Remaining Odonata

Drawing toward the close of the Odonata season here are a few I shot very recently.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Migrant Hawker

Southern Hawker

Banded Demoiselle

Ruddy Darter

Ruddy Darter

Common Darter (male)

Common Darter (female)

Common Darter and three below

"Whats going on here then"

This female Southern Hawker thought it was a good place to try and lay eggs, my shoe.

Lucky Thirteen

I'm not one for making lists or anything like that relating to my Nature observations. However I recall last year that on a day in the middle of September during a walk around the local Woodland/Heathland Reserve, I observed and photographed nine species of butterfly. 

On the 29th of August this year I walked the same area and observed and photographed thirteen species of butterfly. I didn't set out to do so, but soon realised that it would be quite a number.

Unfortunately not all the species below are in the best of condition, but they are alive and kicking all the same.

Large White

Peacock

My second sighting of the year for this species. 

In fact from the images I shot I did actually see two different individuals on this day.

Painted Lady

The male Common Blue is loosing its bright blue colour at this stage.

Common Blue

The poor old male Gatekeeper really does look worse for wear.

Gatekeeper

A fine specimen of a Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood

Meadow Brown

The Green-veined White was in good condition.

Green-veined White

Small Skipper

Both male and female Brimstone were observed.

Brimstone

Small White

Small Tortoiseshell

Comma

All of these species observed are typical of those I would expect to see at this time and could (had I have been fortunate) observed a few more in the specific area concerned.

Young Terns

There are quite a few Immature Common Terns flying over the lakes in the Parkland now.

I watched these two below (immature in front, adult behind) flying across the the open water at some distance. You may note that the adult has a fish in its beak. You may also see that the immature has its beak open and although I couldn't hear from where I was, it would have been calling.

The immature landed on a bouy and the adult fed it with the fish and I was fortunate to catch that moment, albeit at some distance.

Although poor, here are a few images of adult Common Terns.

Blues and Browns

Common Blue (male)

Common Blue (female)

Brown Argus (female)

Brown Argus (male)

Holly Blue