Whixall Moss - White-faced Darters

The floods may not have been an obliging place for the Spotted Redshank due to distance but after taking loads of soon to be deleted images taken from the Canal towpath, I figured the Moss may be the place to be?

There were some stunning fresh looking White-faced Darters just waiting for me!

I don't think I've ever photographed two together?!

Two pairs mating!

Fun in the scum with another pair mating, plus a couple of Moss specialities...

A Raft Spider waiting for dinner to be served?

Plus an unexpected Common Lizard paddling away!

Maybe my favourite?

They are always worth paying an annual homage....

Whixall Moss - White faced Darters

 Always go back! After my last session at Whixall Moss, I had been missing female and a nice mature male White-faced Darter. It was a perfect day with quite a few on the wing...

Here's an immature female recognisable from the thicker parallel abdomen and with the opaque wings...

                    

A teneral / immature male

An near mature male next with the red markings still showing a hint of yellow below the thorax...

No sign of yellow on this male...

There was much more to enjoy as well, covered in another post!

Whixall Moss - Darter and Damsel

I had planned to spend most of the day on the Moss but roughly 40 mins into the session, a rather nasty thunderstorm scuppered that - I was soaked to the skin! Never mind, at least I didn't get struck by lightning and I did at least see my main target (at the third visit). A super fresh teneral male  White-faced Darter!

The appearance at this stage is very much like a female but the markings, shape and appendages point to 'male'. I'm sure I'll be back to find a mature male in due course?

There was no shortage of Large Red Damselfly and this male was the last but one insect I pointed the camera at!

The last was this Common Heath moth (one of two seen). next to the main path.

Emerald and Darter Timewarp

It's that unproductive bug ridden time of year!! Cursing a throat infection, hacking cough and general lack of enthusiasm for the local 'nothing doing' scene. I've thrown my enthusiasm into tweaking various upcoming talks, including one I'm doing twice this Winter on Shropshire's Dragonflies / Damselflies and Butterflies!

So if you are interested (locally) in the first outing?  Make a note of Thurs November 21st for the RSPB Shropshire group, meeting at Shirehall Shrewsbury - commencing at 7.15pm. There is a nominal fee for visitors and more details here.

I've also just sorted some images and blogged the only two meaningful sessions I spent with Odonata this year. So if you would like to revisit the warmth of early June follow this Downy Emerald link

Here's a taster......

Plus the jewel in the insect crown of Whixall Moss - White faced Darter in July !

I wish I'd spent more time with them.... Oh well there's always next year?

Memo to self..... If you do insist on standing for hours on end in a freezing cold  reed bed, following by a gale force soaking when you knew that Dusky Warbler wouldn't reappear..... what else do you expect at this time of year?

Whixall Moss - White faced Darter etc

I did say I wasn't going to do any more insect photography this year but with just one distant Hobby to show for a long walk around the Moss, I couldn't  resist a peek at some of the pools?

Almost immediately, a male White-faced Darter in view! With no macro lens, all these images were taken with the 500mm lens - quite a versatile piece of kit!!

Always nice when resting amongst an attractive backdrop!

When compared to a 'stick'.!

Quite a bit of competition for ownership of the stick!! The Four-spotted Chaser led the Darter a merry dance!

Meanwhile, down in the gloopy mud and slime, Azure Damselflies were busy....

Mating and laying eggs  :-)

I've got all the angles covered and with a talk coming up for the local RSPB group (Shirehall, Shrewsbury on Nov 21st) Some of these images may well make an appearance there?