WAB dragonfly meeting

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Nice one! Charm away then

Its done. We will definitely be over sometime, dependant on out movements in the day

[Fourwings]

Boddie, glsammy & myself spent an enjoyable few hours at Priory Water today.
Although it was warm and quite sunny the wind was a bit rough for either observing Odonata or photographing them, despite this we still managed to see loads of nice stuff such as;
Southern Hawker
Brown Hawker
Emperor
Black-Tailed Skimmer
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter
Common Blue Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Blue-Tailed Damselfly
Red-Eyed Damselfly
Small Red-Eyed Damselfly
White-Legged Damselfly
Emerald Damselfly
Banded Demoiselle

14 species in all, not bad for this time of year.
There was also an excellent selection of Butterflies on the wing with many second broods just begining to hatch.
With the weather forecast now saying that August will be a much warmer, drier & sunny month, its looking good for the meeting here on the 11th.

[eeyore]

good news - we did a shed load of work today and are well on target to finish it tommorow , which means that i am able to come on the saturday after all , so put my name down - we just need the perishing rain to stop now

[John]

That is an impressive list Steve. Let's hope it stays as good once we are there at the meet.

BTW has anyone done a serious mothing night at that site before. I was talking to Steve Lister and he reckons with all the rareish butterfly's around that area, together with the type of site the Priory is, we could turn up some exciting moths on the night if the conditions are right.

John

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by John

BTW has anyone done a serious mothing night at that site before. I was talking to Steve Lister and he reckons with all the rareish butterfly's around that area, together with the type of site the Priory is, we could turn up some exciting moths on the night if the conditions are right.

John

To answer your question, yes John, we have regular mothing sessions at Priory Water, usually two per month if we can fit them in.
The current recorded totals for the reserve are as follows;

Macro moth species - 204

Micro moth species - 78

Current reserve Butterfly species total - 28

[John]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

To answer your question, yes John, we have regular mothing sessions at Priory Water, usually two per month if we can fit them in.
The current recorded totals for the reserve are as follows;

Macro moth species - 204 Micro moth species - 78

Current reserve Butterfly species total - 28

Is there anything unusual that you have trapped?

John

[Gill Catton]

Yey!! I'm in!! Is there mothing proposed for the nightime? Is anyone camping or is everyone travel lodging or going home?

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Yey!! I'm in!! Is there mothing proposed for the nightime? Is anyone camping or is everyone travel lodging or going home?

Yes we will be Mothing at night.
Without wanting to tread on Fourwings toes, but to answer your question.....
Several of us will be sleeping over in the field centre, one or two will use their cars, at least one couple using a nearby travel lodge.
I'm not sure if Camping on the reserve is an option
I believe the local Chippy and Chinese T/A will be utilised Saturday evening.
MTR is working on breakfast arrangements for Sunday am.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Oscar2006

Yes we will be Mothing at night.
Without wanting to tread on Fourwings toes, but to answer your question.....
Several of us will be sleeping over in the field centre, one or two will use their cars, at least one couple using a nearby travel lodge.
I'm not sure if Camping on the reserve is an option
I believe the local Chippy and Chinese T/A will be utilised Saturday evening.
MTR is working on breakfast arrangements for Sunday am.

well if camping at the field centre is an option count me in otherwise I'll try to camp nearby maybe..... See if Steve has any bright ideas!

[John]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

well if camping at the field centre is an option count me in otherwise I'll try to camp nearby maybe..... See if Steve has any bright ideas!

Well I'm taking a thin mattress, my quilt and pillow and will sleep in the back of my estate car. I will be both warm and comfortable and also just where I want to be.

John

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Oscar2006

Yes we will be Mothing at night.
Without wanting to tread on Fourwings toes, but to answer your question.....
Several of us will be sleeping over in the field centre, one or two will use their cars, at least one couple using a nearby travel lodge.
I'm not sure if Camping on the reserve is an option
I believe the local Chippy and Chinese T/A will be utilised Saturday evening.
MTR is working on breakfast arrangements for Sunday am.

Yep we're Travelodging it. Really excited about the whole weekend too. Think it's going to be a right laugh and wildlife fest!

[JonesyBoy]

Could you please count me in . This is my first time contacting WAB but I have met numerous people through LROS .

[John]

Originally Posted by JonesyBoy

Could you please count me in . This is my first time contacting WAB but I have met numerous people through LROS .

Hi Jonesyboy. Welcome to WAB and I look forward to meeting you, if I haven't met you already.

Are you the chap I went to the Peregrine site with?

John

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by JonesyBoy

Could you please count me in . This is my first time contacting WAB but I have met numerous people through LROS .

Welcome to WAB (formally) Jonesyboy. I'll try and see you are well looked after by the people in charge of this event!

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Oscar2006

Welcome to WAB (formally) Jonesyboy. I'll try and see you are well looked after by the people in charge of this event!

Do you know them then???

[Fourwings]

Up to date list of members coming along is as follows;

fourwings
MTR
T. Goodlife
oscar2006
Nikon nige
StuartDH
Wildwoman &Chris
glsammy
John
Ollie
Smartie & Derek
PMG & Ian
Tormentil
Boddie & beau
Gill Catton
eeyore
JonesyBoy

[mrs fish]

That is going to be a good day, what a list

[Fourwings]

I spent an hour or two on the reserve yesterday afternoon with MTR & Oscar2006, the warmer weather has seen a dramatic upturn in insect activity.
Out on the lakes there were dozens of Small Red-Eyed Damselflies, some perching very close into shore.
Southern Hawkers were prolific & ridiculously tame, I had a male fly round me before settling on my tripod legs where he remained for several minutes allowing MTR to get some excellent images of him.


Close up


There were also several mature females flying about and reguarly perching very low down allowing us to get some stunning close-up images, these too were very tame, one even allowing me to gently slide my hand underneath her and pick her up where she quite happily sat for ages


Close-up


I have a feeling this is going to be an exceptionally good meet, and if conditions are right for us I guarantee the reserve will not fail to impress you.

[mrs fish]

I think they need it warmer to dart about faster, I have noticed they are calmer and flying slower and landing more, even I got to take a photo of a southern hawker
I am even getting to see brown hawkers closer up compared to last year
It still isn't that warm here really

[Boddie]

We saw two snakes there at the weekend too.

What joy for me

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Boddie

We saw two snakes there at the weekend too.

What joy for me

Darn it! I missed that. Firstly annoyed I missed the snake, secondly the look on your face when you saw it!

[Boddie]

My face was fine. It was my heartbeat that shot up, and I nearly followed through

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Is that a Slik Master Classic ??