Tescos to home 27th July

A walk in rather damp underfoot conditions gave views of all the resdent birds without offering anything unusual. A kestrel performed well overhead as an immature wren posed for the camera. The recently recorded little egret was again at Hadham Hall lake, as were 5 mallards, numerous swallows, swifts and house martins as well as the resident grey heron. However, the highlight was managing to get some pleasing photos of insects, especially of a southern hawker dragonfly which was intent on staying put whilst I managed some good close up shots. Also shown here are a bright, newly emerged peacock butterfly as well as a comma, feeding on the local knapweed. Note, too the tiny black pollen beetles feeding on the plant. Also worthy of note was my first recording of a common darter dragonfly for 2009.

The southern hawker dragonfly can be identified to species when observed closely. On the second segment of the abdomen, below the thorax that has the wing attachments, you can see a yellow triangle. This is diagnostic of southern hawker, whereas the similar migrant hawker has a golf tee shape here.