Dodder Fen Invertebrate Survey

Although the sun stayed behind cloud for quite a bit of the morning, it was very humid and hot hunting among the reeds and rushes on Dodder Fen for insects etc for our August Wildlife Survey. The Dodder plant at Paxton Pits is one of the special species that gives Paxton its SSSI status. It is parasitic on Nettles and grows over quite large areas at Paxton. 

I will take a day or so to collate everyone's invertabrate images and IDs but here are a few of mine that I like, including this wonderful Field Grasshopper with its amazing marking on every area including the eye. Hairy flies were the commonest sighting - nearest identifications at end.

Sandy Bees, Wasps and Friends

On Monday afternoon, we transferred to the Beewolf Wasp colony nearby. Unfortunately, the rain came as we arrived but was not heavy enough to stop photographing and we spent an hour or so with the Sand Wasp (Ammophila sabulosa), Pantaloon bees (Dasypoda hirtipes), Common Blue Damselfly, Red-legged Bug and Field Grasshopper. The weather then brightened and activity started on the mound with Beewolf Wasps and Pantaloon Bees busy digging out their burrows. We saw one wasp carrying its honey bee prey but by then it was late in the afternoon

Lackford Lakes

Yesterday was unexpectedly warm and sunny and not windy - very unexpected after recent rain and winds. Here a few images from a CCC visit to Lackford Lakes starting with a Wasp Spider and its prey the Field Grasshopper. The Tortoise Beetle is a new one for me Cassida nebulosa and Beewolf Wasps are now busy burrowing into the banks along the paths. The Marsh Harrier gave us a great display with a food pass - unfortunately I was resting my camera at that moment!!