Chesil Beach and Portland Bill

On Monday we visited two very areas. In the morning, I spent a lot of time photographing flowers on the unique shingle bank and then after lunch we spent a futile time looking for butterflies at Perryfield Quarry. We ended the afternoon on Portland Bill

Powerstock Common

Close to our accommodation, Powerstock is always one of my favourites. There weren't as many butterflies as normal (no Marsh Fritillaries and few Blues) but plenty of other insects to play with. No photographable Butterfly Orchids (some small 'over' ones were seen)  but good Bee, Common Spotted (with Beautiful China Mark moths), Marsh (not shown) and Birds Nest Orchids. Not ecologically good to see the Brown Tail Moth caterpillars in their tent! Ends with my favourites 'bug' - the Speckled Bush Cricket.

 

A CCC Week in Dorset

We are in Dorset for a week staying at  Higher Kingcombe Lodge - thanks Andrea (and Paul) for a great first dinner). A short stroll in the meadows produced a few 'Ugly Bugs' to start the trip

Watching the Skies

After a mostly cloudy day, the skies cleared in the early evening to give a beautiful clear end to the day. We walked up to the radio telescopes at Barton to check out the route for a CCC outing on Thursday and I couldn't resist a few IR images. Very interesting scarecrow!!

Gamlingay and Lackford on Hot Days

Insects are still in short supply but here are some from a walk round Gamlingay Wood (3 Hoverflies) and Lackford Nature Reserve - Hairy Dragonfly, Banded Demoiselle and female Black-Tailed Skimmer. 

Spiders, Flies etc at Welney Wildfowl Trust

Lots of spiders around at Welney including these Zebra Jumping Spiders in the Hide. One has caught a Magpie Moth