Not Something Seen Everyday

Sat quietly in one position by the river it is quite amazing what you can observe as the time goes on.

While I was waiting for a Grey Wagtail to emerge from under the bridge I noticed this movement suddenly at the water's edge on the other side of the river. 

It became clear that this was a Tree Creeper and I was about to witness it taking a bath in the shallow water.

Once suitably bathed it flew up into a more traditional pose on the side of a tree and then made off.

A Walk around Radipole Reserve Weymouth

The Star of this post has to be the Hairy Dragonfly. 

The main reason being, I have never photographed one before.

This is the smallest of the Hawker species and the first of those to emerge in the season.

It flies between April and August.

It was also a pleasure to observe and photograph this delightful juvenile Long-tailed Tit.

This female Holly Blue put on a good display and I was able to get a variety of poses. 

On a number occasions I observed this very high flying Hobby over the Reserve. 

It never ventured low enough to get a reasonable shot though.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

I am seeing plenty of Banded Demoiselle damselflies now, mainly male at the moment.

This Peacock Butterfly was obviously coming towards the end of its time.

A Local Country Walk

A local country walk which on this occasion the weather was fine and very warm with little wind. 

It is also the time for farming activity to increase especially sowing crops.

Much jibing and sarcasm is often expressed by the less well informed about farm work, in particular Tractor driving.  One should consider if there were no Tractor Drivers, there would be not much food produced. 

Nowadays those Guys driving tractors have to be part Computer Scientist and part Jet Pilot, such is the complexity of tractors like the John Deere 6095R in the image above. Satellite control and navigation systems, aircon, 24 gears high and low. etc, etc. The mind boggles.

It is certainly a little different from the Fordson Major available in the 1950 to 60 decade.

Such as the one below with no cab or anything approaching technical. Driven quite professionally of course, by the spritely 12 year old with a full head of black hair. 

The Barley crop is tall now resulting from the wet and warm weather recently.

Orange Tip Butterfly (Male)

Small White Butterfly (Female)

Large White Butterfly (Female)

A nice find for me below, an immature female Large Red Damselfly.

Greater Stitchwort

Red Campion, Cow's Parsley and Buttercups adorn most side roads, foot paths and bridleways in the County of Dorset at this time of year.

A Jackdaw takin a break.

Orange Tip (Male)

There appears to be a considerable amount of the Maize Crop being grown this year.