Dragonfly exhuvia

Attended one of Henry Stanier's identification courses today to brush up on damselflies especially. Tricky little devils some of them. You always learn something at these events and today it was that generally you can find the cases usually about 5 inches from water and 5 inches above it on matter that they can cling too. Ah Ah, now wonder i hadn't found many in the tops of reeds. And they make a slit in reed stems to hide their eggs - very clever.

The sun was shining well this afternoon so called in on Abington Meadows for a walk and a few photos. I was pleased that they have started to fence it off now and make it secure, hopefully using some of the money i raised.

Not too many hoverflies around but managed to see quite a few Helophilus pendulus on the daisies.

and the mayflies (Ephemera vulgata) are still around even though it is late June.

Never seen a Bee Orchid before and there were a few specimens just going over - very pretty!

A good start to the blog!