Insects at Whixall Moss

In the afternoon at Whixall, most of the group on the RPS outing concentrated on the abundant wildlife around the pools by the canal at Whixall. My highlight was this Blue Shieldbug laying eggs on a piece of roof felting used as a ground shelter for reptiles etc. 

Eye-to-Eye With Nature

A few images taken at Strumpshaw during a walk round the reserve late in the afternoon. Some amazing eyes, antennae, colours and shapes when photographing close

 

Close Up on Spiders and Beetles

The top of our plastic storage bins attracts lots of invertebrates as it warms quickly in the sun. Here a Zebra Jumping Spider pursues an Ant-like Flower Beetle plus Red mite, 22- and 20-spot Ladybirds plus a nearby Rosemary Beetle. Images 1, 2,  5, 6 and 9 are focus stacks of 10 images each, handheld.

Bees, Ladybirds and Spring Bulbs

Reassuring to see large numbers of Honey Bees at work collecting pollen and nectar from the Anemones, Scilla and  Puschkinias. Interesting that the Scilla (fewer stamens) have blue pollen (you can see it on the bee's back leg) while the Puschkinias have the more usual yellow pollen (images 5 and 6). Even one of the Ladybirds had found an aphid to eat. 

 

In the Wood with the Hosebaby Lens

I spent an hour in our local wood with my home-made close-focus shallow-depth-of-field lens (Hosebaby) taking multiple shots while moving myself forwards or backwards. The set of images were then focus stacked with Zerene stacker. Here are a selection of images that I liked of Hazel female flowers, umbel seedhead, oak apple, rose hip, oak leaves, lichens and teasel with ladybird and against the light with the interesting bokeh.