Activity On and Around the Pond

Yesterday was hot and sunny in Cambridgeshire and our pond area was alive with Red and Azure Damseflies laying into the weed, Pondskaters on the surface of the pond and lots of insects etc in the surrounding vegetation including a Small Copper (first sighting in the garden I think)

Hidden Dangers in the Buttercups

I thought I had photographed  a different species of bee in a Buttercup in my meadow area and it wasn't till I downloaded the images that I discovered the flower Spider Mesumia vatia had caught it. However, I did spend a long while taking various shots of the same species on a daisy head. This species can adapt its colour to that of the flower or leaf and is so confident in its camouflage that it doesn't attempt to hide!! Some other species to add to the garden list.

Garden Pond and Meadow

The only downside to having a wildlife garden for me is the amount of time I spend merely watching the plants and animals rather than working in it!! Here some images taken in very bright conditions - there were at least 8 pairs of Red Damselflies and 2 pairs of Azure Damselflies egg laying, plus Pond Skaters, Newts and Wasps coming for water for nest building. The Buttercups are giving way to Common Vetch, Yellow Rattle and Scabious

Rutland Water Walk 2. Other Birds

The variety of birds that we saw at Rutland was great but the viewing distance and photographing into the sun for most shots means they definitely come into the 'for ID and Memories' category only. The Osprey(s) kept us entertained most of the day, soaring and hovering in the distance while Kestrel and Marsh harrier also hunted in the distance plus the usual wetland species.

Local Orchids

The Man Orchids at our local Cambridgeshire site are in full flower at the moment but are very short in stature and numbers compared to recent years. This is an early date for them; 2010 was the other year that I recorded them in May and again they were short (Ann Miles Blog: Man Orchid (pin-sharp.blogspot.com)). I only found one Twayblade and this was very small and just a handful of small Common Spotted Orchids including a completely albino form

Rutland Water Walk 1. Grebes and Egrets

Plenty to see and photograph on our RPS Nature Group outing to Rutland Water though most of it was fairly distant. Here images of Great Crested Grebes at various stages with some pairs on nests, others showing courtship behaviour or arguing over territory. Lots of Little Egrets and one Great White Egret entertained us.