Time for a Blog Update -Insects

These are just a few photos taken from various locations in deepest Northumberland ,one of these days I will set up an insect studio at home they do offer a great challenge to try and get some decent shots ,in the field its' get what you can sometimes they will sit still and you can get as close as you like ,other times the slightest movement and their  gone 

 Not seen many Painted Lady  this year this only the 3rd

 Those compound eyes are fantastic and the Desperate Dan look (Google him)

 This Vole deep in the cover hence used the flash

I had noticed these sort of dark stains on the leaves of Rush which looked like  something had been feeding on |Blackberries !! this day I saw this Spider then another came along not sure if they where fighting or mating ?

 The black stains look like possible Spider egg casings? but not sure if it was just a coincidence the interaction took place there or it's something else . Nature is fascinating to watch always posing more questions ,these where about 6-8 feet away over water  so the camera did well to capture anything

 The Fantastic Comma just happened to land at my feet

Shield Bug I have looked at these before and am sure I have photographed this before but at the moment can't find my book , I don't think it's always necessary to  name everything  lots of insects are in Latin only which I always forget.

Another Shield Bug again taken with my SX50 the background is that plastic wood but it does provide the ideal backdrop ,this ones green as opposed to the other which is sort of a golden brown , you see I am learning all the time ..

Butterflies & Dragonflies

Some photos from June of Butterflies  and Dragonflies from various visits around the local area some nice sunny days helped with the emergence of some new species for the year . No sign of any Broad Bodied Chasers as yet , I probably hear about them when it's to late , a visit to Belasis Bridge to see the Banded Demoiselle was a literal wash out with the river running high and fast the only thing noted was a Crayfish hanging on to the vegetation trying not to get swept away


11-6-14

 My first and so far only Painted Lady in the front garden in company with three Red Admirals

First Common Darter of the year with two just emerged



10-6-2014

 No idea as yet what this is jut caught my eye

 Green Veined White on Comfrey

 Four Spot Chaser there seemed to be a lot in the grass that had newly emerged  and could be approached closely with care but always with grass in the way

 I like this species it has spread rapidly in the last few years and is now very common with large numbers on suitable ponds

 A very good show of  Northern Marsh Orchid this year these two especially vigorous

 I was photographing another 4SC it flew off then I saw this Exuviae  surprised it was so low to the ground and about a foot and a half from the water , I had assumed they always went up a rush stalk etc: but perhaps on dull days they come up in the thick grass so as not to be easy prey if emergence is delayed , pure speculation on my part  but it was odd that despite 30+ seen this was the only Exuviae seen and I do have a good look for them

These eggs are on Salix no idea what they are seem to rather exposed still there a few days later

Seeing more Speckled Woods now but not as many as previous years or as early

Skippers starting to come out in numbers now

Wall Browns in good numbers in the right habitat

Some more unidentified insects gathering to mate

6-6-2014

Damselfly Exuviae always to far in the water to collect for ID

Anyone that's takes photos of Dragonflies must take hundreds of shots of 4SC  they land nearby inviting you to get there best side , take off and re land in a different pose

What's not to like about these , a sunny day at a pond teaming with life a camera in hand magic!!!

Nothing better than a bloom of flowers , Lesser Spearwort, Ragged Robin, and Northern Marsh Orchid

Another collection of Insects

 

 

Cresswell and the Bonxie

Saturday headed up the coast stopping at any sheltered spot that mat have had any Dragonflies, at this time of year they can be found hanging from a bush or tree trying to absorb the suns energy  we found plenty of common darter a 2-3 Speckled  Woods on the wing also Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell  but no larger hawkers. Checked out the flash at Lynemouth single Ruff and Curlew sandpiper in with the c50 Dunlin good to see some waders on here at last, masses of Hirundines  over to hard to even estimate with mixed feeding of House martin , Swallow and Sand Martin. Passing Cresswell the car park was full of cars so we headed to the top end  which actually had nothing other than a singing Chiff  on to Druridge again nothing much of interest but at least more Butterflies in the form of Small Copper ,Painted lady and Wall Brown with again many Common Darters landing on your head ears and anywhere else they could land . Back at Cresswell I headed to the hide now nearly empty no sign of the Bonxie till it suddenly appeared on the far side looked like it had been off for a bathe it sat preening for forty mins , so I checked over the pond Long Tailed Duck perhaps male 1st winter, Great Crested Grebe  and a quick count of the Gadwall got to me to 100+ the most I have ever seen (I have since heard of much larger counts) this a species you had to go to Gosforth Park for the one reliable site of the day. Well the Bonxie seemed content to just preen moving briefly before settling down on the ground , so I decided to move on packed my gear away and was just heading out the door when all hell broke loose the Coots in a mass panic as was everything else the Bonxie was on the wing creating havoc it made a couple of half hearted attempts to drop on something before settling into the field  ...panic over  though the Coots still milled around in a tight flock not sure what to do , no leisurely feeding and loafing around today for them . 

 Curlew Sandpiper ,Lyenmouth flash best viewed in the morning else your looking into the light as here

 Plenty of Ladybirds around at some spots !

 Common Darters a plenty at Dru these on the bench

 Red Admiral

 Small Copper on Bistort

 Painted Lady first for sometime

 And the Bonxie in flight creating panic in every direction