Today I was having a full day at the LWPH, my second visit the first being back in July of the Year, Video can be seen HERE.
A full day costs £65, starting at 7:45am up till 3:45pm, the site is run by a guy called Ian, who is very helpful and knowledgeable and a keen photographer himself.
Everything can be booked on the web, link to website can be found HERE
The day session went well, with lots of action and with 15 species of birds on that day, there was plenty to keep me busy. Video of the day can be seen HERE
Sun was out again, so I was back on my RSPB patch site, hoping for the elusive Southern Hawker photo, which has been eluding me this year.
On arrival I called in at the bird garden (Tree Sparrow Farm) feeders where I found Goldfinch, Robin, Great Tit, and Greenfinch. Moving away from here I moved into the Kids play area bushes looking for the insects. I did find Common Green Shieldbug, a 22 Spot Ladybird, Scorpion Fly, Speckled Wood Butterflies, and a high up Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was busy contact calling before flying off.
I moved off out of the area and made my way towards the Bittern Hide, seeing lots of Common Darters littering the paths on my way. Viewing from the Bittern Hide Mute Swan, Coots, Cormorants, plenty of Gadwall, with a fly thru Little Egret.
After dinner I tried the wader Scrape Hide, lots of Shoveler, Wigeon, a few Little Grebe, brief sighting of Redwings going over, lots of gulls about Herring, Black headed and Lesser Black backed Gulls.
Down on Green Lane again, a few Common Green Shieldbugs, Gorse Shieldbug, Common Darters, and Migrant Hawkers, also about were a few Nursery Web Spiders laying out on the bramble leaves, last highlight was a Grey Heron flying over the car park.
Bird List : Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Redwing, Robin, Shoveler, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (37)
Back down at Old Moor, a cold start at around 4° C, winter is coming, the day did brighten up as it went along and was lovely in the sunshine.
I started at the Tree Sparrow Farm, where there were a few Greenfinch and Goldfinch about along with a few young birds of both. I then moved into the kids playground, no kids, and looked thru the bramble patch’s finding Harvestman, Green Shieldbugs, Common Wasps, and a Willow Emerald Damselfly.
The stepping stone ponds were the next area to look thru, trying to avoid stepping on Common Darters as I made my way around. On at the top pond, my best encounters were a Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darters.
Then after dinner I moved onto the Green Lane Loop, where there were a lot of Common and Ruddy Darters, with a few Migrant Hawkers and a Brown Hawker, Butterflies were Comma and Red Admiral, a fly thru Great White Egret and Kingfisher. I called in at the Field Pool East Hide, from here, I could see a couple Avocets, Teal, Black headed Gull, Coot, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose and Crow.
Around at the Wath Ings Hide, here could be seen a couple of Green Sandpipers, a single Greenshank, plus four Spoonbills. After Wath Ings I did the return side of Green Lane, stopping briefly at the Wader Scrape Hide, I didn’t stop, due to too many people in the hide, so I walked down to the nearby pond and had time here, sitting in the sun enjoying the Darters and Migrant Hawkers, a distant hovering Kestrel, finally finishing on tour along the hedgerow watching more Common Darters, Comma, Red Admiral and Speckled Woods
Today I was having time out at RSPB Fairburn Ings, I started the today’s journey on cut lane. There were a few small birds down here like, Long tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins and a few Chiffchaffs. Out on village bay there were House Martin, Sand Martin and a Swallows, hawking over the water, fueling up for the journey south, also on the water were Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Mallards, Tufted Duck and Mute Swans.
I also found a few Migrant Hawkers and Ruddy Darters, spending time with these before moving onto the visitor centre, first thing here was an Ice Cream, then on to the broadwalk. I found very little around here, apart from a few Willow Emerald Damselflies, a few Green veined White Butterflies, a young Kestrel on the path, overall a quiet day at RSPB Fairburn Ings
Another day at Old Moor, looking once again for Dragonflies and Damselflies. On arriving and walking to the entrance, I was greeted by a Common Darter in the car park, I also found a Common Green Shieldbug, a Helophilus pendulus Hoverfly, and also a Chrysotoxum bicinctum Hoverfly.
Around the Visitor Centre Pond were Brown Hawker, and a Mint Moth. I then moved on to the stepping stones ponds were more Common and Ruddy Darters could be found, alas there was nothing new to be found, so I moved on to the top pond, over the bridge, where they only new thing I found for the day was Common Blue Damselflies and a Field Grasshopper.
