A first for me today in the New Forest was a small flock of Common Crossbills. Males are more brightly coloured than females, with orange-red plumage, in contrast to the females’ grey-green. Both sexes use their distinctive bills to prise open pine cones and extract the seeds.
Out in the New Forest yesterday looking of Marsh Frogs.
Marsh frogs are around 50% bigger than a common frog. Their warty skin varies from olive to bright green, with irregular dark blotches. I have posted pictures of green ones today.
A new damselfly for us, we spotted this White-legged Damselfly in the New Forest on Wednesday. They are mainly found along slow-flowing, lowland streams and rivers, sometimes on canals or ponds.
They differ from our other blue damselflies sporting white legs.
Leafhoppers are small, sap-sucking insects that feed on leaves and stems. Nearly 300 species have been recorded in the UK. This leafhopper, I believe, is a Cicadella viridis. It is more commonly known as a Green Leafhopper, Size 6-8mm
#Wordless Wednesday
The Common Blue is one of the most common damselflies in the UK.
The Male is blue and black with a button-shaped mark on the segment below the wing base. The female is less colourful – she is dull green /light yellow with a thistle-shaped mark below the wing base and black bands.
A master of flight, and a fairly commonly spotted dragonfly along many of the small streams at this time of year. Appearance – striking black body with distinctive yellow bands. Green eyes.
#Wordless Wednesday
I watched a commotion: a mother duck flying at a Herring Gull. It was sad to see her give up, and the gull fly off with a duckling in its mouth. Walking the other side of the pond, I found her again with only one lone duckling trying to keep it in the water lilies for safety.
New Forest ponies taking a drink.
Magpie
Looking for Raft Spiders again in the New Forest, we found a good population in the usual place. Some 16 adult spiders along the stream were viewed. along with several nests which were full of baby spiders. The spider in the 1st picture was eating a “Daddy Longlegs”.
Continued Reflections from my World. 