You might be forgiven in thinking the photo above is a fangled AI abberation, Attack of the Killer Hovers, but no it's the result of a photo bombing by a Wicken hoverfly, caught by some camera flash during a DIY photoshoot, trying to get a image to accompany an article for a forthcoming edition of Birdwatch magazine.
June is a great month to stay close to home, everything is kicking off, the flora in full on lusciousness and invertebrate interest reaching a peak. Down at the Wildspace the Odonata proliferate and it's surely only a matter of time before we realise that getting "hotspot" status with the British Dragonfly Society might be a really good idea - it's a great place for Dragons and Damsels. Recent colonists Norfolk Hawker were particular noticeable, nudging their way into the reedside domain of the Scarce Chasers and, just emerging, Ruddy Darters.
Four-spotted Chasers have emerged ditchside, almost everywhere, battling in ferocious dogfights for territory and coupling rights. 
Since my first Marbled Whites in the garden last year they've rallied and in a year where they are in abundance across Ely Wildspace, their presence as a fixture around the house, in the little meadow bordering Stuntney Heights, is an absolute pleasure. Purple Hairstreaks are around the oaks at the back of the house and White-letter Hairstreaks around the elms at the front. The garden Clearwings will have to wait for a later post, but there's been plenty enough, including some crazy numbers of the, until recently, nationally extirpated Dusky Clearwing.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading and commenting on Ely10 Birding.