RSPB Bempton Exploratory Visit

My last visit to Bempton was 13 years ago in 2013 so there are quite a lot of changes in terms of Visitor centre, car parking and the provision of railed viewing areas. It was very busy yesterday but it did not seem crowded and I chatted to bird watchers from many different countries as we tried to spot the Puffins!!. Here just a set of introductory shots to help me plan photography for the subsequent visits though, from experience, the joy of capturing such graceful Gannets and Kittiwakes in flight will still override any other plans.

Welcome(?) to Bridlington

Grey skies, intermittent rain and not too welcoming signs met us on our evening stroll but there are some charming steps and alleyways even on the funfair front. Hopefully the rain may hold off for some of the time though the weather forecast  looks pretty grim! 

Buglife in Toft Garden

The warmish but very humid weather over the last few days has brought out a wonderful selection of weird bugs both in the scientific use of the word (the Red Bug first and later stages, Hairy Bug) and wider for all the rest of my tiny friends. Great to see two species of Weevils on the Hollyhocks, and plenty of interesting flies around the pond and on the daisies with bees and the Ornate-Tailed Digger Wasp. 

Juniper Hall Final Morning

 A bit out of sequence but this post completes the record of what we photographed on the RPSNature Residential Weekend at Juniper Hall in Surrey and a very handsome collection of insects they are either from the moth traps of the vegetation in that area..

Week 10 2026 Butterfly Survey Trumpington Meadows

 Fortunately the weather (17 degrees, 50% to full sun) was much better than forecast and the butterflies were on the wing. Here distant shots of some of out finds to help me confirm IDs. Delighted to see our first Marbled White, lots of Painted Ladies and the first Ringlet (not photographed), Red Admiral, Small White, Common Blue, Comma and Meadow Brown,,  Only single Bee and Common Spotted Orchids found - hopefully there will be more with the recent rain. The Vestal Cuckoo bee and Mother Shipton Moth were nice additions to the collection