Migrant Hawker - MVCP

This Migrant Hawker was in the "stream" that is at the back of the MVCP Sensory Garden, near the visitor's centre this afternoon. Photo by Martin Green.

Butterflies at Pegsdon Hills

Chalkhill blue, clouded yellow and speckled wood butterflies plus a dark bush cricket. All taken at Pegsdon Hills this Saturday (Helen Michell took the photos of the chalkhill blue).

Dragonflies and a Wasp Spider

Andy and I took advantage of the weather and made a brief afternoon visit to Duck End NR, Maulden, recording amongst other things Common Darter, Ruddy Darter and Emerald Damselfly. Then we popped over to Stratton Park Balancing Lake near Biggleswade where we were extremely surprised to find a Wasp Spider. All photographs by Melissa Banthorpe.

Common Darter DENR

Ruddy Darter DENR

Emerald Damselfly DENR

Wasp Spider, Argiope bruennichi, at Stratton Park Balancing Lake Biggleswade

Clouded Yellow

There were four Clouded Yellow at Ledburn Road Sandpit opposite Tiddenfoot, Leighton Buzzard this afternoon - all very active !

Garden Moths - Stewartby Lake

Martin Palmer set up his moth trap in my parent's garden near Stewartby Lake yesterday evening. We got a total of 25 species of macro moths and 9 different micros. Here are a few photos of the moths...

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Swallow ProminentMicro moth Number 1305

Silver-washed Fritillary

A somewhat worn Silver-washed Fritillary at Chicksands Wood today - this is the only shot I managed to get before it was gone.

Not just black and white

A striking moth of oak woods at this time of year is the Black Arches, Lymantria monacha. This was one of 32 that came to an actinic trap in Potton Wood last night. When disturbed they have a defensive posture that seems to involve arching the body and showing a flash of red along the abdomen, presumably to warn off any inquisitive birds.

Half a dragonfly?

I came across this bizarre sight by one of the ponds at The Lodge last week. It took me a few seconds to realise that this darter had been pulled into a hole by something (a wasp?). As you can see by the second 'action' shot, he wasn't too happy about it!