Thursley Unusual Flora

Unfortunately I didn't take a macro or wide angle lens to Thursley not anticipating such interesting plants including large areas of Sundew complete with a trapped beetle and Lesser Bladderwort, another carnivorous plant, in some ditches. There were many areas of Marsh orchids, Crossleaved Heath (with mystery growths). Mosses and Royal Ferns plus Bracken

Dorset 14. Studland Beach and Nature Reserve

We visited Studland Nature Trust Nature reserve last Thursday on a really hot day and, after a morning recording some of the wildlife speicalities of the area, had lunch on Shell Beach playing with slow shutterspeed and multiple exposure. The species shown are Raft Sspider, Emperor moth caterpillar, Meadow Grasshopper, Keeled Skimmer, Dune Robberfly, Red Wood Ant and Sundew

Beaulieu Heath and Ipley Cross

We spent a day exploring the heathland around Beaulieu for its plants and insects. Great to see Sundew with quite a few insect captures, lots of Marsh and Heath orchids, Yellow Asphodel and Meadow Thistle. Lots of newly emerged Silver-studded Blues - mainly males. Not many dragonflies - Keeled Skimmers, Broad-bodied Chasers and Emperor Dragonflies.