⛅ Monday 26th June 2017 ~ With many trips back and forth to Liverpool more recently and so much to organise it was the first time I'd managed to venture out since Mum passed away on June 17th ~ RIP Mum a great innings at nearly 97!
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| Plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly on Goose Pool |
The weather was perfect at Brandon Marsh today not overly hot, nice breeze and bright enough for many butterflies and odonata to be on the wing. I spend little time in the hides at this time of year, preferring to concentrate on the bugs and flora! That said what little time I did spend produced a couple of
Hobby,
Peregrine,
Little Egret and a
Lesser Whitethroat was singing across from the Ted Jury Hide!
It would seem that thus far this year it's been a great season for our nesting species, with lots of young birds throughout the reserve. Many butterflies to be found including a trio of
Skipper with
Large,
Small and a single
Essex recorded.
Marbled Whites seemed abundant today with
Comma and even
Red Admiral in good numbers. Worryingly not a single
Common Blue to be found anywhere on the reserve but I did manage my first
Purple Hairstreak in the usual treeline along river meadow.
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| Pyramidal Orchid ~ Anacamptis pyramidalis |
Last year saw the first
Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis on the reserve and today in almost the same location stood another example. There are plenty of
Common Spotted Orchid to be found too, along with the odd
Bee Orchid!
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| Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp ~ Carlton path! |
Along the path to the Carlton Hide a half dozen
Ornate-tailed Digger Wasps were very active. Thanks to Dave Mount, who identified these last year and passed the information on.
Dragonflies should get a mention today with
Black-tailed Skimmer, Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker noted!
