Sunday, September 04, 2011
Dorney
Four yellow wagtails were still with the cattle on the common this morning. At the wetlands in the afternoon I spent some time watching two hobbies which were busy catching insects above the islands.
On the top of the south ridge near the weir I was lucky enough to see this beetle (although when I showed him the picture, Greger didn't seem to think luck had much to do with it).
It's a male Lesser Stag Beetle or Dorcus Beetle; he's quite a bit smaller than a Stag Beetle, with a wider head but smaller jaws or "antlers". He was obliging enough to stand still on the muddy path for his portrait - which is more than you could say for the hobbies.// posted by Christine @ 12:00 PM 
