Based on the weather being not as good as forecast, although it was bright, there was cloud most of the day, with an annoying cool breeze which wouldn't bode well for dragon hunting. I was tempted to title this post Another Wrong Day, but decided that would be a little too boring for three posts in a row....So here goes.
Let's get rid of the bad bit first....The only Keeled Skimmer I saw in two 30 minute visits to Birk Bank bog was a deceased male.
Keeled Skimmer Male (Deceased) Pete Woodruff.
OK, everything reaches the end, but there's no way I wanted to see a dead dragonfly today, and certainly not a Keeled Skimmer, a species that has only colonised Birk Bank bog since it was first discovered here 10 years ago in August 2015 by local birder Steve Graham. I've seen them every year since then, but there's no question I was gutted at seeing this one having expired today.
Now here's the good excellent bit....I saw 3 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, including a 'buy one get one free' moment, when two settled together for a photo-shoot.
Golden-ringed Dragonflies Birk Bank 16 August. Pete Woodruff.
Also, a stunning male Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling close to the boardwalk.
Common Darter. Pete Woodruff.
Six Common Darter male were all basking on the boardwalk as they do, and 2 Blue-tailed Damselfly seen.
Whilst watching the dragonflies I spotted some interaction between two raptors which kept coming in to view over the ridge above Birk Bank. Difficult to keep up to, but managed some brief record footage of 2 Peregrine Falcon. Later in the same area, a soaring Buzzard.
Also seen from the boardwalk, a bird flew out from a Mountain Ash, to my great surprise and pleasure, it was a Green Woodpecker. This was my first since I last found one here 4 years ago in April 2021, previously a Green Woodpecker was found here in July 2020....Three in a row at Birk Bank.
Sundew Birk Bank. Pete Woodruff.
It was good to find the Sundew still thriving here, with several clusters found below the north end of the boardwalk.
Common Darter. Pete Woodruff.
Sightings on a wander from the bog to Ottergear Bridge. A Common Darter female seen from the path up the bank on bracken was difficult for an image for ID.
Did you know, bracken is thought to be the most common plant in the world and is found on all continents except Antarctica.
A Roe Deer was seen in a field off Rigg Lane, and it was great to find the breeding record of a family party of 4 Stonechat. A male Common Darter was on Ottergear Bridge, and butterflies noted along the way, a Painted Lady, 2 Small Copper, a Holly Blue, and Meadow Brown.
Another Wrong Day....Definitely not, quite the opposite actually, it developed into more like an excellent day in my book.
Conder Pool.
An update from Conder Pool has me gutted once again, when I learn that just the one young from three Little Ringed Plover has survived. Just the one piece of good news out of this is, all being well the bird should fledge in the coming week....Here's hoping!
Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool 30 July. Howard Stockdale.
Assuming this young bird is the sole survivor from the same pair, it is the result of 5 attempts to breed, and that's from a species which usually lays 4 eggs in the breeding season, which although not likely this year - though she did lay 3 eggs this last attempt - would make it a pitiful 20 eggs laid from this female.
I'm grateful to Howard Stockdale for regularly keeping me up to date with matters relating to Conder Pool.
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