Garden macro

That elusive garden rarity, the Seven-spot Ladybird


Peacock butterfly caterpillar (I think). Several of these hairy beasts were munching their way through a patch of nettles next to the veg patch.




Sunflower buds


Broad-bodied Chaser wing. Picked this up on the pond spoil heap. Did it die of old age or did a Hobby get it?

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

The very hungry caterpillar

Darren found this furry black caterpillar making its way into our house this afternoon. A quick bit of rooting around on the internet found its identity: White Ermine moth. We haven't seen that in the garden so far!

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Butterfly twitching!

My afternoon's work was interrupted (briefly) this afternoon by a phone call informing me there was a Silver-washed Fritillary on a buddleia nearby. I managed to 'connect' with it at the second attempt, but not until after I'd been spotted loitering by the Chief Executive... Just as well I wasn't the only one there.

It was a fantastic butterfly - a big, less-tatty version of a Comma - but it was far too quick on the wing for me to get any photos.

So here's another Painted Lady, instead:


We spent some time looking after work, in case it had hung around, but there was no sign of the fritillary. Still loads of Silver Ys and Painted Ladies, and at least four Hummingbird Hawkmoths.


Well, there were until one of them got caught by a Hornet!


I didn't witness the event itself, but apparently the Hummer was minding its own business, nectaring along with all the other insects when a Hornet came along and grabbed it.

The moth must have received a sting before someone came to its rescue (argue about the ethics of that one, if you like, but it wasn't me!) and, despite the best efforts of those present, it did not recover.

Later, at Grafham Water (for no particular reason)...

Common Blue Damselflies in 'mating wheel'

Cinnabar moth caterpillar on its foodplant, Ragwort

Silver Y moth on Knapweed

Spider on web

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

It's too hot!

Singing Wren

Mute Swan family

'There once was an ugly duckling...' Not really. Aren't they lovely?

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillar

We spent this morning searching for Yellow Wagtails on the Nene Washes. Probably not a very good idea. Not only did we fail to find any, but by the time we finished, temperatures were getting near the 30 degrees Celsius mark. Too hot for me, with this humidity!

The highlights, in the absence of any wagtails, were dragonflies. A few Hairies about, including a mating pair, lots of Four-spotted Chasers and an assortment of damselflies, with quite a few Blue-taileds.

With a bit of luck, we'll get some big thunderstorms to help clear the air.

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Exmoor

View to Bridgwater Bay from Dunkery Hill, 7.35am

Male Stonechat, County Gate, Devon (only just)

Looking north across the Bristol Channel at County Gate

Small Heath butterfly

Caterpillar - identity unknown! As ever, please let me know if you recognise this insect

• Thanks to Charlie Moores for identifying the mysterious beast as an Oak Eggar caterpillar
  

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

Looper

This is a 'looper' caterpillar in action. At the moment I don't know what species of moth it'll turn into, but doubtless someone out there knows...

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

The Drinker

I'm informed that the furry caterpillar I saw at Woodwalton this morning is that of The Drinker moth.



What's in my CD player: Is A Woman - Lambchop