bogbumper: May 2005

Monday, May 30, 2005

Woodwalton Fen NNR

Scarce Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Mating damselflies. I think they might be Azures (Coenagrion puella) but I'm not sure...

Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi

Yellow Flag, Iris pseudacorus

Since it was a nice morning, I thought Woodwalton Fen NNR would be worth a try for some insect-watching. There were hardly any butterflies on the wing but plenty of Red-eyed Damselflies on the Raveley Drain and, further in, a scattering of Scarce Chasers and Four-spotted Chasers (dragonflies).

I digiscoped the insects - they were usually perched up by the side of dykes and it was easier than getting my feet wet. I sacrificed some image sharpness in the process but it was enjoyable enough. The weather conditions weren't bad - though it was breezy there was cloud cover on and off, which kept the dragonflies low and forced them to perch up.

There were also lots of damselflies about but they were a bit too much like hard work!

insect photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Wildlife garden update

The pond's first inhabitant! A Common Frog.

As you can see (if you compare with this picture), my garden is coming along nicely. Things are starting to grow up and even the lawn has sprung back into life. Anyone worried about the buddleia that was hacked back savagely in April can breathe a sigh of relief, because that's OK, too.