Broad-bodied Chaser.

Like many other dragonfly species the male Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) often uses the same perch to rest in-between its territorial forays so this provides a good position to wait and grab some images.

These shots were all taken hand-held with the 70-300mm lens plus 1.4x converter at a pond in Horton Country Park.

Very occasionally this male used a different perch.

Birding through a clear eye.

Today I made my first outdoor sortie for a wander around Horton Country Park following the cataract surgery to my left eye on Tuesday. The Surgeon has dramatically improved my distance vision so it was quite an experience to be birding without wearing any spectacles. 

Pied Wagtail

A Pied Wagtail in one of the paddocks who couldn't decide whether to sit in the sun or the shade from the fence!

Still good numbers of overwintering Redwing moving between their woodland roosts and feeding spots in the horse paddocks.

Great Tit

I watched any number of Goldcrest flitting through the vegetation in Pond Wood without any chance of a photo but at least this Great Tit was far more obliging.

Every now and then the bird song died away as this Kestrel made a few forays along the woodland edge.

I'm linking to GOOD FENCES with this final image of a Blue Tit perched on one of the dilapidated woven hazel fences.

Patch Birds.

A few images of some of the recent regulars seen on my local patch just to keep things ticking over.

Coot out for a stroll.

  Mallards on the move.

Grey Heron.

Female Linnet (Shame about the background)

Willow Warbler.

Male Blackcap.

 Common Whitethroat high amongst the blossom

Starling checking out a possible threat from overhead!

 A Roe Buck watching the 'watcher'.

Carrion Crow just strutting around.

 

Canada Geese enjoying a feed around the 8th green at Horton G.C.

 Speckled Wood alighted in the garden.

And finally (through the window) a Starling eying up the freshly filled suet feeder.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I should be back live sometime over the weekend.

Patchwalk - Horton CP.

Horton Country Park is very close to my home and forms part of my 5k x 5k local recording area. It extends over 400 acres with a mixture of habitats; Golf Course, an Equestrian Centre, numerous horse paddocks, grass meadows, mixed woodland and is very popular with dog walkers and cyclists.

Just about a week ago I took a stroll late morning to see what was around with fortunately not too many other visitors who might disturb the wildlife.

A Chiffchaff flitted about the trees bordering the track around the paddocks occasionally issuing its 'hweet' call.

A male Blackbird enjoying a paddle and drink from one of the track side puddles left from the winter rains.

As I turned into one of the mixed woodland areas a male Blackcap stopped singing and popped out to see who was entering its territory. Blue and Great Tits, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Nuthatch and Jay were also present in the woods where the Bluebells were in full flower (much earlier than last year).

On the edge of the wood I heard two Woodies territory drumming against each other and then one male Great Spotted Woodpecker decided to change location so I just managed a couple of pics before it flew off to directly challenge the other intruder deep within the wood.

Other species seen or heard included Song Thrush, Magpie, Starling, Crow, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Pied Wagtail plus Brimstone, Comma, Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies. All in all not a bad list for the time of day.  FAB.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Grassland Flutters.

A very recent wander around the grassland and wildflower meadows within Horton Country Park on another windy day produced my first sightings this year of species that enjoy this particular habitat.

 Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

This little butterfly, first recognised as a new species in 1889, is easily confused with the Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) but the black tips to the underside of the antennae (orange-brown on the Small Skipper) is usually my only way of separating these two species .... but only after I've got a reasonably good image for comparison! The flight period is usually from the end of June until the end of August.

 Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata)

This species is our most widespread 'orange' Skipper; single-brooded with a normal flight season that starts in late May or early June, reaching a peak in mid-July and usually disappears by the end of August.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata)

 This male was resting and swaying in the breeze on Cock's-foot which is the caterpillar's main food plant.

 Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

Probably the commonest and most widespread of our butterflies that is capable of flying on overcast days with a lengthy flight period from late may until October (depending on the weather conditions).

Two for the price of one! (Meadow Brown and a Skipper).

As all these species lay their eggs in a variety of grasses with their caterpillars (except the Essex Skipper) overwintering it is vitally important that not all tall grasses are cut at this vulnerable stage of the life cycle to ensure good numbers survive from year to year. Now all we and the flutters need is a good spell of dry, warm weather so that we can all enjoy the myriad of colours usually seen flitting around the meadows at this time of year.  FAB.

