Well howdy-doody folks, I see you've come back for another dose of your favourite medicine, you mad fools!
This time you will definitely need a cushion, something to drink (possibly snacks too if you're of a peckish nature) and a selection of reference books and/or access to the internet, because I don't know half of what I've taken pictures of
I saw Hazel (Noisette)'s posting in the butterfly thread this morning and it reminded me I was disappointed with the number I didn't see yesterday, and so she inspired me to have another go at an insect hunt. So off I went to …… the river (obviously!!). Allow me to explain my reasoning. It was a tad foggy, so I thought a trip to the river for an hour or so would allow the fog to burn off, and the insects to burst from their overnight accommodation, full of vim and vigour. Also, my Mum had had a delivery from the supermarket including Mrs PB's favourite tipple Tanqueray pink grapefruit, gin in a tin.... and I know which side my bread is buttered. Anyhow, to the river...
First up, Little Egret incoming
Landing, graceful as a ballerina
Looook, light as a feather, barely a ripple
Along the bank the demoiselles were out
It had turned out beautifully clear, and the river was moving quite sedately, so there were reflections galore
Now a series of bee's and stuff, so reference materials at the ready....
1
2
3
This could be another banded demoiselle, but since Nige introduced the idea of "variable damselflies" I'm no longer playing guess the species lol
Not sure what the pink is on the leg, pollen sac? parasite/infection?
4
5
And ready for a big Cygnet awwwwwwww….. I think there may be 9!! (They successfully raised full brood of eight last year) ….
So I'd wandered the length of my old bit of river, and had seen a glimpse of the kingie, but I was too slow for a picture, so I returned homewards, ready for the insect part of the trip... at Hod Hill, which is the hill next to Hambledon Hill from yesterday (both National Trust) and is apparently the biggest hill fort in Dorset. It was certainly steep!!
A brown damsel of some sort
A Butterfly, about half the size of a speckled wood
6
There was a bright green grasshopper/crickety thing
7
It took forever trying to get that one in focus, so I took the big lens off, and went 70-300...much easier
A brown grasshopper/crickety thing
8
An Orange-Bum-Bee
9
A lime green and black grasshopper/crickety thing
10
Another brown damsel
A butterfly....
11
Gawd, I hope it gets better than this...I can see them.... flitter, flutter, flitter flutter...LAND for goodness sake!!!
A shiny beetle
12
A series now, featuring the long awaited arrival, of Mr and Mrs Blue Butterfly!!!
13
14
Yesss, I know she doesn't look blue.... but I'm sure I read somewhere the female is brown....not very confusing at all
15
16
17
A different make of butterfly now
18
The light was bright and therefore deceptive, but this was either very pale blue, or white..
Possibly a Small Heath, or may be not...
19
And a right old raggedy one to finish
20
Thanks once again for persisting through the drivel, and thanks to Hazel for the inspiration to do bugs n stuff (got to admit the time flew by peering into the grass and looking for any movements lol) and thanks in advance, because I'm sure there will be a full list of ID's by the morning from my more learned forumites
Stay Safe All
Well worth hunting out the bugs and butterflies, You've got some good butterflies in particular there. I reckon you've got Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue, Brown Argus(?), Small Heath and a possible Adonis Blue. If I'm right about the latter it's quite exciting as they are not common in the UK. Noisette will give you definitive answers. It would be helpful to number your photos so that ID's could be attached to them more easily.
Sorry, forgot about the other birds and critters. Good stuff all round.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks PB, that will make it easier. The one I'm getting (over)excited about is No 13 (possible Adonis). See how the black lines cross the white fringes on the wing edges. They don't on the Common Blue eg No15. Hope I'm right as I've never seen one in the UK only in mainland Europe. I miss my forays to see butterflies.
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Regards, Hazel
Cin J
PimperneBloke said:So could 14 be female adonis blue?
I don't think so. I would have said it was a female Brown Argus but stand to be corrected by someone more expert than me.
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Germain said:Your next challenge is to try and get underwing photos
I did try, I'm just glad there was no-one else passing by as I was scrabbling about with my bum in the air in the vain attempt to get lower than the butterfly's wings without scaring it off!!
And thanks for all the ID's :o)
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Nige Flickr