Monday 18th. June 2012

It took till lunchtime for the grey skies to start to break up , but it did eventually happen , and in mixed conditions , but without the strong wind , I set off for a look around Spring Park Pond . The first noticeable thing was that the level had risen , almost to overflowing , and when I spoke to the Ranger later , he said that the spring fed pond had 'flushed through' at least twice during recent heavy rain , which probably means that some of the small species got washed out onto the meadow , which is the last thing that was needed following the cool Spring/early Summer . It didn't seem to bother the

Smooth / Common Newts though , as there was still plenty of courting going on . Apart from them , tadpoles and a few Large Red , Common Blue and Azure Damselflies , very little other interest was found so I made my way to the small meadow , checking out the vegetation on the way . A Yellow

Shell moth was found resting , but just two Small Whites were the only butterflies recorded during

the visit . In the small meadow , a Crab Spider / Xysticus cristatus , for once without prey , showed how well named this species is . Everywhere I looked , there were Harlequin Ladybirds , it would appear that the conditions have been to their liking , and , if you have ever wondered how all the

different patterns in which the species can be found , perhaps this could be the answer . Very few of

our native Ladybirds were found , but I did find the odd 7-spot larva , but it was well outnumbered by the Asian immigrants . On the way back to the pond , Hedge Woundwort / Stachys sylvaica , a

member of the Labiate family was found , just coming into flower . I arrived back at the pond just as a sunny spell started and found a male Broad-bodied Chaser at rest out in the middle . As I watched , a female flew in , did a couple of circuits of the pond and flew off , without the male even noticing . A few minutes later , she re-appeared and this time she was seen and the male grabbed her and mated in flight . One day I will get a decent shot of that , but it wasn't to be today . She immediately started

laying her eggs in the warmer margins of the pond , first , hovering over the intended area , then

dipping the end of her abdomen into the water and releasing a single egg each time she did so , and
I'm pleased that for once I remembered to crank up the shutter speed to 1/4000th.sec. , giving a frozen effect on the beating wings . Whilst she was busy laying , the male patrolled very close , ready to

fight off any other suitor that came by . That sun also encouraged the damselflies , and it wasn't long

 before these Azure Blue Damselflies started doing what they needed to do . And finally , I wonder what it must be like to spend your life on your back , looking at the sky and paddling backwards , like

the Water Boatman / Corixa punctata ?
On an 'away day' tomorrow , and as wildlife is involved it could be brilliant or a let down , I just hope it's the first .