Priory Water 2008

[LCPete]

Hi everyone I,m Pete, Rockhoppers other half I've just registered under my own username instead of pinching Lorraines
We had a brillaint time, it was great to meet everyone and thanks to the organisers for arranging a great weekend
Priory Water is lovely place and I saw 3 insects that I'd never seen before
I managed a couple of photos that I'm pleased with and will put them in the gallery when I get a mo
Pete

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Ben....hope your knees dried out!

Not just me knees Jules, all of me is throughly dried out on such a scorching day.

I'd just like to thank Steve & Co for another great day. And it was nice to meet some old (I don't mean in age) and new WABers . Great company you all are.

Now just have to sort through a wab of photo's.

[glsammy]

A very good two day meet, covering damp, wet and cold morning yesterday to a brilliant bright hot day today, plus of course for the hard liners, the moth night as well. I doubt poor Steve will be on in a hurry, he'll probably be asleep for a couple of days.
Meeting so many excellent WAB members was a real treat for both Linda and I.
Thanks all of you for making it such a good meet, and of course to Steve, Tim and Mark and everyone else for all your work in making it such a success.
A special thanks from me to Pauline for the loan of her superb 500mm prime lens. I hope the Sedge Warblers I took did it justice.

I've done a few shots, here's the ones I've done so far.

Grass Snake. Thanks Steve and Tim for doing the hard bit of holding this lovely male snake.




Male White Legged Damselfly. I was really pleased to get these as I've always struggled in the past to get a decent shot of the male.




The first of the year for me:



A spider with lunch all ready!



Four spots were everywhere today.



This adult bird was having a hard time feeding its young.



No idea what this is, it's a very small insect. I love the feathery antenna.



One of the Sedge Warbler shots:



One of my favourite shots of yesterday, these ants where queuing up to feed from the Aphids.



There's many more.. But I think you can see what an exceptional place Priory Waters is.

[pressld2]

Hi, I made it back safe and sound about an hour and a half ago.

An absolutely brilliant weekend! Like Nick this was my first "Offical" WAB meet - I'd only met Jules and Chris before this - and it was fantastic to meet so many of you at last. And like everyone else I also want to say a special thank-you to Steve and the reserve managers for inviting us in the first place and then being such wonderful hosts for the whole weekend.

The photos are downloading to my creaky old PC as I type and it will probably take me to next weekend to finish editing them. It looks like there are a few nice ones among them and over a dozen species that were new to me. Apologies in advance - I'll probably be asking for ids on lots of things that someone identified for me at the time, but the old grey cells are fading fast.

Here's a quickie of the moon over one of the moth traps seen from across the lake...



This was taken at 10:26 pm and it was darker than the photo makes it look.

Dave P.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by tufftie

Priory Water was lovely and thank you to those that organised it...not to mention escorting us to our B & B so we didn't get lost again - lol Can remember at least a few of the damselflies and some other insects that I hadn't been able to id before...only errr Wildwoman what did you say the name of that spider was???

Was really good to meet people and hope to be able to make another WAB meet soon

Hi Tuftie-your spider was Tetragnatha extensa. They were out in their hoards at Priory, gobbling up any poor damselfies that blundered into their webs.
Mind you, we saw an extensa step aside to let a scorpion fly take first pickings of a damsel. Once the scorpion fly had it's fill, the spider ate the left-overs.

Nice to meet you and Kayleigh by the way!

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Did Pauline make it ?
I hope so

Originally Posted by tufftie

Yes she was there

YES!!!! At last - even up to the last min things were going skewiff - I was so pleased when I got on the M6 and said to Ian 'do not answer that mobile phone no matter what'!!!!

So we're home safe - the M6 was so busy I didn't dare take my eyes off it - but at least - unlike the journey down it was open..... tho we've seen on the northern news tonight the report of the accident yesterday that closed it and thats very sad..........

Its been a fantstic weekend, the place, the folks, the wildlife - its all a tonic... I wish we could do Thursley too (a place I've always fancied visiting but not managed yet.... but we will think about you all while we trudge about knee deep in waders and raptors in the Western Isles ........ where my new 500 will hopefully be put thro its paces)

I've had a glance at my pics and some look good but I still don't think I've got a decent White-legged Damsel - despite keep hearing Steve say - 'We're going to get White legged for Pauline'....... sorry Steve! But at least I have seen it which is more than I did last year - maybe next year I will get a decent shot??

Right - bed calls - loudly - 4 hours plus two lots of half an hour is not enough ......... and anyway I won't be able to hear the footie if I'm upstairs in bed ...............

Thanks to everyone - for organising, being there and being a grand set of folks

Pauline

[Jez]

Have made abig WAB error please excuse e!

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by Jez

Have made abig WAB error please excuse e!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by tufftie

:d:d:d:d:d:d

:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Hi, I made it back safe and sound about an hour and a half ago.

An absolutely brilliant weekend! Like Nick this was my first "Offical" WAB meet - I'd only met Jules and Chris before this - and it was fantastic to meet so many of you at last. And like everyone else I also want to say a special thank-you to Steve and the reserve managers for inviting us in the first place and then being such wonderful hosts for the whole weekend.

The photos are downloading to my creaky old PC as I type and it will probably take me to next weekend to finish editing them. It looks like there are a few nice ones among them and over a dozen species that were new to me. Apologies in advance - I'll probably be asking for ids on lots of things that someone identified for me at the time, but the old grey cells are fading fast.

Here's a quickie of the moon over one of the moth traps seen from across the lake...



This was taken at 10:26 pm and it was darker than the photo makes it look.

Dave P.

