Elephant and footman

The night before was a bumper night for the moth trap and I am still trying to identify all the different moths that paid me a visit. Two nights running I have had a peppered moth, and yesterday a darker version of this moth as well- which is what my book shows. A very different moth to look at.
Wondered what these small guys were but have discovered they are common footman - had a half dozen of these, some of them settling on the outside wall of the trap.

And another hawkmoth- this time this lovely elephant hawkmoth which was very happy to sit on my finger for a while and spend all day in a shady spot of the garden. There was also the big privet hawkmoth - having overcome my slight reticence I let it climb onto my finger to carry it to a spot to release it- and cling it did - it did not want to fly away, but eventually convinced it the lillies were a better place to spend its day than my hand. What attractive creatures these are and what a treat to be able to handle them and see them depart. My journey of discovery continues............

Had a really bad headache so took a stroll at DENR and what a wonderful hour. The reserve was full of fluttering butterflies and I think saw 8 different species - a female orange tip, several ringlets, a large white, large skipper, this meadow brown and this very striking marbled white.

And then this vivid comma- the orange was really stunning against the greens behind it and I have not see one for a while so was well pleased.

I had hoped to get some good photos of the prettiest stars and put some effort into this - there were 15 I found today and for once I feel I came home with 4 really nice shots that show the delicate beauty of the emerald damselfly. Also disturbed a brown hawker- my first for this year but no photo as it headed off up into the trees, But maybe next visit. And the stroll was much better than a paracetemol......................

Butterflies on a showery morning

It was a morning of sharp showers but I was keen to get acquainted with Marston Thrift and to learn some more about butterflies, so I got out the raincoat and joined a very intersting BNHS walk. It was well worth it- the aim was to see a black hairstreak and some of the amblers thought they did, but I didn't- but I did see a few butterflies and get to know a little more about them. Many things seem obvious once you know but it only sunk in with me today that the type of tree r bush is helpful in identying what you see! So the ringlet likes blackberries and that is where I saw a handful of them today. It does not often sit with its wings open so I was lucky to see this one and get a photo. It was an added bonus to see a red kite fly overhead and to disturb a buzzard in the woods.

Have struggled with the difference between large and small skippers but had help with this and am confident now that I have been seeing large skippers-they are a little larger, more orange and with more mottling and no black edging! Good job I had had the bins with me.

And having seen one black tailed skimmer it was good to see several common blue damselflies - all away from the ponds and some of them tenerals. But the big bonus was getting to know another site for ambling and spending a very pleasant morning chatting about nothing more than ambling, butterflies, dragonflies and rain! and the weather augers well for some dragon hunting on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The prettiest star

It has not been good dragonfly weather this last week - too much rain or wind and not all that warm. So a warmer afternoon ahead of forecaste rain this evening called for a visit to Duck End. It was well worth the trip and in short visit I saw over a 100 azure damselflies. There were a good number of tenerals and females were much in evidence which was good to see.

DENR was the place I first met the 4 spotted chaser and the last two years saw a good few of them there. This year numbers seem less and the only one I saw today was this lovely creature perching for a while over one of the ponds.

But the real treat -the emerald damselfly- probably the most beautiful damsel of all - the prettiest star. It was so good to find 11 adults and 2 emergents today and on all but one pond. It was a good visit- several butterflies and a cinnabar moth and I think.......a young buzzard?

Best guess

Had the moth trap out last evening and it was full of hearts and darts this morning. My little pots arrived and I had a go at capturing some moths into them so I can have a better chance to identify them but its tricky! The prettiest little moth was bright green but it got away- so its anyones guess. I really struggle with working out what they are- my book shows them with wings closed often and its going to be a long journey to learn about them - but one I look forward to. I think I may have got this one sorted - a Fan-foot - but its a best fit guess! If so it is a common moth which means I have a better chance of being right- my first guess is only found in Guernsey so that ruled that one out! Anyway there are always lots more moths........

