Monday 23 May 2016

Cloud broke up as the morning progressed, giving some sunny spells, before it clouded over again by Mid day.

An early walk around the fields and paddocks of Migrant Alley wasn't of much interest, the gaggle of GREYLAG GEESE were still on the paddocks, numbering 27 today, with them were 2 CANADA GEESE. A dozen or so SWALLOWS zipped over the sheep pasture and a pair of SWIFTS were seen high up. A look through the Greenhouse Grounds provided me with the first newly fledged DUNNOCK of the year - No. 8 for the 'Successfully bred' patch list. The male KESTREL was also seen, busy hunting.

As it warmed up, I made my way to the scrubby Woods to look for Odonata, seeing 3 BUZZARDS and a SPARROWHAWK over the Wet Woods on the way. I got a couple of hours looking for the dragons before the sunshine went, but I found at least 6 Beautiful Demoiselles, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, plus a real rarity for my patch - a Downy Emerald Dragonfly! Excellent !


Downy Emerald. Unfortunately it didn't allow close approach, but I got this distant shot and cropped it for ID purposes  ;-)


The Beautiful Demoiselles proved just as flighty at first, but one eventually stayed put for a few images.



9 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Very nice Warren. Will have to pop down soon by the looks of things.

Marc Heath said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Derek Faulkner said...

There was a nice photo of Hadlow Tower in the Daily Telegraph today - up for sale at a million pounds.

Johnnykinson said...

Great to see your
Dragons are showing well Warren. Have to admit i'm not into Dragon mode yet. Only seen a couple of Large Red so far and Four Spots were seen by someone up here for the first time yesterday. We are 2/3 weeks behind you in the Dragon stakes.

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
You'll need to be in your best spotting mode to find that Emerald!

Warren Baker said...

Derek,
Interested then ;-)

Warren Baker said...

John,
They are late here as well !

Derek Faulkner said...

No, Warren, too much habitat around there, I prefer big skies and wide open views.

Alan Pavey said...

Nice Downy Emerald, never managed to get a shot while I was at Sissinghurst