Emperors and Mandarins.

A belter of a day with sunshine throughout and I decided to head over to Oundle on the trusty old X4 and tale a stroll along the Nene. First thing of interest was a Muntjac seen from the bus as it bounded off into cover. As I got to Oundle at what was still a fairly early hour it took a little while for things to hot up but a couple of Mandarin Ducks were seen next to the south bridge. At the marina an Egyptian Goose was escorting a newly hatched brood of six goslings while the reeds and bushes seemed alive with young Reed Warblers.

More Monday Mandarins

Young Reed Warbler with parent.

Still many brown butterflies on the wing with Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns making up most of the numbers, a single Speckled Wood was found in Barnwell. I walked along the river as far as the A605 bridge picking up an occasional Emperor or Banded Demoiselle along the way. With the day beginning to heat up a Scarce Chaser showed well and there were still a lot of Red-eyed Damsels to be found both along the river and in Barnwell Country Park. Butterflies too responded to the sun and the first of two new brood Brimstones was seen, one of four white species seen during the day. Red Admirals are now quite common while numbers of Small Torties are on the wane. Several Commas were also observed while a Holly Blue graced the bushes around the south bridge. This stretch of road between the bridge and the mill is a good spot for this species and they're well worth seeking out.

Scarce Chaser.

Mating Black-tailed Skimmers.

The Princess Lake across the river from the marina was a hive of dragon activity with Emperors and Brown Hawkers the largest on view. Rather a lot of Black-tailed Skimmers included a mating pair while a Four-spotted Chaser was egg laying. Several Common Darters joined the aerial throng as a swarm of dragons and damsels weaved and darted across the lake's surface. Most of the damsels were Common Blue but there were a few Azures and Blue-tailed. A Common Tern flew along the river before settling down on a buoy in the marina.


Small Red-eyed Damsel
 

Red-eyed Damsel for comparison.

Barnwell Country Park proved to be equally as good for dragonflies and it was here that I got some nice pictures of an ovipositing Brown Hawker. It was however Small Red-eyed Damsels that stole the show, I wasn't aware that there was a colony here so it was a nice surprise. Lots of Red-eyeds for comparison purposes too so quite educational. A word in praise of Banded Demoiselles, they're a common species but in good light they are absolutely beautiful. Another beauty in the form of a Kingfisher flashing past was a nice way to finish the day. Mammals had earlier been represented by a fox hunting in the fields next to the river.

Brimstone.

Brown Hawker.