Venus Pool - Green Sandpipers

Normal service resumed with the Greenshank not lingering but there's no shortage of opportunities from the Green Sandpipers, now up to six individuals but not all one the reserve at the same time.

Lovely light for once and an obliging bird!

Almost a reflection!

Just chilling rather than feeding...

Until a Lapwing took exception to the newcomer!

Green Sandpipers can run when they have to!

A post bathe ruffle...

And finish with a wingflap :-)

Good night...

Venus Pool - Greenshank

Birds don't have to show feather detail to get onto this blog! A quick visit to VP before heading south led to another new bird for the shire year - that was after I'd confirmed the wader in question was actually an adult Greenshank, rather than a Black-tailed Godwit...

And here it is in all its record shot into the light glory!!

A bit closer in the white water!

They all count and there will no doubt be another one strutting its stuff a bit closer :-) Bit for now, that's all I've got!

Atcham - White-legged Damsellies

The Odonata theme continues... I'm checking out some of Shropshire's residents during July and trying to post informative images to help with ID. Todays special is the White-legged Damselfly and with slow flowing muddy stretches of river a key habitat, the River Severn just downstream of Atcham is good place to see them!

 An immature male, the black markings on the abdomen are not quite complete and he's paler blue.

Adult male with blue coloration and complete black markings on the abdomen...

If you haven't already noticed,White-legged Damselflies have chestnut wing spots!

I'm sure this guy was laughing at me? Showing off his 'inflated tibiae' with white edges.

A very immature female, the lactea phase where the markings on the abdomen are barely developed, just dots on each segment...

Virtually mature, this female has the typical pale yellow-green thorax

Full markings on the abdomen with a touch of drab at the tail end, this will change to green...

Standard ID images can become a little boring so I singled out this obliging male for a bit of macro creativity?

Here's looking at you...

The archetypal 'bug eyed monster'?

If I've whetted your appetite for more? Check out http://shropshirebirder.co.uk/odonata.html for more species and information!

Venus Pool - Ruddy Darters

Ruddy Darters are now making their presence known at Venus Pool and elsewhere. It looks like last year was a good one and numbers already seem impressive. On just a short walk, I saw at least six males of which, this was the only obliging one!

Apart from the deep red colour, the body shape is key to separating them from Common Darters...

And they look menacing close up!

 They always seem to look better on natural perches!

I was lucky to find this immature male!

Exactly the same structure as the adult but the immature bright yellow ochre colouration will eventually turn red...

Now then, what have I stumbled on here? A female! There is no 'waist' to the body which gradually tapers and the colouration is paler

To exclude a female Common Darter, note the all black legs and the T-shaped mark at the top of the thorax

There's a lot going on in the Odonata world at VP and it's right under your nose :-)

East Leake - Bee-eaters take 2

I did say I would have another go at these and given there was a perfect 'summers day' in prospect with some cloud cover, I was off bright and early... The only problem was... 'summers day' temperatures getting well up the 20's = haze! Oh well, here's what happened...

Looks like they are running out of Bees? A succession of Butterflies...

And Dragonflies - the bigger the better with Brown Hawkers and Emperors getting the toss treatment!

One perched up very briefly across the pond...

So the rest of the time was taken up with trying to get some record shots out of the flight opportunities?

Occasionally up against the blue patches of sky?

But inevitably the white sky took over when they were overhead!

Bit of both here to finish off with!

That's me lot then! Luckier moments may be possible but there's so many other things to do...

Venus Pool - Emperor Dragonfly

It's that time of year... Odonata - Dragonflies and Damselflies claim my attention! So stand by for a few posts relating to these :-) It's a good year for the Emperor Dragonfly, the UKs largest Dragonfly and with several present at VP holding territory a chance  for good views! I needed a full 700mm focal length for the perched shots, all taken from the hide, the Emperor perched at the waters edge...

Not the best of angles but you have to play the cards you're dealt!

I don't think I'd have got this close with a macro lens!!

The manoeuvrability of a 100-400mm lens is better suited to getting flight shots, the light wasn't helpful but they will do :-)

All taken using manual focus and fingers firmly crossed!

Never easy to keep up with them as the flight route is pretty random!

The closest approach!

The perfect way to kill an hour or two whilst the local birding is generally unproductive!

If you're thinking of spending some time getting to kno them, check out the odonata section of my website. You'll find out where to go and how to recognise all of the County has to offer...