Last Chance Saloon!

Not quite the last chance saloon for Odonata, but heading in that direction with the exception of Migrant Hawker being a certainty, and a few others possible.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Male. Pete Woodruff.

A visit to Birk Bank Bog had me thinking I had probably seen my last Keeled Skimmer for 2024, and having not seen one this time this is even more likely to be the case. But there was a pleasant surprise when 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly came obligingly close to the boardwalk, also 4 Black Darter were seen as 3 male and a female, with 2 Common Darter male seen.

Southern Hawker Male. Pete Woodruff.

On the same day, I readily took up an invitation to take a tour round a garden in the Lune Valley, here I enjoyed the sight of 2 Southern Hawker patrolling the impressive pond here, a few Common Darter were also seen and included a pair in cop.

Common Hawker Female. Steve Graham.

But the best of the tour came when a female Common Hawker was found basking on Teasel, not surprisingly this was a first for the site.

Butterflies.

Butterflies paid a major part of the day which was good news given the dire situation with Lepidoptera this year.

In this garden and surrounding meadow, 21 Red Admiral, 16 Peacock, a Painted Lady and Comma were seen.

At Birk Bank, 6 Peacock, 3 Red Admiral, and a Small Copper were around the bog. But best was to come, when 4 Purple Hairstreak were in a small Oak at the top of the path from the bog.

In my book, the perfect end to a perfect day. Last Chance Saloon....Are you having a laugh!

Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

The surprise of 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly found at Birk Bank on 31 August, appears to be the latest in a search through up to 100 records of the species in West Lancashire, and certainly none to be found in September.

The earliest record of Golden-ringed Dragonfly in Lancashire, is of one found 37 years ago on the River Lune at Halton 28 May 1987, this record was regarded at the time as a site outside the range of Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Records show the species numbers peaking in July, before fading away in late August.

Owtabout!

Well there certainly wasn't as much about on Conder Pool as my last visit which was three weeks ago on 9 August when there was up to 2,500 birds there, with at least 2,200 Redshank present in a now established unprecedented record.

In stark contrast today, the number on Conder Pool amounted to a little under 100 birds of no more than 12 species noted, being 65 Lapwing, 8 Little Grebe, 6 Black-headed Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull including 4 immature, 5 Mallard, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Carrion Crow, 2 Greenshank, a Grey Heron, Little Egret, and a Swallow which scooped up a drink as it flew through.

But a return visit to Conder Pool in the afternoon paid off as it often does with me. As I scanned the area, I thought a nice Yellow Wagtail might be a good one to end the day, but hey'up, there's not one but 2 Green Sandpiper roosting in the channel.

Green Sandpiper Conder Pool 29 August

Not very obliging, asleep and too distant for a decent photograph, but the video footage is good enough for the record.

A look over the Lune Estuary at Glasson gave me sightings of 3 Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, a few Golden Plover, with probably more as they dropped out of sight below the mud bank which falls steeply as the tide ebbs, and 22 Little Egret counted.

At Saltcote Pond, a Brown Hawker was seen off by a Migrant Hawker every time it entered its air space. Also, 3 Large Red Damselfly included a pair in cop, and a Common Blue Damselfly.

Coastal Path. Pete Woodruff.

 

As I walked back to Glasson Dock, up to 6 Migrant Hawker were seen patrolling the hedgerow along the coastal path. 

Urban Dragonflies.

I've seen two urban dragonflies in Lancaster in the past week, a female Common Darter by the Chip Shop on Coulston Road before flying off, and a Migrant Hawker buzzing over our garden for several minutes yesterday.    

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. 

And The Winner Is....

Hard to pick a winner from Friday's bag full of sightings at Conder Pool. A female Yellow Wagtail I found in the morning was looking good to take first place, but a Hobby seen later on my second visit to the pool, won by a small margin over the wagtail.

The Falco subbuteo came on the scene and zipped over the pool, putting every bird in sight to the wing, including at least 900 Redshank which were roosting with 20 Greenshank, and a Spotted Redshank.

My attempt to get some decent footage of the Spotted Redshank was in vain. Too far off, and in poor light. But good to see some behavior of the Common Terns, and the Little Egret in the background.

Spotted Redshank With Redshank. Pete Woodruff.

Other waders mixed with the shank's, a male Ruff, 75 Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, and a Snipe. When things settled down after the Hobby panic attack, I found 5 Little Ringed Plover which were seen as an adult with 4 juvenile, certainly not the Conder Pool birds, I would guess from somewhere on the Lune Estuary, Aldcliffe perhaps?

I made no attempt to count the Conder Pool Common Tern population, but noted fledged young and counted 5 chicks on the platform. At least 2 Linnet and a Stock Dove seen. A Red Admiral was the only butterfly seen during the time spent at Conder Green and Glasson Dock where 2 Raven were over the estuary. Two Emperor Dragonfly were seen from the canal towpath.

Saltcote Pond.

