DAVID'S NATURE BLOG

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

20^th AUGUST 2026 - ABBERTON RESERVOIR

John picked me up at 08.45 hrs (Mike had family commitments) and we arrived at the Layer Breton Causeway under an hour later, after a short diversion.

Info’ received prior to our arrival said that a Pectoral Sandpiper had relocated from Wigborough Bay to the Layer Breton, so all we needed to do was to locate the birdwatchers, which wasn’t at all hard to do; and within a few minutes we’d enjoyed exceptionally close views of the bird, which was in company with several Ruff. My camera was busy too, and with a 2x Converter lens fitted to the 100-400mm telephoto, some wonderful photos were obtained - though in reality, the converter wasn’t needed because the bird was so close anyway. The Ruff photos (these birds are always photogenic) were good too. We also had a brief view of a Spotted Redshank, both in flight and at rest (though the latter views were distant).

I was surprised at the number of Spoonbills present - fifteen at the Layer Breton, but we eventually saw twenty-four in total, adding those seen from the hides later. Strange to think that a few years back Spoonbills were rare here, but now they’ve even bred, and general numbers are increasing. The same could be said for Great Egrets - one of which was with the Spoonbills (the size difference was amazing; the Egret towering over them). So, round to the Layer De La Haye Causeway, although there was little of note to see here, other than a few Little Egrets and Great Egrets, one of which came remarkably close to enable better photography. There was also a Black-necked Grebe which also gave excellent views, and a distant Garganey which John picked up through his telescope, although it was in ‘rest mode’ most of the time.

Following a welcome coffee at the Visitors’ Centre, we traipsed straight round to the Hide Bay bird hide, to await the arrival of an Osprey, which had apparently been present for six weeks on and off. But, through our two hours vigil, we were to be disappointed in that regard. But we did gain views of possibly three Western Marsh Harriers - two juveniles and a possible adult female (though it was hard to distinguish them) which were known to have breed in the reeds opposite the hide. We also saw a distant Red Kite; a couple of distant Common Buzzards; a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, but no Hobby, which was seen earlier.

As mentioned previously, there were an additional nine Spoonbills at rest on the opposite bank, and at least eleven more Great Egrets scattered around the bay. A couple of Common Terns were catching fish, not always successfully, and there were several distant Black-tailed Godwits, which were seen in flight when the Lapwings got up!

On the way back through the Centre, I saw a couple of Small Heath butterflies; at least 2 Common Blues; a Wall Brown; a Meadow Brown; at least two Azure Damselflies; a few Common Darters; a singleton Ruddy Darter; and several Migrant Hawkers.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER

PECTORAL SANDPIPER WITH RUFF

RUFF WITH PECTORAL SANDPIPER (at rear)

BLACK-NECKED GREBE

GREAT EGRET

GREAT EGRET WITH SPOONBILLS

SPOONBILLS IN 'SLEEP MODE'

NORTHERN LAPWING

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (ADULT FEMALE?)

Thursday, August 13, 2026

LATE JULY and EARLY AUGUST 2026 - GARDEN DELIGHTS

The hot weather of late has prevented me from going out into the wide local world, except to Southern Country Park to try for Emerald Damselfly, which was successful with regards to getting the target species, but which didn’t do me any favours I terms of health matters. Consequently, my garden and the wildlife pond within it, has to all intents and purposes, been my saviour, in terms of the Natural World.

Of course, the garden certainly couldn’t possibly compete, species wise, with the catchment area around Bishop’s Stortford, and I could do nothing about what other parties were finding and reporting, but at least I was seeing and observing some wildlife - mainly butterflies, moths, dragonflies, etc. - which were some kind of consolation.

I haven’t been able to capitalise on the recent staggering numbers of Painted Lady butterflies, although I’ve had a trickle of PL’s through the garden, culminating in one which - rather than storm through as most of them seen to have done - stayed in the garden for over two hours, occasionally leaving for a few minutes, then returning to gorge on the nectar provided by my Verbenas. And it was very co-operative in terms of being photographed.

Over the same period, I’ve recorded at least eight Jersey Tiger Moths, and one Garden Tiger Moth (at night) which was only my second record - the first being in my garden in Romford, Essex in the early 1960’s.

