Chobham Common NNR dragonflies and damselflies

Although the dragonfly and damselfly season is coming to an end, Tom managed to find a considerable number of species: black darter, common darter, migrant hawker, emerald damselfly, common blue damselfly and small red eyed damselfly.

Pond on Chobham Common, just east of Sunningdale golf course.

The surrounding area that was severely burnt in recent fires.
 

Emerald damselfly.

Black darter.

Male small red eyed damselfly-  a new species for me. I saw its relative, the red eyed damselfly last year at Kenfig NNR.

Mating pair of small red eyed damselfly and below...common blue damselfly....

Chobham Common NNR

Tom has had a fantastic day, as he recounts ....  at Chobham Common NNR (SSSI) - with the highlights being a Dartford warbler (a new species for me) and a wide variety of rare and unusual insects like velvet ant.

Dartford warbler- also seen was a fantastic flypast by a green woodpecker, red kites and stonechats.
 

Chobham common.
All three species of heather are abundant and dwarf gorse (bottom) is also widespread.

Grayling, small heath and small coppers. Also seen were speckled wood and peacock.

Graylings.

Surprisingly varied habitat- from coniferous and deciduous woodland to open dry heath
and wet heath. Middle right shows an area recently burnt by wildfires.

Bog bush cricket on Langshot bog- its good to know I can still hear them!

Common darter.

Velvet ant (Mutilla europea)-  a nationally notable species with a highly restricted distribution.
This is a new species to me in the UK, but I have seen it in northern Spain.

A colletes sp. (probably heather colletes (Colletes succinctus)).

A giant dyer's polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii)-
just bigger than a large dinner plate.

A common lizard.

The Bagshot Formation
- composed of sands and gravels (flint) which support this heathland habitat.

Clough Head

Yesterday a Wainwright that Rocky has done and I haven't. An early start and a breezy day, but what a lovely walk, not long and after the first bit not steep. Good views, especially over Blencathra; one to be revisited in better (clearer) weather. 

Looking across to Skiddaw. 

Looking back down St John's in the Vale. 

The sun rising above Clough Head.

Rocky on the summit. 

Looking across Thirlmere. 

Descending ...

High Pike - streams...

 While out on Thursday and descending Dry Gill I took some time to play with different exposures and the small waterfalls....

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!

High Pike

A trip out up High Pike - good to see the thamnolia (lichen) in such good health and nice to find some crystals of mimetite. 

Looking across to Carrock Fell from High Pike. 

Bowscale tarn. 

Antler moth. 

Thamnolia in  the foreground with High Pike summit behind. 

Thamnolia. 

Mining evidence. 

Mimetite crystals. 

Returning via Dry Gill where we found a few odds and ends of trilobites. 

Bowness Railings

 There are, apparently, some curlew sandpipers and a little stint at Bowness railings at the moment....it was a beautiful late afternoon, so we went down to take a look....

Yes, the light was fantastic and there were lots of waders as it was just off high tide - but no little stint and to be honest I doubt we would have spotted the slightly curved bill that differentiates a curlew sandpiper from a dunlin especially as they were mainly preening or asleep! So I just took photos ...and enjoyed the birds for the sight of the spectacle it was.  

Dots on the shore ...lots of waders. 

Dunlin. 

Lots of bill hiding! 

Ringed plover. 

More bill hiding. 

Looking towards Port Carlisle.

Port Carlisle.