Totally unexpected discovery

Because I needed to get the ball rolling with the sale of Bev's car, plus a visit to the insurance brokers to sort out the situation, Bruno and I didn't leave home until around 11.00 hrs. We headed across to Worth Marshes RSPB Res. purely because I thought there might be a chance of a dragonfly, or two, to point the camera at. As it turns out, the brisk easterly breeze, did little to assist my cause and it was a real struggle to find anything worthy of a photo. I'd parked the van at the end of the Pinnock Wall and had walked all the way to the gateway, overlooking the main flood, seeing just singles of Banded Demoiselle, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter and a Scarce Chaser for the effort. Lots of common damselflies along the route, but not what I was hoping for. It was on our return leg that I finally discovered a Wasp Beetle, nectaring on bramble blossom beside the track. 

Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis) - certainly brightened the stroll with its' presence

This is probably the first time I've knowingly spent time with this very common insect and I really enjoyed playing around with the long lens and extension tubes. We probably hadn't walked another fifty yards when I disturbed a damselfly from the low vegetation beside the track. Obviously much larger than the numerous Azure, Blue-tailed and Variable Damselflies that were constantly on view, this appeared to be an Emerald sp? Not a group with which I'm particularly familiar, so I rattled off a dozen, or so, shots in the hope that I'd be able to get a positive id when back at my laptop.We slowly made our way back to the van, grabbing a few images of a freshly emerged Common Darter as we did so and that was it for our wandering.

A very co-operative individual

I have to admit that it was the Wasp Beetle which was star of the morning, for me, just a striking creature and most unexpected. So it was quite a while after getting home that I down loaded the images from the Canon EOS 90d and I started to become curious about the id of that Emerald Damselfly sp. It certainly didn't match the images I had available in my ancient reference guides. Next stop was Google, where else? This is when things became a litlle more exciting. My first impressions were that it was a Southern Emerald Damselfly, but there was a nagging doubt over the lack of a bi-coloured pterostigmata so there was only one course of action open to me. I emailed Marc Heath (Mr Kent Dragonflies) for an opinion. The exchange was quick and brief, resulting in a confirmed id and the additional bonus that it is the first to be spotted in the UK in 2025 - get in!

Unsurprisingly this represents a UK tick, although I feel sure that I've
encountered this species at several locations around the Med whilst on holiday.

This provides yet another demonstration of why it's more important to look, than actually know what it is your looking at.

Every day as it comes

 It seems unbelievable that Bev passed away four weeks ago and yet I'm still nowhere close to getting over the trauma. It doesn't matter where I am, or what I'm doing, there are always memories and flash-backs which recall our time together. Thankfully Bruno doesn't understand what's going on and boisterously demands attention on a regular basis. Our daily walks provide me with space, and time, to enjoy the simple pleasures of being outdoors. The binos and camera kit play a huge part in this aspect of my daily routine and I am certainly learning quite a lot about how little I actually know about so many creatures that share my space. 

Gold Spot - by no means a rare moth yet, it is one of those species which fired my enthusiasm
way back at the start of my journey and still retains that "something special" every time I see one.

Female Azure Damselfly - well at least I think it is? The more I look the less I know!

I am now in the process of selling Bev's Mazda CX-3, as it is absolutely useless to me! Can't get rods and stinking nets, mats, etc within such a small vehicule, plus it is £48/month to insure, thus a cost I can well do without. I have also been in contact with NRS and arranged that they come to collect the hospital bed and associated kit which is now redundant and taking up space in my spare room. Wardrobes need emptying, as do many cupboards and drawers around the bungalow. Thankfully, Debbie (Bev's daughter) is more than happy to assist me in this task, although because of work commitments, it will be weekends only.

A Yellow-tailed Moth caterpillar out on Minster Marshes

Pine Hawk-moth - always a welcome visitor to the 
garden MV trap

Large Skipper enjoying the sunshine out on Minster Marshes

The world will continue to rotate and, with it, so my life should also resume some form of routine. Quite how different it will be from the previous twenty-five years remains for me to find out? It might seem quite weird to visitors to my blog but, I get a great deal of positivity by sharing my version of reality via the posts I place into cyberspace.

Striped Hawk-moth

This is my thirty - first year of running a garden moth trap, of one type or other, and this morning I finally added Striped Hawk-moth to my list. Over the years I've seen plenty of these splendid moths, all of which have graced the traps of other Kent "moffas". So now it's my turn and the tenth Hawk-moth species is on my Dumpton garden list..

A little worn, but it's my first so I'll settle for that!

Good numbers of moths being attracted to the MV light, but nothing to suggest migration on any scale, as yet.

Catching up and (hopefully) moving on

These past few weeks have seen my emotional and physical wellbeing pushed beyond anything I've previously had to deal with. As I've stated in many previous posts, I am very fortunate to have such a strong family, plus friends and neighbours, who've been there for me throughout this whole ordeal. All that said, I still find myself having moments where I question "why Bev?" and suffer the emotional fall out as a result. I imagine that this is perfectly normal for anyone in my position, yet it still doesn't make it any easier when it happens. 

