Dragons2blog....Episode 2.

Given the perfect conditions and the right time of the season, It was time I did the 3 mile/4 hour trawl along the canal towpath Conder Green to Galgate. 

As I made my way to the canal at The Mill at Conder Green, I noted 8 Avocet in the creeks. However, striking east along the canal, it soon became apparent that it wasn't quite 'the right time of the season' and had only seen 2 Migrant Hawker in the first hour of the walk. Realising I was at least 3 weeks ahead of myself, I note on the same route last year on 8 September, I had found 112 Migrant Hawker by the time I reached Galgate. This number added to the previous sightings made the grand total of 206 Migrant Hawker in 2023. 

I soon found the first of what became a total of 12 Emperor Dragonfly, soon followed by the first of 14 Brown Hawker, and went on to count 26 Common Darter including 4 mating pairs.

Banded Demoiselle. Marc Heath.

When I arrived at the penultimate lock before the junction of the Glasson Arm of the canal, I noted rafts of Water Lilies, and was soon relishing the spectacle of 16 Banded Demoiselle flitting over and occasionally coming to rest on the lilies.

The butterflies have now established a serious concern over their current status this year, and although I recorded 24 Large White, they were accompanied by just 4 Gatekeeper, and 2 Speckled Wood....Hard to believe!

Canal Closure.

For some reason the canal is closed between Conder Green and Galgate, perhaps one of the locks has ceased up. But some good has come out of the closure, in that void of any traffic the water looks clear and healthy. I don't recall ever being able to see the bottom of the canal before.

Knowing relatively little about fish, these seen in the clear waters of the Lancaster Canal, and with only size for detail, perhaps they are Minnows!

Time and the seasons move on apace.

I took this photograph looking towards a drab dark green Birk Bank on 19 July.

From the same viewpoint, I took this one 3 weeks later on 8 August, showing Birk Bank covered with carpets of beautiful purple Heather.

And Finally.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. Marc Heath. 

My man in Kent has a new post about yet another discovery of a new species for the county Here

A Dedication.

THE COMMON TERNS CHAMPION.

I HAVE DEDICATED THIS POST TO THE MEMORY OF IAN PINKERTON WHO DIED 5 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY 10 AUGUST 2019. 

IAN PRETTY MUCH PITCHED CAMP AT CONDER POOL, HIS WIFE YVONNE OFTEN BROUGHT HIM LUNCH FROM THE CARAVAN PARK AS HE SPENT HOURS ON END WATCHING AND MAKING NOTES ON EVERY MOVE OF THE COMMON TERNS ON THE POOL DURING THE BREEDING SEASON.

Avocet Conder Green 1 August 2019. Ian Pinkerton.

This is the last of hundreds of images and e-mails Ian sent to me over his time at Conder Green. Something of an irony, as they are Avocet not Common Tern.

I WILL REMEMBER IAN PINKERTON FOREVER.

Four Hours Six Species.

I spent a couple of hours up to high tide at 3.00pm Conder Green on Friday, and if Conder Pool is going to turn up the odd goodie as it has done recently, I'd like to be in on the action if possible please.

According to PC, who stepped on to the Conder Pool viewing platform a couple of minutes after me, I had missed a Hobby earlier zooming over the creeks. But I spent a lot of time today reviewing the numbers of waders, and concluded that Tuesday's count now stood at an unprecedented minimum of 2,200 Redshank. The Avocet seen today, 2 adult and 3 juvenile. I counted 17 Greenshank, 8 Little Grebe again as on Tuesday, and 4 Swift over the creeks and pool could well be my last of the year.

Common Tern Adult & 2 Young. Pete Woodruff.

Of the Common Tern seen, two were begging young with an adult. I observed these two birds later for some time, they were being ignored by the adult which was constantly moving away from them.

By the time I left Conder Pool, in 4 hours I saw no fish being brought to these two young terns, and was left wondering if they were ever going to be fed!

As I approached the junction to turn left onto the A588 on my way back to Lancaster, a wader flying downstream shot in front of me and over the bridge, with a white rump and like an oversized House Martin....It was a Green Sandpiper.

Four hours, six species....Mmmm!

Migrant Hawker.

Martin Jump called by Conder Green on Friday, to tell me he was going to Saltcote Pond to see if he could find any dragonflies to photograph. I told Martin I might follow him there but didn't.

Migrant Hawker. Martin Jump.

Martin found a smart immature male Migrant Hawker which had me regretting running out of time to follow him there to see this beauty.

Egret & Redshank Take Centre Stage.

Perfect timing on Tuesday, as I arrived at Conder Pool a Great White Egret dropped in and provided me with some footage. It was accompanied for a while by a Little Egret for some little and large comparison before it exited stage left.

Also of note on the pool, 14 Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Little Grebe were the first evidence of their return to Conder Pool, 6 Tree Sparrow flew into the hedgerow, up to 30 Pied Wagtail were predominantly juvenile, a Stock Dove, and c.150 Lapwing.

