Sunday, June 30, 2024

Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey Paxton

 Definitely lower numbers of Butterflies for our June Survey at Paxton but Dragonflies made up for it with large numbers of Common blue damselflies plus a few Azure and Variable and, mostly strikingly, very large numbers of Emerald damsels and in areas not previously recorded. Here a few images from the day, including male and female Emeralds and Banded Demoiselles, a species of  Potter Wasp, a Red-tipped Clearwing and  Wilke's mining Bee

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Marbled Whites, Southern Hawkers etc in Toft

 At last a variety of Butterflies are on the wing in Toft - not large numbers but several Marbled Whites (all males present in the day and coming in to roost) Meadow Browns  and  Small Heaths and single Large Skipper and Gatekeeper. So far two Southern Hawkers have emerged from our pond (earlier we had Four-spot and Broad -bodied Chasers). Delighted to find a Bryony Bee on the White Bryony - a species p that was restricted to the Southern counties. On a morning walk around the wood and fields with a not very long lens, it was good to see a Hare and Buzzard with a mouse.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Sculptor's Garden

 Last night our Creative Vision Photography Group visited  Toft's sculptor, John McGill and his wonderful garden. Here are a few of my images - these are mainly casts of classical sculptures done many years ago. John is taking part in Cambridge Open Studios the last two weekends in July when he will be exhibiting his very individual bronze creations etc


Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Great Yarmouth

Yarmouth on a sunny out-of-season day was very pleasant with its two piers, quirky public toilets and varied entertainments from donkey rides to the elegant Venetian gardens. The skyline is dominated by the offshore windfarm. I had a go at focus stacking one of the turbines - not sure why one blade appears stationary!!

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Coastal Flowers Yarmouth

During our week in Suffolk, I spent a very enjoyable hour or so in the dunes at Yarmouth photographing the flowers, including Yellow-horned Poppies, Devil's Bit Scabious etc. There was a very confiding Meadow Pipit who came to regard me as another feature of the landscape.