Mother Shipton (moth) out on Minster Marshes

It would appear that Bruno might be a "blessing in disguise"? as I now have the responsibility for his welfare, as well as my own! Although fishing hasn't played a part in this recent period (with one obvious exception!) I have still been getting out with the binos and camera kit with Bruno as my excuse. I've got loads of images which will never see the light of day, but there are a few which are worth sharing, that I've taken during this difficult period. 

Male Emperor dragonfly - Minster Marshes

Adult Red Kite at Oak Hill Lawn Cemetery, Hatfield, HERTS

My very first Chinese Water Deer seen from the Paul Thrush Hide at Wilstone Res. Tring

A rather spectacular "green morph" Barred Red in the garden moth trap

As yet I have made no long term plans for my angling journey. Quite obviously, there is that "wild" thirty pound Carp, on a split cane if possible?, that could provide focus over the coming months yet, for the rest of June I am looking at a mini-project revolving around the capture of a 2 lbs+ Rudd from Stonar Lake in Sandwich. It is a venue suited perfectly for me to discover how Bruno can cope with extended time on the bank and, even, overnighters. Who knows; I might morph into an Alan Wilson "time bandit"?

Toughest day of my life

 At 11.00 hrs,, on Tuesday morning, family, friends and neighbours were gathered at the Thanet Crematorium to say our good-byes to Bev. Thanks to the incredible efforts of Twyman & Holmes (the funeral directors), Chris the Celebrant who conducted the service and Bev's daughter, Debbie, who co-ordinated the entire admin side of things, it was a very fitting send off for someone who'd made such a positive impression on so many others during her time on this planet.

No two ways about it, I really struggled with the emotional journey which unfolded throughout the day and am truly grateful for the kindness and support offered by all those gathered around me. The staff at The Racing Greyhound did us proud, when the formalities were over, providing exactly the right level of service for all of us who attended the wake. Although still numb at the moment, I'm sure that the only way is up as time ticks on?

Benno joins the gang!

With Bev's funeral just three days away I jumped at the chance to join Ben for another session down at his syndicate venue. A 04.30 hrs rendezvous in the car park was arranged and I spent a very pleasant morning ( I packed up at 12.30 hrs because of Bruno) although I failed to put a fish on the bank today. I did lose two, both to hook pulls, due to the rapidly emerging weed growth within the pit and my insistence on using barbless hooks. However, Ben fared a little better, although also losing two fish, as he landed his first Tench over nine pounds. At 9 lbs 1 oz, he becomes the third "Wraftie" to achieve such a feat, joining my brother Simon and I. It was a stunning individual and I am rather pleased with the shots obtained.

I had to content myself playing around with the long lens, pointing it in the direction of a Common Tern which was patrolling the margins on the look out for snacks. So much more to see, via the binoculars, it was a very pleasant way to waste away a few hours whilst the clock ticks, relentlessly, towards Bev's final farewell. 

Despite the incredible support being provided by family, friends and neighbours I am not coping particularly well at present. I am dreading the service at the crematorium and just want Tuesday out of the way so I can press the "re-set button" and get my life back into some form of routine again?

Never in my wildest dreams!

Only to be expected, but life isn't much fun at present so when Benno asked if I fancied a session on the bank I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the prospect. He had been chatting with the owner of his syndicate fishery and had been given the OK for me to tag along on a "guest ticket". Benno has been absolutely smashing it up with some fantastic Tench, to 8lbs, falling to his rods.

Benno's current PB of 8 lbs exactly

One major problem was that I couldn't take Bruno with me, thus it seemed an idea doomed to fail. However, my neighbours Terry & Glynis offered a solution. They would happily look after Bruno, overnight, thus allowing me an early morning session with a pack up time around 14.00 hrs. Benno got the ticket sorted and we met in the car park just before 05.00 hrs this morning.  We were set up in a nice double swim and rods out within an hour, or so, and the waiting game began. The brisk westerly wind did nothing to assist our cause and we had niggling doubts about our baiting strategy due to the undertow created by the conditions.. I was absolutely gutted when I had an aborted take on my left-hand rod, just after 10.00 hrs, and was in the process of getting the rod back out when the right hander absolutely busted off. No mistake, this time around, and after a plodding battle, lasting several minutes, Benno was able to slip a net under my prize. What the f**k? It looked massive and was certainly the biggest Tench I'd landed since my time in the Tring Syndicate (1981 - 93). I got the rods back out whilst Benno took care of the fish. Once the rigs were back in position we were able to go through the ritual weighing and photo session. 

My new PB Tench  

What a fish it turned out to be. At a weight of 9 lbs 13 oz it is is a new PB for me and possibly the heaviest Tench captured, deliberately, at the venue, thus far in 2025. Well that was it for me and I packed up just after 12.30 hrs, grinning like an imbecile as I pushed the barrow back towards the van. Benno decided to move swims and I await news of what occurred after we parted company?