Fabulous Flyers

I have sponsored a new Cuckoo to replace the one which disappeared last year in Spain while on its way to Africa  My new bird, Valentine, has now started its migration to Central Africa. Here is the latest report from the BTO on its journey.

Valentine has flown a further 512 km (319 miles) south from his last location in north-eastern France and by yesterday evening was in an area of farmland just east of Nimes in the south of France. Last year his route took him further west down through Spain so it'll be interesting to see whether he flies direct to Africa from France or travels first out to Spain.

Much neare home, round my small garden pond to be precise, a new species for the garden has appeared, the Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly. 

               Beatiful Demoiselle        Click to enlarge.   Photo. John Elliott.

    

The male is easily identified by its brown/blackish wings with iridescent blue veins and its metallic blue body, This damselfly is typical of fast flowing streams in southern and western Britain,  and so cannot have started life in my pond, but probably came into the village from down the Weymouth Road.