Monday, June 21, 2021

After the Rain

I explored the local meadow again early yesterday morning after the rain had stopped. Many of the insects were covered in water or their fur waterlogged like the bees. Only the slugs and spiders appeared oblivious of the conditions and continued to feed.




Sunday, June 20, 2021

Hampshire Closeup

We are spending a 9 days in Hampshire with friends exploring some of the nature reserves etc. Unfortunately the weather doesn't look very good this week for insect photography with cool temperatures and cloudy or rainy skies. I expored some local meadows yesterday evening in light drizzle and was surprised how many different flies etc were sheltering in the foliage. I also found a grassing-loving Shield bug - the Tortoise Shield Bug, which I hadn't encountered before. the first is an Ichneumon wasp, Orgichneumon maybe - the family of Ichneumons is so vast that many have not been given common names or even scientific ones. (X100V plus closeup filter)

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Eye-to-Eye With Nature

A few images taken at Strumpshaw during a walk round the reserve late in the afternoon. Some amazing eyes, antennae, colours and shapes when photographing close

 

Friday, June 18, 2021

Man Orchids and Twayblade Pollination

 This year, the man orchids in a local old quarry site have done better than the previous one though not back to peak numbers. There were hundreds of Twayblades growing with them which made the task of photographing some pollinators a bit easier though the strong breezes didn't help. Here a Soldier Beetle with the pollinia attached to its head and a flower showing the position of the pollinia that greet visiting insects. When it visits the next flower, pollen will rub off onto the stigma. Lots of other insects were enjoying the nectar feast but none had triggered the pollinia transferral


Thursday, June 17, 2021

Delights of Royston Heath

This year the original small colony of Adonis Blue have spread to other parts of the Heath. We visited on a windy day and therefore searched more sheltered leeward side of the hills and found mating pairs. The first three images show different approaches to photographing them 1. Using long telephoto throwing the background completely out of focus; 2. wide-angle lens with close up giving a suggestion of habitat and 3. including all the normal habitat as they generally mate on the ground. In the subsequent images several males 'bombed' the pair wanting to get in on the action. A few Pasque flowers are still in bloom. finally a Hoverfly mimic for Bumble bees.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Dragonflies in Flight

We had great fun at Strumpshaw trying to catch the Norfolk Hawkers and Scarce Chasers in flight. I have chosen images that show their amazing agility and the flexing and complete rotational abilities of the wings. Coming into land or leaving a perch demonstrate the use of the wings and legs.