Two chasers

On Sunday I spent some time looking for dragonflies. In the morning I went east to Goss Moor and Breney Common.  Goss Moor was strangely quiet.  There was more activity at Breney with good numbers of Large Red Damselfly, fewer Small Red, one Golden-ringed, one Keeled Skimmer and just a couple Emeralds.  I also saw five Four-spotted Chasers.

In the evening I decided to look at Godolphin and check for any Crossbills, as there seems to be a bit of a summer eruption going on (ie 40 at Croft Pasco).  I was also hoping for Purple Hairstreak but saw neither Crossbill or Hairstreak.  I did manage to see a nice male Broad-bodied Chaser though. More images can be found here.



Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Godolphin Woods.

Four-spotted Chaser at Breney Common.

A visit to Goss Moor and Breney Common

With very few birds in Cornwall, a visit to the east of the county was in order to find some butterflies.  I was hoping to see two species in particular but sadly dipped.  The Grizzled Skipper at Goss Moor was not recorded last year and it seems the same for 2013.  Alas it is most likely now extinct from this site.  I searched for a couple hours until the motor bike scramblers arrived.  I did see eight Dingy Skipper and one Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.  Given that this was probably the hottest day this year (18.5 degs), I was surprised how few butterflies there were.

On to Breney Common where I was hoping to see Marsh Fritillary.  I met John Cook and he had seen two here today but I failed to find them.  But I did find another two Small Pearl-bordereds, one Small Copper, three Four-spotted Chaser and very good numbers of Large Red Damselfly.  Some images of the day are below - all taken with D3x and 105mm macro.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Goss Moor



Dingy Skipper at Goss Moor

Small Copper at Breney

Large Red Damselfly at Breney

Four-spotted Chaser at Breney Common

(I also heard one Garden Warbler singing at Goss Moor).

Four-spotted Chaser at Bissoe, Cornwall

These images of Four-spotted Chaser were taken this evening in the Bissoe Valley, about five miles south of Truro.  It was roosting in some juncus grass and allowed approach to within a foot.

EXIF Detail:Aperture F/10.  ISO 250 Shutter speed 1/40s - 1/100th sec. WB Cloudy.  Tripod mounted. Lens Nikon Macro 105mm F/2.8