I started today's visit at Captains Pool. A 2nd pair of Great Crested Grebes have set up a nest with the female currently sitting. The original pair are busy feeding and raising 2 juveniles from their first brood. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that more than one pair has bred at Captains. A Small Copper butterfly was also seen near the pool. This was a year first..so a good start to the day.
My appetite had been whet seeing the Small Copper so I headed over to Butts Lane to see if there were any more butterflies on the wing. During this walk I picked up another two species that I hadn't yet seen this year. These newly emerged butterflies were a ♀ Brown Argus and a ♂ Common Blue.
At the drainage pool opposite the entrance to Eastfields farm were 5 Broad-bodied Chasers (3♂). I stood and watched these dragonflies for a while as the males chased each other from their territories. I was also lucky enough to see one mate with a female, who then went on to start egg laying...all fascinating stuff to behold. Also at the waters edge were 3 mating pairs of Azure Damselflies.
Late afternoon a ♂ Wheatear was present at Stanklyn Lane paddocks (TMH). This individual must have dropped in during the course afternoon, as there was no sign of any migrants when I checked earlier.
Azure Damselflies - 6th May 2011:
Brown Argus - 6th May 2011:
Those Smaller butterfles are better looking than their bigger cousins I always think Jase :-)
ReplyDeleteCouple of smart pics there, Jason.
ReplyDeletePersonally i think the brown flutter species are better looking than the multi coloured ones.
I agree with both your comments guys. I think there is a certain beauty to some of the smaller butterflies..I think Brown Argus is one of the smartest.
ReplyDelete