For a slight change of scenery when visiting Felbrigg Park this week, I've spent a bit of time over a couple of days around the small pond towards the western entrance, with the area proving very productive.
On the bird front 25+ Crossbills were noted flying over heading towards the Lions Mouth, Butterflies included both White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak and Dragonflies were well represented by Ruddy Darter, Banded Demoiselle, 2+ Emperors including an ovipositing female and a pair of Broad-bodied Chasers with the female also noted ovipositing, however the main highlight was a couple of Brown Hawkers with after a lot of waiting one finally perching on the bankside vegetation to allow me to get my best photos to date of the species.
Down by the main lake the Purple Hairstreaks continued to be as non-obliging photography-wise as ever although good numbers continue to be present in the 'master' tree, the White Admiral was still present and good numbers of Gatekeepers were now evident in the meadows. On the lake itself a Green Sandpiper was happily feeding along the eastern shoreline, Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperors and Common Darters were all noted and more exuviae were found along the wall to add to my growing collection.
