Damsels and Dragons!

Hello

A cloudy and dull day for the most part with warm sunshine at times and still a strong wind with powerful gusts...but it should be calm from tomorrow onwards!

A Spotted Flycatcher was still along the Brampton Valley Way north of Draughton Crossing and Harrington Airfield hosted a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler at Bunker Three plus a pair of Grey Partridge.

Clifford Hill Pits was the venue for four Dunlin, a fly-through adult Mediterranean Gull and a Pink-footed Goose. A Cattle Egret was foraging with cattle near North Lake at Stanwick Pits again.

As we progress towards summer from spring, insects begin to take centre stage, and today I was able to find good numbers of damselflies and a few dragonflies. The beauty of strong winds is that it tends to concentrate insects in the lee of bushes and trees and it was here where I discovered a particularly showy Hairy Hawker or Hairy Dragonfly. This is a beast that I have rarely been able to study or photograph so was definitely the wildlife highlight of the day.

Regards

Neil M

Red-eyed Damselfly.

Common Blue Damselfly.

Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Brown Hare.

Male Hairy Dragonfly.