I had set today aside to do some Butterfly and Dragonfly recording in Surrey, but on waking up and finding it pouring with rain I soon changed my plans. The rain continued and got heavier. Then around lunchtime it stopped and Sue and I decided to go and see what we could find around the Tarn.
On our arrival we were greeted by a single male Azure damselfly and a Speckled Wood butterfly. A promising start. It been a week of families around the patch this week with counts of up to 11 Carrion Crows and 5 Magpies in the garden. The Tarn was also a place of families with Greylag Goose (2x3young), Mallard (2 broods of 7 and 5) and Coot (1 brood of 2)
On the far side of the Tarn we found another Speckled Wood as we retraced our way back around the Southern shore to the entrance.
We checked the wildflower garden and the small pond but there was no further sightings, then Sue called to me from the back of the pool where she had found a pair of Large Red Damselfly (a first site record for me) resting on vegetation.
A good end to our walk. I am really glad it rained!
Pete's Favourite Things 