Butterflies at Barton, Cambridgeshire: Brown Argus versus Common Blue

We enjoyed an early morning walk at Barton yesterday and was surprised by the numbers of butterflies active on the flower bank. The Common blues were busy mating and feeding in very large numbers. It was great to see the minute Brown Argus in fair numbers. Always good to confirm the ID from photographs when back.  The Brown Argus lacks any blue scales and has figure of eight spots on the hind wing; also tend to be smaller. Small Coppers and Six-spot Burnet Moths added colour to the banks. A few dragonflies were active and the two Buzzards flew over constantly.

Confiding Sedge Warbler at Rye Meads RSPB

This Sedge Warbler was busy feeding young - beaks full of crane flies and Episyrphus balteatus hoverflies were delivered along with earwigs. Other noteable sightings - five Green Sandpipers and two Little Egrets

Focus Stacking - Extreme Macro

Monday was a cold wet morning so these dragonflies were unable to fly - ideal subjects for focus stacking using a Focus Rail and 50mm lens (f2.8). 

Sixty Southern Hawkers and Still Counting....

This year has seen mass emergence of Southern Hawker Dragonflies in our garden pond. Things were getting  crowded with the exuviae doubled stacked in places so I decided to collect up what I could reach and hadn't already fallen into the pond. I retrieved over 60 exuviae so, with those still on the reeds and in the water, we have probably had getting on for 100 Southern Hawkers out of one pond (plus the earlier crop of four-Spots). what did they all eat - certainly we don't seem to have so many Newts as previously. Already this morning four more have hatched!

Movement in Monochrome

A few images from yesterday's horse trials converted to monochrome through LR just to get some ideas of what might work when done in Silver Efex. Lots of different possibilities just with the colour filter used before any selective adjustments!

Holkham Country Fair

We visited Holkham Country Fair yesterday before returning to Toft. A very expensive outing if you have children with fair rides, donkeys, face painting all to be paid for (£2.50 a go in the fair) in addition to entry. However, it does offer great entertainment from Dhzigitovka! The Way of The Cossack Warrior  with their amazing horsemanship to Dog Agility and Carriage Racing. Great to see other breeds than Collies doing well in the Agility including my favourite breed (Red Setters of course) and a Golden Retriever for Matt.