Trumpington Meadows 9th May

 The warm weather on Saturday brought out lots of insects and spiders. I was trying to concentrate on compositions rather than just unusual species looking for interesting backgrounds and different focus/exposure settings. ID sheet at the end

Entering Another World

I spend a lot of time trying to get sharp accurate images of insects etc for recording purposes so I decided for our CCC outing to Trumpington Meadows to try a softer approach with shallow depth of field and purposely using out-of-focus vegetation to further limit the amount of sharp details. I was lucky with the dull lighting which suited the technique. Taken on a Fuji X100V compact with Raynox close up filter at F2 to F5.6. The original idea was to photograph the buttercups but ran out of time other than the multiexposure and a couple of close ups

Trumpington Meadow Insects April 9th

A few insects from yesterday's visit to the meadow at Byron's Pool Car Park in Trumpington.; ID sheet is at the end. It is always a delight and challenge to photograph the ruby-tailed wasps (Chrysis ignata) a parasitoid of Red Mason Bees which are nesting in some rotten tree trunks. Two very small ladybirds were found, a very small weevil and four species of Shield Bug.

Trumpington Meadows April 6th

First Butterfly Transect of 2026 completed - not a lot about - recorded a few Brimstone, Orange Tips and Peacocks. As my route finishes a distance from the car park, I looked at the various other insects on the wing as I returned to the car. The Rhombic Leatherbug is an attractive 'variation' on our common Dock Bug, the diamond-shaped abdomen is easily overlooked. Several Hairy Shieldbugs waking up from hibernation. Not many bees around considering the temperature 14-15 degrees.

Butterfly Walk at Trumpington Meadows

Joined a butterfly walk at Trumpington Meadows, a Cambridgeshire  Wildlife Trust Reserve. We eventually found the three target species, the Small blue, Purple Hairstreak and White-Letter Hairstreak along with lots of other species. This Copper photo was my favourite along with the Small Blue. A small fly took my eye - Eliozeta pellucens - which looks to be quite rare in the area. Species iID list at the end.