Epping forest - Wake valley pond
Tuesday, 6. May 2008, 09:18:47
On Saturday I visited Epping forest to look for hairy dragonflys on Wake valley pond. We parked in the visitor centre car park and head to wake valley pond through the wood. First of all we came a cross a pond where a number of large red damselflys were emerging
I even mangaed a close up
There were manay insects buzzing atound in the trees in the forest, like this Ichneumon wasp
Once at the lake we had a good look round and found many alderflys, large red damselflys and this Thanatophilus sinuatus beetle
I also found this longhorn beetle (Anaglyptus mysticus)
Also on a post was this red damselfly exuvia
I had no luck in finding the hairy dragonflys but I did see something unexpected:
Some red eared terrapins (or sliders). Someone has obviously had them as pets, theyve grown to large and they let them go 
Not really fair on the terrapins or the native wildlife in the lake
Very sad that people would keep sliders as pets then let them go. We have the same problem here with cats and dogs. Our neighbor rescues the dogs and we keep the cats.
By cakkleberrylane, # 6. May 2008, 12:34:02
And very sad for the slider. Does it have a chance to survive there?
By ALLY_G, # 7. May 2008, 07:09:25
By Ukwildlife, # 7. May 2008, 07:41:26
Yes, I see terrapins here in Surrey sometimes. Pet crazes always frighten me as they always end up either with dumped exotics or over-crowded shelters.
By SittingFox, # 7. May 2008, 18:30:35
Hi Neil,
Nice set of photos, looks like you had a good day up there.
Just dropping you a line about that spider in the carrots, found out a bit more about it and id'd it as Clubiona corticalis, or 'sac' spider. You can see a picture of it here: http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/spiders.html#Clubiona
Apparently, it can give you a bit of a nip (google it and follow the link to the NHM), but is native and common.
See you monday!
Dan
By anonymous user, # 8. May 2008, 09:13:50
That was me, by the way. ;-)
By anonymous user, # 8. May 2008, 09:14:39
By Ukwildlife, # 8. May 2008, 13:30:44
By ALLY_G, # 9. May 2008, 07:11:00
By Words, # 11. May 2008, 08:23:08