Monday 25th. June 2012

As I pulled off the drive this morning , I still wasn't sure where I was going , but the wind had dropped , the sun was shining , and I was heading out , somewhere . That somewhere proved to be Old Lodge Reserve on Ashdown Forest , and for the first time in three visits , arrived with no sign of any fog . It proved to be a good visit , so it's pictures and comments this post .

First picture opportunity was a male Wood Lark , singing atop a Pine .

Followed soon after by one of at least 4 juveniles seen on the visit .

One of the Pines also provided a Treecreeper , could well have been juvenile , but not sure .

The horse paddocks at the far end of the Reserve held three Corvid fledglings , two pictured here and from the thick bill , would make them Ravens .

This was one of the adults that was being pestered for food by the three juveniles .

The Pines were also the hunting grounds for two Spotted Flycatchers , with at least two young .

The juvenile Common Redstarts , a bad shot of one here , were being fed by parents , in between finding their own food .

A family of Nuthatches worked their way past me with the young constantly calling for food .

I think this is a juvenile male Stonechat , the only one of the species seen on the visit .

Whilst trying to photograph a male Redstart , this juvenile Wood Lark was busy having a dust bath .

Finally managed to get a few shots of a male Redstart , it looks as if he has already started moulting .

He didn't look so bad from the back though . Other species seen / heard , Willow Warbler , Chiffchaff , Common Whitethroat , Tree Pipit , Common Buzzard , Bullfinch , Goldcrest , Coal Tit , Green and GS Woodpecker along with the expected ones .

Whilst attempting to get the Redstart , a female Fallow Deer approached , but one snapped twig and she was gone .





About 1000 and warming up , a few Odonata , like this male Emperor Dragonfly took to the air .

In another pond , a female was laying her eggs , each one deposited in vegetation .

Not far away , I found a pair of Emreror Dragonflies in ' the ring' .
With clouds gathering on the horizon , I headed for the other side of the Forest in search of Silver-studded Blue butterflies .

I found a lot more Common Sundew / Drosera rotundifolia , than butterflies .

With the wind getting up and the sun disappearing , a fly by , followed by a very fresh male .

But not easy to photograph in the conditions .

the 'silver-studs' , are the blue centres to the black spots . This specimen not a good example , and females usually show the 'studs' better too . Next time .