For various reasons, I didn't get out as much as I would have liked to in the first half of September. It was also a bit quiet as far as garden observations were concerned. Here are some notes and images relating to that period.
Thursday, 1st September Garden
A visit by a Brimstone butterfly was the main highlight this day.
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Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male) - garden on 1st September, 2022
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Thursday, 8th September Garden
Another butterfly was the star of this day.
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Comma (Polygonia c-album) - garden on 8th September, 2022
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Saturday, 10th September Garden
Sticking with the Lepidoptera, it was a moth that caused excitement this day. I have recently published photos of Hummingbird Hawkmoths hovering at flowers on this blog. Finding one settled is something that rarely happens. I was, therefore, extremely excited to see one head high up into the Sambucus nigra 'Gerda' (known to Lindsay and I as 'the black bush'), and seemingly settle. I picked up my camera and eventually managed to find it with the aid of binoculars. It was so cryptically coloured that moving just a metre to try and get a better angle on it took me a good five minutes to locate it again. With yet another move, I lost it - and then the Goldfinches arrived and sent it on its way.
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Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) - garden on 10th September, 2022
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Sunday, 11th September Hicks Lodge ; GardenI was in two minds whether or not to visit the very local Hicks Lodge on this day as it can get busy with people on foot and on bicycles, and even occasionally on horseback, at the weekend. However, I decided to give it a try, and was glad that I did.
I parked at Oakthorpe Colliery and headed up to the south entrance to the Hicks Lodge site. From the moment that I got to the gate I was seeing Migrant Hawker dragonflies in the immediate vicinity. I spent around twenty minutes here trying to get some shots. Because of the background, I totally failed with attempted flight shots but, eventually, I saw one settle. To my absolute delight, it was a female. I reckon that the odds are about 20:1 that a spotted Migrant Hawker will be a male rather than a female.
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Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (female) - Hicks Lodge
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Passing on, I found huge amounts of fungi growing, away from the path. I subsequently found that these were Field Mushrooms, and I could have foraged buckets full of them. However, Lindsay, probably somewhat wisely, will not entertain the idea of me bringing any foraged fungi into the house for consumption!
Alerted by the call of a Buzzard, I spotted this one in the distance.
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Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Hicks Lodge
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It's around 600 metres from the south gate along the track to the main circuit of Hicks Lodge, and I spent some time to the east side of the track.
A Comma butterfly was very obliging.
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Comma (Polygonia c-album) - Hicks Lodge
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Near the top of the rise, the Field Mushrooms gave way to masses of another fungus. Although the fringe of that cap looks quite distinctive, I have no idea as to the identity of these.
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fungus - Hicks Lodge
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A Red Admiral was also in this area.
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Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - Hicks Lodge
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As I drew near to the main lake, I diverted onto a minor path that passes between two smaller ponds, Here I found a Common Darter.
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Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Hicks Lodge
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Having reached the main lake, I found two swans, one of which seemed unhappy with the presence of the other. There was an animated persuit for a while. The persuer is depicted in this next image - putting on quite a show!
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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Hicks Lodge
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A Cormorant flew over.
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Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - Hicks Lodge
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A female Mallard flew in and made a splash - yes, it's me with my thing about water splashes again!
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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (female) - Hicks Lodge
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. . . . . and a Coot glided by serenely. |
Coot (Fulica atra) - Hicks Lodge
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I thought that this flower stem of Purple Loosestrife looked particularly beautiful.
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Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) - Hicks Lodge
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A Grey Heron was on the edge of the larger island.
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| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Hicks Lodge |
On the main path, I found this brilliantly metallic-looking beetle - I have no idea as to its identity!
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beetle sp. - Hicks Lodge
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My photos do not have enough detail for me to identify this hoverfly beside the path, but I am relatively certain that it is an Eristalis species.
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hoverfly (Eristalis sp.) (male) - Hicks Lodge
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I had another session trying to photograph Migrant Hawker dragonflies, and had a little success. Unfortunately the sun had disappeared at this time.
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Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male) - Hicks Lodge
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Before departing, I took some shots of a Small Copper butterfly.
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Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) - Hicks Lodge
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At home that afternoon, I had another session with a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
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Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) - garden on 11th September, 2022
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Wednesday, 14th September Hicks Lodge
I returned to Hicks Lodge on this day. Sightings were similar to my visit only three days earlier, so I'll just offer some photos, and a few words.
I love the stamens on the Chicory flower!
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Chicory (Cichorium intybus) - Hicks Lodge
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Carrying on with the blue theme, the male common Blue butterfly is rather special too.
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Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (male) - Hicks Lodge
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There was the usual mix of dragonflies seen.