In addition, I’ve seen two Gypsy Moths (my second and third records), one of which rested on the outside wall of my kitchen and was photographed.

Carpenter Bees have been using my Bee Hotel for the first time since it was installed two years ago, and observing and photographing them has been totally fascinating.

In terms of visiting dragonfly species, well it hasn’t been an especially good year with regard to the number of species, but I’ve had two new species for the garden - a Common Blue Damselfly back on 18 May (which was at the wildlife pond along with a male Large Red Damselfly) and a Western Willow Emerald Damselfly, which was seen on 8 August, in the presence of a male Common Darter; this was especially pleasing since it was also my first Willow Emerald for the year - but to get one actually settled in my garden was totally unexpected; the species is still relatively rare, but is extending its range, especially in the South and East of England. Luckily, apart from the odd altercation between the two, the Darter left the Emerald well alone.

Common Darters have been seen quite regularly since the end of July, including a female which was observed ovipositing, and a pair in tandem. On 10 August there were two males, although a brief attack by one soon pushed the other off. But on 11 August I was successful in obtaining photographs of a pair in tandem on the branch of a Silver Birch near my pond, following which the pair - still in tandem - returned to the pond for more egg laying.

Birds have largely been absent in the summer months - apart from the usual culprits i.e. Sparrows; Starlings; Magpies; Woodpigeons; the occasional Carrion Crow, and of course, Red Kites, always overhead. But I did record three juvenile Greenfinches on 26 July that flew in briefly - only the second record since I came to Bishop’s Stortford in 2002; and a superb adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen briefly on the roof of my next door neighbour's house, overlooking my garden, one morning recently.

GYPSY MOTH

JERSEY TIGER MOTH

CARPENTER BEE

COMMON FROG

COMMON DARTER

COMMON DARTERS IN TANDEM

WESTERN WILLOW EMERALD DAMSELFLY

PAINTED LADY ON MY VERBENAS

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL ON THE ROOF

GERMAN WASP ?

WATER FLY - Lispe tentaculata

Sunday, August 2, 2026

1 AUGUST 2026 - SOUTHERN COUNTRY PARK (SCP)

Due to the recent hot weather - which almost always plays havoc with my Diabetes - I hadn’t been out of the house, with the garden my only refuge as far as seeing nature and photographing it is concerned. But Mike Harris (one of my birding friends) had reported seeing Emerald Damselflies at SCP, and I truly wanted to go over to see them as I hadn’t seen any local ones since those in 2019 at Stansted Airport Lagoons (SAL). But had to wait until the heat began to wane - and today was the day, with the temperature dropping to a more reasonable level, though still remaining hot again later in day according to the forecast.

I was careful not to go too early, because the last time was at SCP the butterflies and dragonflies didn’t seem to appear until around 1045 hrs, so I had a longish wait before I could begin any photography.

I arrived at 11.00 hrs and made my way directly to the ‘Old Pond’ where Mike had seen the Emerald Damselflies, with just a casual look on the way for any sign of other dragonfly species, without seeing any, which I thought was a bit strange. At the pond there was a little bit of dragonfly activity, mainly down to the territorial behaviour of male Common Darters - which appeared to be aggressive to other males of the same species, as well as male Ruddy Darters - but there was no sign of any Emeralds.

I waited a good while - probably about 30 minutes - then decided to return later in the day and made my way up to the ‘Maze’ area - which is a designated area for wildflowers, and where Mike reported many Painted Ladies and a few Clouded Yellows the week before. But there was hardly a butterfly in sight, with just three Painted Ladies (two were still in good condition); four Small Heaths; one Brown Argus, and a superb Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which resolutely refused to settle and allow even one photograph! So, I made my way back to the ‘Old Pond’.

There was still no sign of any Emeralds, and I was getting a bit despondent and about to call it a day here, when I caught sight of a damselfly that wasn’t a Blue-Tailed, and which alighted on a branch of bramble about ten feet away from me; but of course, I’d forgotten to bring my binoculars, so I couldn’t get a closer view, other than through the telephoto on my camera. But the views I could get were inconclusive, before the insect was dislodged by a Common Darter, and I lost it. Then I think I picked up what I assumed to be a pair in tandem further away, but again the Common Darters pushed them off. Fortunately, the single Emerald returned to the same bramble branch, so I fired off a single shot before, the Common Darter dislodged it, and I couldn’t pick it up again. How frustrating!

