Thanks to Phil Smith, who sent me these gorgeous images taken earlier in the week near Formby.
Phil was rightly reminding me that the Dragonfly Atlas survey for Lancashire, Greater Manchester & North Merseyside is up and running now for 2009, although admittedly a morning when it's pleuting chats and chiens outside Dempsey Towers, might not be the best one to go looking for them.
Anyhow, you can get more details of the Atlas website here, why not give it a go this year, when the sun comes out?
For those not yet inculcated in the dark arts of dragon i.d, the pic above is an immature male Broad Bodied Chaser, and the one below is a female Banded Demoiselle.
There really is more to these superb insects than being Hobby bait, and as Phil says, who knows what will be on the wing this year, thanks to climate change and improvements in water quality?
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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John
A colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit found dead at Marshside in March 2009, seemingly the victim of a Peregrine, attack was ringed as as an adult in August 2005 in Holbeach St Matthew, Lincolnshire.
We have a new grazier for Rimmer's marsh, Gill Baker. Gill has been bringing cattle down to graze the marsh over the past few days and the herd includes a group of Highland Cattle that are looking superb out on the marsh!
Take a look.
Graham
Adult Little Stint plus cracking breeding plumage Curlew Sandpiper, to the right of Nels last evening. Also imm. Little Gull and five 'big' Dunlins with their black bellies stuffed full of mozzies no doubt.
Two weeks today we will be walking around the world famous Lemonadegateau in Finland - on our way to the end of the world. YIPPEE !!!!
My 24-hour Bird Races around Lancashire (and North Merseyside) from 1995 - 2009 have produced how many species in total do you think.
1st correct (or closest) to correct answer posted on this blog by Friday June 5th midnight will win a copy of "In the Footsteps of Eric Hardy" - the superb new book about our local hero, through his columns in the Liverpool Daily Post (RRP ã40).
Great day at "work" today - calling Cuckoo in the slacks south of Pontins, a few Painted Ladies still struggling north after the mega-influx, Common Blue butterfly, and two corking Sand Lizards (an adult and a youngster) basking in the sun near the Ainsdale beach entrance.
Almost fledged young Lapwings on the Green Beach and good numbers of Ringed Plover there too.
Re Simon Hamilton's query about the Swallows/Swifts: Numbers are falling Simon, but there should still be some about in your neck of the woods...
Hi John, just as a point of interest, my friend Steve Gregory has just phoned me to let me know that there is one white Moorhen chick on the lake in Central Park Liscard.
I must get there to have a look.
Thanks for your site.
Robin.