Venus pool has become quiet but you have to be in there on the off chance that something good drops in? And why not point the camera at a Shelduck in flight while you wait?
Monday, 22 May 2023
Saturday, 20 May 2023
Shropshire - Four-spotted Chaser
Had my first Four-spotted Chasers of the year today. They have an extra wing spot on each wing unlike the other chasers. This species is unusual in having no easy visual clue regarding sex. Just by chance, they were a male and female so how did I make the decision? First and foremost, you need a very close view when at rest or a closeup photograph.
It's all about the anal appendages, the male is built for clasping hold of the female when mating...
They converge at the tip (or as here they are parallel).
Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Long Mynd - Pallid Harrier
Shades of the Black-winged Stilt! Another mega for the county and my luck goes awol but I offer no excuses - I went, I saw, I ticked a Pallid Harrier on the Long Mynd. That ought to mean 'success' for this post...
Two relatively close passes on my 'second encounter' resulting in 'images'! Spoilt by heat haze and distance!
Sunday, 7 May 2023
My Garden Pond - Broad-bodied Chaser
My second species of Odonata to emerge in the garden, a teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser which was spooked as I was doing a spot of weeding!
Thursday, 4 May 2023
Venus Pool - Mediterranean Gull
John Martin had a 2cy Mediterranean Gull early on today at VP so I thought I'd see if was still hanging around mid morning? It was but always pretty distant and often on the move as time went on. Meds are always smart gulls and worthy of some effort...
Here is is with the other two species present...
Wednesday, 3 May 2023
Polemere - Garganey pair
Garganey are classy Ducks, always worth a look? Sometimes distant, sometimes close and this evening was fortunately the latter! I started with views of 60m or so and ended up a lot closer...
Some pics from a very brief appearance on the water...
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Venus Pool - Ringed Plovers
The wader interest continues with two Ringed Plovers dropping in at VP this morning and still there late afternoon...