Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

My white Buddleia is attracting loads of interest this year and I couldn't resist posting this image.
On the other side of my garden fence is the Bourne Valley local nature reserve, so anything in my garden would have come from the reserve. In fact the reserve has many of its own Buddleia plants probably originating from gardens around the reserve. The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly is one of our most common but they always look amazing up close.

Britain's largest Hover Fly

Volucella Zonaria is about 2cm long and is easy to spot because its so big compared to other hover flies. Its a new arrival in he UK since 1940 (probably due to global warming) and is now fairly common.

Downy Emerald Dragonfly

This little beauty was sat in the long grass for ages. As far as I know its a female Downy Emerald Dragonfly. Shot at only 1/50th of a second hand held at F/16 I managed to get all of her in focus. I can see amazing details on the wings and hairs on the legs. She was pretty well camouflaged whilst sun bathing.

Glow worm, Lampyris noctiluca

At last I have found a female glowworm shining brightly in the long grass around midninght on a still warm night. 

Its June 20th, the day before the summer solstice and I cant believe how bright the glow is.

This gloowworm has spent the last 2 years a larva feeding on snails and living under rotting wood. She cant fly, cannot eat and will only live for a few weeks. She is trying to attract a male and mate. After hopefully laying up to 150 eggs she will shortly die.

Peacock Butterfly 20130808

The reserve as quite a few Buddleia plants which the peacock butterfly loves.

Speckled Wood Butterfly

I think this is a female as its quite bright but please correct me if  I am wrong as the male and female are very similar.

Closed Red Admiral







A windy August day and I found the colourful Butterfly hiding on an old apple tree.

Just a flash of red and blue gives it away.

Using a bit of HDR brings the shadows to life.

Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

This is one of our largest Dragonflies and with its bright yellow and black banding is easy to spot.

Its often found on Southeren Heathlands but this is the first time I have seen one on the reserve.

It kindly decided to land on this post in my garden to eat what looked liked a hover fly or a small bee. The snack took about 10 minutes before it flew back over the fence to the reserve.



  

The close up picture below show its nasty looking mouth parts and the poor insect.

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warblers are still about but are now flying around in pairs and I can only see 2 pairs. I am very conscious that the breeding season is about to start so I am observing from a distance and rarely stopping. They seem to have little interest in humans or dogs and this individual appeared very close to me as I walked by. Its now half term and a number of schools are close by. The heath will be busier than usual and I am hoping for no fires and minimal disturbance.

This week I saw a group of local school children on a field trip with 4 teachers. As the teacher was talking about the heath, a Dartford Warbler and a Stonechat were singing on the gorse just a few feet away from the them.

None of them noticed!!! 

Taken 26/3/2012 at Midday

Whos watching who?

Every time you take a walk along the Greenway path towards Bloxworth Road you may get that feeling you are being watched. Nearly every time I walk this way I see the fox up on the hill, peering over the bank of sand. It can be any time of day, even at noon in the hot sunshine.

I'm sure many people walk by him and never notice.

Long Tailed Tit

I often see long tailed tits all over the reserve. In the trees with great tits and blue tits and on the heath where ever there are small perching trees. I have often stood very still and these little gems will perch within a few feet of me totally ignoring me as they roam about looking for food. This shot was such an occasion where the bird was over my head in a tree. After I had taken a few pictures it just looked down to see what was making the clicking sound then carried on.