Runnymede and Langham Pond SSSI

Well that's Tom off to Royal Holloway to do his MSc in Quaternary Science .....After unpacking I had a quick walk down the road to Runnymede and Langham Pond SSSI in the sun. A wide variety of species were seen including a new species of dragonfly- the ruddy darter and a new species of bird- ring-neck parakeet. Also heard were plenty of green woodpeckers.

Small copper.

Speckled wood, meadow brown and small copper.

Runnymede.

Galls (yet to be identified but likely knopper oak gall (Andricus quercuscalicis) and silk button gall (Neuroterus numismalis)).

The non-native (but very attractive) orange basalm.

Langham ponds- an oxbow lake from the Thames.

Migrant hawker- the second time I've seen this species (the other being at Gait Barrows NNR last year), but the first real view of this spectacular species. Another highlight was seeing hornets patrolling the ponds attempting to take on even the largest of hawkers!

A new species to me- the ruddy darter. There were quite a few of this stunning species that I had always thought of as slightly differing from the common darter, but instead it was completely different and instantly recognisable by its bright red colour (including the face) and unique shape. 

Ruddy darter.

Ring neck parakeet- another new species to me.
These were seemingly everywhere although surprisingly difficult to see
- after finally spotting one in a tree from its distinctive calls
 the tree exploded with around a dozen. 

Spot the parakeet!