Garden Species 17th September

Raining for most of the day on and off but also a bright interval or two when I ventured out with my camera to see what insects were active. As usual, lots of plant bugs but also a Pine Ladybird and several other species (ID sheet at end)

Galls Found on Trees on Coe Fen in Cambridge

I managed 2 hours Gall-hunting with the Cambridge Natural History Society before the wind and rain arrived and was pleased with the number that we found particularly on the Oak Trees. 

Paxton West Scrub Survey

A few images and full ID sheets from our survey of West Scrub at Paxton. My favourite (not for its sharpness or exposure!) is this Mangora spider and its incredibly even and intricate web unlike the Garden Spider's more random one. I can see a project on spider web construction commencing this autumn.

Lichens and Fungi

 Our photogroup at Paxton spent the morning photographing lichens under controlled lighting (along with some moths that Alan brought in) and then a few fungi that we found on a walk around the reserve.

Lackford Gulls

The light was great for bird watching at Lackford on Tuesday and I enjoyed photographing trying to make images using the contrasty light and shadows - generally not recommended for nature photography. Shooting at 1/3200th second with a 420mm lens on a micro 4/3rd body on high burst revealed a cycle of 4 wing positions as the gulls hovered looking down in the water for food.  I do like the patterns on the gull's breast in the 2nd and 3rd images.