Meadow flora

My attempt at recording flower species in the meadow was partially successful. I did record 21 species of flower but I also recognise that there were a number I didn't get round to positively identifying so there is still some scope for increasing this list significantly next year. I also identified three species of grass and this is definitely only a partial record. I find grasses quite challenging to id but I have a new book by Francis Rose that is going to help me expand that list next time round. For the record the 21 species of flower are White Dead Nettle, Garlic Mustard, Meadow Buttercup, Ribwort Plantain, Cow Parsley, Common Sorrel, Stinging Nettle, Scented Mayweed, Broad-leaved Dock, Red Clover, Self Heal, Common Knapweed, Common Mouse-ear, White Clover, Ox-eye Daisy, Yarrow, Common Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Scentless Mayweed, Bird's Foot Trefoil and Greater Plantain. The three grasses I identified were Cocksfoot, Timothy and Perrenial Rye Grass. The picture is of a patch of Scented Mayweed - one of the commoner flowers in the meadow..

Common Darter

There have been some Common Darters flying over the last few days. No pictures yet but I shall try and snap one if we have any more sunny days. It's been a very good year for dragonflies with seven confirmed species. For the record they are Southern Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Blue-Tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Broad-Bodied Chaser and Common Darter. If I get time I shall trawl through my photos of Azure Damselflies to see if any are in fact Common Blue Damselflies just to see if I can make it eight species.

Kingfisher sighting

On my return after two weeks on holiday, I took a walk around the place and was amazed to see a kingfisher on site for the first time since February. I saw it come up from the water and settle on an overhanging branch but I was too far away to see if it had caught anything. I suspect it had as it sat on the branch for a minute or so before flying off low above the water.

I was also pleased to see seven moorhens on the lawn in a group. They are in the social phase where they hang out as a group although to be fair some are still young adults rather than fully grown so it might just be a family group. I think we started with two breeding pairs so a minimum of seven with probably a few more around as well is progress.