Ol' red eyes is back

Had the moth trap on briefly last night before bed but still managed three new moths for the garden in the shape of Ruby Tiger, Lesser Common Rustic and what I think is a Lunar -spotted Pinion (if not maybe someone can put me right!)

Ruby Tiger




Lesser Common Rustic


Lunar-spotted Pinion... albeit a worn one!



A quick look on the pond this morning found a pair of Ruddy Darters at the northern end. Initially distinguished from Common by its brighter colouring and 'starved' abdomen it also sported completely black legs (Common has pale centres to the legs) The male kindly stayed faithful to a particular perch making him easier to photograph.

Ruddy Darter


Had a walk over to Felbrigg lake this afternoon, where I found what I was actually looking for this morning on the pond, about a dozen Small Red-eyed Damselflies. These little guys have had a meteoric spread in distribution since being first recorded in Essex in 1999 and seem to be steadly spreading northwards. Identified from Red eyed Damselfly in having more blue along the body segments and often a distinct short line with a dot on the thorax as shown below

Small Red-eyed Damselflies




Red eyed Damselfly for comparison





Also present around the lake were Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and several Narrow bordered Five-spot Burnet moths, which didn't photograph too well (didn't have my macro camera!). On the bird front a nice 'bob' of 6 Common Sandpipers and a female Mandrin were the highlights together with the last blooms of what I think is possibly Southern Marsh Orchid