That's a lovely photo Dave Shame we weren't there - i'd nodded of by then and I gather I was talking ion my sleep..not sure about what all Kayleigh would do was giggle!!!

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Hi Tuftie-your spider was Tetragnatha extensa. They were out in their hoards at Priory, gobbling up any poor damselfies that blundered into their webs.
Mind you, we saw an extensa step aside to let a scorpion fly take first pickings of a damsel. Once the scorpion fly had it's fill, the spider ate the left-overs.

Nice to meet you and Kayleigh by the way!

Thank you Jules - nice to meet you too

[Fourwings]

[quote=glsammy;286141] I doubt poor Steve will be on in a hurry, he'll probably be asleep for a couple of days.

Still awake, just

I'd just like to say a big thankyou to everyone who attended the Priory Water meet this weekend and made it so enjoyable.
It was great to meet up with old freinds and make lots of new ones too, I'm so glad you all enjoyed the reserve and I know from what I saw on cameras and laptops etc... during the meet that there are loads of excellent images to come.
I would just like to add a very special thankyou to my good freinds, Tim, Mark and Oscar, for all your help and support in planning and running the meet.

I have some interesting images of WAB members to post when I am more awake!!

Once again thanks to you all for attending making this weekend a success.

I shall now retire to view the inside of my eyelids for several hours!

[Wild-Woman]

I have some interesting images of WAB members to post when I am more awake!!

[/quote]

Mmm. Mark may have a shot or 2 of you too Steve.

[PMG]

[quote=Fourwings;286173]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I doubt poor Steve will be on in a hurry, he'll probably be asleep for a couple of days.

Still awake, just

I'd just like to say a big thankyou to everyone who attended the Priory Water meet this weekend and made it so enjoyable.
It was great to meet up with old freinds and make lots of new ones too, I'm so glad you all enjoyed the reserve and I know from what I saw on cameras and laptops etc... during the meet that there are loads of excellent images to come.
I would just like to add a very special thankyou to my good freinds, Tim, Mark and Oscar, for all your help and support in planning and running the meet.

I have some interesting images of WAB members to post when I am more awake!!

Once again thanks to you all for attending making this weekend a success.

I shall now retire to view the inside of my eyelids for several hours!

Thanks Steve - that has been a top weekend - sorry but I still don't think I've got a decent shot of the White legged ......... maybe next year

Sorry to have missed Bethany - give her our regards won't you and tell her I'm sorry I haven't been on Guess Who for a while

Pauline (& Ian)

PS I also add my thanks to Tim, Mark and Oscar - grand set of guys you all are......

[DavyG]

What an excellent weekend!

Anita and I had a great time and would like to thank Steve, Tim, Mark and Oscar for giving not only their time but their amazing knowledge of Priory Water.

It was good to meet both old and new friends, I hope it won't be too long before we meet again.

I have a couple of images that might be worth posting, I'll get those up as soon as I can.

For those who haven't had the privilege of visiting Priory Water, I can assure you, it's a very special place.

Thanks again to all who made this WAB meet so good.

Dave.

[tufftie]

[quote=PMG;286179]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Thanks Steve - that has been a top weekend - sorry but I still don't think I've got a decent shot of the White legged ......... maybe next year

Sorry to have missed Bethany - give her our regards won't you and tell her I'm sorry I haven't been on Guess Who for a while

Pauline (& Ian)

PS I also add my thanks to Tim, Mark and Oscar - grand set of guys you all are......

Just when I thought i'd sorted names and people out - who was Oscar???? Yes, would have been good to meet Bethany

there were lots of white legs but ..her goes my wab cred - they wre a bit lbjish!!!

[Wild-Man]

Steve, Mark, Tim & Oscar,

Thanks guys, for your time and effort in making the weekend a total success. Great to meet up again, and really good to see everyone else as well.
Wish we could have lasted into Saturday evening, and seen the mothing through!!!

Got some reasonable pictures, a skip load of really naff pictures, and a brain load of things to look back on!

Thanks again, and hope to see many at Thursley.

Chris.

[John]

Well there's not much more I can add to what has already been said. It certainly was a pleasure meeting old friends and new ones as well and like everyone else I have to say a big thanks to Steve, Tim, Mark & Oscar for getting the meet up and running.

This is a meet I look forward to each year. Good company, excellent reserve and plenty of things to look at. Not even the rain could dampen our spirits on Saturday.

I saw my very first British Snake when three Grass Snakes were found, plus I even found my own by the river.

I was given the job of looking after the communal Moth area so it meant I stayed up to 03:30 when it was shut down alongside my own trap. Some excellent moths came our way some of them firsts for me.

A few moths were put on show on the Sunday and those WAB members that weren't into moths were surprised at the beauty of some of those that were caught.

I have been busy editing my photos from the weekend but the next job is identifying what a lot of them are.

Here's a few of my images to go on with.

Black-tailed Darter.


Male Banded Damoiselle


Female Banded Damoiselle


Little Ringed Plover


Sedge Warbler with a good damselfly catch.


Female Emperor Dragonfly.


Now for a couple of Butterfly's seen at Priory.

Brown Argus


Female Common Blue


Some Day flying moths at the Priory

Latticed Heath


Burnet Companion


Blood Vein


Now a couple of Butterfly's taken at the nearby Asfordby Hill on the Sunday.

Dingy Skipper



A rather battered Green Hairstreak


Some other images.

Four-spotted Chaser Lava then the Chaser that came out of it.


Grass Snake


I have deliberately left the moths off as I still have photos to take of a few that I potted and brought home. As soon as I have a few done I will add them to the thread.

John