Boxhill Orchids and Butterflies

Great day out with Ben West yesterday hunting the various orchid and butterfly species  characteristic of the Surrey Hills. The Bee Orchid is a variant with pointed lip. The dry conditions this year have reduced the number of orchids though we found most of the target species. The butterflies were loving the sun with highlights including the Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and hundreds of Small Blues

Summer Cemetery

Not often the a Travelodge has a perfect walk to cool off in the evening! Dorking Cemetery is a 14-acre municipal site opened in 1855 though excavations nearby unearthed 14 skeletons dating back to the 7th century, indicating Early Medieval activity in the area. There are several areas where the vegetation hasn't been cut, full of oxeye daisies - ideal for playing with multiexposure.

Dragonflies etc Paxton 26th May

Our photography group at Paxton Pits decided on an early start yesterday as very warm temperatures were forecast (and arrived; officially 32 degrees at Bedford aerodrome). We started at 7am in the Meadows as the Dragons and Damsels got moving including the Green-eyed Hawkers resting in the grass and hedges along with lots of hawking Hairy Dragonflies, Black-tailed Skimmers and 4-Spot Chasers.  I was attempting to use the strong directional light to throw shadows behind any perched insects as with these mating Common Blue Damsels.

 After refuelling we spent a bit of time in the Cobham Hide where there were hundreds of damselflies, dragonflies and their exivia. En route we were delighted to find a Grizzled Skipper in another new location so they really have a strong presence at Paxton now.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Painted Lady

Arrived out of nowhere and gone in a minute or two but great to have Hummingbird Hawkmoth visit the garden along with a couple of Painted Ladies. Initial shutterspeed 1/250th increased to 1/4000th - probably somewhere in between would give enough movement to give a feel of hovering. Painted Ladieswere very confiding.

Paxton Pits Juveniles

Very much a nature diary entry as the heat haze yesterday afternoon made sharp distant images very difficult but what a wonderful 3 hours spent doing nothing but watching this year's youngsters  starting to learn their skills and showing visitors the delights of the reserve. I didn't see either of the two Kingfishers catch anything but they were very busy practising their dives while the Heron chicks were still squabbling and showing off inappropriately as teenagers do.  I only recorded six Cygnets but they were moving around a lot. The remaining Grebe chick was staying close to one parent while the other went off hunting and came back with a crayfish I think. The adult Heron was just trying to find something to feed those youngsters on or get them to leave the nest and do their own hunting. The Dunnock wins on the subtlety of its plumage.