Tuesday 15 July 2008

This morning was warm, cloudy and humid, which is fine by me, beats all that rain and wind. However it was a dull affair walking into work, just a few Corvids at migrant alley, SWIFTS and SWALLOWS went over but it was an unremarkable walk in.
This afternoon was mostly cloudy, but in the short bursts of sunshine it felt very warm, again bird life was not co-operative, choosing to hide away, as they do at this time of year, lots of species are busy moulting. Only the SPARROWHAWK showed much of himself, and as I watched it, I saw a CORMORANT far in the distance behind it.
I walked through the tree nursery, and on to migrant alley, then on to the small pool of water where I last saw a Broad Bodied Chaser. The latter was again seen, also with Azure Blue Damselflies and a Ruddy Darter (I think!). Butterflies were much in evidence, with Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Skippers and Speckled woods all seen.
Later tonight I think i'll do another window watch, see if something turns up. I'll let you know tomorrow if it does.

This is the first Peacock Butterfly I've seen for some weeks, I was messing with the camera trying to get the background blurred, it seems to have worked, but I'm not sure it was worth all the hassle!
This one came out just as well (I think ) The sun went in as well

I thought this Gatekeeper looked stunning, must be newly emerged


I reckon this is a Ruddy darter, Black legs, brown thorax. I might be wrong, it could be a Common Darter. some one will no doubt put my poor ID skills right!



Here's another shot of it.










3 comments:

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I don't have a clue who that someone could be , but for my money , you have a male Ruddy Darter there !
Your comment on not seeing a Peacock for weeks , if you look at the thorax/abdomen of your one , there are hardly any fine hairs on it , compared with the fresh Gatekeeper . It's time ,like all the others is over having lived for almost 11 months , to be replaced with a new fresh brood any time now .

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Greenie,
I didn't know about ageing butterflies by the fine hairs on the abdoman. A good tip for me .

A Ruddy darter it is then!!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: I never heard of a Peacock Butterfly but you certainly showed where the name originated. Wonderful capture of the butterflies.