Here be dragons!

...and birds, butterflies and orchids!

Tuesday 30th June took me to Fen Bog, Ellerburn Bank and Staveley - all super YWT reserves. At Fen Bog upto three large heaths were seen flying over the bog myrtle beyond camera reach. A dark green fritillary perched on a thistle - apparently they like purple coloured flowers.

Dark green fritillary Dark green fritillary Dark green fritillary A large skipper, wings closed but under-wing pattern discernible, was drinking by a muddy puddle.

Large skipper Small heath were easily approached.

Small heath Eventually I came upon the small pearl-bordered fritillaries. About 9 seen in the end. Most were restlessly patrolling  the Eller Beck. A few posed for me.

Small pearl-bordered fritillary Small pearl-bordered fritillary Small pearl-bordered fritillary Small pearl-bordered fritillary Small pearl-bordered fritillary Little seen at Ellerburn Bank that day. A common blue settled on some vetch.

Common blue A nest of caterpillars was entangled in the gorse.

Peacock caterpillars

Staveley later in the day. I hoped to find some marsh helleborines in flower but I couldn't locate them. Dragonflies were busy on the wing.

A splendid dragonfly - an emperor - but a damselfly is homing in on him! Emperor dragonfly

Bite!

Emperor dragonfly Emperor dragonfly Four spotted chasers were present too.

Four-spotted chaser Four-spotted chaser July 1st found me at Old Moor for a failed attempt to see the elusive little bittern. I had to settle for a hobby...

Hobby ...and some dragonfly photos whilst we waited for the little bittern to reappear. Seen by some but not from the hide where I and many others were. Four spotted chaser again.

Four-spotted chaser A black-tailed skimmer perched for me. This was unusual as they tend to normally settle on the ground.

Black-tailed skimmer

July 2nd. Back to Staveley to look for the marsh helleborines. I found bee orchid, twayblade and common spotted orchids, including this white form.

Common spotted orchid A male large skipper rested on the rope that protected one area from trampling.

Large skipper Meadow browns were everywhere... Meadow brown

Meadow brown ...as were ringlets.

Ringlet A lady told me to keep walking. I was at the wrong roped off area! When I reached the second roped off area I saw the marsh helleborines everywhere. Marsh helleborine

Marsh helleborine

Update on 2015 targets

At the beginning of the year I gave myself 5 targets for 2015. I suspect a half yearly update will be of interest to me and probably to no-one else but I wanted to take the opportunity to assess the year so far. Here are the original targets.

1: Photograph 15 more species of British Birds to get to 300 -and improve some of the ones I have photographed.

     Target achieved and exceeded. Currently on 305 

2: See 300 birds again.

     Looks tricky. Currently on 239

3: 10 British bird lifers in UK

     Not doing badly at all. 8 already!

4: Website hits to reach 20,000

     Expect to make it. On 18,200+ now

5: BirdGuides photo votes to reach 6,000

     Looks tricky! Currently on 5,536