May 222011
A great day in the Breckland of East Anglia with several Golden Orioles singing and on view at one of the reserves and Stone Curlew showing well at another traditional site.
Numerous Marsh Harrier, a single immature Red Kite, Cetti’s Warbler, Bearded Tit and many Reed & Sedge Warblers. Several early species of Dragonfly were on the wing — a female Scarce Chaser, a male & female Hairy Dragonfly and numerous Azure Damselfly. A Black & Red Froghopper, an insect I’ve never seen before and several unidentified pale blue beetles.
On our way back home, a visit to Ketton in Rutland produced a Grizzled & Dingy Skipper; Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies.
My bird year list moves on to 210.
IMAGES – Hairy Dragonfly – female (inset) ; female & male below; Scarce Chaser -female; Black & Red Frogghopper; Azure Damselfly; Marsh Harrier -male.
