Pretending to be a wasp, Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum elegans)

If there’s one thing we know how to do well in this country it’s the nature documentary – hasn’t BBC Springwatch been great and we’re only into week one. Needless to say, with the beautiful weather we’ve been having and being a bit inspired by Springwatch I ventured out to Queens Park in Bolton during my lunch hour to see what mini beasts I could snap.

Lovely colours on these tiny mating Green Dock Beetles

There were tiny metallic green beetles on all the Dock along the edge of the River Croal which I later learned (by the powers of the internet) were Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula). The male above is obscuring an egg laden female but I managed to grab a photo of another that ha shaken off her amorous friends.

Gravid (with eggs) Green Dock Beetle female

You can see just how many eggs she is carrying as her abdomen is so swollen. Sticking with these little green beauties I spotted a cluster of their yellow eggs on the underside of the Dock so I’ll be keeping an eye on these to see when they hatch.

It was also interesting, once I ‘got my eye in’ just how many different species of insect can be seen in a town park. There’s nothing unusual about Queens Park, it has all the usual ponds, trees, grass with a mixture of untended patches but this seems to provide an excellent habitat for all sorts of creatures.

The first photograph is one such. I’m sure we’ve all seen Hoverflies but have we ever actually looked at them? I know I haven’t but after sitting still for a while the one above just came and sat right in front of me – it would have been rude not to photograph him. I’ve checked on the internet and I’m fairly sure it’s a normal Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum elegans) but I’m no insect expert so I’m willing to be corrected. It’s completely harmless unless you’re about the size of an aphid but mimics the markings of a Wasp to try and fool predators into not eating it.

Mating pair of Common Blue Damselflies

And it wouldn’t be much of a photography trip at this time of year without at least one image of these beautiful Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum). There are more this year than I’ve seen for some time and the larger of the ponds was covered in mated pairs laying the eggs of the next generation.

One thing that was lacking was the usual butterfly suspects but after spotting a patch of nettles that we’re rapidly being demolished I noticed a group of well grown Red Admiral caterpillars munching them down to their flower tops. Hopefully we’ll see the adults later in the year.

It was around this time last year that we had the huge influx of Painted Lady butterflies and although I’ve not seen any yet, hopefully with recent hot spell will convince them to fly North once more.

All of the photo’s we’re taken using the ‘standard’ 18-55mm kit lens that came with the Canon EOS450D and although I’m sure a dedicated macro lens would be sharper and give me more options I’m happy with the results.

No Springwatch till next Monday and more hot weather forecast – looks like i’ll be taking a few more…

Now that's the way to fish a pond...

On Thursday I was doing my usual lunchtime walk round Queens Park, Bolton when I came across this, a strange, but probably easier, way to catch the fish i thought…

What is actually happening is that the park has been granted some money from the lottery fund and part of the re-development is tidying up the ponds (inside and on the banks) and making them more accessible for everyone, anglers included. So first they have to move the fish out of a pond that’s got all sorts of junk in it, not an easy task and I’d arrived just after they’d electro-fished the pond and moved most of the fish to another.

What this involves is using a small voltage in the water to stun the fish, gather them up and transfer them somewhere else, where in a few minutes they’ll swim off non the wiser.

As you can see once they’d moved the majority of the fish they ‘netted’ the pond. With all the junk that has accumulated in the pond; trees, cans, bikes, shopping trolleys, you name it, was a fairly arduous task so, as I was in my work clothes – I left them to it…

It’s great to see some work being done in the park, it’s a beautiful place and only 5 minutes from the shopping center of Bolton – well worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

Most of the migrants such as Swallows are starting to head south but still the insect life continues to flourish. One such lunchtime visit to Queens Park in Bolton resulted in some fine views of some Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) dragonflies hunting down butterflies over the pond, hell to take photos of in flight but a bit simpler once they settle to lay eggs.

Hiding along the pathway through the wood that grows alongside the River Croal in the park were a few Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) butterflies trying to avoid being eaten by the speedy Hawkers. I’ve never spent the time to look at these properly before, just seeing them for small brown butterflies, they’re a lovely looking insect with great markings and clearly defined spots. I tried to get a photo of the Small White’s to compare the Green Veined ones we saw on Anglesey but they wouldn’t stay still.

We’ve canceled our sea fishing trip for Sunday as the weather is going to be grim so we’re going to Southport Flower Show on Saturday instead to get some ideas for the back garden. The plan is get there early to avoid the crowds but no doubt we’ll stay far to long and get caught in the traffic on the way home, I’m looking forward to it though, I haven’t been to the flower show since I was a lad with my parents.

Frog spawn at Queens Park, Bolton

It looks like Spring is in the air up here in Lancashire as I spotted this clump of frog spawn in a small pond while walking through Queens Park, Bolton, during lunch time today.

