Too Blot To Hog [Now With More Pictures]

Something like that, anyway...



If you could insert a paragraph-long moan about the heat and humidity here, I'd be grateful. I'd do it myself but...







Right then.
Last Sunday.. back back in the mists of time, when it was - well, just as horrible as it is now.

There was some heavy rain, and after that I went a hunting White Ones. I took the paparazzi setup and went to a publicised location for White-letter Hairstreak and White Admiral. After much malarky, the latter were far more obliging - ie. I actually got to hit the shutter a couple of times. Whether anything comes out is a matter for debate if not philosophy. Or possibly quantum physics - Schroedinger's Film may or may not have an in focus butterfly, and it may or may not come out, it may or may not be cut off and thrown in the bin by the developer - a chap called Heisinger, I think it was - whatever, it's all very uncertain.

EDIT: Right then, the butterflies definitely were on the winning side, but here you go;

White Admiral

Silver-washed Fritillary

Eventually I gave up and just watched the Admirals fly. Seriously, this is something you should do, the way they move is unlike other butterflies and well worth the search. Think Swallows; White Admirals move like they are liquid, the make the other butterflies look like cutouts on strings..


It being a warm sunny day, I stayed out and toddled over to Yarner - wandering in after the car park had been locked, so I had the place to myself. Well, me and all the deer. Also this little family;

Mandarin and quackling

Apologies for the utter lack of focus - she was very wary and they didn't stay still.



Arriving at work on Wednesday, a Hobby came zipping through - it scared the shit out of a flock of Goldfinches but didn't so much as look askance at them.



Today I went up to the Exe Canal to look primarily for Small Red-eyed Damselflies and Banded Demoiselles. I am pleased to say I found both and lots more stuff besides. Again, much Uncertainty may or may not exist as to the nature of any pretty pictures taken the old fashioned way. My attempts at phonebinning met with abject failure, except for this;

Black-tailed Skimmer

Yes, that was the good one...


This is not because the Small Red-eyes were at great distance or bobbing about in the wind, it's just picking them out was... Difficult. See?

There is an ovipositing pair of SREDs in this shot 

Can you see them?

How about the 5 or 6 LREDs?

Or the 3 or 4 Azures?

Or the Blue-taileds?

EDIT: Ok, now with the aid of some optics and a lot of patience...

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Horribly out of focus, but the 'tail pattern' just about visible

It was punishingly hot, but that's all the better for the little insects - they all zipped about like nobody's business.

Of interest, I discovered upon arriving at the Old Sludge Beds that according to signs dated from March, the reserve was 'closed due to tidal flooding'. Curious, yesno? There were no barriers, just small signs. Naturally I went and had a look*, and discovered that flooding is indeed still present, and that while you can get to most of the reserve, you have to go in and back from each entrance - unless you have waders and are very brave [those tanks are likely to be quite deep, and the sludge in question is what's being treated next door, after all..].
This is not for much anyway, as the reeds are now so high you can't see the pools [if they're still there, even] aside from the one by the main entrance, which is now a suspicious brown. On the plus side, there were Bandies and they almost posed beautifully..

EDIT:  See?

Male Banded Demoiselle

Female Banded Demoiselle

Male again

I shall end with one more 'awww...' shot. Yet more adorable ickle baby quacklings;

[[*I'm not unquestioningly taking the word of the sign-writers who label a Sedge Warbler as a Reed on the Main Entrance Sign and either don't notice or don't care.]]