Paxton Pits Macro Day

Ten RPS Nature Group Members together with four Volunteers from Paxton Pits Reserve enjoyed a surprisingly varied selection of wildlife photography considering the recent ongoing hot arid conditions. We started in one of the large Meadows which was full of Grasshoppers, Crickets, Damselflies though very few Butterflies but we soon needed to find a shady spot along one of the trails where we could watch Darters and Dragonflies from the cool shade of the trees. After a welcome drink and lunch back at the visitor centre, some of us braved the Bee-wolf site which was busy with female wasps carrying in bees, trying to remember where their predug burrow was. I was also pleased to record Astata boops, the Shield-bug Stalker Wasp (without Shield bug unfortunately), a new record for the site I think and such a wonderful latin name.

Everyone appreciated the cool of the hides and a lot of time was spent trying to capture the Migrant Hawker in flight, Brown Hawker laying and also the birdlife (images to follow)

Toft Garden Moths

The last time I did moth trapping in my garden was 2010 when I compiled a website of my findings (Moths in a Cambridgeshire Garden). I am keen to find what changes there are in the populations and species. Here are the first batch of results. Obviously the most striking new species is the Jersey Tiger, which is present in very large numbers at the moment.

Sunny Afternoon at Paxton

Just about the full cast performed for us in front of the Hide yesterday - the Great Crested Grebes are guarding their two chicks well at the moment while Cormorants, Little Egrets and Herons flew in and out at regular intervals. The chicks are beginning to make short dives and also appeared to be catching damselflies. As the sun came round and lit the perches, we were entertained by Ruddy Darters (body shape, black legs), Willow Emerald Damselflies (yellow spur on the thorax, no blue pruinescence), Tachina fera Fly, Migrant Hawker and Green-Veined White Butterflies.

Macro at Paxton

 Just as guidance for those coming on Sunday, the heat and drought conditions yesterday morning meant that there were fewer insects up and basking in the sunshine but there were Spreadwings, Damsels, Grasshoppers, Bugs and Flies etc to photograph hiding in the remaining vegetation. The Knapweed are particularly productive for gall wasps and flies and for insects visiting for nectar.

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!!