Unlucky 13?

Watching these swans over the past few weeks I had thought that they were doing their creche thing. After watching Springwatch and the severe demarcation between families I began to realise that this group of 13 young must belong to one brood.
Must be pushing the record books surely?

Bridle Path

An evening stroll up the bridle path at Prestwick Carr brought a group of 7-8 young Long-tailed Tit out in the evening sun





and this Red Admiral was doing more of the same.

What the....?

During a recent visit to Woolsington Ponds watching Damselfly I saw a couple of these creatures swimming eel-like just below the surface. They were 4"-5" long which they could vary by making themselves thinner and longer. They also looked to be flat across the back rather than rounded. Like nothing I have seen before


Any ideas?

Orchid Puzzle

I have been trying to get a handle on orchid identification, and amongst other things have used the forum at Wild About Britain website to assist in this endeavor
So it came as a bit of a surprise to learn that the following are all the same species ie Common Spotted Orchid. It appears that it is a strain that has no problems with mixing its genes with some of the Marsh orchids, hence the variations







These are all around the perimeter of Woolsington Ponds.

With a bit of help....

After lunch today I was trying to decide where to continue my hunt to break this years duck for Dragonfly. Then with precise timing PCF's lunchtime report popped up.
That made my mind up to retrace his steps with the following outcome
Four-spotted chaser


Banded demoiselle


Common Blue

Thanks Peter.

Dragonless

Still have not come across a Dragonfly including todays visit to Woolsington Ponds and Havannah, but there were loads of Damsels at Woolsington including this one

Ident help please

I spent an hour in the Gosforth Park NR hide earlier this evening. I watched these young birds being fed but could not get a decent pic of the adult to help confirm their identity


This was the best of a poor bunch for the adult. They just would not rest. Any help appreciated.

Caught sight of this striking male on the way out