The Lodge, Sandy

A chance visit to RSPB HQ turned up a Hobby nest with three downy chicks in it, four days from fledging, we were told.  The parents defended the airspace around the nest, having dogfights with Kestrels and Sparrowhawks, but the resident Buzzards did not come near.  

Blue/Argus ID

From top: Small Heath; Gatekeeper; Small Copper; Common Blue female (with white around the hindwing eyespots); Brown Argus (no white around the eyespots); Common Blue with complete halo of eyes; Brown Argus (with two vertical spots at top of hindwing underside);  Burnet Moths mating.  All at Burwash Pools. 

Rye Meads

This was our first visit to RSPB Rye Meads this year, and there were many young birds around, including tree-climbing moorhens.  The Sedge Warbler was still feeding young, and the Kingfishers were about to start their third brood of the year.  

More Horses

Again all at 1/60th second.

Over The Sticks

At a local horse trials I took all my pix at 1/60th second.  The success rate was not high but the best results were pleasing.

The Great Eastern Pingo Trail

A day out with John and Christine Bulpitt at the Pingo Trail in Norfolk turned up Small Copper, Long-Horned Beetles, Gatekeepers and Ruddy Darter dragonflies.  These are quite large insects, but got caught in the web of the Four-Spot Orb Web Spider (female) who packed it up for lunch.  A Comma liked the salt on a human hand and remained there for ten minutes or so.  Pingoes are small ponds and are home to many species of dragonfly.

The Blues Again

Blue butterflies have been around lately, along with this battered comma (a semi-colon?) and the commonest species of hover fly, according to Ann.  

Silver Oranges

The Silver-Washed Fritillaries are back in Gamlingay Woods.   They were fresh and mint, unlike most of the Ringlets and Meadow Browns.  Even the Green-Veined White had a chunk out of its wing.