RPSB Sandy on the Hottest Day

We  visited RSPB Sandy on the hottest day so far of the year - my car registered 34 degrees on a hunt for Bee-wolf Wasps and other interesting insects. After a fairly long wait (fortunately in the shade) a Beewolf arrived carrying its honeybee prey but was unable to locate the exact position of burrow making many repeat visits so we had opportunities to photograph it over half an hour. The other bee-catching wasp, the Ornate Digger Wasp was found nectaring on Fennel along with several other attractive species including Cinnamon Bug, Ant Damsel Bug and Western Conifer Bug, species that are rapidly spreading north with global warming. There were dragonflies in the air so not surprised to photograph a Hobby hunting in the distance.

 

Early Morning Sharpenhoe

I was interested in the effect of shade, cloud and direct sunlight on the colours and appeal of images. Clouds covered the sun when we arrived at Sharpenhoe yesterday morning but these cleared as the sun came above the ridge. All single shots except image 10 which is a focus stack of 10 images.

Sharpenhoe 11th August

Although nowhere near as many as on bumper years, we were pleased to find a good number of Chalkhill male and female butterflies along with Burnet moths. I was trying to anticipate flight shots and achieved a few I like including a Burnet Moth and Knapweed amd the Carpenter Bee approaching a Harebell.

Sandy Heathland Insects

Each year I look forward visiting a site near Sandy and spending several hours recording the various insects that make their home in the sandy soils. Unfortunately (not the right word!!) this year the site has been more or less trashed with cans, litter, broken glass and the remains of BBQs everywhere over the area. So I visited RSPB Sandy heathland instead and relaxed for a couple of hours among the various insects that make their home there. There were limited numbers but a very good range as the following photos show from Beewolf wasps, Ornate-tailed digger Wasps and Epeolus cruciger Red-thighed Cellophane Cuckoo bee. There were also plenty of the Red-banded Sand wasps - this one relentlessly dragging a large caterpillar over long distances and large numbers of what I think is Hedychrum niemelai a cuckoo wasp that is relatively new to our shores.

 

Paxton Survey August 6th

Tuesday was showery and not very warm so there were not many insects on the wing but searching in the grass etc produced 70 plus species including several Grasshopper species and Speckled bush cricket.