A chilly start to the day yesterday put pay to see Damselflies, the question was .. where are they?

Looking closely at plants revealed that the animals were there but hidden from view. Spiders definitely were under canvas ! In the wet meadows there are three cattle grazing as a conservation technique to preserve the meadow habitat. They were also fed up by the chill and were hiding out in the woodland together. They were looking rather lovely.

I have bought a great new bookThis morning I literally chased a big dragonfly trying to take its photo but was thwarted by its speed and inability to stay still.

Using my new book I can say that it was a Hairy Hawker. These are the first Hawker dragonflies if the year on the wing and can be seen from April.

This was a scare species in decline post war but it’s numbers have increased and is found in mainly the Southern half of Britain.

I will be returning with a camera and not just my trusty phone to try an photograph this super flyer !

Today the Damselflies were literally in clouds around you along the waters edge. Standing still I counted 60 plus just bumbling around lots of them mating . The numbers were amazing .

Apart from all this love there were a few deaths, caught up in spiders webs in various states of eaten ! Spiders must feast on the blue morsels !

Lots of Damselflies , hard to photograph as they very rarely stop moving !!

Really enjoying finding out more about these amazing animals .

A wonderful walk today through literally clouds of damselflies .

They are quite tricky to identify this first photo is an Azure Damselfly . Interestingly they have immature forms that look quite different to adults.

I have made a purchase of a new identification guide and leaflet . Hoping to see lots of damsels and dragonflies this year. I am planning on a visit to Wicken Fen soon , the dragonflies are amazing there. Hopefully with the help of new book I will get to grips with identifying.

Young Teasel plants with brilliant pointy edges and pools at every floor level. No Tree frogs ! If we were in a rainforest I feel there would be a t least one family of frogs enjoying these pools.As you look closer at the plants spines , soft at the moment are in every surface almost in practice for the spiky teasel flower.

All that was in the pools were blossom petals decorating the surface like confetti.

25 % of all known animals are beetles!

This shiny black dung eating beetle was in the Forest of Dean and is called a Dor Beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius)

Apologies for poor photo my phone struggled.These beetles are an important part of the food chain and are eaten by a large number of mammals and birds, this was clear as we found a large number of Dor beetle graveyards !!

Marking the time of year the bluebells are glorious ,but so are the trees above them . This is the Forest of Dean in an area called the Roman Road. The Beech trees are towering and the leaves luminous even on a dull day.Through the woods and Banks there are so many ferns .

Here is the second nature table, it has things found in the garden, the hedgerows and further afield , a fossil from Dorset and gorgeous pebbles from Norway.

I am watching the Rhubarb flower open normally these are thrown on the compost heap cut off before they open. I will post an updated photo when it is in its full glory.

Surprises in Abington park.

Usually a special trip to Batsford arboretum is on the cards at about this time of year to see the beautiful handkerchief tree. A surprise today , almost hidden by other trees next to the church in Abington Park , Northampton I spied a gorgeous tree. Another surprise in the parks aviary was a pure white Peacock .

It is great when you discover new things in a place you have often been to but have somehow missed on other visits .