Spring is Progressing with Damselfly Pairing and Painted Lady

The Jumping Spiders have really thrived in the hot dry weather and whenever I am weeding, whether at ground level or, as here, in the currant bushes, one of them is eyeing me up. Fortunately he caught a leaf hopper soon after this. First Painted Lady of the season and the Red Damselflies and Azure Damsels are paired up and laying in the pond. The Weevil is exquisite in the detail for a very very small beetle - I haven't yet found a suitable match. 

Hot Weather Increases the Garden Insect List

The garden insects were very active yesterday as it was very warm and humid. Good to see returning Currant Clearwing and Bryony Bee (both earlier than last year), Wasp Beetle, Resin Bee, Tree Bumblebee, Shieldbug eggs etc and a new species - Denticulate Leatherbug with its white fringed pronotum etc. 

Annual Man Orchid Hunt

After the very reduced numbers of orchids at Barnack and Cribbs Meadow, I wasn't expecting to find many Man Orchids (or other orchid species) at our local site, so was not surprised when numbers in the main meadow were very low for all species (Man, Common Spotted and Twayblades). However, up on the hill the Man Orchids were flourishing - at least 25 counted in a small area.  This is the 15th year I have visited the site with my camera and every one has been different in number and stature of the orchids eg https://pin-sharp.blogspot.com/2010/05/man-orchid.html

Cambridge Mosque Colour and Shapes

 Happy couple of hours in Cambridge Mosque using multiple exposure in the Fuji XV100 compact camera to combine colour and shapes.

Cambridge Mosque Fish-eye View

 Some images from today's visit to Cambridge Mosque taken with a 15mm fisheye equivalent (7.5mm on Olympus body). Wonderful place - last visited in 2019 when it was still being completed inside - all details about its construction are there

Ann Miles Blog: Cambridge Central Mosque

Ann Miles Blog: Details from the Cambridge Mosque