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July 2023 - Newsletter |
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The blue male and brown females of the broad-bodied chaser dragonflies are easy to see flying over the new pond near the sheep-feed barn. This pond has also attracted all four of the damselflies: the large red damsel flies were common a month or more ago but their flight season is now over. The common blue damselflies (and the very similar azure damselfly) are out now: often the blue males are seen flying in tandem with the brown females. The blue-tailed damselflies (both sexes are dark bodied with bright blue near the end of their abdomen) are also fairly common. The other two dragonflies are less common: four-spotted chasers and southern hawkers are more often seen flying above the paths rather than over the ponds – although they must visit the ponds to lay their eggs.
Gift of hayThanks to Keith Glover, our hay barn once again has a good stock of hay for the winter needs of our sheep. Keith cuts and bales hay for local people with paddocks that need mowing. He can often arrange for hay to be given to us. photo David Corke
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Here is a photo from one of our wildflower meadows - the wildflowers cover more of the field than the grasses - which is as it should be in summer and and when the sheep are grazing elsewhere. Pyramidal orchids and and a yellow-wort in flower - two usually rare species that are having a very good year in the meadow nearest rhe big pond. photo David Corke
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