Dragonflies and Insects

Yesterday had a good day at Broadwater. Added 3 bird species including my first swallow at the site. The Decoy pond took the limelight though as that was were the action seemed to be. Pond Skaters, Wood Ants still plentiful, a few Tadpoles still left. Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma oyathigerum) and Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) were both very active and quite a few of them, although the numerous photos I took of them all just come out as a blue or red blur, which is why you won't see any of those photos today.
 Had a beetle that looked like it was swimming and then finally found somewhere where it could get out of the water. Managed 2 decent photos but ideally need to be zoomed up,

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)

Think the commoner species is Red-headed and this is the 

not as common version. 

Different area of water, an action shot as it wouldn't settle

Broad-bodied Darter /Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Someone else identified this for me, but now I know 

what it is will hopefully be easier to ID next time.

So back to the ones I mentioned in my last blog. I was told it was a Demoiselle, when I looked in my book it sounded like a Banded (Calopteryx splendens) however looking at a online site it looks more like Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo). Think the wings make it a Beautiful species, last year I think it was Banded that I saw at a different site and the wings had the obvious dark spots on. The other is confusing me (not hard some may think). Same person that identified the Broad-bodied thought from the photo it was probably a Migrant Hawker or Southern. However this looks different colour and the other thing similar I can find is Golden-ringed Dragonfly but habitat or location don't match. Club-tailed? Who knows, not me. Hopefully someone can enlighten me.

Think it is a Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)

Plenty of shaking on this video but it is my first one.

Which Dragonflies?

More later today but a couple of photos, if you know please let me know.

Someone told me probably a Migrant Hawker but I can't find a similar

photo that looks like this and don't they come out nearer August.

. Southern? again can't find anything. Most similar thing I have found

 looking like this is Golden-ringed Dragonfly, but seems to not be around here. 

Anyone help with this please.

Again told it was a Demoiselle. Banded I thought at first but then 

found a photo that matches more with Beautiful. 

More photos of this one later but if anyoe can shed some light on it please let me know. Also have photos of a beetle and another Darter in flight, but more later.

What a week

Lost my glasses and realized how much I miss them for trying to read anything. Can't find my charger for my camera, dealing with getting rid of my old car. Hope to get out to Broadwater on Wednesday though so looking forward to that.

Did get a photo of a Common House-Fly last night.

Common House-Fly - Musca domestica

Have also had White-tailed Bumblebee in garden, 2 Goldfinch flew over calling. Swift, House Sparrow and Blackbird in or over garden. Couldn't get a decent photo of a beetle in the garden but think it was a Pterostichus madidus but will get a decent photo at some point.

Rye Harbour and Dungeness continued

Always end up spending more time at Rye and cutting down my Dungeness time. Today was no exception as I couldn't stay too long. Ended up just doing the reserve, did though when I got to the car park, see Tree Sparrow finally for the year. Unfortunately I hadn't got out the car so had to take the photo through the front window. I have also added a photo that was taking last year at Dungeness. Saw a few Dragonflies zooming around and heard Marsh Frogs (I think they are). my two favourite birds for the day though were, a gorgeous summer plumaged Grey Plover, (again not an amazing photo because it was a quite a way away. Need to see if I can get an adapter so I can attach my camera to my telescope.My other favourite was Hobby, love these raptors, could happily watch them for hours. I counted 5 birds all over Denge marsh, hawking and zooming about. Again no way to get a decent shot but did get a silhouette shot while it was quite high (basically a spot in the sky is the bird).

Iconic old lighthouse and power station

The best I had unfortunately.

Near the bottom of the photo just above white cloud

Honest.

Think my other photo is on a different machine so 

will try to find it.

After this trip I have 157 for the year. Behind last years total unless I include the Morocco species. Think it is building up nicely just need a few trips at the right time and I should be okay for the 200.

In a garden

In a Garden in Lewes I came across 3 Cinnabar - Tyria jacobaeae. Got the best photos I could. camera seems to work best at a distance and then zooming in on the photo.

Am happy with results but someday I will get a better camera.

Will continue with my Dungeness trip report tomorrow. Hope you enjoy.

Rye Harbour visit

Start of half term this weekend so won't get much chance to get out as I will be working in the evening and my wife in the day. So I anticipate plenty of park time (weather permitting) with my boys and probably some gaming done as well. Might try to do a Nightjar hunt later in week.

I did go out yesterday. Always pop into Rye Harbour before I get to Dungeness. Did a circuit at Rye, From car park to the John Gooders hide then up towards beach and round to the Ternery pool, then back to car park. One of my targets for Rye was Little Tern. Saw some lovely Avoet, Cuckoo and some distant Little Tern. Was also hoping for Yellow Wagtail  for year but no luck there. The next photos are all from Rye Harbour.

Nice Ringed Plover

View over Flat Beach

View over Ternery Pool, There is, if you know where

to look and zoom in alot, 5 Little Terns on a island.

Best shot I have of this bird.

There were quite a few chicks sitting around.

No Tern chicks yet but looking good.

There were some young Avocets

Part of a large flock of about 15.

Apart from my Broadwater Warren list I normally do a year list. My target is to get about 200 this year, that means I can just stay in the South East mainly. Got 212 last year but did have a 4 day Scotland trip included in that. I would like to get some more on my UK list but am not going to go miles to get them. 

New adds at Broadwater

In regards bird species today has been my best day at Broadwater Warren. 21 species with 6 adds for my list. Cuckoo, Jay, Treecreeper, Wren, House Martin and a random Common Gull flying over were the new ones.

These are the only bird photos I got today. Total now up to 36. Did add Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) and Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), the Clouded Yellow never seem to settle and zip around very fast, where as the Wood White is quite a slow flyer and only seem to settle well out of my camera range. Also got photo of Water Boatman (Notonecta glauca). 

Think this is a Water Boatman

If it isn't then please let me know.

A Fern. But what type?

Sure I should know this.

Below is a Fungi I think, is it supposed to be that colour?

Above is the remains of a Churchill Tank, but more about that another time. If you can identify any of the above then please let me know. I do try to find out what they are but with a family and work the time often departs to soon, so any help would be appreciated.

Think it might be a quick visit to Dungeness tomorrow.