A glimpse of gold

I was over towards the A1 and the sun came out, and my camera was in the car so no excuse needed then but to detour to Roxton and have a stroll along the river. I was hoping to see the scarce chaser, but my first treat was this immature male black tailed skimmer. I saw a few on the wing but this one posed nicely on a little bridge. Lots of common blue damsels, many in cop, very many shimmering banded demoiselles and a good number of blue tailed damsels. Enjoyed seeing the large red eyes on the lilly pads and the mayflies still dancing in the air, the tiny pair of wrens singing their hearts out and the buzzard above. A four spotted chaser put in an appearance and then a glimpse of gold as at last this lovely creature flew by and then perched nicely for me to take a photo - at last - the scarce chaser, and having seen one- of course I then saw a couple more, but I am thrilled to add this and the skimmer to my list for this year, and feeling very happy I headed home- with another little detour at Duck End - but thats for another day............

The circle of life

You may not think this is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen - but look again, it tells a fantastic story. This is the exuvia of a brown hawker dragonfly. It is the shell or case that the final instar larva emerges from. So when the larva is ready to move on to its final lifestage as the beautiful dragonfly it bursts its way out of this case, and what it leaves behind is an exact replica of itself as a larva.

I had a wonderful day this week at Wicken Fen Dragonfly Project studying these exuviae, and learning about them. Hours spent peering at them through as micropscope (new skill) and starting to understand how to work out whether it is a dragon or damsel, the family and hopefuly the exact species. The whole day just reminded me again what wonderfully made creatures these are and how much they are just right for their habitats and lifestyles.

So now I shall not only be ambling about looking at the beautiful creatures on the wing, but trawling amongst the pond margins for exuviae so that I can start honing my new found skill and fascination. Anyone got a spare microscope?

Its perfect

It has been a truely busy week - a good busyness but little time for ambling, and the few odd moments that came along were cold or wet. So no dragons or the like but in a few sunshiney seconds did grab some photos of the array of colour in the garden. Oh that I could convey the fragrance which is wonderful, the sweetness of the orange blossom, the delicate honeysuckle and the floral scents of the rose bushes. We have planted roses that look lovely but also have a fragrance and this year they have come into their own. Amongst them are the poppies, the last peonies, the lavender and more - but the overall effect is of clashing colours that should not work but in nature never fail to, or different shapes and sizes, the spires of red hot pokers, and just an overall impression of creation as it should be- perfect.

It's so exciting.

What a morning - woke up in need of some encouragement for the day and striaght out to look at the moth trap- and wow- over 40 moths but the piece de resistance for me- two privet hawkmoths. The first I have ever seen and they have blown me away. I have to confess I used to be scared of moths so having a trap has been a very positive experience and I have really started to appreciate the huge number of different moths, their sizes and colours and am keen to learn more. And seeing them so close up and then reading about them is just a great way to get to know them. I have a good number to set to and identify from last evening and wont get that done today but the hawkmoth stood out and could not be resisted. How many photos can you take of a moth? (Question from David who was eventually roped in to be the display stand). Fab! And for my record its called sphinx ligustri - is common and this one was 53 mm long.

The emperor has new clothes

Spirits dived a bit this afternoon so a stroll was the solution on Flitton Moor. Even though it had clouded over it was a very pleasant place to be. Saw this beetle which at first I thought to be a wasp beetle, but a closer look makes it strangalia maculata - a beetle of the hedgerow and woodland margins which is exactly where I found it.

Definitely the large version of the Skipper butterfly- saw quite a few of these on the Moor.
A butterfly that looks like the holly blue but I think is the common blue- it has no checking on the white fringe and the black outline is not as broad as the holly blue pictures I have seen.

And on the pond- oh joy- two emperor dragonflies patrolling their territories but too busy and unwilling to perch for their photos to be taken and try as I might every shot I took shows only pond! Must learn the way to catch them on the wing. One of them did some aerial fighting with a four spotted chaser which was great to watch. Quite a few azures, a couple of LRDs and it was good too to find a small number of blue tailed damsels. Spirits lifted!

Leopard Moth

A good night in the moth trap and this stunning moth was the best. It is a leopard moth -Zeuzera pyrina. It is recorded as common - but who cares - I think it is a beauty. Definitely the largest moth I have had so far and quite distinctive. Alongside this were a number of heart and darts, a pug that flew off before I could take its portrait and a carpet moth or two- need to look more carefully to see which sort, but a really nice start to the day.