Lizards, and other creatures, at the London Wetland Centre

 

I went on a very overdue visit to the London Wetland Centre this morning. The weather was sunny albeit a little windy but with intermittent showers forecast for the afternoon.

 

It was nice to see some colour amongst the lush greenery...

 

 

I saw four species of butterfly before the rain came. The Brimstone and Red Admiral wouldn't settle long enough for a photo, but I managed to get my first record shots of the year of a male Common Blue......

 

and a tatty female Holly Blue settled briefly nearby......

 

I also had my first Mint Moth of the year (aka Small Purple and Gold Moth).....

 

There were a couple of juvenile Herons around......

 

 

From the WWT Hide there was a lone Redshank......

 

which ventured nearer and nearer.....

 

and I managed to add a new photo to my 'Birds Bums' album......

 

I found four species of Ladybird this morning.

 

The 22-spot.....

 

 

7-spot....

 

2-spot...

 

and of course the Harlequins.......

 

I also found lots of hoverflies and managed to photograph four species.....

 

Syrphus sp. side shot.....

 

 

Eristalis sp. side shot....

 

my first ever Anasimyia lineata......





 

and Episyrphus balteatus.....

 

But I think the high-light of my morning was watching the Common Lizards.

 I saw about ten but a few scuttled away before I could grab a photo.

 

 

 

There were good numbers of bumble bees around including this gorgeous Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum).....

 

 

And despite the chilly wind I found a female Azure damselfly.....

 

and a male Blue-tailed damselfly....

 

In the little herb garden there was a very obliging Jay.......

 

 

and all over the site I saw my first Thick-legged Flower Beetles of the year.

The one below is the male with those wonderful thunder thighs.....

 

and in comparison this is the rather drab female....

 

I managed to reach the Wildside Hide before the first heavy rain shower appeared.

And it really was heavy rain.

 

The Shelduck didn't appear to mind... 

 

 

Nor did the Tufted Duck...

 

I made my way home shortly afterwards but it was lovely to revisit my old haunt.

 I really mustn't leave it so long next time.