Gall Hunt Grantchester Meadows.

 Each year Cambridge Natural History Society focusses on a particular area for its monthly field studies. In 2026 it is Grantchester Meadows between Newnham and Grantchester, last fully documented in 2006. On Sunday, we spent the afternoon recording all the Gall species that we could find. As expected with the low insect numbers this year, Galls were also a lot less frequent than previous visits. They were identified as we found them and entered on i-record. I have identified from my photos as far as possible! The Coleophora moth was a late find and is fascinating. The larvae initially feed on the seeds, flowers or leaves of the host plant by tunelling into the structures, but when larger, they feed externally and construct distinctive protective silken cases, often incorporating plant material. Many species have specific host plants; discarded larval cases are often scattered thickly on affected plants.

Life on the Ivy

Not perfect in focus etc but I was very pleased to capture this Red Ant collecting excreted sugar droplets from Blackfly feeding on Ivy Flowers. It is definitely one of the best years that I remember for Ivy flowers with Ivy bees, Wasps, Bumble bees, Flies, Late Butterflies like this Painted Lady and Holly Blues and Shieldbugs  are enjoying.

Paxton Miscellany

A warm sunny day for a walk at Paxton Pits hoping for lots of interesting subjects to watch, identify and photograph but wildlife was in very short supply, we are presuming as a result of the long drought conditions. There are still Common Darters on the wing, a very few butterflies all looking rather tatty (single Common Blue, Small White, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral), abundant Ivy Bees wherever the Ivy is in flower and a Kite-tailed Robberfly. From one of the Hides, the young Great Crested grebes are catching fish for themselves now.

RSPB Sandy Insect Activity

As forecast, the sun came out and temperatures rose yesterday so there was plenty of activity around the banks to some of the paths at RSPB Sandy yesterday. This colony of Ivy bees were very active. I think they were mainly males but I did catch a female laden with pollen (wider abdominal stripes). Also recorded a Sphecodes bee (Blood Bee) - these are cleptoparasites (lay their eggs in another species' nest) - Ivy bees not recorded as hosts but there were presumably other mining bee species nesting in the bank  The small ponds on the walk were very active with lots of Ruddy Darters paired and laying eggs plus Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers. The Gardens behind the house were quiet - just a handful of butterflies, a Firebug and a few Carder bees.

Saturday Walk Paxton

The theme for yesterday's monthly public walk at Paxton Pits was 'Conservation at the Reserve'. Mike and Carina took the party into one of the restricted conservation area and explained very clearly the work that needs to be done constantly to maintain the breeding areas for small birds, including the Nightingale, and to create new habitats for birds and insects etc. While walking round, I photographed any insect activity, which was restricted to a resting Red Admiral butterfly, hoverflies, Honey bees, a few small solitary bees and still a large number of Common Darters with smaller numbers of Migrant Hawkers and Willow Emerald Damsels. I called in at the hide on the way back and was rewarded with a late-migrating Hobby (in the distance!!) and a delightful trio of Great Crested Grebes (plus young Coot).

Sailing Lake Path Paxton

The Cuprinus toadstools along with some other species that we photographed on Wednesday have completely disappeared but there are still some of the Rooting Boletus and also groups of Sulphur Tufts