Saturday 2nd August 2014

   Round trip taking in Priddy, Westhay, Cheddar, Draycott Sleights and Chew today. None of them were at their best, but did have some goodies anyway.

Common Emerald

   Priddy pools was the first stop hoping for Common Hawker, but their were very few large Dragonflies about, a few Emperors were about it. There were a few Black & Common Darters about too, and even fewer Common Emeralds.

Black Darter

Marbled White

    There were a few Butterflies there too, including Small Skipper, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Small Copper.

Small Copper

   So, onto the levels, and Westhay Moor. Still trying to get those shots of Brown Hawker, and try to refind the Clearwing moths. Didn't find either, as the weather closed in a bit, and it started to rain. Did find some more Small Red-eyed Damselflies and a Sharp-angled Peacock moth, only the second i have seen.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Pair)

Sharp-angled Peacock

Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Female)

   We moved onto the main track at Westhay, and the weather warmed up again, was still a bit windy though.



   I walked along the track a bit, and found a Brown Hawker flying around. I watched it for a while, and it landed, i moved towards it, and it flew, typical. But, then it landed again...and i managed finally got some decent shots, after trying for many years.

Brown Hawker (Male)

Brown Hawker (Male)

   A stop off at Draycott Sleights, to look for  Grayling and Wall Brown butterflies was a bit of a failure, i did see a Wall Brown, but got no pix. But did get shots of Chalkhill Blue & Brown Argus, which was nice.

Chalkhill Blue (Male)

Chalkhill Blue (Male)

Chalkhill Blue (Female)

Chalkhill Blue (Female)

Brown Argus (Male)

Brown Argus

   Last stop before dark was Chew. saw a couple watching a bird at Herons Green. I think its a Curlew Sandpiper, i heard one say. That would be good i thought, but odd! As it turned out, it was a Whimbrel, but it was a bit too dark for photos by then. I told the couple, and they said thanks, and looked it up in their bird book....