I then turned to the Chalky Bank hoping to see more butterflies, but there was no repeat of the tremendous numbers I’d witnessed a couple of weeks back, with only two more Painted Ladies, and a few Brown Argus, although Common Blues were still in good numbers - mostly seemingly quite large males, but even they were not settling long enough to photograph them. Back at the lake, only Common and Ruddy Darters were seen, and although I searched hard for a Willow Emerald, I was disappointed in that regard. Round by the ‘feeding station’ all I saw were a few Mallards; a couple of Moorhens, and a juvenile rat which was very camera shy! At the northern exit to the park, as I rested on a seat to take some refreshment, a Brown Hawker flew close by, but that was the only ‘large’ species of Odonata I saw.

Back home, I processed my photographs, concentrating on the photo of the Emerald Damselfly. Through enlarging the image - and thankfully the telephoto gave a lovely sharp image - I was reasonably sure it was indeed a Common Emerald, but sent it to Mike for confirmation, which he kindly did.

EMERALD DAMSELFLY (a young male)

BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES - MATING RITUAL

BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY ( a female in mating mode).

RUDDY DARTER (M)

COMMON DARTER

PAINTED LADY

PAINTED LADY (paler underwing)

MOORHEN

Saturday, July 25, 2026

24 JULY 2026 - BS CEMETERY

On 24 July 2026, Andy Saunders (a friend from the Bishop’s Stortford Natural History Society (now Stort Valley Nature Group) told me that he’d seen a possible Dark-Green Fritillary at the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery on 23 July; so, I went over to check it out, eventually finding a fritillary-type butterfly very near to the location he’d seen his; so, I assumed it was the same butterfly.

I have to confess, I really wasn’t sure, but from my limited experience of Dark-Green Fritillaries - given that I’ve only seen a handful in Therfield Heath, Herts; Trosley Country Park, Kent, and Heddon Valley, Devon (the last being in Devon in 2019) - I thought it was in fact a female Silver-Washed Fritillary. I took several photographs before the butterfly was disturbed by a member of the public, but using these, together with two guides (one of them photographic) I came down on the side of Silver-Washed, but not before I’d consulted other friends, who confirmed my initial identification.

But it was still a good record, and a first for me for the site - indeed, it was the fifth new butterfly species I’d recorded at the site this year - the others being Painted Lady; Marbled White; Brown Argus and Small Heath; arguably an indication the unusually hot and dry conditions since the end of May 2026, not only in the UK but the whole of Europe, with some species of butterfly (and dragonfly too) occurring much further north of their normal ranges, for example although Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow usually occur every year in the UK, their numbers this year have been truly exceptional.

The same morning I must have seen well over 12 Painted Ladies; over 15 Common Blues; 5 Brown Argus (new for me for the site) and 3 Small Heaths (also new for the site). In addition a Red Kite was seen circling over the cemetery in full moult.

SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY (probable female)

SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY

PAINTED LADY

COMMON BLUE (M)

RED KITE - IN FULL MOULT

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

20 JULY 2026 - THORLEY WEDGE and SOUTHERN COUNTRY PARK (SCP)

I started out from my house at 0850 hrs heading for Southern Country Park, Bishop’s Stortford via Thorley Wedge. It was sunny and warm, with a light NE breeze, so I was hopeful that I could connect with dragonfly and butterfly species.

There is a Buddleia in Thorley Wedge that in recent years usually attracted decent numbers of butterflies (and occasionally Hummingbird Hawk Moths) at this time of year; but this year, having been substantially lopped by the council, it held not a single butterfly!

Along the way the grasslands in Thorley Wedge were incredibly dry and almost colourless; but I did see an interesting butterfly settled on a patch of thistles maybe a hundred feet or so away through my binoculars, and when I approached, saw a pristine Painted Lady butterfly, and nearby a huge hoverfly - Volucella zonaria - both of which got the photographic treatment. So, on to Southern Country Park(SCP) using the ‘back way’ via the local Sainsburys supermarket, where in previously at this time of year, I’d found Willow Emerald Damselflies and at least two Jersey Tiger Moths. However, on this occasion no sign of any damselflies, but I did find another Jersey Tiger in virtually the same location as previously.

