Studland Point - From Ants to Deer

The weather was fine for our morning visit to Studland Heath with a wide range of subjects from Fallow Deer to Black-tailed Skimmers, Wood Ants and Sundew

 

Damselfly Dinner

The Blue-tailed Damselflies were busy eating what I think are Caddis flies around the lakes at Kingcombe. They made great subjects against the setting sun

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.