::Insert Aliens joke here...::
Ahem.
What to do of a work-free Monday? I know, let's see if any scarce insects have survived the deluges of last week!
I headed over the Exe to seek Small Red Damselfly, Silver-studded Blue, and maybe some of those mysterious Red-veined Darters everyone's so suddenly cagey about [compare last year..?!?]
Well, spoiler;
Small Red Damselfly
Right at the usual place.
You know, this might be the best SRD photo I've ever taken [they usually hide in the rushes just too far away to get easily, the rotters].
I tootled around likely-seeming bodies of water [what? If everyone else is going to be cryptic...], taking in the two spots where I've had best results with my target species, and duly scored said species. Though, it must be admitted only one SRD, and this
ID Challenge
The only blue sp. of the day, too!
Battered and bleached with scale loss, this one's definitely survived the inclement weather..! All you need to ID is in the photo, though.* :)
I started early, and was able to keep largely far away from the growing madding crowds and bale before it got too baking [though note I went hunting before the extreme rise in heat later in same week], though it did mean things weren't very visible at first. Nevertheless, as well as those two lovelies, I saw a few other assorted Flying Things, and yes, time for more pictures;
Marbled White
Starting to come out in numbers, and one finally posing :)
Large Skipper
At least 9 seen. Also a couple of smaller golden skippers, but these zipping about and not stopping, so no firm ID [Small and Essex present in area**].
Small Heath
Lots about, as you might expect.
Comma
Nice and fresh
Small Tortoiseshell
Cinnabar Moth
Moth sp.!
This again... Last year, I photo'd one like this, which looks like a cross between Brown Silver Lines and Dusky Scalloped Oak, not that far away, but in fairly thick vegetation. There were lots [double figures] flushing from the same flower meadow you get skippers and Marbled Whites in.. Hmm.
Immature Keeled Skimmer
Four-spotted Chaser
Another, in better light
Large Red Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Very fresh damselfly!
Dark Bush Cricket
Dodgy flight shot 1;
Southern Hawker
Dodgy flight shot 2;
Common Hawker
Shot 1, note apple green face, 'shoulder blobs', green markings on thorax and brighter level-held abdomen.
Shot 2, note yellow face, thin shoulder stripes, very dark thorax, darker abdomen held tilted up
Round-leaved Sundew
Heath Spotted Orchid
Bog Asphodel
So, two out of three, plus assorted other goodies. Not bad. Even with the weather.
It was, even then, even with the wind, far too hot, but lovely to be ambling about. :)
Be Seeing You...
[[* Upperwing; remains of black border inside white edging, underwing; no spots in proximal half of forewing and silver studs in hindwing.]]
[[** See last year's post]
