Damselflies and Dragonflies at Paxton Pits Cambs

It was very useful to refresh my memory as to the differences between the Common Blue Damselfly (first two images with wine-glass abdominal markings and wide upper blue stripe on thorax, images 1 and 2), Azure Damselfly (Stirrup abdminal marking and blue and black stripes about even, image 3) and Variable Damselfly (Stirrup marking but blue stripe is very reduced and sometimes interrupted, also 'bat' marking on penultimate abdominal segment, image 4) during a survey at Paxton Pits yesterday. Other photos are Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly (wings at 45 degrees), female and male Banded Demoiselles, Scarce Chaser and Emperoro Dragonfly.

Austrian spiders - Not for Arachnophobes!

A few spiders from our recent trip to Austria. The first image is not great photo as the subject was small and long way away but pleased to see Nursery spider with young on its back as well as with egg sacs. Orb spiders were everywhere with lots of different prey. The fifth image is of the very small male hiding in a buttercup. Other images - a couple of crab-type spiders.

Kitzbuhl Town in Rain and Shine

We returned from Kitzbuhl yesterday and so here a few final shots of the town in different weathers and times of day. The railway runs round Kitzbuhl in a loop with the centre of the town very compact and attractive. On the Sunday, there would have been a parade for the Festival of the Heart of Christ but rain stopped play but the members of the congregation were very photogenic in their national dress. The last two images show the hotel where we were staying split in two by the Hahnenkamm Gondola lift. I was in the building on the right and the panorama is from my balcony.

 

Marmots on Last Visit to the Kitzbuhl Horn

It was very mixed weather on our last visit up the Kitzbuhl Horn. Delighted to see Marmots playing in the Buttercups. Otherwise concentrated on flowers in their environment and the clouds on the mountains. 

Rainbow at the End of the Day; A Visit to Schwarzsee, Austria

A very enjoyable day walking to and around the Schwarzsee concluded with a spectacular rainbow over Kitzbuhel town and valley. The lake is a dark colour from the underlying peat soil; this contributes to its warm water - 24 degrees when Peter swam in it yesterday It was a cooler day with showers so we found lots of insects in the grass too cold to move fast including Damselflies and this beautiful Dragonfly (IDs to follow).