Walking Home via Horton C.P.

I delivered the car for its annual MOT just after 9 am this morning and decided to walk home from Epsom via Horton Country Park. So with only my compact Canon S95 in my pocket I have put together a series of collages showing some of the sights throughout my two and a half hours leisurely homeward stroll.

After leaving the hustle and bustle of tarmac pavements behind I entered the park alongside Horton Park Farm where the noise of vehicles was quickly replaced by the calls of Wren, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Crows. A few of the farm residents were enjoying the fresh green growth or just rooting around in the earth.

The nearby open pasture was a sea of white and yellow ... masses of Daisies and Buttercups plus the odd Magpie.

While listening to Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Great Tit and Robin my eyes turned to search out some of the much smaller critters hiding amongst the lush leafy wasteland close to the pathways including beetles, weevils, Wolf Spiders and plenty of Ladybirds hunting their favourite Aphid food.  

The sun and very recent rain has helped the wild flowers to show off all their varied colours and forms including Red Clover, Vetch, Field Speedwell, Cranesbill and Wild Strawberry. (No doubt the experts will let me know if any of the ID's in this post are incorrect.)

As I skirted the Golf Course the local Whitethroats joined in the late morning sing-song together with a few Greenfinch and Chaffinches. The bright violet-blue of the Ground-Ivy shone out from amongst the verdant green carpet around my feet. I did momentarily consider blowing on the Dandelion globe but there was a sufficient breeze for its seed dispersal to happen naturally ... like the millions of others floating around.

 

A slight detour took me across the open grass meadow (Lambert's Mead) to Meadow Pond where I disturbed a very disgruntled Coot but not a Grey Heron who surprisingly was totally unfazed when two dogs entered the water for a swim! I didn't find any Damselflies but a very tatty Comma rested in a nearby hedgerow. Leaving the Irises and the sound of metal thrashing that little white ball behind I finally exited via Church Wood to the squawking calls of several Parakeets and cooing Collared Doves. 

P.S. I won't mention what it finally cost me ( 2 new tyres etc) when I collected the car at 6 pm or the fact that I was stopped by the Police on my way home this evening (suggesting I had a wobbly rear wheel!) ... another visit to the service centre may well be on the cards very shortly!!   FAB.

Nothing New.

Despite carrying out a circuit of the paddocks at Horton Country Park mid morning and another visit to the Stew Pond (Epsom Common) this afternoon I didn't log anything new. However many of the local residents including Wren, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Parakeet, Jackdaw and Green Woodpecker plus numerous Chiffchaffs and a few skulking Blackcaps were very vocal.

 Chiffchaff always perching where a clear cut view is impossible.

 Mrs. Canada was more interested in a juicy grass snack and totally ignored my plea for a passport photo!

 Cormorant once again defeating the speed setting on the camera!

In a grassy patch within the woodland I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Mandarin out for a quiet stroll together.

 Once again the Long-tailed Tit only provided a side on view.

Great Tit blasting out its usual song.

Just before reaching the car park I noticed that the pair of Mandarin Ducks were not too keen on the presence of another male. There was a bit of posturing before the interloper decided to waddle away into the undergrowth and I returned home without any new sightings. Maybe something will turn up somewhere later this week.   FAB.

Local Patch Circuit.

The boots took a long overdue circuit around Horton Country Park today. I was out for over 3 hours following the footpaths and tracks across fields, around the horse paddocks and the pond close to the Golf Course. Sightings included Dunnock, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Jay, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Starling, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch (heard) and Coot (heard). The highlights were a Common Buzzard soaring high up on the early afternoon thermals, a Hobby hunting and a very brief view of a male Bullfinch but regretfully no useable pictures.

Millions of thistle seed heads just waiting for a strong wind to disperse them everywhere.

Despite the wild flowers and autumn fruits there was little in the way of 'fluttering' activity except

lots of Speckled Wood and a single Meadow Brown.

A Robin peeked out from its shaded perch.

The grasses were swaying in the gentle breeze.

and finally Common Darters made an appearance.

Have a good wildlife weekend wherever you are and whatever you are doing ....... FAB.