Insects etc in Infrared

Using a macro lens on my infrared-converted camera, reveals features not seen using a normal camera such as the eyes on the spider and the pollen grains on the fly body.

Brimstone and Silver-Washed Fritillary Butterflies

Annual attempt to catch some sharp and attractive flight shots.

Bradfield Woods - Life in the Undergrowth

Using my Fuji compact with a close-up attachment gave a great feel of what it is like to be an insect deep in the leaves. Caterpillar is that of a Vapourer Moth and the next image a Silver Y moth. The delicate Ichneumon is injecting its egg into a grub living in the knapweed head. The last image, not so welcome, is a mite waiting to jump onto a passing host - usually dogs, deer, cattle.

Flowers on Buxton Heath

Buxton Heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), supporting a wide range of wetland plants, including several species of orchid. The bogs are fed by a spring at the western end of the site carrying somewhat chalky waters and are surrounded by a mosaic of wet heathland, dry acidic heathland with all three species of 'heather', and birch/oak woodland. Here are a few examples of the marshland flora - Marsh Helleborine, Marsh Orchid, Ragged Robin, Lesser Spearwort, Sundew with its inconveniently long flower spike and Dodder trailing over the Bell Heather.

Buxton Heath - Dragonflies and Butterflies

I spent a very enjoyable day on Sunday on a Naturetrek Day with Mike Crewe on Buxton Heath and neighbouring woodland looking primarily at Dragonflies, Butterflies and Plants. Here are the first group of images - Keeled Skimmer (female), Black-tailed Skimmer (female), Keeled Skimmer (male) Common Darter, Azure Damselflies, Common Darter pair, Broad-bodied Chaser (male), Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Silver-Studded Blues, ? Caterpillar and White Admiral.