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.

Paxton Survey Great Meadow Saturday 15th June

Unfortunately we only managed half the survey on Saturday before rain stopped play but there were some good finds including this amazing pupal case of a small Weevil beetle attached to a thin blade of grass. various Hemiptera, Flies and a single Four-spot Chaser hiding in the grass

Beetle Mania Lakenheath

The first images are of Athous haemorrhoidalis, a Click Beetle, taking off - they use the legs and wings to get airborne rather than the spring (Click) mechanism which allows them to jump rapidly when threatened. A variety of other beetles and plant bugs found on Wednesday including some eggs (?Hemiptera species) and first instar Spiked Bugs.

Welney RPS Nature Group Visit

We were surprised at how few insects there were at Welney - hopefully it was the cool showery weather that had driven them deeper into the foliage. I did enjoy photographing this Speckled Bush Cricket (didn't notice the Spider!), two species of Leaf  Hopper, a Picture-Winged Fly, Hoverfly, Nettle Leaf Beetle and an Ichneumon spp. The Reed Warbler was probably a young one as very confiding and very pristine plumage.