Sharpenhoe

Ann had organised an RPS day to photograph the Chalkhill Blues on the Downs near Barton-le-Clay. It turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  There were clouds of butterflies though the only time they kept still was when they were mating.  

Way Out West

Aldreth, the Back of Beyond.  Wheat and Potatoes.  The Old West River.  Burned out homesteads and  rusting cars.  Good walk with Barry and Sue.

Out and About

Ann created a 'photohunt' by photographing key items in Cambridge and providing a map of where they were, then asking for a photo from the immediate area.  In several of these I've included the key.  A dozen or so club members turned up and we had a right old chinwag (or is that maskwag?)

Royston Heath (again)

We took Bug with us and she managed to photograph a variety of butterflies.  She also found two separate female Wasp Spiders; the top one is my image with a basic Olympus lens (and shows three male spiders waiting for their chance to mate) while the second image is by Bug with her £45 camera.

Cambridge Wakes Up . . a Bit

Cambridge is slowly coming back to life.  Ann and I went in to find subjects for a photo hunt for Saturday and had tea and chips on the market.  There seemed to be a few more tourists around and a guitarist played jazz in the sunshine.  There were rough sleepers back on the streets and more than a few empty shops that had gone bust.  

The Blues

Therfield Heath had lots of Chalkhill Blues, and I found one Brown Argus (pic. 4).  The 'black' Peacock seemed to have lost all of its colour.  

Lammas Land

We took the girls to have an ice cream and see the ducks and swans and play Pooh-sticks and climb trees.  Bug used her new camera, a steal at £45 from eBay, and wore her ready-reference T-shirt - not that she needs it.

Insects at Lark Rise

It was Butterfly Central at Lark Rise, but still no Blues or Arguses.  The Commas and Gatekeepers were new, and the Ringlets and Whites tatty.  We found two Wasp Spiders, one of which was wrapping up its lunch, and several Roesel's Bush Crickets.

Marbled Whites

Seven or eight Whites in the Wood, and many Meadow Browns.

American Cemetery

We spent a quiet hour or two at the Cemetery this morning.  One cross showed an infantryman with an Italian name who died on 6th June, 1944 - D-Day.  A number of other graves with Italian names had a single white flower placed on them, but there was no link of service or unit.