Bellasis blues

Definately not in the moods sense. Visited at lunch time on the off chance the sun had brought out the Banded Damoiselles and three males flew intermittently, one taking a regular perch in good view from the bridge and allowing a chance of some flight shots.

If ever their paths crossed a battle ensued but they all seemed to have their own patch to hunt. Meanwhile upstream Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler sang and a Pied Wagtail was flycatching before feeding young in a bank side nest.

As I concentrated on the Damoiselles something caught my eye in the ditch and a grey form pushed a black object across the river. Otter registered in my befuddled brain and my fingers became like the arms of Shiva as settings and focus were changed in panic. Fortunately the Otter (actually a Mink see comments) stopped on the shingle bank having crossed the river, dropping the prey and allowing a few shots before it realised where the camera noise was coming from and headed off downstream.

If you enlarge the shot the a rear foot of the messy black bundle is visible seeming to confirm that it is mole for lunch.

Well that's a good hour well spent and before that I'd visited Banks pond where Common Bluets were in abundance and four Four spotted Chasers proved a moving challenge too far but there's always one that likes to stop and show.

Still earlier I'd done my usual Saturday count on Prestwick Carr which returned 46 species with breeding now being confirmed for many of them. Also found a Small Copper and can't remember ever finding one there before but then my brains shot.

Cracking day...........now if that Black Kite would only follow the A1 south there's a patch just off to the west.......