Sunshine, showers and things to see

So with another week of indifferent weather, and the obligatory heavy shower(s) which are now the norm for a weekend, it was a case of making the best of it when the sun shone.

The Saturday morning sun prompted a few Odonata to appear at water, with the regular transect route turning up 13 Common Blue Damselfly, 5 Emerald Dams, 4 Southern Hawkers, a rather poor 6 Migrant Hawkers, 2 Brown Hawkers, 49 Common Darters and 4 Ruddy Darters. However, by early afternoon after a brief thunderstorm everything 'hung up'.

Southern Hawker

One of the few remaining Common Blue Damselflies.

Still plenty emerging... this one of a group of four Common Darters waiting to make their maiden flight.

Hung-up Darters often allow two species for one click of the camera... Ruddy Darter and Common Darter sat waiting for the sun to return.

I assume our struggle to make good Odonata counts is reflected elsewhere... the latest Yorkshire sightings can be found here and click on sightings.

With the arrival of a few Larids, I was tempted to do a bit of birding as that is actually what I'm supposed to be doing when out in the field, I just seem to get side-tracked. The weekend wasn't so bad... one or two adult Mediterranean Gulls put in brief appearances as did a Little Gull, a few Golden Plover on the move and Meadow Pipits heading west in small numbers. Presumably the last few Yellow Wagtails of the year were also noted on Saturday but a few hours listening on Sunday failed to turn up any. Hopefully September will see a little raptor movement - a juvenile Marsh Harrier, immature male Peregrine and a couple of Buzzards passed over though rather worryingly I failed to connect with the Osprey(s) over the weekend. Maybe if some settled weather occurs, might be able to get a good BoP count. More Tophill bird news and other bits and bobs here

The busy period of moth trapping season seemed to pass without being busy. The cool nights not allowing for good numbers though Ypsolopha sequella was a new addition to personal Tophill lists this week and a Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix in the traps a week ago was new for the site.

Ypsolopha sequella above and Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix below

The first Lunar Underwing of the autumn also appeared this weekend.

Some nice bits and pieces of fungi around. Some Bay Polypore was perhaps a little past its best but the Shaggy Inkcaps look rather smart, while Copper Spike is in season and showing well.

Bay Polypore above and Shaggy Inkcap below.

Marsh and Tree Damselbugs made up the weekend interest as nothing of note could be found among the hoverflies. Both blog ticks!

Damselbugs - Marsh above and Tree below.