After the dinner break, I called back in via the visitor centre pond again, were things seemed to have picked up a bit, with Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Ruddy and Common Darters, Blue tailed Damselfly and a Brown China Mark Moth all put in an appearance.
Things went quiet on the Green Lane Loop, but on hearing a Greenshank calling, I called in at the East Pool Hide, where at last there seemed to be a few waders coming thru, with a couple of Dunlins, six Black tailed Godwits, three Greenshank, sixteen(16) Ringed Plovers,Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwings, Black headed Gulls, Canada and Greylag Geese, Avocet, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail and Coots of course
Bird List : Avocet, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Canada Goose, Coot, Cormorant, Dunlin, Dunnock, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Ringed Plover,
Dragonfly List : Blue tailed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Migrant Hawker, Red eyed Damselfly, Southern Hawker
Let’s make the most of it whilst the sunshine’s, however there was a little chill in the air today and the occasional cloud cover, but it was good to be out hunting again, for Dragonflies.
Nothing to write home about on the Visitor Centre pond, with only the occasional Blue tailed Damselfly and Leaf Beetle. Around at the stepping stones ponds were Ruddy and Common Darters, with many covering the paths. There was also a couple of Migrant Hawkers occasionally, very little else on at the top pond either. The Toyota pond, I found Red eyed Damselflies only, no Small Red eyed Damselflies.
On then to the Green Lane Loop, where more Common Darters, Emperors, Migrant Hawkers and Brown Hawker. I called in at the Wath Ings hide again, here there were the Spoonbills again, 12 birds today, along with Lapwings, Grey Heron, Shoveler, Mallard and Green Sandpiper. Moving on then to next door and the East Pool hide, here there were two Wood Sandpipers and three Common Snipe.
I decided on a change today, as there wasn’t many insects about, so I called in at the Wader Scrape hide, hanging out here were a young Avocet, Canada Geese, Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black back Gulls, Cormorants and Greylag Geese.
A quiet day on the insect front toady, but it was good to see two Wood Sandpipers
Bird List ; Avocet, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Snipe, Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper
Dragonfly List ; Blue tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Red eyed Damselfly, Ruddy Darter
Sunny once again, forecast was for a very warm day, being in the high 20°, so I had to make the most of it and headed down to Old Moor, my new favourite patch.
Walking thru the car park, I came across a male Black tailed Skimmer, a great start, hopefully a sign of what was to come. The visitor center pond held very little, no Emeralds only a few Blue tailed Damselflies, I did see a few eluvia’s, so I felt something new was on the wing. Onto the stepping stones ponds , making my way carefully, has not to tread on the various Ruddy and Common Darter’s about hanging out on the pathways. At the pond there were more Ruddy Darter and Common Darter, but there was something new in the air, they were definitely Hawker species, and a couple looked like Migrant Hawkers, but there was also a Southern Hawker coming in occasionally, but the Migrants soon gave chase and soon saw it off the pond, a nice surprise today here was a lovely Male Banded Demoiselle, which landed, for a short while.
At the Upper Bridge Pond were a few Common Blue Damselflies, along with Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker. The Toyota pond held the usual Red eyed Damselflies and Small Red eyed Damselflies.
After dinner I hit the Green Lane Loop again, down here were Emperor Dragonflies, Black tailed Skimmers ♂♀, a Four Spotted Chaser and a few Ruddy and Common Darter’s. I then decided on another visit to the visitor centre pond were at last we found a couple of Willow Emerald Damselflies, along with Migrant Hawker was another new for the year, and 14 species today and now 19 species for Old Moor, only Black Darter to find, emm!
Dragonfly/Damselfly List ; Banded Demoiselle, Black tailed Skimmer, Blue tailed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Emperor, Four Spotted Chaser, Migrant Hawker, Red eyed Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, Small Red eyed Damselfly, Southern Hawker, Willow Emerald Damselfly (14)
Down at Old Moor again, a bit, overcast and windy, so I wasn’t expectant for seeing many Dragonflies today.
I was on the usual route taking in the visitor centre pond first, this had the usual Blue tailed Damselflies on with a nice surprise today as the Small Red eyed Damselflies were also on here, the firt time I’ve seen on this pond.
Around at the stepping stones pond were a few Ruddy Darters about along with a few Common Darters. So it was over the bridge and on to the top pond Common Blue Damselflies were hanging out, there was nothing flying over the pond today, but I did find a egg laying female Brown Hawker, I spent sometime here, watching and taking photos.
