Yellow Wagtails

At this time of year the fields below Honer Farm at Pagham attract large numbers of Yellow Wagtails. These birds are always mobile and fairly skittish, not usually allowing close approach. I have tried several stratagems to get closer to the birds with the camera, even sitting in with a herd of cows and trying to look like one of them, but that didn't really work.  Of course the birds use the grazing cattle to flush flies and grasshoppers, so when the herd stops the birds just drift away. You have to be in a moving herd.

Today was slightly different, Martin spotted good numbers of Wags moving with the cattle so we just had to have a look. Martin's initial ploy of trying to attract the herd towards us by waving a large bunch of grass failed so we ducked under the wire and set up shop in the field. It wasn't long before we were surrounded by some very inquisitive young cattle and the birds came with them. I have never been bothered by cattle and the nibbling of shirt sleeves and licking of trouser leg was all very amusing. Unfortunately the close proximity of the cattle also obscured most of the views of the birds so we moved away - of course the cattle followed but at least we could see the birds. Finally, the cattle decided to settle down and chew the cud and the Wagtails moved on. I had previously counted a flock 140 birds here before but today was exceptional - we reckoned at  least 200 birds present.

I have said before that a garden pond is just as entertaining as a bird table. In the early spring we cleaned the pond and removed some of the vegetation, this has paid dividends in increased dragonfly visits. Southern Hawker and Common Darter providing some decent photographic opportunities.

Emerald Damsel and Black-tailed Skimmer

With all 58 UK mainland butterflies in the bag and reasonable photographic evidence to back it up I began to wonder what I should do next. Just going out into the natural world is not enough for me, as I have said before, I have a latent trainspotting gene, there has to be a list .

 

 

 

So I decided to wipe my records of dragonflies, well they were a bit untidy and not meticulously kept. In one fell swoop and a click of the mouse, my life list returned to zero  and I had a new aim, to see the British List of dragonflies. The list itself is a bit vague, containing species that have been seen only once in the UK and others whose migration to these shores is erratic, in fact totally random. I have a feeling that this may take some time!

 

So Tuesday found me out on Coates Common or Lords Piece as it is otherwise known, the pool just in from the car park has a healthy population of dragons and damsels. First life tick was an Emerald Damselfly, not easily seen but a nice specimen to kick off the new list. Next, an obliging male Broad-bodied Chaser followed by a Black-tailed Skimmer, I felt that I was on a roll.  Common and Ruddy Darters became numbers 4 and 5.

 

 

 

 

The sun was getting stronger and those unpleasant inhabitants of heathland pools the Clegs had appeared, unfortunately I get a pretty strong reaction to their bite so it was sleeves rolled down and a reduction in exposed flesh.

 



 

I think this is a Cleg Fly....

 

 

... whatever it is, there will soon be more of them.

Lords Piece is a picture at the moment - the heather putting on a real show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way out this caught my eye - not a usual species at this location.

 

 

 

Just because they are all photographed it doesn't mean they can be ignored. These shots from Pulborough Brooks on Monday, I thought I had the Small Copper perfectly framed, subsequent viewing at home revealed that I hadn't taken enough care with some intrusive blades of grass, I'll just have to do it all over again.

 

 

 

First Clouded Yellow is the 48th species this year.

Out and About

With the good weather continuing we decided that another butterfly outing was in order, so we made our way to Park Corner Heath near Laughton in East Sussex. Martin, who had twice visited this place and never found anything of interest, was slightly pessimistic. I have to say that after my first visit I was totally underwhelmed. The blurb for PCH states that it is a hidden gem with a wide variety of interesting butterflies, animals and plants. Well, one Brimstone and one Speckled Wood doesn't really stack up to wide and interesting. Perhaps we were unlucky or inexperienced but I don't think we will be going back to find out which.

Contrastingly, when we crossed over into Rowland Wood the place was buzzing. Newly emerged damselflies and dragonflies, moths, beetles and flies were about and willing to be captured on pixels.

First up was a Common Darter, perched in the trees, striving to get itself into shape for flight, also Emperors were about on the heath but none stopped for us. A smart Mother Shipton moth perched in the long grass was a nice addition. A Scorpion Fly and a  Longhorn Beetle were recorded and on the way back to the car park we were buzzed by a large Brown Hawker. That's what I call "interesting"

Where next? We decided upon Old Lodge - for two reasons, the ponds would have dragonflies present and there would be a chance of a Silver-studded Blue. Sure enough we found a host of damselflies, Broad-bodied Chasers and a pair of Emperors, the male guarding the territory whilst the female oviposited her latest brood into the dark waters of the pool.

Obvious on the water....



....not in the grass.

There wasn't a lot of bird activity but we did hear a Raven in the distance. On the way back to the car park a male Cuckoo stayed a healthy distance in front of me, just flitting from tree to tree. Finally, late in the day, a butterfly, in the form of a Large Skipper posing on the heather. Nice to see that some of the Redstarts have been successful. Great to meet Paul and David in the car park, the long chat we had with them delayed our return home - slightly.