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!!

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.