Walk at Trumpington Meadows

A very enjoyable walk at Trumpington Meadows with sharp-eyed friends so we managed to find several Small Blues, some mating and laying for a second brood, Gatekeepers along with some Meadow Browns (mated pair) and Brown Argus and Burnet Moths everywhere, again often coupled. We also had brief views of two migrant visitors - Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady. The last two are images are of two of the many spiders - Misumena  vatia and Enoplognatha ovata. The bee took my eye as being different but the conclusion seems to be that it is too worn and faded to be identified!! Update - as Ann T had a good face shot, it is now identified as Bombus ruderatus

Sharpenhoe Gall Flies and Butterflies

The Chalkhill Blues and Burnet Moths outnumbered other insects but there were lots of other insects to photograph including these Carline Thistle Gall Flies (Terellia serratulae) laying eggs in the Thistles and two Fritillaries - the Dark Green and the much larger Silver Washed - single rather tatty individuals making brief appearances but good to see.  

Early Morning Sharpenhoe

I was interested in the effect of shade, cloud and direct sunlight on the colours and appeal of images. Clouds covered the sun when we arrived at Sharpenhoe yesterday morning but these cleared as the sun came above the ridge. All single shots except image 10 which is a focus stack of 10 images.

Dorset - Cerne Abbas Butterflies and Moths

A walk up the Long Man Hill at Cerne Abbas produced all the target species  - Forester moth, Burnet moth, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper,  Marsh Fritillary, Common Blue and Adonis Blue. The first image of the Forester in quaking grass is one of my favourites of the holiday.