Hot Stuff

 Apparently it's been warmer than Portugal in parts of the UK this weekend and it certainly felt that way at Priors Hall this afternoon. Having completed all of my tasks this morning that left me with a bit of time to play with, I toyed with the idea of visiting the Variable Damselflies at Wicksteed but opted to try my luck at Priors instead.

Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chasers

Birding highlights were few and far between but I enjoyed listening to both male and female Cuckoos calling around the ponds, I'm thinking that the local Reed Warblers probably do not enjoy their presence as much as I do! Another bird adding to the soundtrack was a Water Rail, they've bred here in the past and it would be nice if they did so again. Perhaps not surprisingly odes responded well to the warm conditions and I saw my first Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers of the year, there were a few Hairy Dragonflies on the wing too. Damsels noted on my walk were Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red.

Common Blue and Dingy Skipper

Also featuring strongly today were butterflies though they were very active today and many did not settle for any length of time. Three new species for the year made it on to the list and these were Small Heath, Brown Argus and Green Hairstreak. I didn't manage to get a pic of either of the two arguses that I saw but did manage to get a shot or two of the others. Plenty of Common Blues and Dingy Skippers were noted while other species were Speckled Wood, Peacock, Brimstone and Small White. Heat was beginning to become something of an issue and that coupled with a dinner date persuaded me to bale out and head for home.

Small Heath and Green Hairstreak