As soon as I was into SCP, I made my way directly to the west side of the lake, hoping to find at least one Green Eyed Hawker (previously known as Norfolk Hawker) that had been recorded here in recent weeks, but not a single dragonfly stirred, and butterflies were restricted to a few Small Whites, and the odd Common Blue. Really strange. I did a circuit of the lake, but once again nothing of note was seen. So, I made my way to the Chalky Bank which looked good for butterflies, as it was smothered with Chicory, Scabious, Wild Carrot, and other wildflowers. I did a complete circuit around The Wedge, Middle Wood, and back round along the Chalky Bank from around 10.15 hrs without seeing many butterflies at all, and then suddenly, I started to see a few more Common Blues, Brown Argus, and Painted Ladies from around 10.45 hrs which then became a flood of butterflies. Common Blues were in profusion; followed by more Painted Ladies than I can recall seeing in one location (except for an amazing time in July/August when I had about 32 singletons on my Buddleia in the early 2000’s); and then many more Brown Argus than I can ever recall seeing here (or anywhere else for that matter). I was certainly in my element photographically.

I continued snapping away until I reached the spot where I began my circuit, when I noticed a bright yellow butterfly (or was it a moth?) storming past me. It took me a few seconds to realise that it was a Clouded Yellow Butterfly, which I’d never recorded in the park; and indeed, never recorded many at all locally since I moved to Stortford in 2002. Of course, I hoped that the butterfly might settle so that I could record it photographically, but it continued its strong flight up and down the track before it settled. But of course, as soon as I got anywhere near (even with the telephoto poised) it got up again; but eventually, I managed a few shots when it settled on the bare earth, amongst weeds, where it was perfectly camouflaged. It wasn’t until I processed the photos back home, when I discovered that the insect wasn’t in prime condition - its wings were sadly quite badly worn.

Feeling somewhat elated, I thought that I’d make my way back to the lake in case the warmer conditions had persuaded some dragonfly species to emerge into the bright sunlight. However, on the way I noticed another photographer taking pictures on the Chalky Bank, so I thought he’d surely like to know about the Clouded Yellow, so approached, by asking what he was trying to photograph. He replied to the effect that Common Blues were almost everywhere on the bank but were incredibly difficult to photograph as they were constantly moving from one flower to another and hardly settling for long; something I could readily appreciate, giving similar experiences that morning.

After a while, he introduced himself as Richard and informed me that he was a member of Stortford Nature (a Facebook group where he posted most of his nature photographs); but when he mentioned that his surname was Stead, I countered ……………. “Oh, I know that name…………………I hate you……………… your photos are superb;” then offered an explanation directly.

I’d often seen his photos on local natural history sites on the Web and had always been an admirer of his photography. And when I gave my surname, he said he’d seen my photography too and thought they were of a high standard. So, we knew each other’s work quite well, which for me meant a lot.

Anyway, he was interested in the Clouded Yellow, and after giving him suitable directions, we parted on good terms, with the hope that we’d soon meet up again. But later in the day he posted me a link to todays set of photographs when I learned that he’d seen several Clouded Yellows over the entire area of the Park - which seemed to include the very same ‘tatty’ individual I’d seen earlier! Seems I should have stayed with him for longer!

Because the insects were now beginning to “erupt” I returned to the lake, where I found a couple of Black-tailed Skimmers; a male Emperor Dragonfly; a few Migrant Hawkers; a single Blue-tailed Damselfly, and a lone Common Blue Damselfly; a couple of Ruddy Darters, a single Common Darter, and a Brown Hawker; but sadly, no sign of any other species ……… and certainly no Green Eyed Hawkers!! Oh, and a Terrapin showing its head above the surface of the lake – indeed, this individual has been seen many times over the past few years, evidently having been introduced by a member of the public, who should have known better. But it was certainly surviving and had grown substantially since its early days in the lake.

Later, Richard and I exchanged contact details, and he kindly offered me to accompany him on some local trips in future; and I look forward to that.