Hawkers Hunting, Darters in Disguise, Brown Bombers

and Spitfires Reborn

Whoosh!

What was that?
That was your life mate.
That was quick, do I get another one?
Sorry mate, that’s your lot.

John Cleese in Fawlty Towers 

Sitting in my little office, it’s only 7pm, but pitch black outside. A month has evaporated since my last post and the heating has been turned on for a few days now.

To rub it in, the i player (on shuffle) has delivered Who knows where the time goes (Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention) :-

“Across the evening sky all the birds are leaving
But, how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time”

Followed by Ramble On (Led Zep):-

“Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it's time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way”.

I think you get the picture.

 

Now, for something completely different (you can’t say I don’t know how to milk a theme).

Back in those halcyon days of August, I had intended to write a small, pictorial, piece on local dragonflies and tell you about a chance encounter with an extremely interesting gent and so, albeit, quite a bit later than intended, I will.

This summer has been really good for spotting dragonflies at our local reserve. The normal selection of Hairys, Emperors, Broad-bodied, Black-tailed and Four-spotted Chasers and Brown Hawkers kicked off the season, with Southern and Migrant Hawkers, Ruddy and Commons Darters coming off the bench, intent on going as far as possible, into extra-time.

Having spent much of last year trying to identify the not always obvious differences between the Common and Ruddy Darters I was extremely pleased this year to get a few snaps that I think help show the characteristics of each:

 

The male Ruddy Darter (left) and Common Darter (below) are not too difficult to distinguish. As you can see the Ruddy Darter has a much deeper red body (although this does vary according to maturity). The Common Darter has the fairly obvious yellow patches on the side of his thorax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls present a bit more of a challenge. For me the easiest way to be sure is by looking at the legs. The Ruddy Darter (left) has all black stockings whilst the Common Darter (below), has yellow stripes down the backs of her legs. There are other subtle differences, but as long as you can get close (or a photo), then the legs seem, for me, to be the best indicator. The leg stripes work for males as well if you are struggling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another two species which I got a bit muddled at times last year were the Migrant and Southern Hawker. No doubt the experienced Ode Spotter thinks they are as different as chalk and cheese, but for the benefit of those, who, like me, are just getting to know their dragonflies, I thought I would show a couple of pictures taken at the back end of this summer which, I hope, help differentiate the two species.

 

The Southern Hawker, on the left, contains a fair bit more green on its thorax and the upper dots of it's body. The Migrant Hawker (below) has a brown thorax with yellow patches.

The Migrant Hawkers also appear to be one of the more curious dragonflies and will often fly quite close to you and hover, whilst they give you the once over. The Southern Hawker seems to prefer the shade and will patrol up and down pathways under the cover of over-hanging trees.

 

 

 

 

 

Now bear, with me on this next bit, but, if in WWII aircraft parlance, the Darters are Spitfires and Hurricanes and the Chasers are Bristol Beaufighters and de Havilland Mosquitos, then for me the Emperor and Brown Hawker are respectively the Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax.

 

You see, I reckon, that whilst the Emperor is the big, bold, brazen, master of the skies, that everyone knows, the Brown Hawker is the unglamorous, workman like sort of Dragonfly, that battles on through all life’s flak and gets the job done: a kind of Brown Bomber.

 

Not convinced? Then as the late Mr Frankie Howard would say “please yourselves”. Undaunted the metaphors continue.

 

I failed to successfully capture a Brown Bomber in the Nikon’s searchlight for all of last year and for most of this. I finally caught up with this tired old gent, taking a well earned rest between sorties, you can see by the state of his wings that he has certainly seen some action, but otherwise appears serviceable.

 

The Brown (Bomber) Hawker

 

Ok I’ll come to the point of all the Biggles banter. One of the many benefits in getting involved in conservation work, is the wonderful diversity of people you meet, many of who, hide lights under their bushels, that you could just never guess.

One such gentleman, that I had the privilege to share a break-time coffee with, whilst scrub bashing at the reserve, was Peter Arnold. The conversation initially turned to photography, Peter it seemed, enjoyed photographing aircraft, but it soon transpired that his interest with planes, was far more intimate and hands on than I could ever guess. Peter bought and restored old Spitfires.

I cannot remember exactly how many Spitfire projects Peter told me had been involved in altogether (7 rings a bell), but he has shown me pictures of three of the Spitfires that he has been involved in restoring and I am sure there have been quite a few more.

 

Peter has recently completed Spitfire Survivors, which is described as the definitive reference book on the history of each and every survivor of the legendary World War II fighter aircraft.

Here is a truly magnificent photograph that Peter kindly sent me of a Seafire XVII he bought from a scrapyard back in 1973 and which is now flying.

 

Photograph by and copyright Peter Arnold

Scrambled metaphors, oh yes!

