Dragon Hunt

Today was the first serious attempt at finding a Common Clubtail dragonfly, I think Common is a bit of a misnomer, Hard-to-find Clubtail might be a bit more suitable. However, we were limiting ourselves to what we would consider "the local patch". We walked the River Arun north of New Bridge near Billingshurst up to the mill above Rowner Farm, diligently searching the bankside vegetation and any structure likely to have an exuvia clinging to it.

When we arrived Hairy Dragonflies were already cruising up and down the watercourse, not stopping to pose of course. An abundance of brightly coloured Banded Demoiselles were perching on the extensive nettle beds. The adjacent Wey and Arun canal was also providing some specimens - Large Red Damselflies and blues were in evidence.

My pulse quickened slightly as we found a recently emerged Banded Demoiselle, hanging under a dock leaf, its crusty exuvia nearby.

By the swingbridge Martin found a "bug" clinging to a reed stem, this one had me puzzled as it was quite large, 2cm at least. First thoughts were of a diving beetle but my experience is limited. Anyway, when we got home I put some photographs out on Twitter and Sean Foote came up with the goods - Notonecta glauca. - thanks Sean. I then gave myself a good kicking as we have them in the garden pond and I have photographed them before. However in my defence this one was clearly larger than any I had encountered previously, and out of the water which is somewhat unusual,

 

 On towards the lock where we had our first real dragonfly - an extremely lethargic newly emerged Scarce Chaser, an immature male - a great find but sadly not the target we were looking for. My pulse returned slowly to its normal level.

The mill gave us very little, just a couple of Large Red Damselflies so we retraced our steps back towards the bridge. The rising temperatures had encouraged more insects to be active. First up was what I think is an Ephemera vulgata, a sub imago form with still opaque wings, just hanging out to dry.

A shield bug was trying to photobomb the scene so I duly recorded it - probably Coreus marginatus

A Noon Fly, Mesembrina meridian posed for the camera - the photographer reflected in the shiny abdomen.

Finally some Damselfly shots...



Male above, female below.



Perhaps a visit to Goring-on-Thames railway bridge is called for.

Brown Hawkers

Today started with a visit to Tilletts Fields in a search for a Brown Hairstreak, we searched diligently in perfect conditions, alas not a sniff, However we did have Silver-washed Fritillary, a nice but worn female, Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue and the usual browns.

We departed for Lords Piece, hoping to catch up with some dragonflies. As our route took us near to Billingshurst we decided to take a detour via New Bridge on the A272 between Billingshurst and Wisborough Green. This is a noted site for dragons, giving you a choice between the River Arun and the Wey and Arun Canal which run alongside each other.

As soon as we climbed over the stile we could see Banded Demoiselles on the river, just a few but as the sun came out they were numerous. We decided that some of them should be captured so we spent some time chasing both males and females along the bank. Several Brown Hawkers were about and finally we were visited briefly by a coupled pair. I think this is the first time I have actually got a shot of a Brown Hawker that was stationary and in focus.

Martin found another dragonfly perched up in a Hawthorn tree, as we couldn't get close we were not sure of ID but it looked suspiciously like a Migrant Hawker.

 

Finally we left for Lords Piece where, as we parked, we could see plenty of active dragonflies hawking up and down the pond. We found Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Darter and several Emperors.

More Dragons

With the weather set fair how could you stay indoors? A swift phone call to Martin asking if he would care to go on a hunt for Black-tailed Skimmers and Red-eyed Damsels? Within 45 minutes we were on the road. First stop - an undisclosed location in deepest Sussex. As soon as we arrived the Black-tailed were obvious, lower numbers than last year but plenty of buzzing going on. We put out perches but they seem to prefer the pondside rocks, definitely territorial as the males returned to the same rock time after time, great for shot preparation.  We observed several mated pairs but I only managed to locate a single ovipositing female.

The Red-eyed Damsels were tightly located on only one patch of lily pads, most of the time keeping their distance, occasionally perching close enough for a shot.

Mission accomplished - as we made our way back to the car to go in search of Common Goldenrings out on the commons, this beetle posed well enough for a shot, not sure what it is but will conduct some post blog research and update.

Well it turns out to be a Spotted Longhorn or Harlequin Longhorn beetle, Strangalia maculata,  a new one for me!

I had located 5 Goldenrings on a previous visit but today they were absent, However, eagle eyed Martin spotted a couple of Emperors circling at a higher altitude, a single Banded Demoiselle female flitted through the woods at the edge of the common and that was it.

On the way home we called in at Stopham Bridge where we found plenty of Banded Demoiselles in the bankside vegetation, any females that showed were chased mercilessly by the males. Just below the bridge a single Southern Hawker? patrolled the river but did not come close enough for any sort of photograph.

Mobbed!

Genteel

Perfect harmony!

Thanks Martin - another great outing.

Arlington Reservoir

A super day out at Arlington Reservoir, thanks to Martin who picked me up at 1100. The targets were Osprey and Turtle Dove, both of which are regularly sighted here, only not today. However, we spent several hours making a complete circuit of the lake. Again I eschewed the large lens and started off on a macro. First up was a Common Spotted Orchid, located just off the main pathway. A slight detour took us into the extensive patch of nettles, which seemed to be alive with insects of many kinds. Damsel flies, Cardinal Beetles, miniature Bush Crickets and a Scorpion Fly along with other exotic looking subjects which offered superb macro material. 

 Longhorn Moth (Nemophora degeerella)

 

Cardinal Beetle

Cardinal Beetle

 

 

Scorpion Fly - Panorpa communis

 Just after the hide I managed to find a single female Banded Demoiselle, which turned out to be a little camera shy. The walk across the dam revealed little in the way of birds, just a few Pied Wagtails, a couple of Swallows and a flushed Green Woodpecker.

Banded Demoiselle (f)

 The west end of the dam gave more Common Spotteds, but the return to the car park gave little, except some good views of a gorgeous Beautiful Demoiselle, a male that was somewhat flighty and difficult to capture.

Back at the car park it was time for a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea, during this interval we were entertained by a Mistle Thrush busily collecting worms and insects from the greensward to feed a vociferous family located just in the trees. A commotion created by an intrusive Jay being driven off by both thrush parents was the only disturbance throughout the lunch break.

A quick trip to the river where we were surprised to find both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles dancing in the afternoon  sunlight, occasionally perching on the Himalayan Balsam at the water's edge.

Banded Demoiselle (m)

Beautiful Demoiselle (m)

 

Beautiful Demoiselle (f)

Beautiful Demoiselle (m)

Thanks Martin, it is really good to be back out again - perhaps another time for the Osprey.