Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (1st for Bristol?) on the patch today 😊. 23rd sp for the patch, and all within a 100m stretch.
Blimey I wish I was around to meet you but I’m away this w/e. The site is Duchess Pond alongside the M32 in Stoke Park. Parking perhaps easiest in Snuff Mills car park (about 500m walk) SRED on the smaller pond that almost touches the big pond (check the algal mats, Red-eyed Damsels there too). The SBTD on the drying out shallow pool alongside the reedy patch between Duchess pond and the big yellow house (BTD there too). Gutted I'll miss you as a patch tick! We've also had White-letter Hairstreaks emerging today along the nearby river Frome in Eastville Park.Larry - whereabouts is your patch? I'll be in Bristol over the weekend and wouldn't mind somewhere I can pop out to if the weather's reasonable. I've not seen either Scarce Blue-tailed or Small Red-eyed Damsel.
Thanks for the gen! I should be able to visit those areas. Would be good to see WLH too. Sorry you'll not be there! Maybe next time I'm in Bristol. I have some family there so do visit occasionally.Blimey I wish I was around to meet you but I’m away this w/e. The site is Duchess Pond alongside the M32 in Stoke Park. Parking perhaps easiest in Snuff Mills car park (about 500m walk) SRED on the smaller pond that almost touches the big pond (check the algal mats, Red-eyed Damsels there too). The SBTD on the drying out shallow pool alongside the reedy patch between Duchess pond and the big yellow house (BTD there too). Gutted I'll miss you as a patch tick! We've also had White-letter Hairstreaks emerging today along the nearby river Frome in Eastville Park.
Nothing too sensational locally (Lingfield, Surrey) but there seem to be a lot of ruddy darters around this year. Also plenty of demoiselles.
Hoping to be in Essex myself sooner rather than later (travel restrictions allowing!) to visit family and Canvey is no distance. Any chance of a location (if it's not sensitive information) please?I was in Essex on Friday so dropped in to see the Canvey Island ditch. The weather wasn't perfect, cloudy and with a slight breeze, and it was later in the afternoon than ideal, but plenty of Common and Scarce Emeralds in the ditch, including a sighting of my first ever mating pair of Scarce. Also a couple of Ruddy Darters and a couple of Blue-tailed damsels, but nothing rare. A nice spot, and an easy walk from plentiful free parking at the leisure centre. I shall have to try to get there again.
Assuming this is the same ditch TQ77918527 (51.538292,0.563948) west to TQ76928565Hoping to be in Essex myself sooner rather than later (travel restrictions allowing!) to visit family and Canvey is no distance. Any chance of a location (if it's not sensitive information) please?
Chris
Many thanks Paul!Assuming this is the same ditch TQ77918527 (51.538292,0.563948) west to TQ76928565
If you're after Southern Emeralds they favour the north east side of the hedge line which runs alongside the A130 Canvey Way. If you start in the corner of the field nearest the big roundabout and work your way along from there you should be fine (will be obvious when you get there). Best conditions seem to be on a warm cloudy day.Hoping to be in Essex myself sooner rather than later (travel restrictions allowing!) to visit family and Canvey is no distance. Any chance of a location (if it's not sensitive information) please?
Chris
Thanks for the info Neil, much appreciated!If you're after Southern Emeralds they favour the north east side of the hedge line which runs alongside the A130 Canvey Way. If you start in the corner of the field nearest the big roundabout and work your way along from there you should be fine (will be obvious when you get there). Best conditions seem to be on a warm cloudy day.
Southern Migrant Hawkers and Scarce Emeralds are easy to see there; interesting to see the report of 'plenty' of Common Emeralds though, as they are very scarce locally whereas Scarce Emeralds are locally very common.