 |
| Rainbow iridescence! Possibly Dock Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) ... |
We spent some wonderful hours at
WWT Welney, and although the weather could hardly be described as a perfect summer day (dream on!), we thoroughly enjoyed all that the reserve has to offer. The highlights on this occasion were the mammals ...
water voles (the prototype '
Ratty') and hares, but there were also other stars such as
Avocets and grasshoppers.
 |
| Something was stirring in the river bed ... |
 |
| ... and a beady-eyed Water Vole ... |
 |
| ... emerged from the reeds. |
 |
| A male Reed Bunting perched just outside one of the hides. |
 |
| I'm not sure that this is the female ... but it was close by. Do you recognise it? |
 |
| A Marsh Harrier caused some consternation as it flew overhead. |
 |
| The Oystercatcher seemed unconcerned. |
 |
| Sadly I don't think we saw a Butterfly ... |
 |
| ... but there were some great insects! I think these are Carpenter Bees ... |
|
|
 |
| There had to be 7-Spot Ladybird (we actually saw two). The white insect is, I believe, small Lacewing. |
 |
| We heard a Cuckoo (my 2nd this summer). It was perching on this wire some way off. |
 |
| I love to see Avocets ... |
 |
| ... even at a distance. |
 |
| We may not have seen butterflies, but this green caterpillar was stunning! |
|
 |
| It was too windy for Dragons, but we saw one or two Damselflies ... |
 |
| ... in sheltered spots ... |
 |
| ... and quite a few Grasshoppers. |
 |
| These distant ears were unmistakable! |
 |
| ... but the Hare didn't hang about for long! |
 |
| Welney ... what a great place! |
This is wonderful, Caroline! Thanks for sharing. I gasped over and over!
ReplyDeleteKay
Ellicott City, MD
USA
what a wonderful place! I'd love to see avocets! I like your photos of the reed buntings, such handsome birds and a nice song too, there are a few of them around the coastal paths and Lagoons in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh
ReplyDeleteoh and how wonderful to see the water vole!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. You see and shoot a lot of good things. I liked your visit and thanks for identifying them. I was searching in my mind for damselfy the other day. Your refreshed my gray cells. I liked all the shots and even the lady bug was a great shot.
ReplyDelete