Big Sixth Anniversary Special

Don't get excited.There's not actually anything that special. It's big though very big! ;-) Monday 15th September 2008 was the date of my first post on this blog so this Monday was the blog's sixth anniversary. I honestly wouldn't have thought back then that I'd still be writing it now, although I don't really write that much these days and seem to have had a lot more to say back then. I should have posted on Monday but I couldn't as I was in hospital (good excuse) having a bone biopsy on my upper jaw, which was nice! I've been stuck at home all week but have been a bit too woozy to concentrate on typing. I'm feeling much better today (although still look like I've been in a fight) and you'll be pleased to know that I have lots of photos to post. They are from a visit to Aylesbeare Common last Sunday morning, and a trip to Lower Bruckland Pondst he following day plus a visit to Seaton Marshes where I did my good deed for the week.

 

At Aylesbeare Common there were still one or two Graylings hanging on.

 

Grayling - Hipparchia semele

Devil's Bit Scabious -  Succisa pratensis

 

 With European Garden Spider - Araneus diadematus

And with Dronefly - Eristalis tenax

Common Frog - Rana temporaria

Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii

Lesser Skullcap - Scutellaria minor

There were quite a few gorse bushes covered in these webs, which belong to the Gorse Spider Mite.
Notice the pale 'bleached' areas on the bush where the mites have already been feeding. The warm dry weather seems to have caused a bit of a population explosion.

Gorse Spider Mite - Tetranychus lintearius 

The only migrant birds I saw were a few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, a couple of Wheatears and a single Whinchat. There were quite a few Stonechats but these were most likely local breeders.Some of them looking rather scruffy like so....

Stonechat

                                                

The following day I decided to visit Lower Bruckland Ponds. It's just a quick five minute drive in the car but I only had my bike, I got there though...Just! It was definitely worth it, with the willow trees around the top pond full of Chiffchaffs and Spotted Flycatchers. There were at least four possibly five Spotflys possibly a local family group.

Chiffchaff

Some Chiffchaffs were  moulting and very scruffy looking like this one

Spotted Flycatchers

I then cycled back to Seaton and popped in at Seaton Marshes on the way home. There were a couple of Wheatears on the path to the hide and a few Chiffchaffs around the Borrow Pit. Whilst watching a tandem pair of Common Darters ovipositing I was surprised when the male suddenly released the female in mid air and instead of flying off she plummeted down into the water. She struggled and looked to all intents and purposes doomed. I just couldn't watch her life end in that way so found a long stick and fished her out. 

Trying to get water off her eyes...

 

Clinging to a tiny floating stick.

Look at that little face pleading for help. How could I refuse?

Back on dry land

 A bit more eye cleaning.

As you can see she didn't have much going for her as she's also lost most of one wing.

More eye wiping and she 'lives to fight another day'. Well possibly.

Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta

 Northern Wheatear 

Last but not least as no autumn blog post would be complete without one..