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.  

Rainy Morning at Sharpenhoe

We decided to continue with our RPS Nature Group outing to Sharpenhoe despite a pessimistic forecast. In fact, the light rain didn't prevent us finding and photographing insects etc and by the afternoon it had stopped. Here some Male and Female Chalkhill Blues found roosting among the vegetation, a very fine Wasp Spider with its Grasshopper prey and some of the mating Burnet moths. 

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.

Sharpenhoe 11th August

Although nowhere near as many as on bumper years, we were pleased to find a good number of Chalkhill male and female butterflies along with Burnet moths. I was trying to anticipate flight shots and achieved a few I like including a Burnet Moth and Knapweed amd the Carpenter Bee approaching a Harebell.

Sharpenhoe Butterflies

 Despite the strong winds, most of the RPS Nature Group on an outing to Sharpenhoe yesterday managed to photograph two of the target species - the Chalkhill Blues (all males so probably early in the season) and Dark Green Fritillaries (getting a bit worn and mainly females so late in their season). However, the favourite was a Brimstone male emerging from its cocoon. Also shown Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Small White and Holly Blue.