Hawkers and Darters Saturday 11th September 1999

A Kingfisher darts along in front of us while Brown Hawkers patrol stretches of the canal; we see four or five of them on a two mile stretch. They're so large that, as one zooms across the canal, I think for a moment I'm seeing a wren. One is buzzed by a Wall Brown as it crosses the little butterfly's territory.

A Comma suns itself on the path.

There's a relaxed feel to the canal basin, with its painted narrow boats and the bits and pieces of work in progress. Amber is chasing pebbles for anyone who'll throw them. We like to sit here and relax with a coffee, taking in the atmosphere.

The medicinal herb Skullcap, a member of the mint family, growing at the canal side, is a rather more dangerous antidote to stress and nerves.

By one of the locks, a dense stand of Japanese Knotgrass is in flower. Growing alongside the overflow channel, it is an arrangement which a landscape gardener could be proud of. As its name suggests, this plant is a garden escape. Honey bees, drone flies, blow flies and small blackish hoverflies are attracted to the plumes of creamy flowers.

A pair of Common Darters in mating flight are clasped together in a cartwheel. They fly a short distance then come to rest on the plants at the edge of the path.

Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail; 'richard@daelnet.co.uk'