Meadow Brown ?? + Broad-bodied Chaser

Walking past a nettle patch on the edge of the cricket field I could see the usual Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Flitting among them was one lone large brown coloured flutter which led me a merry dance as I tried to photograph it for later identification. This was the best I could manage:



The best identification I could get from my Guide to Butterflies of Britain was the Meadow Brown. I hope it is as I don't remember seeing, let alone photographing, one before now.

A lovely surprise was a large flash of orange brown fluttering round my garden pond. A Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly. It's several years since I last saw one in the garden and those sightings were of males. This time it was a female which made several brief sorties over the pond. Only landing once to give a brief opportunity for a photo.



Unfortunately she wouldn't let me move round to get a better shot. At one time their distribution was listed as being Southern England and Wales but I think they have been spreading further North as average temperatures have risen. When I first saw this one she appeared to be flying up from water level. I do hope they start to breed in my pond as it would be great to have a local colony.

There are a few of the regular Blue Tailed Damselflies around the pond as they do breed there. I was fascinated watching one male chasing a Hoverfly. No matter how the Hoverfly twisted and turned the Damsel followed its flight exactly until it took refuge in some dense vegetation.