I was hoping for a nice warm, sunny, still summer’s day to
venture back down to Ashdown Forest but despite today being the best day of the
week it did not quite turn out as I had hoped.
I met Carl at Old Lodge car park and it was already cooler
and windier than anticipated as we set off on the circuit. We had a pleasant walk around but it was very
quiet with not a huweet, churr, toloeet or gyp from any of the breeding
specialities. Stonechat families were
showy though and were new for Carl and a few Siskins blew around in the wind.
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| Stonechat |
The bog was very dry and there was only a little water in
the first two pools around which I searched the edges for Raft Spiders.
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| Bog Asphodel |
Quite a few Poecilobothrus nobilitatus were dancing on the
bouncy meniscus of the pool, waving their wings at the vaguely interested females.
A couple there, asked me if I knew what
they were and I have to admit to loving telling them, yes, and then tripping
this one off the tongue. The gentleman
enthusiastically wrote it down in his book.
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| Poecilobothrus nobilitatus |
Male Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer briefly dropped in and
we found several Azure and Large Red Damsels but I thought that there would be
more big dragons around these sheltered pools.
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| Large Red Damselfly |
Two Southern Hawkers were found at different stages of
emergence and only now had to avoid being eaten before taking their maiden
flights.
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| Southern Hawker |
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Hercostomus nigripennis - apparently!
|
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Alebra albostriella - quite probably!
|
A Willow Warbler gave a little bit of song and lone Buzzard
was dragged in speedy circles across the sky and a brood of third grown
Pheasant chicks fed unconcerned at our feet in the grass – not the best of
survival traits.
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| Pheasant - could have picked them up |
Heath Spotted Orchids were dotted up the path as we climbed
out of the valley bottom and a tiny little ground hugging blue flower became my
second Bellflower in two days but this one, the Ivy-leaved, was at completely
the other end of the scale to yesterday’s Nettle-leaved.
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| Heath Spotted Orchid |
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| Ivy-leaved Bellflower |
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| Ivy-leaved Bellflower |
After a spot of lunch we drove down to Ellison’s Pond but it
was not really how I remembered it. I
know that the cows use it as a watering hole but there was very little vegetation
around the edges and lots of thick mud where they and hounds had been in. The chances of a Raft Spider to rival that of
ten years ago were probably a little less than zero. A chance shot of briefly
perched Dragon gave me a nice Keeled Skimmer although I only realised when I
got home.
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| Keeled Skimmer |
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Pond skater - one of the bigger species
|
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White Water-lily
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We conducted an undulating circuit out on the heath where
Stonechats, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were encountered but there were no insects
bar a couple of windblown Small Heaths and Meadow Browns and none of my hoped
for Blues.
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| Stonechat |
With increasing wind and dropping temperatures we decided to
cut our losses and head for our homes. It may not have been the wildlife
extravaganza I had hoped to share but it is always good to catch up and have a
good reminisce.
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