Tuesday 22 July 2014

And another

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Must be the weather as another dragonfly that is not on my Ewelme list turned up today - a Ruddy Darter.
Where have the new year birds gone?

Friday 18 July 2014

New Dragonfly

Friday 18 July 2014

My first sighting of a Southern Hawker at Ewelme - very curious about my presence and kept flying towards me a hovering for several seconds within about half a metre.

Also a bush full of young Whitethroats.

Thursday 17 July 2014

darters

Thursday 17 July 2014

A pair of Common Darters trying to drive off an Emperor today at Ewelme.

Common Darter
Also a pair, or 2 anyway, of Red-legged Partridge - not common on the Ewelme reserve.
back end of a red-legged Partridge

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Caterpillars

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Most Ewelme nettles seem to have a colony of writhing caterpillars - mostly Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks but probably others too.

Monday 14 July 2014

That did it!

Monday 14 July 2014

After complaining about the lack of Skippers at Ewelme a Small turned up today together with a Brown Argos - grand total now climbed to the dizzy heights of 20!
Brown Argos

This young Starling turned up in my garden this morning. Apparently ringed in Welwyn Garden City on 30 June. Co-incidental or perhaps sinister? it was ringed by someone with 73 in his email address, my house number is 73 and the two are 73 Km apart.

Saturday 12 July 2014

Skippers everywhere - except on the watercress beds

Saturday 12 July 2014

Mainly Small/Essex but good numbers around especially down Benson allotment. This one turned up in the conservatory at home. Has to be and Essex - - doesn't it?

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Dragonfly number 2 at Ewelme

Wednesday 9 July 2014

An Emperor dragonfly graced our small pond on the lower site but was reluctant to settle long enough for a picture. 

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Insects plus

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Good butterfly count with the top species being Ringlet and 3 each of Large Skipper, Marbled White and gatekeeper. Also this Bright-line brown-eye moth spotted.


First Common Blue damselfly brings this years total up to 6 species and this rather flashy spider seen which I think is a Comb Footed.



Friday 4 July 2014

Butterfly number 18

Friday 4 July 2014

Butterfly numbers looking good and a few Whites at last. Best one seen was a Small Copper - don't get a lot of those on the cress beds! Still no Blues though.


Loads of hover flies nectaring.