Something Old, Something New

 I didn't get out until late morning and kept things local by visiting Priors Hall with a vague notion of looking for Downy Emeralds. Today had started off grey and rainy but conditions had improved by the time I left the house and I was met by sunny spells and a stiff westerly breeze. In sheltered areas I managed to find some interesting insects though not sadly any of the hoped for emeralds.

Common Blues

My walk began in the old quarry area where the wind was too strong to find anything of note. There was more shelter around the ponds and it was here where most of the sightings were made. Dingy Skippers were the commonest butterflies though most of them are now looking faded and more than a little scruffy. Common Blues and Small Heaths were also braving the breeze while in the woodland areas there were some fresh looking Speckled Woods. Once I reached the ponds I turned my attention towards odes and began my unsuccessful search for those elusive emeralds.

Grizzled and Dingy Skippers looking far from ship shape!

Plenty of Four-spotted Chasers were present and they were aggressively defending their territories against all comers. A few Hairy Dragonflies were patrolling the margins but the star turn today was my first Emperor of the year, a male was holding court over the middle of one of the ponds. Large Red and Azure were the commonest damsels, other species were Blue-tailed and Common Blue. A lunch date with my wife meant that I couldn't hang around for too long and I had to head towards Weldon to catch my bus home. My walk was interrupted briefly by a sighting of a Grizzled Skipper, this tatty looking character was only my second of the year.

Four-spotted Chaser, Azure and Large Red Damselflies.