Insects and Spiders at Summer Leys

A few more insects and spiders from Monday's trip to Summer Leys starting with mating Blue-tailed Damselflies and Sphaerophoria hoverflies. Other species include the Great Green Bush Cricket, Four-Banded Longhorn Beetle and 14-Spot Ladybird (very small with very long scientific name Propylea quattuordecimpunctata - ok if you know your latin numbers!).

All Aboard for a Short Time

The young Grebes are now too large to comfortably fit on the adult's back for long, tumbling off when it moves at speed or being thrown off when the adult shakes their wings. The young still stay close to the adult for food and protection.

Great Crested Grebes Versus Crayfish

 This pair of Great Crested Grebes were working hard to provide food for their three chicks - generally small fish. At one point, one adult arrived with a large crayfish that was eventually beaten into submission and swallowed by the other adult but not before the chicks had sampled the catch.

Canon's Ashby Priory Church

Canon's Ashby all but disappeared in the 14th century, due to the Black Death and land enclosures. The church of St Mary the Virgin is the ony remaining part of the cathedral-scale priory church built in the late 12th century from brown ironstone as part of a large estate now owned by the National Trust. As the main Manor house is closed on a Tuesday, I sheltered from the rain inside the church -here a few straight shots (next blog some more creative images)

 

Car Park Contrasts Northampton

The last visit I made here was on a dull day and I was using infrared to capture this impressive concrete car park in Northampton https://pin-sharp.blogspot.com/2017/10/for-members-of-concrete-appreciation.html. Thursday was a very hot and contrasty day so very different images!