With summer days making another brief appearance over the weekend, it was more like finding dragons than making hay while the sun shines.
A wander along the canal towpath for a little more than a mile east of Glasson Dock to Conder Green, had me collecting a decent count of 36 dragonfly records.
A total of 19 Migrant Hawker, with 13 Brown Hawker, and 4 Common Darter male seen. Little wonder that given the record of 19 Migrant Hawker on this stretch of the canal today, saw me find 112 Migrant Hawker along the length from Conder Green to Galgate 12 months today on 8 September 2023.
At one point, there was probably a mix of up to 150 Swallow and House Martin hawking and gathering on the wires on their southward movement.
There's no chance of the butterflies making any miraculous recovery this year, and my sightings today reflect this situation, with just 3 Red Admiral and a lone Speckled Wood. But the good news for me is, that I saw a Small Copper by the lock at The Mill at Conder Green, my favourite small butterfly which made my day and was only the second one this year.
A look in at Saltcote Pond, a Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker were in company with Common Blue Damselfly, and 8 Common Darter including a pair in cop.
Of note on Conder Pool, a Ruff mingled with 12 Greenshank and a similar number of Redshank, also a Common Sandpiper and 4 Teal female were the first seen here all summer, probably birds returning to winter. I failed to find any more than 4 Little Grebe on this visit, but 4 Brown Hawker flew by the viewing screen.
Thanks to Martin Jump for his image of the in flight Southern Hawker from the canal towpath on Friday.
Great dragonfly pictures especially the header which is difficult to capture in flight.
ReplyDeleteNice butterfly pictures as well and the only Small Copper I have seen this year was at Birk Bank it is also my favourite small butterfly. The only Painted Lady I have seen this year was in May on the top of Nicky Nook.
Thanks for the Conder Pool update - winter is coming if the Teal are showing up, look forward to the Widgeon coming.
Thanks
Ian Mitchell
A bit of a story attached to the hawker pik on the canal Ian, the condensed one being, Martin thought he'd taken a shot of a Migrant until he got it on the computer. I also initially thought it a Migrant, until the colours kicked in.
DeleteThanks for your contribution again Ian....Pete.
Most of our swallows have already left for the year, and migration of other species is well underway. Soon we will be seeing the last of our damsels and dragons too, but many interesting species move in from the North and I am looking forward to seeing them again. Great series of pictures here, and a nice tally of dragonflies.
ReplyDeleteMost of our migration is underway too David, and few dragons are to be seen now though the Migrant Hawker can be seen in good number given we get the right conditions over the coming weeks. I too look forward to seeing some winter visitors to our shores.
ReplyDeleteRegards....Pete.
Hi Pete, beautiful photos. Here the swallows and butterflies are leaving the country. Greet Caroline
ReplyDeleteHello Caroline....For some unknown reason, this is the second of your posts finding themselves in 'Spam' which I have had to rescue and publish. The Swallows are also leaving us, but the butterflies have seriously been absent this year, though recently the Red Admiral and a few Peacock have been visiting our garden, a very welcome sight.
ReplyDeleteThank You for your comments Caroline. With Kind Regards....Pete.