Radipole and Lodmoor Visit

A combined walk around Radipole Lake and Lodmoor Reserve, Weymouth produced a few interesting images.

The first which is extremely rare this year. A brief view of only the second Peacock Butterfly I have seen. 

This is a resident species and normally, by now, I would be seeing many in number.

I think this is an Emerald Damselfly below and the only one I could find that day.

Thistle Head

An immature Moorhen.

 

Gatekeeper (Female)

I mentioned above the lack of Peacock butterflies this year. Coincidentally, the Red Admiral below which is mostly a migrant species is quite numerous.

Red Admiral

Always pleased to see the young House Sparrow as their numbers are in decline.

In recent years the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly has been observed at Radipole lake.

When I found some, I took the opportunity to shoot some flight shots.

Bristly Oxtongue

Young Mute Swans (in monochrome) practicing the wing beats that they will show for many years.

Green-veined White.

At Lodmoor the usual numbers of Little Egrets were in attendance.

This one was at Lunch when I called..

A Curlew dropped in while I was there, but remained at a considerable distance. 

This was shot at 800mm and cropped.

Another welcomed regular visitor was the Great White Egret, one of three.

Before the Curlew turned up there were eight Black-tailed Godwit, the first of many to commence overwintering at Lodmoor.

Again the Blackwits were at some distance. 

They probably wanted to preen and make themselves look presentable.