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| Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male) - Hicks Lodge |
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| Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Hicks Lodge |
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Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (male) - Hicks Lodge
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A Little Grebe kept its distance, as is usual.
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| Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Hicks Lodge |
A group (not quite a skein) of Greylag Geese arrived, flew around undecidedly, and then headed off northward.
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Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - Hicks Lodge
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As I left the site a Buzzard flew overhead and landed in a distant tree. I'm convinced that this is the same bird that I see each time I visit, and one day I'll get a decent close-up of it - maybe!
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Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Hicks Lodge
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Thus ended the first half of the month of September, and so ends this blog post. I am a little uncertain as to what my next blog post might feature, but it might be something to do with royalty.
In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for your visit - - - Richard
Well done Richard you are having more success than me.
ReplyDeleteMike.
Thankfully, Mike, I am still able to get out and about. The situation will probably be different when/if I reach your age. You're doing pretty well for an old'un, and I admire your dedication to your garden wildlife. Take good care and stay safe - - - Richard
DeleteTime flies Richard, here we have your post first half of September, tomorrow it is October. Two comments titled 'maybe'....The beetle is a Dock Beetle, the hoverfly Eristalis Tenax/Pertinax, but I think you might have thought that too.
ReplyDeleteRegards Pete.
Yes, time seems to be running away with me, Pete. It gets a bit worrying at times!
DeleteDue to that shot of a beetle not giving any indication of scale, I think that you've made an incorrect ID. This one was about 2 cm long, whereas the Dock Beetle is stated to be only 4 - 6mm long. It is also usually seen in May/June in these parts, not early September, as this one was. Yes, I had narrowed the hover fly down to one of those two. I could have done with a better view of the face and legs.
My very best wishes to you and KT - - - - Richard
Hello Richard :=)
ReplyDeleteI am always in awe of your dedication of finding the correct ID of the creatures you photograph. I find it extremely tiring to see many pictures of what I am trying to find, and usually give up, with the idea of returning on another day to wade through all that is available on the net. I wish I could help with the ID of that beautiful green beetle but have never seen one before. You saw lots of lovely butterflies and dragonflies, but the Hummingbird Hawk moth in repose is something I have seen and photographed. It is a very rare occurrence and you captured it well. I enjoyed seeing all the birds, and that young grebe which is a sweet photo.
My best wishes Richard and thank you for yet another lovely post.
I do try to ID most of the items that I photograph, Sonjia, but there are some taxa that are totally beyond me! Searching through field guides can be very time-consuming can't it!
DeleteThank you so much for your very kind words which are very much appreciated.
I hope that all is well with. Stay safe - - - - Richard
Hi Richard! Great findings!! We there is one Ross's goose (Anser rossii) among the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) ! It has been in place for a while. We won't be able to look for it now, but it's nice to know that such a rare bird has wandered here.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a Ross's Goose , Anne, but would love to do so. In fact, I have not seen many Barnacle Geese either!
DeleteI will return to this post, Richard. My daughter and son-in-law are visiting and I am pressed for time. Just wanted to let you know I haven't fallen over the edge! David
ReplyDeleteI fully understand, David - thank you for taking the time out, and reassuring me of your wellbeing. I'm late in responding too, as Lindsay and I have just returned from a week on the Isles of Scilly with our daughter and granddaughter.
DeleteHoping that your having/have had a great time with your daughter and her husband.
Best wishes to all - - - Richard
So much to see!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you prove it really is possible to photograph dragons in flight. Once again, I am jealous.
Nice work on such nice images of the Hawkmoth and capturing that Common Blue with wings fully open is special for me.
All here is good. Yard cleanup is almost complete and we hope to be exploring again once we find road that are clear. Gini and I hope you and Lindsay have a wonderful new week.
No special skill in those dragons-in-flight shots, Wally. That particular species has a habit of stopping dead-still for a second or two when in flight. It's just a matter of patience, and chucking away the 95% - 99% that turn out to be rubbish!
DeleteThe Common Blue is also a species that tends to be quite obliging for photography.
I was very relieved to hear that hurricane Ian was not too devastating for you both, but saddened to learn that many others suffered catastrophic damage and loss.
Sorry for the late reply - you may have guessed that Lindsay and I have been away. We've had a splendid week on the Isles of Scilly with daughter and granddaughter.
Best wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hello Richard
ReplyDeletethe colors and the light are great again, the dragonfly photos with the sun are particularly beautiful, the flight photo is also a highlight again
Greetings Frank
Hello Frank! Thank you once again for your kind words. I suspect that there will not be many more dragonfly photos this year as we are now experiencing cold breezy weather, and the start of autumn.
DeleteSorry for the late reply - I have been on a family holiday on the Isles of Scilly.
Best wishes - - - Richard