Antigua Day 5 Early Morning Macro

The previous evening we had found an area where the butterflies were roosting so we returned in the morning to see what we could capture with out macro lenses. THe insects etc were covered with dew drops early on. 1. Another type of Wasp spider possibly the St John's Cross Spider. Scrub Hairsteak 3. Great Southern White Male 4. Tropical Chequered Skipper 5. Tropical Buckeye 6. Little Yellow 7.8. to be identified 9. Lizard species 10 Tetrio Sphinx Moth caterpillar

 

Antigua Day 2 Afternoon and Sunset

A few more birds etc seen on our first full day, including the Grey Kingbird, together with one of many sunsets to come no doubt!! Possible IDs for checking follow - anyone knows the spider, would be grateful for help. 1. Gray Kingbird 2. White-winged Dove 3,4. Caribbean Elaenia 5. Carib Grackle 6. Ruddy Turnstone 7,8 ?type of Wasp Spider - male and female - former unfortunately ended up as a food package in the web.

Approach with Caution

In late summer, the predominate hedgerow invertebrates are spiders of all colours and form. Here a pair of Garden Cross spiders - unusually the male on the right is not much smaller than the female but he is still approaching very tentatively. Many males get regarded as prey and killed an eaten even before mating - seems a bit contrary to species survival though certainly ensures only the 'most-cautious' genes get passed on. The colony of Wasp spiders local to us is still doing well - hopefully soon time for the female to build their cocoon nest and lay eggs.

 

Wildlife at Larkrise Farm, Barton

Larkrise Farm Barton is managed by The Countryside Restoration Trust who have transformed it from an intensively farmed wildlife desert into a productive arable farm teeming with wildlife, including Butterflies, Spiders etc. This has been achieved using farming methods such as smaller field sizes, crop rotations, leaving over-wintering stubble, beetle banks, wildlife strips and planting over 4.5 miles of new hedgerows. Here Common Blues, Gatekeepers, Small Copper and Marbled White. Spiders included the impressive Wasp Spider.