Heather Lake - on 6th August, 2017

In my last post which featured Heather Lake, I mentioned at the end that I'd had a subsequent visit, and it wasn't what I'd hoped it would be. It failed to deliver much in the way of dragonfly interest, and there was a sting in the tail at the end of the visit - enough to put me off returning for a while.

On reflection, however, it wasn't such a bad experience, and probably warrants a blog post - so here goes!!

The weather had been cold, wet, and windy for a few days and I'd not been out for over a week so a forecast for 'sunny periods' prompted me to try my luck at Heather Lake. My prime objective was to photograph dragonflies and damselflies. 

Having parked my car, I took the tree-lined footpath that leads to the lake. On arrival it soon became apparent that there was not the large number of dragonflies that there'd been on my previous two visits. I'd arrived a little before 09h00, and came to the conclusion that perhaps the day had not yet warmed up enough. I continued to search, however.

There were several Common Blue Damselfly around but very few Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen. I didn't manage to get square-on so the tail-end of the abdomen is out of focus but it's the best I managed of that species that morning.

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) (male) - Heather Lake

More exciting for me was finding my first local Emerald Damselfly of the year. I did see another of these later on, but didn't manage to photograph it. I think those eyes are wonderful!

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) (male) - Heather Lake

I noticed many froglets as I walked round the lake but, at one point, I spotted a toadlet. This was probably only about 2cm long!

Common Toad (Bufo bufo) (toadlet) - Heather Lake

Whilst the weather conditions didn't seem to be favouring the dragonflies and damselflies, it did seem to be suiting the smaller butterflies, and I was pleased to have something to point my camera at.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)  - Heather Lake

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (female) - Heather Lake

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (male) - Heather Lake

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (female) - Heather Lake

Unlike many species that are named 'common' and make you wonder why they have earned that epithet, Common Blue butterflies are (in this area, at least) quite common, and it's easy to forget just how beautiful these butterflies are. Even the less-colourful female of the species, with all its variations, has a subtle beauty.

Whilst photographing the butterflies, my eye was briefly caught by a fly with a bright red abdomen. I didn't pay much attention to it but idly banged off a shot. I wish I had paid more attention now for two reasons. The shot I did take, which is a rear-view, I find quite amusing, and secondly I suspect, from the way I came up in a large lump on my arm later, that the red colour was due to its abdomen being full of my blood!

I've no idea! - Heather Lake

I also took a shot of a tiny flea beetle. These are quite numerous locally.

Altica species (possibly Altica lythri) - Heather Lake

I'd told Lindsay that I'd be back for lunch, and time was running out - which is unfortunate as the first dragonflies were starting to appear. The first was a male Ruddy Darter, which settled on a thistle leaf.

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (male) - Heather Lake

As I was photographing this specimen, another dragonfly came along and there was an altercation during which they both disappeared. I stood my ground, knowing that the species often returns to a favoured perch. I was, therefore, momentarily confused when the dragonfly 'returned' to exactly the same position looking somewhat different - the Ruddy Darter's perch had been usurped by a male Common Darter!

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Heather Lake

It was time now to head back to my car. 

I mentioned a sting in the tail (and I'm not talking about that fly) - on returning to my car I found that I'd managed to step in what must have been a huge pile of soft dog dirt which was now squidged all round the outside of the heel of one of my boots, and well-and-truly embedded into the treads! Fortunately I had a carrier bag, and a change of footwear in the car, but that mess took a lot of work to clean off to a degree that I felt comfortable with. I confess that, up until now, it's been enough to put me off returning, but I suspect that I shall overcome that aversion soon.

Thank you for dropping by. It looks, at this time, as if my next post might major on butterflies.