Keeping Things Seemples.

It's been rather busy over the past couple of days so this morning I decided to stay relatively local and went over to Wicksteed Park in Kettering. I'd hoped to avoid all the kids so chose to go before the school holiday started, not entirely successfully it has to be said as there were coach loads visiting from various schools. Not that big a problem it turned out as very few ventured down to the lakes where I did most of my wildlife watching.

Wicksteed view and Shoveller.

As has often been the case recently there were few birds on view, amongst greatly reduced numbers of waterfowl only a Shoveller stood out. A Kingfisher was heard at the fishing lake where several Reed and Sedge Warblers were also heard. At least two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were nesting with one pair appearing to be more advanced than the other.

Juvenile Robin and Great Crested Grebe.

White butterflies are still around in good numbers with Small being the commonest. I saw my first Speckled Wood for about a fortnight which was soon chased away by my second, it was one of four brown species seen today. Amongst the other species on site a Red Admiral was nectaring on a Flowering Rush while a male Holly Blue appeared to be taking in moisture from the banks of the River Ise.

Speckled Wood and Holly Blue.

With the conditions seeming to be very good for dragons it was no surprise to find good numbers on the wing. Emperors were the commonest dragon and for the first time I managed to get a picture of a pair in cop. A few Brown Hawkers were hunting around the edges of the lakes, they really are an attractive and understated species. Singles of both Four Spotted Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer were observed and there was at least three Common Darters. Plenty of Common Blue Damsels were venturing out over the water's surface and I managed to find at least one Azure. This species is certainly getting a little scarcer now as it season draws towards its end. Both species of red-eyed Damsels were present in good numbers with Small being perhaps the commoner of the two. Finally the River Ise had decent numbers of Banded Demoiselles.

Emperors, Common Darters and Small Red-eyed.

I could not leave without having a quick squint at the Meerkats, there were at least two on view and I'm happy to report that neither were wearing a velvet smoking jacket.

Grey Heron and Meerkat.