I spotted these dragonflies and damselflies in the New Forest on yesterday’s walk.
Keeled Skimmer (female)
Keeled Skimmer (male)
Large Red Damselfly.(mating Pair).
Beautiful demoiselle Damselfly.
Dragons & Damsels.
Raft Spider.
I was glad to see many raft spiders back in a stream where we had seen a good population last year. The raft spider is a large, chunky spider that lives around the edge of ponds and ditches, and on wet heaths and bogs.
Swallow Family.
Swallows are small birds. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time in the air. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere and migrate south in winter. This family has left their nest and is being fed in a tree. They were a joy to watch on today’s walk in the New Forest.
An adult swallow.
& the rain returned.
After nice bright weather for a couple of weeks, we had a wet, grey day today, and the forecast says it is with us until early next week. On the positive my water butts in the garden are now full of water.
So, pictures today from Titchfield Haven are more like pictures from a winter’s day. Not very nice under sail in the Solent.
Grey Heron.
Little Egret.
fledgling Reed Warbler.
It is a hard life.
Warning: Distressing images.
Further to my post last week re Black-headed gull chicks
Link below.
The next pictures show how hard it is for the chicks. A much larger Lesser Black-backed gull swoops down and snatches a chick. As this happened, the Black-headed gull colony erupted into the air, but they failed to save their baby.
Pictures taken by my brother Simon Finnegan {I missed this, although I have seen it happen in the past.}
Along a stream.
On Monday, we walked along a New Forest stream that we regularly visit. There is always something to see and enjoy, and on a bright, warm morning with few people about, you can enjoy nature fully without the distractions of everyday life and have a chance to get into the “zone.”
This old forestry house is a good mile or so off the road, reached by gravel tracks. It is a great place to watch House Martins, as many nest under its eaves. They get an easy meal of insects swooping over the stream. Not the easiest bird to get pictures of due to their size and speed!
As well as the Ponies on the forest, there are cattle these came down for a drink.
A few dragonflies that the House Martins missed.
Along the stream were several Spotted Flycatchers. They are mostly grey-brown in colour with paler streaks, particularly on the head and wings. They has a creamy white breast which is streaked with pale brown.
A small bird, measuring just 14cm in length and weighing in at a maximum of 19g. Adept at snatching flying insects. They visit the UK during the warmer months and are often seen in woodland edges and clearings.
four Spots.
The Four-spotted chaser dragonflies seen here at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve are easily recognised. Each wing has two dark spots on the leading edge. These spots give this species its name.
Take off.
Kestrel hunting by the Beach at Titchfield Haven.
One of the few books I had to read at school.
A Kestrel for a Knave is a novel by English author Barry Hines, published in 1968. The book is set in an unspecified mining town in Northern England. It follows Billy Casper, a young working-class boy troubled at home and at school. He finds and trains a kestrel, whom he names “Kes”. It was made into a film directed by Ken Loach and produced by Tony Garnett,
Gull family.
Wordless Wednesday.
New Forest Hike.
On another walk this morning, orchids were abundant in the Heathland.
I believe these are Common Spotted Orchids.
The Meadow Pipit is a small, brown, and streaky bird; they look very much like a small song thrush.
Liverworts are small flowerless plants with leaf-like lobes called a thallus. There were large numbers growing along the stream we walked along.
Common Frog and tadpoles
Male Reed Bunting.
The main highlight of the walk was a family of Redstart.
1st pictures are the male bird, followed by the female, then finally the juvenile.
Continued Reflections from my World. 