Squawk Like an Egyptian

About a week ago, I happened by chance, on one of those nature sequences that can't help but make you smile.

For reasons best known to itself, a feisty young Mute Swan decided it didn't like three Egyptian Geese trespassing in it's territory, maybe the bank robber masks they appear to be wearing had suggested they were up to no good.

Anyway, the Swan was determined to see them off. The trouble was, that the Egyptians were a bit slow getting the message and continued to stooge around in circles, whilst trying to avoid big boys beak.

Finally, with that indignant expression that all geese do so well, they sauntered off to another part of the lake to find a quieter life.

 

Wilson, Keppel and Betty finally get the message and move on

 

Is the Tortoise Slowing Decline?

I was sad to recently read, that the Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Aglais urticae - which I plead guilty to having taken for granted, as an ever-present visitor to our gardens and hedgerows each Summer - has in recent years been suffering a significant reduction in numbers in Britain (particularly in the South)

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Aglais urticae

One of the possible reasons for this decline is thought to be a parasitic fly, Sturmia bella, which is common on the Continent but had not been recorded in Britain until 1998, however, it is now being recorded in many parts of Britain and particularly in the South. Global warming will no doubt be blamed as a likely reason for the flies immigrating to our shores.

The fly lays its eggs on the caterpillars’ foodplant (often nettles) and the Butterfly larvae then ingest the tiny eggs as they munch their way through the leaves. A grizzly death ensues, as the fly grubs emerge and feed on the insides of their host, although being careful to avoid eating the vital organs, until they are ready to break-out from either the fully-grown larva or pupa, at which point the host dies.

How did I ever take these for granted?

- the colours are truly beautiful

 This fly also attacks related species, such as the Peacock and Red Admiral, but it seems that unfortunately for the Small Tortoiseshell, it’s life cycle is better attuned to that of the fly and is more susceptible to attack.

  

Also at risk the Peacock Butterfly

On a more positive note - and whilst I fully accept that one man’s observations do not a scientific study make - I can’t help thinking that this summer seems to be a particularly good year for many species of Butterfly - including plenty of Small Tortoiseshells around these here parts. I can only guess and hope, that this year, the long, warm, dry weather may have helped more Butterflies to have hatched and survived.

The paradox of course being, that a long warm British summer may also encourage greater numbers of the parasitic fly. 

Common Blue Couple Find Wheel Love

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

I know insects don't have faces.
I know insects don't have expressions.
I know insects don't display emotions
I know it's childish and unscientific.
I know it's probably my feeble imagination.
and the product of some deep Freudian psychoanalytical deviation.

BUT

Please don't tell me, that this female Common Blue Damselfly doesn't have a self satisfied smug look on her face and a far away look in her eyes and that he is not displaying the broadest grin, as he contemplates the pride and pleasure of his conquest.

Nurse!

Is it time for my medication?

Hens Teeth Week

Local rarities it seems are like this July's rainstorms, you don't see any for weeks and then a deluge (OK a very small deluge).

Following quickly on from the MK Painted Lady (see last blog) I have fallen upon a ducks deluxe of Common Scoter (2male, 3 female).

Melanitta nigra the Common Scoter

(Sorry about photo they insisted on keeping their distance)

As I have often mentioned I am not an avid (rabid) birder, so getting ticks doesn't particularly turn me on, but oddity (Bill Oddity come back all is forgiven) does. So what on earth possessed these five little sea ducks - now on the red list - to pitch up on a relatively small lake on the north west edge of Milton Keynes.

A quick bit of research tells me that in July any UK Scoters are likely to be on breeding grounds  in N and W Scotland, especially the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, whilst in winter they can be found off the coast in places like Carmarthen and Cardigan Bays, the Moray Firth, and along the North Norfolk coast. MK - not a mention.

Perhaps, at this rate, I can expect to see a raft of Common Australian Ducks (edgedat anderson) by the end of the week.

Miraculous Arrival

Well he is here at last - not an easy delivery - not when you have tiny gossamer wings and have to cross at least one if not two seas. When you are at the mercy of winds, predators and everything nature can throw at you and in all probability are on a one way ticket from your birth place, in North Africa or Southern Europe.

Vanessa cardui

Seeing this Painted Lady not more than 1/2 a mile from where I live in Milton Keynes was just awe inspiring. Not a particular rarity I grant you, but then again, not often seen round these here parts either.

This was my first opportunity to see one of these beautiful creatures at close quarters and I was not disappointed, the Painted Lady is one of those few butterflies where both the upper and undersides of the wings are equally stunning.

It's a little sad to think, that if he can survive that long, the first British frost of Autumn will finish him off. On the other hand, he might be one of the few, that make the return journey to warmer climes around the Mediterranean.

Good luck little buddy.

Hungry

"I'm Hungry"

"I'm Really Hungry"

"I'm Really Really Hungry"

"What took you so long?"