Large Red Damselfly emergence.

My small garden pond has attracted lots of Dragon and Damselflies and I was pleased to see a number of Large Red Damsels emerging from their excuvia, most were among the vegatation but this one was right on the outer leaves of the Brooklime and I was able to lie down and get some close up photos. Not sure how this one individual might have fared as its wings appeared slightly bent, hpefully it was o.k and flew away. These creatures never fail to fascinate me.

Dartmoor Redstarts

A trip in April to Emsworthy mire on Dartmoor with friends to look for some of our avian summer visitors, a few Cuckoos were around but always a bit distant for any photos ( still not got a decent photo of a Cuckoo),but the stars for the day were the Redstarts with seemingly good numbers having already started to set up territory and start nest building. The male really is a very smart bird and they were in good voice as the female went about collecting nesting material.

Two trips to Marazion

Marazion seems to have turned into our go to place in the van when we have a few days to spare, we took two recent three day trips, one in March and another in April,staying at Dove Meadows campsite which is right next to the marsh and just a short walk to the beach, this suits us both as I can spend early mornings and evenings birding and looking for wildlife to photograph and at other times popping down to the Lands end area or having or look around Penzance via the bus. I saw quite a nice selection of birds including the rare Savi's Warbler, ( no photo though). NIce to see a few Whimbrel on the beach

along with a few Dunlin, Sanderling and a nice summer plumaged Knot.

Other commoner species photographed included Cetti's and Reed Warbler,

Great Egret ( am I including that with the common species now!),

Green Sandpiper,

Carrion Crow,

Canada Goose,

Linnet

and Stonechat.

Early Butterflies.

In April the first Butterflies start to show, with Orange Tip ( photographed at Roadford lake) and Speckled Wood ( in our garden.) both posing nicely.

Hoopoe

Its been a really good spring for Hoopoe's in Cornwall and Devon with several turning up at various locations. This beauty was at Marazion in Cornwall. It would have been nice to have been a little closer but it is what it is, still nice to see the bird well.

Long Tailed Duck

This Long Tailed Duck had been on the boating lake in Newquay for some time, showing quite close to the footpath, I'd meant to go weeks ago but never got around to it somehow, but decided to take a look on the way home from seeing the Alpine Accentor. Thankfully it was still present and showing well.