Bog bush cricket Metrioptera brachyptera
While at Thirsley common I came across a number of bog bush crickets Metrioptera brachyptera, but this male was the most cooperative, as it sat and posed on the boardwalk. I got a close up too.
Southern migrant hawker Aeshna affinis at Wat Tyler Park, Essex 2013
Regular blog readers will know I am lucky enough to frequent a place that last year had daily sightings of the recently colonising Southern migrant hawker Aeshna affinis, in fact its possible I spent more time than anyone else observing them last year. A month or 2 ago I was emailed about them by James…
Robin wide angles
On the Ashurst campsite in the New forest, we were regularly visited by a very tame robin which would hop between our feet. I thought I’d try some shots with the wide angle lens, though it kept staying in the shade and generally being awkwardly positioned, I still got a few shots I liked. There…
Battle Abbey lake and marsh frog
This time last year I paided a visit to Battle Abbey in East Sussex, where there is a lake full of water lillies And one had a marsh frog on.
Fox in a bin
Back in March I came across this site one evening, a fox hanging out of a bin. She was going in and out of the bin with food from the rubbish. Unfortunately the light was rubbish and she wasn’t holding still much so I had to shoot at ISO 1600. Still I was rather pleased…
Black darter dragonflies, emerald damselflies and other odonata at Thursley Common
Yesterday I had my annual trip to Thursley Common, the most species rich site for dragonflies and damselflies in the country. I managed some nice photos, including these black darters (my first of the year) which posed for some shots. The black mature males were flighty and I only managed this shot of one. Some…
Emerald damselfly cleaning wings video
Here is a video of a emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) doing ‘the worm!’ It is really using its abdomen to clean its wings, which was interesting to watch. You can tell from the video there was a bit of breeze yesterday!
Fulmar
A quick one photo post: fulmar
National Dragonfly Week: banded demoiselle
Species number 4 in my series to celebrate National dragonfly week. Today the banded demoiselle, Calopteyx splendens. This species is usually found slow flowing rivers with muddy bottoms, but they can wander far from these habitats, I’ve seen them a long way from any flowing water. The male (photo above) is metallic blue with a…
National Dragonfly Week: Large Red Damselfly
Species number 3 in my series to celebrate National dragonfly week. Today the Large red damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula. This species is well known to UK odonata fans as the first species to emerge, usually with the first sightings in April, but in exceptionally mild springs they can emerge in March, as some did in 2012.…