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10 top minutes of garden wildlife

By Powell Ettinger - Editor.

Part of the ethos of Wildlife Extra is to promote wildlife watching in the UK, by proving that you don't have to go far to see some great wildlife. I just had 10 minutes that fits that theme perfectly. 

As the Indian summer (Was it an Indian spring too? Sandwiching a decidedly English summer) warms up, I took a ten minute stroll around to get away from the curse of the PC. No great plans, but I picked up a camera on the way out of the door on the basis that it I don't take one, I always see something highly photogenic. 

As I walked around the pond, the sun came out and although there was nothing particularly exciting to be seen, a moorhen framed itself beautifully against a huge Gunnera leaf. I just had time for a couple of point and shoot snaps before the moorhen moved.

I walked another two yards and spotted what, from a distance, appeared to be a Migrant Hawker dragonfly on the island in the middle of the pond. Too far for a decent picture, but I took one anyway for ID purposes. I then waited in vain for it to come closer, but gave up after a minute or two, and turned to go back to the office. And there on a bulrush about 4 feet away was another dragonfly; again a Migrant hawker (see right).

Having taken 2-3 photos, I walked back towards the office, but just before I reached the door, I notice something buzzing around in front of the flowers. The buzz was actually the hum of the very distinctive Hummingbird Hawkmoth, the first we have seen here. 

A top 10 minutes.