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.
Nice photos. Last Friday 19th May, I did see a Common Blue and Orange Tip at the centre.
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