On at the Toyota Pond the only Damselflies I found were the Red eyed Damselflies, so I moved onto the Green Lane Loop, on the way I found a few Myathropa florea Hoverflies (Batman Hoverfly) there seemed to be a few about today, I also found a Volucella inanis Hoverfly, a big hoverfly, lovely to see. On the Green Lane was a egg laying Emperor Dragonfly, I was finding little else along here today, so I took a seat, I was soon joined by a few ‘Common Wasps’ gnawing gently at the wooden bench, along with the wasps was a Large Marsh Horsefly [Tabanus autumnalis] .
Not a good count today, hitting only eight species, the weather had a hand in it today
Dragonflies/Damselflies : Blue tailed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Emperor, Red eyed Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, Small Red eyed Damselfly
More sun, so more Dragonfly hunting, and the location of chose was Old Moor again. The first part of the hunting was of course was at the Visitor Centre Pond, which you have to pass anyway, having a look, showed very little action, with only Azure and Blue tailed Damselflies about, no sign of the Emerald again, but on leaving a Emperor showed up, flew a couple of laps and left, I headed off in the direction it took, out towards the stepping stones ponds.
There was little to see at the stepping stones so I moved up up to the next pond, over the the bridge. Here I saw a few Dragonflies flying around, and a female Black tailed Skimmer was close by, it finally settled in the nearby vegetation, I was able to get some good photos here, there was also a few Common Darters, Ruddy Darters, Azure Damselflies, Blue tailed Damselflies, a patrolling Brown Hawker along with a Southern Hawker, my first at Old Moor.
I headed out towards the bus shelter, on route I came across an Emperor, as it slowly passed me by, at the bus shelter, I found a wasp species I hadn’t seen before, I think this is a Gasteruption jaculator, [see photo].
After dinner, I stopped at the Toyota Pond, where I saw the usual Red eyed Damselfly and Small Red eyed Damselfly. On then to the Green Lane loop, along here, again the usual, Emperor, Black tailed Skimmer, Common Darters, Common Blue Damselfly, and Four spotted Chaser. On at the Wath Ings hide, Spoonbills again, but now a bowl of 12 birds.
Making my way back to the visitor centre, I decided on popping in to the Tree Sparrow farm, but I was distracted by a fine male Ruddy Darter near the dipping pond, I finally made it to the Tree Sparrow farm. There were plenty of young birds about Robin, Greenfinch and Bullfinch, with Blue Tit and Great Tit.
On my way out a nearby Buddleia gave me a distraction of a few butterflies, Brimstone, Comma, Gatekeeper, Peacock and Red Admiral, with on a nearby umbellifer, a Spotted Longhorn Beetle to finish the day.
Hoverflies of note were Chrysotoxum bicinctum and a few Myathropa floerea
Dragonflies : Azure Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Black tailed Skimmer, Blue tailed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Emperor, Four spotted Chaser, Red eyed Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, Small Red eyed Damselfly, Southern Hawker (13) (17 at Old Moor) (YTD 19)
After the disappointing day yesterday, I decided in taking solace in another day at at Old Moor, sun was out, so I was hoping the Dragons were out too.
I seem now to have a routine when I go visit Old Moor, starting at the Visitor Centre pool, where there was little happening today, only seeing Azure, and Blue tailed Damselflies no Emerald’s today. On then to the stepping stones area, where there was a few Common Darters‘ and Ruddy Darters’ about. Over the bridge and on to the next pond, here there were Brown Hawker, teasing by not landing, also a Common Blue Damselfly.
Today was only going to be a quick visit, so I went straight onto the Toyota Pond, here I found Azure Damselflies, Blue tailed Damselflies, Red eyed Damselflies and finally the Small Red eyed Damselfly. Out of the corner of my eye, a dark object got my attention, coming in from the right side, flying low over the pond. I tracked it has it came in, turned out to be a male Banded Demoiselle, a nice moment and my first male at Old Moor.
On then to the Green Lane loop, where there were the usual Dragonflies, Emperor, Four spotted Chaser, and Black tailed Skimmers, alas no Southern Hawkers, I also found a Horsefly down here, bit of a beasty. Whilst down here I called in at the Wath Ings hide, hoping for waders, the Spoonbills were still here, nine in total for me today, also found a single Dunlin, still in summer plumage, then a couple of surprises, down at the far end, a single Barn Owl and a singleyoung Marsh Harrier.
On my way out of the reserve, I made a final stop at the Visitor Centre pond picking up a male Emerald Damselfly in doing so, with also some Leaf Beetles Donacia versicolorea
Dragonflies : Azure Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Black tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Emerald Damselfly, Emperor, Red eyed Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, Small Red eyed Damselfly (12)
Huddsbirder 