Kibblesworth

Last week a visit to Kibblesworth Brick Pools apparently the site of a very large  Brickworks than used as a refuse tip now landscaped, the report of a Broad Bodied Chaser , a Dragonfly species that has evaded me so far  was all it took for me to head over , I arrived with expectations of getting some good photos of  my fist BBC but alas I circled the pond numerous times with no sign a couple of Large Red Damselflies  myriads of teneral Damsels floating off to the nearby tree cover  was all I  got , I even stupidly formatted my card losing the photos I had taken . Having not found any actual dragonflies I sat down for my sandwiches  when a  Cuckoo called and flew across just behind me as I watched it into the distance a red Kite came circling  overhead  and later three Buzzards in the air together. So with the target not around I looked for Butterflies plenty of Wall Brown and a few Small Heath but only one Dingy Skipper could be found , I find these a difficult species to locate more Moth like in flight it's hard to keep track of them watching till they land .

Kibblesworth Brick Pools there are actually several pools one is very overgrown one drys out and all suffer from severe disturbance , from Vehicles, rubbish, or people constantly throwing items in for dogs to retrieve 

 The main pool these two shots taken with my phone which actually takes a half decent photo, and the view across the reclaimed tip over to The Angel.

Red Kite pays a visit

 Two of three Buzzards overhead

 Small Heath

 Dingy Skipper

Kibblesworth 14-6-11

A visit to Kibblesworth Old Brickworks pools , day was changeable with some nice sunny spells  I counted about 20 Four Spot Chasers,  these constantly clashing so they only settled for sometimes a short spell and given the location of the vegatation meant at the time you where looking into the light  a female  came so close as it was Ovipositing it brushed past me , A single Emperor put in a brief appearance but did not settle , Common Blue, Meadow Brown, and Small Heath on the wing , not as many Damsels as would have thought and the Teneral ones in the grass  I just could not get anywhere near. Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk and a Curlew that had been on the far side flew over into the fields and called for most of the time I was there, the main pool seems to suffer from disturbance like dog owners throwing items all over for there dog to retrieve and deep ruts from 4X4 's  of the other two pools  from my last visit one was completely dry and another mostly overgrown 

Thornley, Kibblesworth ,Big Waters & banks

Friday the 23rd I called back at Thornley Woods area to get some close ups of the White letter Hairstreaks if showing, it was a bright and at times sunny early morning 8-10 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Comma all taking advantage of the sun as was the Hairstreaks with 5 on show so I had the shots replaced that I had lost with the CF card packing in.

I went over to Kibblesworth Brickworks site now a reclaimed landfill site ,but by the time I found it I was losing the sun a bit ,checked out the Purple Hairstreak area 3-4 where showing but only at the tree tops, so as the sun went in again I headed down to the pond an open area getting probably full sun all day , Emperor on the wing and settled briefly, Four Spot Chaser lots of Common Darter and a few Ruddy Darter I was expecting much more but the day did not produce.

Not wanting to get stuck in heavy traffic I headed for Big Waters but also little here, next stop banks Pond 2 Emperor, 2 Four Spot Chaser one a female laying, several Ruddy Darter, last stop Belasis Bridge 3-4 Male Banded Demoiselle but only hidden in the vegetation, I gave it an hour as it looked as if the sun was going to break out ,it did but only when I got home ,still a few beers in the garden to end the day.........Dragonfly & Butterfly watching are so reliant on the weather it's hard work here in the North-east

Common Darter hardening it's wings
Ruddy darter
Emperor alights but at some distance
For Spot Chaser on patrol
Banded Demoiselle like me waiting for the sun