Elmley Marshes and Shorne Woods

Definitely not a good idea to book a visit to Elmley Marshes reserve when the temperature climbed to above 30 degrees but we managed a short walk and a few bird and hare sightings. Shorne Woods (Kent County Council reserve) proved an excellent substitute for the afternoon with plenty of shade around the ponds and active dragonflies to photograph.

Kent Dragonflies

Great day dragonfly hunting in Kent resulting in two species that I haven't photographed before: the Lesser Emperor with its striking blue segments and the Small Red Eye Damselfly identified by the markings on the end of the abdomen (Small Red-eyed on left in each pair).

Glimpses of Life

 For me, my camera and the photographs that I take are a glimpse of so many creatures and behaviours that I would not be able to see and certainly not recall in any detail without its magnification and ability to capture a sequences. Here three scenarios from yesterday afternoon at Paxton. First a fledgling Wren that got left behind by the parents and other young, looking first at me and then elsewhere till it heard them calling and flew off. Then some solitary bees on the thistles with a male trying to mate (unsuccessfully). The Great Crested Grebe I photographed as a record hoping we will have a sequence through to successful rearing of young this time. Only when looking at photographs could I see that the air around was full of blue damselflies which it was eating. The brown hawker I only saw when reviewing my photographs as it was so well camouflaged

Paxton on a Sunny Afternoon

Amazing where three hours can go sitting in a hide overlooking water! I was entertained by hunting Norfolk Hawkers and by many familiar subjects, including Great Crested Grebes sitting on a new nest having we think lost all three chicks at quite a mature stage to the Cormorants, several Egrets and one of the three Heron Chicks now confidently fishing along the margins of the Lake. 

In Flight at RSPB Sandy

Bright sunny day - ideal for attempting to capture insects in flight and RSPB Sandy had a plethora of wonderful subjects to practise on including  the aggressive-looking Bee-wolf Wasps, the 'cuddly, Green-eyed bees, athletic Hummingbird Hawkmoths, feeding Carder bees and the very long legged Sand Wasp