An Excellent Afternoon On The Bog!

Yes, I know the title of this post is a little crass, but truth is, a) it actually was 'an excellent afternoon' and, b) I actually was 'on the bog' at Birk Bank. 

To be honest, the best bit of news from my visit here on Wednesday, is that despite many doubters including myself, I can now confirm the Common Lizard is alive and well and lives around the bog after all, albeit that I got just the briefest of glimpse as the tail end of one disappeared off the boardwalk and into the bog.

However, Ian Preston did get excellent views of a Common Lizard, hence it is my header image as a testament to the sighting....Thanks and much appreciated Ian.

 

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

My records read, at least 4 Keeled Skimmer male seen, although I had several sightings, I never saw more than four together at any one time.

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

Two Golden-ringed Dragonfly obliged perfectly, patrolling along the ditch towards me on the boardwalk, to return back along the ditch, then to repeat the behavior several times to my delight.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Male Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

The second Golden-ringed Dragonfly sighting was of a female which was later seen egg laying.

Broad-bodied Chaser Female. Pete Woodruff.

A Broad-bodied Chaser female - not the one above - was egg laying, with 5 Common Blue Damselfly and 2 Common Darter male both on the boardwalk.

But what took the biscuit, was one of the 2 Emperor Dragonfly seen, a male which flew the length of the boardwalk barely 3 metres out on the bog from me....Magic!

Bombus monticola Ottergear Bridge 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

I walked to Ottergear Bridge to find my target, a Bilberry Bumblebee. The resulting image was terrible, but who cares if you're going to find one these little beauties.

En route to Ottergear Bridge, a pair of Stonechat were the only birds to qualify for the little black book.

Garden Magic.

Small Skipper. Gary Coulburn.

There was more magic in our garden this week, when a Small Skipper was seen as a first here, also a lovely Holly Blue yesterday....Thanks to Gary for the excellent image.

Conder Pool.

I'm in receipt of some good news from Conder Pool, and some rather impressive images in the inbox again.

Avocet A6 Conder Pool. Howard Stockdale.

The news from Conder Pool, was that the last of the fledged Avocets has been ringed. This is good news tinged with sadness, in that it is one of just five to survive from the predation inflicted upon the birds of Conder Pool this year. 

But more good news, is that I understand the Little Ringed Plovers have nested again. This their fifth brood which has now reached the two chicks out of the nest stage, and unless I'm well out of date with my stats this is quite amazing. The Little Ringed Plover is known to be double-brooded in the south, and single brooded in the north of it's range.

Thanks again to Howard Stockdale for updates and photographs from Conder Pool.

Picture Gallery.

More images from my inbox. 

Little Owl. Martin Jump.

Martin Jump has been doing a series on the Little Owl recently and has come up with some excellent results including this one coming in to land.

The Spectacle. Ian Mitchell.

Ian Mitchell has been seeing some brilliant moths recently, including this remarkable and appropriately named moth with specs.