Holiday day five part two

 One of the reasons we went to the Cotswolds was to see Dragonflies and Damselflies we don’t see “up north.” One of the places I was hoping to see them was Radley Lakes the other was Orchard Lake. Unfortunately, I saw only one that we don’t see “up north”, a Downy Emerald, I was hoping for more but you never know there is always next time.

Downy Emerald a first for me.

Red-eyed Damselfly in tandem.

Male Red-eyed Damselfly.

A male taking a ride on a leaf.

A tandem pair with the female about to lay eggs.

Laying eggs.

A couple of male Red-eyed Damselflies.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser hovering.

A tandem pair of Azure Damselflies.

An immature Common Blue Damselfly.

Lamesley

 I’m still way behind but here are a few of the birds I saw from a fairly recent visit to Lamesley.

I don’t know why but I wouldn’t normally bother with Woodpigeons but these kept me entertained for ages.

If this male is trying to get her attention he’s about as subtle as a brick.

I think this is my favourite image of the day I just love the way the Woodpigeon is trying to keep its balance while trying to land on the fence and failing miserably.

Male Linnet.

Female Linnet.

Buzzard.

Greylag Goose. Its wing looks a bit tatty.

A couple of Greylags.

Pheasant landing.

This Crow is having a meal of something.

These goslings will probably be geese by now 😊

Wren.

One of two Chiffchaffs.

The second.

St Aidan’s part six

 The sixth and final part of our trip to RSPB St Aidan’s. My last Blog was Bitterns in flight however to be able to get into flight they naturally must take off.  Here is a full sequence of one of the Bitterns coming out of the reeds and taking off.

If you look very closely you can just make out the eye of a second Bittern below and to the left of the first.

At times it didn’t look elegant.

And it seemed to be crashing into the reeds a lot

But it did eventually make it out

And as Bob and Paul would say “and away”