll and hearing the cuckoo calling all along just made it special today.

Spots, waves and scallops

It was fairly late this afternoon before I went exploring to find Sandhouse NR -I am trying to visit some new places and also add to my dragonfly list. But despite promises warmth it was quite overcaste and at times not all that warm. Anyway after two misses in the lane I found the place and what a great little reserve it is - another one of those hidden gems managed by the Greensand Trust. It was a day of variety and in the woodland these red campion stood out - I would call them pink but red they are.

A number of moths and butterflies were around and this is a new one for me -a common white wave- distinguised by the three rows of cross lines.

Got introduced to these little creatures the other day at Duck End so it was good to see a number of these lacewings mostly on brambles or nettles - I think this is Chrysopa Perla - which has a bluish tinge - but having looked at my insect book now realise the things I need to look at one these to identify them,

Only two damsels today - both red eye teneral males - often found in gravel pits and the eyes have not yet gone blood red! Not able to add the species I hoped - but who knows next time?

And then this last creature- have puzzled over my butterfly/moth books for ages but every time I think I have got it I realise that something is not right. So for now a mystery - one to come back to another day - studying is what I should be doing right now - just not insects -and poring over these books has left my head full of spots, waves, scallops and antennae!

A nice sunny afternoon

Out of the wind it was a lovely sunny afternoon yesterday and a good one for dragon spotting at DENR. This lovely site has four ponds that attract many different species and yesterday was a good one. During my visit I saw two blue tailed damselflies on different ponds. Its regarded as one of the commonest species but I have not seen it in great numbers anywhere.

And in evidence - its golden wing showing clearly the four spots that give it the name - Libellula quadrimaculata. Books say its is a rather dull chaser but that is only true in its later days and right now it had a lovely golden glow.

Another chaser on the wing - the male broad bodied chaser. The female is a gold colour but the male has this soft blue pruinescence. The dark patches at the wing base and its broad shape make it easy to identify.

Also on the wing were two hairy dragonflies but they were not keen to be photographed and refused to perch for me to take a shot. There were many azures at all stages of their development and very many large red damselflies. I am trying to see the different variations within each species this year and was pleased to get a shot of this rather oddly shaped female. I wonder if she is just perching this way or was born this way or got injured somehow. She is interesting because she has two yellow antehumeral stripes and the black markings on her abdomen suggest she is a type known as fulvipes as opposed to the more common typica.

A very nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Ode to a nightingale

O Nightingale! thou surely art - A creature of a "fiery heart":--
These notes of thine--they pierce and pierce;Tumultuous harmony and fierce!

One dream came true today - I heard and saw a nightingale, in fact several. 4.45am found us in the car on our wedding anniversary on the way to Paxton Pits for an early morning walk. And it was well worth getting up so early- the thrill of hearing this lovely song will stay with me- and to see one was a big extra. Many poets have tried to capture the essence of this song but I think John Clare is the nearest for me - such a little bird- overwinters somewhere in West Africa, arrives here in late April, sings his heart out to find a mate, moults and probably in August starts the long journey back to winter sun. One little creature ringed at Paxton was found to be at least 7 years old - all that flying, so much singing - what a fiery heart indeed. What a wonderful anniversary gift.

And along with a very loud cuckoo, we heard another first- the soft purring of this gentle turtle dove. Sitting on top of a tree this fine clear morning- another summer visitor.

Warblers were in full song and alongside were several whitethroats -which has journeyed back for the summr probably from the Sahara or even further afield. Proud of its song it sat on top of this bush to perform.

And a last treat on the way home - this was one of a pair of grey wagtails enjoying the sunshine at Roxton Lock. What a perfect morning - and a new song never to be forgotten.