Sevenoaks Walks

Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum.  Female, with prey.
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, walk with a warden, 1 June 2014.

It was interesting to go round parts of the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve with one of the wardens.  Her interest is mostly on the birds, which is what the reserve was set up for in the first place, but on the way I took several photos of plants and insects and that is what I have here.

Damselflies are predatory fliers, and this one is munching an aphid.

Tetragnatha species.  Female.  Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, walk with a warden, 1 June 2014.

This prettily decorated creature is also predatory.  Tetragnathas are often called Stretch Spiders, for obvious reasons.

Nettle-tap, Anthophora fabriciana.  Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, walk with a warden, 1 June 2014.

There were many of these small day-flying moths in the hedgerows.  I only saw one last year; this year I have seen dozens.

Common Stork's-bill, Erodium cicutarium.  Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, walk with a warden,1 June 2014.

There were some areas of dry ground where small ground-covering plants flowered.  This Common Stork's-bill is related to Geraniums.  The name comes from the shape of its seed pods.

Blue Water-speedwell, Veronica anagalis.  Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, walk with a warden, 1 June 2014.

This Blue Water-speedwell was a surprise.  It's known to grow on this site, but it is normally a waterside plant, and here it was growing on dry ground near stonecrops and other plants that thrive in a dry environment.  Perhaps our rainy spring allowed it to get established.  It is rather stunted for its species.