Sadly, not enough storm to drop in passage terns and waders nor even push down hirundines and Swifts. By 9 a.m. very warm and clear with the last thunder rumbling off to the north and temperatures on their way up to 24c. Just a few noisy LRPs, plenty of tern action on the rafts and a flyby Raven - even Buzzards were thin on the ground.
Insect-wise first up was this nice Wasp Beetle (nfy) which decided to drop into the undergrowth mid-photography and just after, this Black-tailed Skimmer was posing in reception pond where a Beautiful Demoiselle sat up on Ragged Robin for a nice set of pictures - which I promptly managed to delete!! Downy Emerald and BBC were both noticeably absent. Single Hairy and a probable Southern Hawker.
At Ivy South a massive amount of damsels either teneral and rising in clouds or adults paired and ovipositing included a few Red-eyed Damselflies.
Later good numbers (7-10) of Emperor Dragonflies started to rise especially near the sweeping meadow where many Common Blues and this Brown Argus.
Tracey held the moth trap back 'til lunchtime. Great Prominent, Pale Tussock, Sharp-angled Peacock, Clouded Border and a few others were roosting on the building. In the trap this Fox Moth, two Poplar Hawkmoths, Iron Prominent, Bufftip, Flame Shoulder, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Light Emerald, Treble Lines, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Spectacle, Least Black Arches, Pebble Hooktip, May Highflier etc.
Hover-wise Xylota sylvarum was nfy.
