A walk along a track through long grass produced quite a variety of species. It was too hot for a formal session but I suggested the group looked for subjects where the backgrounds were far enough away to not distract as with the Hairy Shieldbug about to take off or where they added to the scene as with the Brown Argus. The Hairy Bug is one of those 'nearly' shots - great action shot but the front of head is not sharp. Crickets are always difficult to photograph as deep in the vegetation. Amused to find a very large Wasp Spider on the path and a minute Zebra Spider (back at the Centre). ID sheet at end.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Friday, July 4, 2025
Butterflies etc at RSPB Sandy
Saturday, April 26, 2025
April Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey
Today was our first Butterfly and Dragonfly survey of 2025 at Paxton but the cool weather meant sightings of the former were limited to a very few species and individuals though we did record a few Grizzled Skippers, along with Brown Argus, Orange tips etc. Only a handful of Damselflies mostly just emerged. There were a number of very curious (even ugly) bugs around including a Beetle - Platyrhinus resinosus Scarce Fungus Weevil which lives on the black knobbly fungus - Alfred cakes and a larva of a micromoth Coleophora pennella Bugloss case-bearer.
Monday, July 29, 2024
Paxton East Redlands
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
RSPB Sandy Bugs, Fungi and Hobby
Yesterday was the RPS Nature Group outing to RSPB HQ at Sandy. It was postponed from previous week and the weather was slightly improved as largely dry but still windy and cool. However, we did manage to find a good selection of plant bugs, crickets, butterflies and dragonflies. Mike and I took an early morning walk round and spotted a Hobby and quite a few unseasonably early fungi.