Overcast but very warm day produced lots of insect activity including this beautiful male Orange Tip Butterfly and this very hairy Anthomyoiid Fly feeding on a dead Snail. Otherwise spiders in abiundance and 10 species of Plant Bug (Dock and Hairy Bug not shown)..

Encounters at Paxton Pits

Today I helped with a Guided Walk at Paxton for U3A Sawston Bird Group - lots to see including various insects such as this Hornet, which I couldn't get a clear view of through the leaves but this has added a pictorial vignette, which I like. Also shown Variable and Common Damselflies, Craneflies, Scorpion Flies, a Grizzled Skipper and also lots of birds including the final very confiding Dunnock. 

Insects in a Daisy Patch

A selection of insects photographed mainly in a large patch of daisies in my local churchyard including a well-camouflaged Hairy Shield bug. Lots of different nomad bees with some of their Andrena hosts plus a lot of different flies including Greenfly - always a challenge to photograph. Another 'sleeping' Nomad bee this time clasping a daisy petal.

World Pinhole Photography Day

Every year on the last Sunday in April, I try to take part in World Pinhole Photography Day. It is an international event to promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography. These were taken in Oldbury Birmingham in the pouring rain under the canal bridge (no problems with rain drops on 'lens'!) using a home-made lens and old Fuji camera body and in the Travelodge with a unaware model.

 

Toft Bees and Butterfly

 I am a bit behind with sorting images from the garden so here is a batch from last three days of various bees and a beautiful Orange Tip Butterfly taken in various light conditions. The cold conditions have meant that lots of the bees are resting up and in some cases 'sleeping' clinging on to leaves etc with their strong mandibles. Here Nomada flava attached and Nomada goodeniana preparing to rest. The fourth image is N. marshamella then a selection of Andrena species