Not many birds visible but you could hear them calling in the trees. The weather forecast is for a drop in temperature in the next few days but the signs are there for all to see – spring is on the way.

Wild Primula

After a couple of dismal weeks worth of bad luck regarding the weather, where it would be nice a frosty during the week and raining at the weekend we’re not going to get out this weekend either as Wendy is ‘on call’ and has to stay within an hours traveling time of the local hospital.

So plans of fell walking are out but I do intend to get out somewhere before I go mad…

Walking through the park on Wednesday I was amazed to see a few flowers already coming out including the first hint of purple from the crocus’ and a few wild primrose (primula vulgaris) and today during my lunchtime stroll the birds were in full song as if celebrating the arrival of Spring, a little early but I knew just how they felt.

It’s amazing the difference a little bit of sunshine can make you feel.

River Croal, Bolton

I took this photo on Wednesday as well just to show the level of water that’s now coming down the River Croal. It’s like a completely different river compared to a couple of weeks ago. I was going to take some photos of the trees that have come down but the council had been busy and already chopped them into log-sized pieces.

So what to do over the weekend? I might go for a long walk along the River Douglas, do a bit of bird-watching or even go sea fishing although with Wendy not able to go far it will have to be something near to home.

Sorry about the lack of postings recently but I’m back on track now so expect a few more regular updates and thanks for reading.

River Croal in Flood at Queens Park, Bolton

The weather has been a bit breezy lately with strong gales and heavy rain battering the coastline up and down the country, not suitable for sea fishing or walking.

After seeing the state of the River Yarrow which I cross every day on my way into Bolton I had a walk around Queens Park to survey the damage done to the trees. They were in remarkable condition with just a few loose branches blown off but the River Croal was the highest I’ve seen it for a long time. Compare it to the photographs in this entry ‘A Lunchtime Stroll‘ which I did in September last year.

Everything seems to be holding up well in the face of this weather which, listening to the news, you’d think was a suprise. It sometimes seems people forget what winters are supposed to be like.

I can’t imagine what they’ll say when these Northerly winds bring us all a bit of snow! I just wish it would get a bit colder and stop raining then we can get up onto the fells without wading through bogs that should have frozen months ago. Although saying that I am looking forward to spring and some sun.

Weather – what can you do?

But then if it wasn’t for the rain we wouldn’t have this magnificent ‘Green and Pleasant Land’ called Britain we live in…

Coma Butterfly

As the weather was so good today I thought I’d take my camera out to take a few photographs in Queens Park, Bolton, which is where I can usually be found wandering around during my lunch hour looking at this amazing space right in the middle of town.

I usually approach from the entrance nearest the centre of town which passes through an abundance of Buddleia, these in turn attract a variety of butterflies, one of which was this Comma as well as the usual suspects of Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Peacock.

I could quite happily watch these colourful insects all day but I continue on over a small bridge into the bottom area of the park.

The area where I walk is bordered on one side by the River Croal on which many water birds reside, mainly Mallard, Coot and Grey heron On some days, if you’re lucky you can see a couple of Kingfishers flying up and down hunting for fish or maybe a Dipper running up and down the river bank.

During the spring and summer Brown Trout can easily be seen from the many bridges crossing the river, catching flies from the surface or just lazing in the clear water.

Queens Park, Bolton

My path takes me past the two ponds that are stocked by a local angling club and although there was no one on them today it is not unusual to see people fishing here for the large Carp and many Roach that roam these waters.

The ponds carry a healthy population of dragonflies and damselflies but they’re far to quick to get on camera – there seem to be less now that the weather is getting a little colder with only the larger species present today.

In the past couple of years the local council and the angling club have removed some of the trees surrounding the ponds which I’m sure at the time seemed a good idea but looking at it now, all that extra light has encouraged the Duck Weed which covers almost the entire surface of the first pond so I expect they’ll let a few of them grow back.

Small Tortoiseshell

My walk takes me back down the other side of the river to emerge once again at the lower entrance where today there were so many butterflies a lot of them were just basking in the sun on the Cornus which has been planted as part of the landscaping of the Lads and girls club.

It still amazes me the tenacity of the wildlife in this country. There I was, in the middle of town with a major road not 10 feet away when I heard the unmistakable twittering of a flock of Long-tailed tits, they were perched (about a dozen of them) on a tree, growing out of the side of the main road bridge over the river, almost as oblivious of the traffic as the people in the cars were of them.

Walking back through town I passed a major construction site where a new block of offices is going up. The artists impression looks very good and it can only improve the overall appearance of the area in which it is being built as well as attracting new business to the town.

Blue on Blue

Saying that though, the only reason I took this photo was because I liked the blue crane against the blue sky, makes a change from bright red.

I don’t know how high it is but I bet the man in the cab at the top has a fantastic view!