In search of Banded Demoiselles

A friend sent me a invite text on Saturday morning so I started out to Bushy Park. We were in search of Banded Demoiselles.

On the way through the "wildwoods" (my name) a Wren popped up on top of a branch. I hadn't set the camera up so just a pot-shot!

My first Small Skipper

And dozens of these caterpillars which, I think, are those of the Peacock Butterfly.


We'd spent sometime in searching for the Demoiselles and as the sun got warmer they started to appear.

Female.

Male

Female

Male

A "couple" of damselflies..


Having found they were about in the anticipated spot, and following a welcome cuppa, we headed off to London Wetland Centre.

Birds of Prey were being flown on Saturday and a Barn Owl was the star not long after we arrived.


The Wildflower Meadow is full of Marsh Orchids at the moment making a very pretty sight.

And with that I had to head off so I didn't get out onto the reserve which was a shame.

But a good day in good company. Thanks R.

And today? well it's raining which is quite welcome for the gardens etc.

Wild in the garden.

I'm still trying to sort through pictures taken over the last week or so. I've deleted a great many ;)

The other morning, I had a visit from one of the local foxes again. He wandered around; paid the greenhouse a visit...

then spotted me and the camera as he walked through the plants... and didn't break any of them!

And today - in the sun and strange new warmth :D, the Red Damselflies started to emerge from the garden pond.

I'm still not very happy with my macro lens and this is the best I could do without falling in the pond! There were at least 5 flying about and of these, definitely 2 pairs.... great stuff. I shall be keeping my eyes open for Dragons every day now!

And a hover fly had a rest on a lily leaf.

Just a short post today.... back to the picture sorting now...

Flying about at Painshill

My first day for a while, where I've had a full free day - which is nice in some ways but...

I went to Painshill as I needed some exercise and it's big enough for a goodish walk. Also a steep hill in the wooded area which got the blood pumping round the system.

In terms of birds, there wasn't much about. A Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker kept taunting me with their calls, and a wren was "tick ticking" in the shrubbery. None of them deigned to grace me with their presence!

Most of the flying activity was by the "wee folk". The colour yellow seems to be the attractant for some of the wee beasties!



This, I think (because it's only got one spot) is a Meadow Brown

On the lake, "boatmen" abounded - I've never seen so many in one place at the same time. Here are a "couple" ;)

Black-tailed Skimmers were everywhere...


and a fair smattering of Red-eyed Damselflies..

Banded Demoiselles were still evident and, if you look below the "arc", there seems to be a dragonfly flying through!

and this beauty was the only one of its kind that I saw. I think it's a small blue (although an Adonis Blue would be lovely - but unlikely).
And these are the only two views I had of it before it flew off again..

EDIT: I now believe this to be a Common Blue
Thanks to Steve, Pete, and Keith for their input and help


A Black-headed Gull flew passed and initially dropped this fish in the lake. It then flew back again and collected it!

As I watched I became aware of a Great Crested Grebe. An inital glance and I got excited thinking it was a youngster (although no sign of surviving eggs had been seen recently). But, on reflection, it was rather large so I've decided it's an adult going into winter plumage.

EDIT: And I'm still undecided as to whether its a Juvenile or an adult losing its summer plumage


Another "conductor" - this time a Greylag Goose. The Canada Geese (there were about 50 of them!) were totally disinterested!

Two Egyptian Geese "crash landed" on the lake nearby

These two young mallards ducklings are the offspring of..

a rather pretty Mum.

Three (of the seven cygnets) had been dozing but decided to wake up

A bit of preening and it's always good when one of your siblings gives a helping hand.

So off to the supermarket for some vital supplies and off home!

The Elusive....

At the close of play yesterday, my trusty lawn mower came back home from its holiday; it's been away for 5 weeks now and I hope it's glad to be back.

The plan for this morning was - you've guessed it - to cut the grass. But overnight rain and black clouds decided me that it was not a good idea. So - I headed off to the London Wetland Centre.

Whilst I didn't expect to see much in terms of birds, I thought I might bump into one or two acquaintances. Well I did, which was nice :)

But the bigger surprise......
I'd been hearing a Reed Warbler in the same spot for most of my recent visits. In fact there were two in close proximity outside or near the Dulverton Hide. Today was no exception.

There they were - singing away and so near you felt you could put your hand into the reeds and touch it!

And finally, it came into view. I'd been there for some time and it appeared, very shyly, in the reeds.

OK - I got a couple of shots thinking - well, it's better than nothing and at least I've seen it!

But then, it lost some of its shyness and, with beak open singing for England, it came a bit further forward!

It then decided it would forsake the reeds for a visit to an adjacent tree - where it could hide - yet again!

But, having teased me for some time, it eventually decided it would be photographed..

So it was very much worth the wait. Question: how do Reed Warblers sing so constantly and for so long without seeming to pause for breath?

Behind me, in reed beds I could hear another Reed Warbler and also the call of young. I couldn't see the nest at all, but at one point, the adult bird flew out of the rushes and into a tree on the other side of the boardwalk. I was somewhat taken by surprise by pointed the camera and got this!

Still no sunshine so this Damselfly sat still long enough to swap to the Macro lens. I've no idea what it is despite pouring over the relevant (and very good) book I have.

Couldn't find anything with this colour body and eyes let alone the abdomen and marking.
So - if anyone can help I would be very grateful

Edited some time later.
ST has IDd this damselfly for me as "a female Blue Tailed Damselfly (rufescens-obsoleta) - but it is not fully mature. The blue tails come in a number of colour forms."
Thanks for that ST




The light was dreadful for photography today; grey but bright(ish) which caused unwanted reflections on the water which was being wafted by the wind!

BUT, such a wonderful sight, Great-crested Grebes with their chicks. Initially, I could see three but was advised there were four.

Later on when I passed them again, the adult bird decided it was time to swap over the child-minding duties with its partner.

So having unsuccessfully wriggled to disembark the youngsters, it then reared up and shook them off into the water.

This revealed all four little ones and now the second adult had joined the party!




It was great to watch them!

The two more recently added Cranes (in the captive section) were having a bathe today.






and further around, this duck was having a preen.
A Comb duck (also known as a Knob-billed duck - well it's obvious really :) )
But nonetheless, whether or not it's a foreigner to our shores it was sporting some fantastic wing colours.


On the way back I came across this family of Mallards! Still a lovely sight in spite of all the more exotic birds.


For those of you who do NOT want to be graphically aware of the natural food chain involving a Grey Heron - then I please SCROLL DOWN VERY QUICKLY to the end of the blog.

We'd been watching this Heron when it flew over from behind me....
Unfortunately for the young Coot, the Heron had a meal!






Finally, I came home with every intention of cutting the grass but - heavy showers again made this an impractical idea - so it will have to wait until Monday!

UPDATE:
I decided that as the black clouds had moved away and, not being given much patience when it was first handed out, I couldn't bear the suspense of knowing whether the grass cutting machine was going to be co-operative or not, so I set to!

I've now cut ALL the grass - without incident! Whey hey!