Monday 27 July 2020

A Breezy Day at Rimac

A Breezy Day at Rimac.

As a good day was forecast for Sunday, we decided to head for Rimac, part of the Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve on the Lincolnshire coast.  Although it was a warm and pleasant day it turned out to be very breezy which made insect photography challenging (20C and 13mph SW wind).  On arrival I made for the large pond on the freshwater marsh, hoping for dragonflies, particularly emperor.  There were plenty of dragonflies about but only darters.  Damselflies were on the wing as well and I was pleased to get a shot of an emerald.

Floristically, the reserve was looking very attractive, the grassy old dunes a riot of colour and studded with yellows, blues, pinks and purples.  Flowers included catsear, hawkbits, birdsfoot trefoil, lots of common centaury, vipers bugloss, eyebright, red clover, white campion, yarrow, mignonette and ladies bedstraw.  Dewberries were starting to produce their luscious blackberry-like fruits and on the freshwater marsh were marsh helleborine with marsh and pyramidal orchids well past their best.

Butterflies included meadow browns, ringlet small skippers, peacocks, gatekeeper and male and female common blue.  We enjoyed watching a marsh harrier for a brief spell before returning to the car for a brew and some lunch.

Refreshed we made another sortie before driving back to Saltfleet to have a look at Paradise Lagoon.  I was well pleased to find 11 black-tailed godwit, replendent in summer plumage.  I even managed some photographs, although they were quite distant.

Before returning home we called in at Howden's Pullover and I was delighted to see a stunning display of sea lavender turning the salt marsh into a haze of lilac.  Who needs Provencal lavender?  Well, maybe, but the Lincolnshire coast at this time of year is as good as it gets.  There was even a whimbrel calling.

A magical day.

To view large please click on an image.
Male common Blue
                                                             Female Common Blue
                                                                Male common Blue
                                                                Male common Blue
                                                                Emerald Damselfly
                                                               Emerald Damselfly
                                                                    Gatekeeper
                                                            Ruddy Darter, Male
                                                             Ruddy Darter, Male
                                                           Ruddy Darter, Female
Ruddy Darter, Female
 Ruddy Darter, Male
Black-Tailed Godwit
Sea Levender

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