I made no attempt at counting Common Tern, but adults and juveniles seen, with just one young remaining and still to fledge on the breeding platform. Also no numbers of Avocet but adults and juveniles noted.

By far the best record for Conder Pool on Tuesday, was the count of at least 2,000 Redshank. An unprecedented number, not only for Conder Pool, but also for the Lune Estuary, and even surpasses the Morecambe Bay WeBS figure for August....Lancashire Bird Report 2022

A wander along the canal towpath Conder Green - Glasson Dock, had me find 11 Emperor Dragonfly including 2 female ovipositing, 6 Brown Hawker, 6 Common Darter all male, 5 Blue-tailed Damselfly, and a Sparrowhawk which flew across the canal and disappeared over the hedge.

On Saltcote Pond, 10 Common Blue Damselfly, 5 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 7 Common Darter, and a Brown Hawker. Butterflies on the day, 2 Gatekeeper, a Meadow Brown, and Large White was worryingly grim....again!   

Dragonflies2blog!

Thursday 1 August.

I set off on my walk to the Aqueduct Ponds. It was my third visit here to look for the Emerald Damselfly, the first made on 4 August 2022, the second on 10 August 2023. On both these visits I was successful in finding the Emerald Damselfly.

Common Darter Millennium Park Footpath. Pete Woodruff.

From the footpath alongside the River Lune, I was a little surprised to find a female Common Darter. But not quite as surprised as I was to find a Banded Demoiselle from the same footpath on my walk here on 4 August 2022.

Banded Demoiselle Millennium Park Footpath 4 Aug 2022. Pete Woodruff.

I was disappointed not to find any Emerald Damselfly this time, hopefully perhaps too early, but to be honest I doubt that is the case, in my view the site has management issues, but that's another matter. 

Good views of 3 Brown Hawker including a female seen ovipositing, up to 8 Common Darter seen, including a pair in cop. Also 4 Common Blue Damselfly and a Blue-tailed Damselfly.

I made the return walk back to Lancaster via the canal which was a bit of a revelation in that I had a dragonfly in my sights along every straight length and round every bend of the canal along the 2 mile, and notched up a grand total of 23 Emperor Dragonfly including two female ovipositing, 12 Brown Hawker, 8 Common Darter, and 5 Common Blue Damselfly.

It was interesting and worrying, that in the 4 hours I noted just two species of butterfly, 9 Speckled Wood and 8 Large White.

Saturday 3 August.

Along a 2 mile stretch of the Lancaster Canal north of Garstang produced a lone male Emperor Dragonfly, 3 Brown Hawker, 3 Gatekeeper, 2 Red Admiral, and a Kingfisher.

The Dorset Mega.

The Scarlet Darter is an African species that extends into Eurasia. It was once common only in the Mediterranean region, but is becoming an increasingly common sight further north.

Scarlet Darter. Marc Heath.

My man in Kent gave me the heads-up about this stunning dragonfly found in Dorset last week. You can find his report and accompanying excellent images at Kent Dragonflies    

Thanks to Martin for the header image, and to Marc for info and image of the Mega Darter. 

The Brook/Pond/Fell And Bog.

If it's dragons we're talking, my day on the fringe of Bowland was excellent.

Grisedale Brook.

Though this year isn't panning out as good as last year between Grisedale Bridge and Holme Wood, this visit turned up 3 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, and 2 Common Hawker which, not having settled in the several minutes I watched them, I reluctantly recorded as them 'possible' based on size, behaviour, and upland habitat. The butterflies were in better number than of late, with 6 Meadow Brown, 4 Large White, 3 Large Skipper, and a Gatekeeper. 

Catshaw Pond.

The 'Lone Ranger' male Emperor Dragonfly was again patrolling the pond at Catshaw. This is the second year I have found the species at this small upland pool.

Hawthornthwaite Fell.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Pete Woodruff.

Another Golden-ringed Dragonfly seen here, with a Stonechat pair both alarmed at my presence at both the outward walk, and on the return. Six Meadow Pipit to note, with just 4 Sand Martin seen, and a Kestrel high overhead. Butterflies, 44 Large White and a lone Green-veined White.

Birk Bank Bog.

My visit here today verged towards exceptional, with 10 Keeled Skimmer which were seen as 4 male, 2 pairs in cop, and 2 female egg laying....Looks like the Birk Bank skimmers are here to stay!

I was a little disappointed with the result of my efforts to make a video which is a little fuzzy. But ne'r mind, it's not every day you find a female Keeled Skimmer egg laying whilst the male hovers nearby.

A bonus today came in the form of 4 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, with a Large Red Damselfly keep putting in an appearance. Butterflies, 2 Ringlet and a Red Admiral.

22 dragonflies on the day, and all rated as excellent....That'll do nicely thank you!

Picture Gallery.

Black Darter Birk Bank Bog 30 July. Ian Mitchell.

First past the post for Ian Mitchells male Black Darter. Ian beat me to this early'ish emerging dragonfly on Birk Bank bog, and many thanks for his header image. 

Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Martin Jump.

Martin is getting some excellent results for his project of in flight shots of this dainty damselfly.