By the marshes again

[puddleshark]

An Emperor Dragonfly above the marshes.

Warm sun, chilly wind. Took a walk by the marshes to admire the dragonflies.




Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix).

The bell heather is fully in flower, and I am not seeing a single bumblebee anywhere; not in the forest, not on the heath, not by the marshes. I think the wet spring must have caused a population crash. When the queens were emerging from hibernation, in February and March, the rain never stopped. It would have been hard for them to gather nectar, and I suppose many potential nest sites would have been waterlogged.


But on the plus side, the Silver-studded Blue butterflies are doing very well. Little flashes of blue fluttering above the heather all along the paths. Frequently groups of five or six males battling for territory.

Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly females busy laying their eggs in bog pools. Common Darter dragonflies basking on the paths and on the vegetation.



And a few Keeled Skimmers on the wing, though not nearly as many as in previous years.


Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens). The females seem set in gold.


Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator).


The marshes looking colourful with yellow spikes of Bog Asphodel, red patches of Sundew. And above them, the Bog Cotton flying its white banners in the wind.


Oblong-leaved Sundew (Drosera intermedia).


Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum).


White Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba).


Wavy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa).


One of the drier stretches of path. Even in July, there were several places where I had to creep round, or leap like a deer across boggy patches. (Well, not much like a deer).

Comments

[larryhammer]

The field and focus of that first one is superb.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

The flying dragonfly is actually in focus! After all these years of photography, it had to happen sooner or later...

[frith]

A roe buck, already in hard antler!

And sphagnum moss. ^_^

[puddleshark]

We have a huge population of Sika deer round here (someone in the 19th century thought it would be a good idea to introduce them as an ornamental species on an island in Poole Harbour not knowing that they are excellent swimmers). I regularly see Sika stags on my morning walks across the heath, so it was nice to catch a glimpse of a Roe buck instead.

Yes, lots and lots of sphagnum moss! It has really been enjoying the record rainfall.