Sharpenhoe Gall Flies and Butterflies

The Chalkhill Blues and Burnet Moths outnumbered other insects but there were lots of other insects to photograph including these Carline Thistle Gall Flies (Terellia serratulae) laying eggs in the Thistles and two Fritillaries - the Dark Green and the much larger Silver Washed - single rather tatty individuals making brief appearances but good to see.  

Rainy Morning at Sharpenhoe

We decided to continue with our RPS Nature Group outing to Sharpenhoe despite a pessimistic forecast. In fact, the light rain didn't prevent us finding and photographing insects etc and by the afternoon it had stopped. Here some Male and Female Chalkhill Blues found roosting among the vegetation, a very fine Wasp Spider with its Grasshopper prey and some of the mating Burnet moths. 

Sharpenhoe 11th August

Although nowhere near as many as on bumper years, we were pleased to find a good number of Chalkhill male and female butterflies along with Burnet moths. I was trying to anticipate flight shots and achieved a few I like including a Burnet Moth and Knapweed amd the Carpenter Bee approaching a Harebell.

Sharpenhoe Clappers Spider and Insects

We made a visit to Sharpenhoe yesterday morning as a prelim to our RPS Nature Group outing on Sunday. There are lots of Chalkhill Blues and 6-Spot Burnet moths but also lots of other subjects to photograph such as this Crab spider catching a fly,  hoverflies, caterpillars, and other butterflies such as Marbled Whites. On the way home, we called in at a known orchid site and photographed these delicate Green Helleborines amidst the Hare bells.

 

Sharpenhoe Early Morning

We made a short early morning visit to Sharpenhoe and enjoyed an hour or so as the insects warmed up. Mostly the Chalkhill blues were feeding but we found one pair already coupled. Lots of Burnet moths emerging from pupae and expanding their wings, a fine yellow spider enjoying a Chalkhill breakfast and a Small White basking on a leaf.