Went for a long weekend camping in the Welsh Borders with Planky and Paddy, hoping to make a flying visit to Wixhall Moss to search for White-faced Darter Dragonfly on they way home.
Despite the weather forcast warning of a heatwave our first two days were a total washout with the weather conditions reminiscent of a monsoon.
The promised sun did arrived on Sunday however, and with it lots of wildlife including my first Beautiful Demoiselles. A small number these large, metalic green Damselflies patrolling the stream that ran along the edge of our campsite. Other wildlife noted around camp included Buzzard, Raven, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirel, Brown Hare and Rabbit, along with Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell and Brinstone butterflies.
Monday morning we packed up the tent and headed home via Wixall Moss. The moss was teaming with Large Heath butterflies and numerous types if moth, but dragonflies appeared few and far between. What dragonflies I did see were distant, unidentifiable shapes zipping past at high speed before vanishing from view. I decided a change of strategy was needed so I found a decent sized pool and settled down beside it to wait. This approach proved more productive with several Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies noted along, rather frustratingly, with a couple of distant unidentified small Darters. I could have happily sat beside that pool a good deal longer but my allotted time at this wonderful site was fast coming to an end and spots of rain were just starting to fall, so I made my way back to the car, noting a slendid male Banded Demoiselle enroute.
Beautiful Demoiselle
Wixall Moss
Large Red Damselfly
Marsh Thistle
Small Tortoiseshell
