Churton Marlpits - Hairy Dragon!

I suppose I'd better point out (don't fall off your chair, if you're an insect enthusiast) this was NOT in Shropshire but not that far north of the County..... in Cheshire!

What better way to rekindle odonataphilia than this very lucky close encounter with a female Hairy dragonfly at Churton Marlpits on the way back from an alpine plant show near Manchester, Despite a short yomp down tractor tracks through Oil seed Rape, a more idyllic habitat would be hard to find......






I'd been watching a fairly large Dragonfly flying across the pool when amazingly it perched not far way. Sensing it may return to the spot, I moved close to it and waited -I could not believe my luck!!






What a stunner! The moment didn't last long but I got a side view or two....








Before taking the liberty of a close up, taking that hairy thorax, so aptly named....






Oh well, at least my eye is in - just got to find one of these in Shropshire now!!

Whixall Moss - Raft Spider!

Eeeeek get it out of here! A familiar domestic cry?

Put one of these in the bath and guarantee to have the bathroom empty within seconds......






I have no doubt I can do better, given a better position and light but for now, my first encounter with Dolomedes fimbriatus (on the water) at Whixall Moss will do.....

Venus Pool - Barwits!

A late start but am I glad I did call at VP. Phenomenal movement of Bar-tailed Godwits across the UK which even managed to involve VP!! On arrival just after 9.00, there were five on the central island....






Record shots only but the four summer plumage birds were absolute crackers :-)








After about 40 minutes, they got a little flighty and eventually....






They were off - flying East....






I checked out Wood Lane (for the Wood Sandpiper I was hoping to find?) No joy but a consolation Cuckoo flushed near the car park was welcome! A cross County drive to Whixall Moss next.....

Llanymynech - Pearl-bordered Fritillaries

I had to have another go at these beauties! Success too with males and females posing well in the morning sunshine!

The main focus of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary colony at Llanymynech
rocks is just a stones throw across the border into Powys but they are
frequently encountered on the Shropshire side. Either way, it wasn't
long before I was in business......

Females with slightly duller orange brown colouration were generally the
more obliging of the sexes to watch and photograph, they seemed much
more likely to bask and pose.....






A nice association with Ground Ivy, a typical foodplant.






One individual seemed to be laying eggs on the bracken litter?







Whilst another gave a classic underwing pose, the seven 'pearls' which
edge the underside of the hindwing plus the additional TWO pearls
separate this species from Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (which has
more pearls forming a colourful mozaic). I hope to add this species
later.......






The males were much more flighty but I did manage a few basking shots.
These were more showy, and more brightly coloured.










Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary before long then.....

Longmynd - Groppers!

The highlight of a trek around the Longmynd this morning was undoubtedly this individual (one of three Grasshopper warblers reeling) Having located him, just a matter of waiting for him to pop up and 'reel away'.

He did pop up quite close.....








The closest....






And then proceeded to reel it's heart out!








Often hidden from view but in this particualr instance, perched on top of the heather!








It doesn't get much better than this!

Llanymynech - Butterflies on the Rocks!

One of my resolutions this year was to continue the 'insect' theme from time to time, throughout the Spring and Summer. As Saturday morning was wasted chasing prescriptions for the early onset of my Hay Fever, I devoted the afternoon to a bit of early Butterfly fever - at Llanymynech Rocks - for a couple of Skippers, a Hairstreak and a special Fritillary...

Green Hairstreak was the most common target species, the afternoon heat making life difficult as they were so mobile!










Small Copper were also plentiful and I guess I'll be seeing many more of these as the season progresses.....








Dingy Skipper may not be a showstopper but they are a challenge and pretty hard work being so small and difficult to get close to.....








Grizzled Skipper were even scarcer and my goodness do they shift - especially when a lens is pointed in their direction!








And finally, the highlight! Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Took quite a while to find the main colony and then most of the afternoon to get one to stop! This is my one and only photo opportunity! I guess that means another visit then :-)






Also seen were: Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Large White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.

It'll be Dragonfly time before you know it (Oh and there will be plenty more birds too!!)

Longmynd - Ring Ouzel

A general look around the Longmynd with Andy this morning produced a pair of Redstart, a few Wheatear, numerous Whitethroat, Mipits, Red Kite and.... No doubt about the highlight - this very obliging Ring Ouzel at Pole Cott.....

It was feeding on the short grass, picking up a wide variety of invertebrates!








Closer and closer it came....










The low angle certainly works, putting all my previous Ring Ouzel efforts to shame...








Makes up for the lack of Dotterel and even helped me over missing an Osprey at VP by less than 5 mins!

Venus Pool - Channel crossing

A pretty uninspiring day was rescued with Andy finding a cracking Channel Wagtail at VP this evening. I was there like a shot but it always stayed distant. I managed to grab one or two 'record shots'.......

The British Tellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava flavissima) crosses with the Continental species Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava) to give this hybrid now referred to as Channel Wagtail. The appearance is pretty consistent too. The pale (powder blue) head and very prominent white supercilium with much more white in the throat, are classic features. I'll end this post with a couple of images of the North Shropshire male from 2010. (Which reminds me, I need to get these finally sorted and written up for the rarity file (sorry Geoff!!)










Despite the diastance, one smart bird!






There were at least 12 other 'flavissima' Yellow Wagtails....






And one good job the Hebridean Sheep do is keep them there!








Here's a couple of images featuring the male Blue-headed Wagtail from 2010......









That's all for now but more to come on this thread.....