Clik The Piks....It Looks Even Worse

A visit to Saltcote Pond had me find the result of some bad management. All the pondside vegetation had been taken out, and the edges trimmed like a bowling green in 'Keep Britain Tidy' style. In performing this mis-management, they will have excluded a number of aquatic creatures and dragonflies from using this excellent little pond which hosted a Ruddy Darter, found by Martin Jump on 20 July last year. The Ruddy Darter is one of the rarest of our areas breeding dragonfly, second only to the Golden-ringed Dragonfly....I found no dragonflies here on Friday.

Thanks for the header image Martin....Much Appreciated.

Return To The Birk Bank Circuit.

On Tuesday I was in the good company of Steve Graham to do the Birk Bank circuit again following our visit here on 7 May, which in turn followed a visit here in May 2023 which started with failure to find the Wood Warbler in Gibson Wood, though we did settle for hearing the bird singing.

Todays circuit started in fine style, when at least 200 predominantly Black-headed Gull with a few Common Gull were accompanied by 6 Mediterranean Gull which were seen as 3 x adult, 2 x 2nd summer, and a 1st summer, they were in a slurry field at the junction of Rigg and Littledale Lane. Two dragonflies hawking over an area by Rushy Lee had us scratching our heads, eventually with size and brown colouration we agreed to call them early date female Migrant Hawker.

When we arrived at Cragg Cottage, 2 Swallow were seen to enter nests under the eaves, a Spotted Flycatcher was seen as a Chiffchaff flew into the scrub. A Golden-ringed Dragonfly and a pair of Common Darter in cop were over the River Conder.

In a state of disbelief, the only birds of note between Cragg Wood and our arrival at Birk Bank bog one hour later, were a pair of Stonechat and 3 Kestrel. Steve Graham would vouch for the fact we saw not a single Meadow Pipit in 4 hours here today.

Bilberry Bumblebee Birk Bank. Ian Mitchell.

The highlight for me was finding my ninth Bilberry Bumblebee this year, this one was around Ottergear Bridge.

Keeled Skimmer. Pete Woodruff.

At the bog, 9 Keeled Skimmer were seen as 6 male, a pair in cop, and a female. Also, a Golden-ringed Dragonfly put in a couple of appearances, 4 Large Red Damselfly and a pair in cop, and the Emperor Dragonfly had Steve claiming the first he has ever seen here, which gives credence to my records of the species present in Bowland at four locations.

Butterfly sightings were better than those on our last visit here in May, or in fact any of those this year, when we recorded just three individuals. Today we saw 10 Ringlet, 9 Meadow Brown, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Green-veined White, and a Small Tortoiseshell. 

Thanks to Martin Jump for the header image of Small Red-eyed Damselflies mating in flight. Thanks Martin, I may have to get on my bike to Preston to see any of these!   

Two For The Price Of One!

Being the summer finally decided to show up again, I managed a couple of trips into Bowland this week.

Wednesday 17 July.

Grisedale Bridge Looking To Harrisend

Well as I saw it, the weatherman said sunny clear skies and humid, but when I arrived at Grisedale Bridge with dragonflies in mind, I thought I'd made the wrong choice and come to the wrong place.

Undeterred, I set off to look for the quarry with golden rings, to find a male Stonechat as a welcome sight to start with. The only other birds to note were a Meadow Pipit and a Raven over. I saw no more than a dozen butterflies here, seen as a mega count by recent standards, the best of which was a Red Admiral, with Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, and Large White to note.

All was not lost as I got back to the bridge....There's something magical about seeing a Golden-ringed Dragonfly - not in the video - coming into view under the bridge and flying downstream. It's just so disappointing, that on 14 June last year I searched Grisedale Brook to find 12 Golden-ringed Dragonfly in one hour.

On a circuit of the pond at Catshaw, I found no dragons or damsels, but flushed out 2 Snipe in the process. On Hawthornthwaite I found 2 Stonechat, 6 Meadow Pipit, a Kestrel and 2 Sand Martin. I saw just two butterflies, a Red Admiral and Small Heath. The 'best bit' here came in the form of a male Emperor Dragonfly.

With dragonflies in mind, my day ended nicely, with a Golden-ringed Dragonfly on Cam Brook at the foot of Cam Brow. But I'm convinced there's been no Sand Martin colony at Cam Brow this year, nor do I think there's been one at Hawthornthwaite on Catshaw Grieve....Food for thought! 

Friday 19 July.

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank Bog 24 July. Ian Mitchell.

At Birk Bank, 6 Keeled Skimmer was good enough for me, they were seen as three male, a mating pair, and a female egg laying, all seen at close range. Also an Emperor Dragonfly, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, and 4 Large Red Damselfly.

On a wander around the area, a Stonechat pair, a Raven over, 4 Buzzard soaring and mewing together, and a Kestrel in a direct flight with a large gull above it was calling repeatedly 'kee-kee-kee-kee'.

Anting Gulls.

Too many for the camera to pick up on one frame, but a few hundred anting gulls over the house yesterday tea time. 

Emperor Dragonfly.

I have had my Emperor Dragonfly records accepted on iRecord, all with the comment attached....'Coordinate is outside known range for Anax imperator'....Clearly this is incorrect, and in this regard iRecord needs to be updated. I am reliably informed, there are a few records of Emperor Dragonfly on moorland other than Bowland, where I have recorded the species this year and in 2023.