Pyrenees Day 1 Afternoon Pont de Saugue

Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon but the rain held off till around 4pm. We drove up to Pont de Saugue stopping en route to sample the insect life. I particularly liked the full frontal Bumblebee and Chafer. Many of the photos that I took for a particular insect turned out to have many more captured by the camera - the Shieldbug is in the web of a small spider together with a Leaf hopper. We were finally rained off and hurried back to the hotel before the downpour .

Pyrenees Day 1 Morning

In the morning in bright sunshine and not too hot temperatures, we visited Lac de Gloriettes and walked the circuit round the lake. Lots of butterflies but not many were still for long. However , did manage a few including Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Black-Veined White, Silver Studded Blue and Small Blue portraits. Beetles and Ants were the dominant families. Lots of flowers but limited time to do them justice. However, delighted to see large patch of Eidelweiss which attracted lots of ants.

 

My home In the Pyrenees for a Week

Arrived in Gedre (Gavarnie area) in time for dinner last night and a very brief walk around the small town - very quiet as everyone inside watching the World Cup! It is good to be a bit cooler away from the UK heat and to see green grass.

Gamlingay and Sandy with Temperatures Around 30 Degrees

We chose Monday, which was a very hot day in Cambridgeshire, to visit Sandy to photograph the Bee-Wolf Wasps but called in first on Gamlingay Woods where the Brimstones, Silver-Washed Fritillaries and Ringlets were out in force together with a spider enjoying a Hoverfly breakfast. At Sandy, it was too hot for me other than in the shade so my efforts were a bit limited but was pleased to see the Ruby-Tailed Wasp (Hedychrum niemelai)

Greenwich - Theme Circles and Arches

Last post from Greenwich where the theme is definitely circles - an architectural favourite in the Queens House (1-3), Maritime Museum (5,6) , Painted Hall (7, visited vestibule only as being rennovated) and the Wren Chapel (4,8).

 

Greenwich Panoramas and Wide Scenes

Greenwich views and buildings invite a panoramic treatment. I was using both in camera panorama mode 1, 3 and 4, Lightroom stitches - 2 and wide-angle lens. As part of the day, we visited the Great British Seaside and I was particularly taken with the Simon Roberts images taken of crowds from high angles so hence some of the other images.