Eye-to-Eye With Nature

A few images taken at Strumpshaw during a walk round the reserve late in the afternoon. Some amazing eyes, antennae, colours and shapes when photographing close

 

Man Orchids and Twayblade Pollination

 This year, the man orchids in a local old quarry site have done better than the previous one though not back to peak numbers. There were hundreds of Twayblades growing with them which made the task of photographing some pollinators a bit easier though the strong breezes didn't help. Here a Soldier Beetle with the pollinia attached to its head and a flower showing the position of the pollinia that greet visiting insects. When it visits the next flower, pollen will rub off onto the stigma. Lots of other insects were enjoying the nectar feast but none had triggered the pollinia transferral

Delights of Royston Heath

This year the original small colony of Adonis Blue have spread to other parts of the Heath. We visited on a windy day and therefore searched more sheltered leeward side of the hills and found mating pairs. The first three images show different approaches to photographing them 1. Using long telephoto throwing the background completely out of focus; 2. wide-angle lens with close up giving a suggestion of habitat and 3. including all the normal habitat as they generally mate on the ground. In the subsequent images several males 'bombed' the pair wanting to get in on the action. A few Pasque flowers are still in bloom. finally a Hoverfly mimic for Bumble bees.

Dragonflies in Flight

We had great fun at Strumpshaw trying to catch the Norfolk Hawkers and Scarce Chasers in flight. I have chosen images that show their amazing agility and the flexing and complete rotational abilities of the wings. Coming into land or leaving a perch demonstrate the use of the wings and legs.

 

RPS Visit to Strumpshaw Fen

 The weather for our Nature Group visit to Strumpshaw was hot and sunny - should have been just right for Swallowtails but, alas, this year they are in short supply as for other butterfly species. A few of us did photograph one that stayed for a few moments on a thistle in the Meadow. Dragonflies, on the other hand, were plentiful with Four-spotted Chasers (1-3)  and Scarce Chasers (4-6) and Norfolk Hawkers (7,8) the principal performers. I was trying different 'artistic approaches so quite a variety of backgrounds etc!