More Damsels

Once I'd completed my essential shopping and equally essential painting I set out for Weldon where I hoped the promise of some sun might bring some insects out. For once my plan worked out and I managed to see quite a few.

Banded Demoiselle and Large Red Damselfly.

Walking along the stream near the woodland park produced a few damsels with Banded Demoiselles being the commonest, four males and a female were noted. Two each of Large Red and Azure Damselflies were also seen with one of the latter being my first male of 2020. For the second visit in a row I managed to find Variable Damselfly though in this instance it was just the one. This male was quite interesting in that it lacked two of the features associated with this species though of course as its name suggests it is prone to variation! It was clearly a different individual to last week's male so that means at least three Variables have emerged so far.

Azure and Variable Damselflies.

Butterflies as well as damsels were responding to the sunny interludes and once again Orange-tips were the commonest. Other species noted at Weldon were Peacock, Holly Blue and a Small White. Other types noted at the area near the STW on my way home included a male Brimstone and at least two Green Hairstreaks.

Orange-tip and Green Hairstreak.

The STW provided views of my first Fox of the year, it makes a change to see a native British mammal. A Muntjac which I flushed from some thick vegetation was rather more typical of my county mammal experiences. No birds of note other than a good view of a singing Garden Warbler at Weldon and a male Sparrowhawk which nearly parted my hair at the STW.

Peacock.