Autumn Still On Hold

 Yet more lovely weather with hardly a cloud to be seen and the offer of a lift to Deene decided my day's doings for me. From Deene I walked back passing Deenethorpe and Weldon on the way. On the main lake at Deene the Black Swan once again has a companion and the two were staying fairly close to each other. Wildfowl numbers are slowly beginning to build with Gadwalls in particular becoming common. At the weir a Common Sandpiper was briefly noted before it flew off down the stream. Several Grey wagtails were also flitting around the weir and were probably resident birds. Just Siskins and Meadow Pipits moving through today though a flock of eighteen Cormorants may well have been migrants.

Black Swan and Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and Gadwalls.

At the inflow I found four Green Sandpipers and a few Lapwings, I think that some nearby work on the estate was keeping everything else away. I should mention that the Wheelie Bin Triangle is no more as the collection of bins, the tractor, the old telly and other assorted rubbish appears to have been cleaned up. It makes for a more attractive scene but a part of me is going to miss it. Nearby Deenethorpe and the airfield held very little wildlife and my walk across the fields was equally dull.

Green Sandpiper and Small Red-eyed Damselflies.

Weldon was a tad more interesting and I found at least four Banded Demoiselles alongside the stream. At the nearby pond there were still a few Small Red-eyed Damselflies active over the water while three species of hawker and Common Darters were also flying around. For the third day in a row I managed to see some Willow Emeralds, it seems as if September is their peak month for activity. Six ovipositing pairs and three single males were noted confirming this as another breeding species for the site.

Banded Demoiselle and Willow Emeralds.

Other insects on view included a few Red Admirals nectaring on Ivy though they were constantly being disturbed by a veritable swarm of buzzing insects. Commonest were Ivy Bees which are apparently a relatively new arrival to the UK, there were also other bees, wasps and hoverflies attracted to the flowers. Hoping to take advantage of this potential buffet were a couple of Hornets, I often see them menacing the other insects around Ivy at this time of the year.

Red Admiral and Ivy Bee.