Many Shades of Green at Byron's Pool

We took an amble along the river at Byron's Pool in Grantchester yesterday in bright sunlight giving great intensity to the colours.

Sandy Heathland - More Interesting Inhabitants

Thanks Richard for the information about the Ivy Bee colony at Sandy - we spent a fascinating couple of hours there watching the amazing number of bees digging (females) or just hanging around waiting for a female to emerge (males). I didn't manage a mating ball so I may have to return!! Perhaps even more interesting for me was the Digger Wasp that caught a fly and then flew off with it, a Broad-headed Bug (Alydus calcaratus)  and also one lonely Bee-wolf Wasp.

Autumn Hues at RSPB Sandy

There was a real feel of autumn at RSPB Sandy this afternoon, with the bracken turning colours along with the trees. A few fungi about but everywhere is very dry. Een the Darter had an autumn tinge.

Ivy Bees and Other Local Insects

 The Ivy Bee having arrived in our area about 4 years ago is now by far the commonest visitor to the ivy flowers. The bees in the first images are at their nest on a neighbour's lawn. There were also lots of Shield bugs on my walk round Toft including the Box Bug, which is another winner from global warming, Dock bug and the colourful Hawthorn Shieldbug. Otherwise lots of Cucumber spiders at work and still a good number of hoverflies and wasps.

Barton Dragonfly Pools

I paid a brief visit to the dragonfly pools at Barton yesterday morning - there is a lot less water than previous years as the vegetation has grown up. There were Emperor, Southern Hawkers (no photo) and Common Darters. Just a few hurried shots plus a retreating Hare and a Heron.

Reflections of Our Times - Flying Pigs and Masks

The Flying Pig on Hills Road has welcomed locals with open arms since being built in 1840.It is now known for its live music, the pub has a colourful history, including the Pink Floyd legend Syd Barrett. It was due to be completely demolished for a new development scheduled for the area but has been 'Saved' but the proposed changes make it impossible to run as it is now. see https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/flying-pig-pub-not-saved-17326982.

Cambridge was very busy with lots of visitors coming in by train on Sunday. A few wore masks, including one lady fully prepared with eye shields as well, while some looked please to remove them after the train journey,