DAINTY DAMSELS

A walk past the park pond on Monday 20th, provided views of lots of the small red-eyed damselflies, one pictured above. This one was resting on a bramble bush a short distance from the water's edge, as were one or two others. Their red eyes stand out quite clearly on them when they settle down.

Scanning the part of the pond that has a good scattering of floating pond-weed, pictured below, at least 50 male small red-eyed damselflies could be seen resting on the floating weeds. Each one held a small territory and if any other damselfly passed by, it was quickly chased off. One pair were seen in tandem egg-laying into the pondweed.

Small red-eyed damselflies have only recently colonised the south and east of England in recent years, spreading over from the continent. Here at the park, the water in the dyke has recently become too salty for them and there's no floating vegetation in the middle of the water for them to rest on.
The wind was a bit strong for much damselfly activity although lots of blue-taileds and azures were seen around the edge.



The usual birds were seen on the pond such as the swans with 4 young, little grebe with a noisy young, various coot families, several moorhens, tufted duck family and 15 mallard. On the grazing field pools the Portuguese colour-ringed black-tailed godwit appears to have a slight limp. Five other godwits and 5 lapwing were also present with a few mallard. Other birds noted around the fields were grey heron, 4 linnet,2 reed warblers, 3 skylarks and meadow pipts. Offshore 70 black-tailed godwits fed on the mudflats.

In the park the young sparrowhawk chicks could be heard calling near to their nest. The nightingale was calling briefly by the park entrance.

The Weir Farm little owl perched up on one of its regular perches by the East Mersea road at dusk on Monday