Update from Paxton

Today I did a recce with Ann and Mike for the Macro Session with the RPSNature Group on Sunday at Paxton Pits as I was apprehensive with the drought conditions that there would be enough to photograph. In the morning we walked in the fields and along the Meadow trail with macro gear and found enough subjects to keep people happy for one session. In the afternoon, we photographed along the Haul Road where there were lots of hunting Dragons  including Migrant Hawkers. Later in the Cobham Hide there was a Brown Hawker laying and plentiful Darters for long lens work. Good to see the Great Crested grebes still have their two chicks - fingers crossed for their survival!!

Sharpenhoe (July 19th)

Dave, James and I spent a very enjoyable day at Sharpenhoe  photographing Chalkhill Blues,  Wasp spider etc. Although the Chalkhill Blues and Burnet Moths took up a lot of the time, it was this beautiful small moth that has the 'front slot': Oncocera semirubella, Rosy Knot-horn, popularly named the Rhubarb & Custard. It was formerly resident only in the southernmost counties of England on chalk downland and limestone cliffs but is obviously spreading!. The Lygus pratensis bug complements the moth very well in colouring  Very warm conditions!

Trumpington Meadows on World Conservation Day

The CBN Wildlife Trust are cutting their meadows at the moment but leaving wide areas of grassland which offer plentiful nectar and egg-laying sites for the butterflies and other insects. On our recording transect walk yesterday, we recorded 229 butterflies with Common Blue and Meadow Brown being the dominant species. A couple of Clouded Yellows escaped the camera but no Small Blues this time. The meadow by the car park is a particular haven for butterflies with the introduced Marjoram in full flower - the Byrons Pool Local Nature Reserve is owned by Cambridge City Council and managed in conjunction with the  Wildlife Trust. Today is World Nature Conservation Day, observed annually on July 28 to promote the protection and sustainable use of the Earth’s natural resources so it is appropriate to highlight the work of local organisations.

 

Drought Conditions at Paxton Pits

The temperature at Paxton Pits was bearable yesterday for a work session in the morning clearing round the Dragonfly Pond and the Bee banks. I made a circuit of the reserve in the afternoon hoping for some good macro subjects for the camera. Certainly my favourite Jade Hoppers were there hiding in the grass plus Robber Fly and a couple of  Hemiptera. Common Darters and Ruddy Darters are fairly abundant but otherwise very few insects found at all with so few flowers and foliage left. 

Perfect Trio of Subjects at Paxton

 I spent about an hour yesterday afternoon photographing life on South Heronry Lakes and was well entertained by a close Heron, an even closer Egret and a family of Great Created Grebes,. The heron  spent a while looking into the water and eventually struck out and caught a fish. The tongue is obviously important with its barb in forcing the fish down the throat and need a good clean afterwards. The Egret was too close to frame well but a great pleasure to observe. The GCG hatched a few days ago and the two chicks are happily riding around on the adult's back, hopping off occasionally into the water and then returning to safety. So hope that they do not fall victim (as the last brood) to the Cormorants when they are in the water. Distant shots so no great quality.