Farmoor

Roach

Otmoor. 27th November.

Hypogymnia Physodes.

Mnium Hornum.

Velvet Shank.

Otmoor 23rd November

Roe Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Otmoor Fungi.

Pleated Inkcap.

Yellow Fieldcap.

Candle-snuff Fungus.

Otmoor.

The "Ashgrave Fallow Deer." Still happily living a bovine lifestyle.

Oxon 16th October.

Bramble (still in bloom).

Stump Puffball.

Himalayan Balsam.

Hornets Nest.

Appeal for 2015 dragonfly records

With the 2015 season nearing a close, as the British Dragonfly Society's Recorder for Oxon (VC23), this is an appeal to anyone with un-submitted dragonfly records.

With the notable exception of the colony of Variable Damselflies found by Martin Wackenier near Abingdon way back in May, this hasn't been a great year for dragonflies or their recording in the County.

Variable Damselfly, Barton Fields, Abingdon (c) Stephen Burch

I'd be particularly interested to hear from anyone who has found any Emerald Damselflies this year. So far there have been no records at all, not even from Otmoor - their usual stronghold.

Records can be either sent to me - for contact and other details see http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/oxondnews2015.htm or via the BDS iRecord portal at http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ (although this does require creation of an account).

All records for 2015 will be submitted to the BDS around the turn of the year. It would be good to have some more to submit! As things stand the 2015 total isn't great, with only a tiny handful of observers sending in records, especially recently.

Otmoor 2nd. October.

Close-up of Hornet (showing five eyes).

Noon-day Fly.

Garsington Roe Deer

Taking a break from eating what remains of the hedges!.

Otmoor 26th. September.

Migrant Hawker.

Painted Lady.

Turkey Tail Fungus.

Dark Fallow Deer Oxon Downs

Fallow Deers including three dark individuals.

Shellingford Pit 19 September

Despite the worryingly low water levels, there were c. 6 Migrant Hawkers present, including one pair in cop.

Migrant Hawkers (c) Stephen Burch
http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/dragonflies.htm

Otmoor 17th September.

Silver Y.

Comma.

Harwell Lab

Common or Smooth Newt. Previously misidentified as a Common Lizard. (With thanks to Roger Wyatt and Gareth Blockley) A salutary lesson in lazy ID for me, this newt was at least half-a-mile (as the crow flies) from the nearest pool, and a very newt-unfriendly half-mile at that! The area where the newt was found is also home to Common Lizards. There are however no excuses for misidentifying by a whole order! So, when I call a Merlin on the downs, bear in mind that it may actually be a Tench....

Otmoor Hawkers - 7th Sept

Migrant Hawker

Southern Hawker (imm male)

Cholsey 6th September

Red Underwing

Otmoor. 4th September.

Speckled Wood.

1st September at The Trap Grounds, near Port Meadow

Male Migrant Hawker - one of three in the area

More details at Port Meadow Birding

Aston Rowant NNR (N) - 28th Aug

Second brood Adonis Blue posing in the early evening murk

 

Adonis Blue (male)



Adonis Blue (female)

Otmoor 27th Aug

Southern-Hawkers in mating wheel

Otmoor.

Wasp Nest (destroyed by a Badger hunting grubs).

Grass Snake (about to shed its skin).

23rd August Port Meadow

Hornet Hoverfly

Male Ruddy Darter

More at Port Meadow Birding

More from Otmoor - 19th Aug

Pyrausta Aurata moth

Meadow Grasshopper ?
(confirmation please)

Ruddy Darter

A study in white

Otmoor.

Lesser Water Plantain.

Lesser Water Plantain.

Southern Hawker.

Otmoor Flowers.

Purple Loosestrife.

Devilsbit Scabious.

Upright Hedge Parsley (in the rain).