ChrisC

[ChrisC]

what makes this chap so special you ask, he is my first and I didn't have to get in the car to go and see him, he was all on his lonesome a 5 minute walk from my back gate. first time i've seen them out the back, got about 20 pictures of him ranging from terrible to okish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db3SPibpaCc[/video]

[ChrisC]

the other thing i found today was a small colony of what i think are Odynerus spinipes wasps, and they actually make a mud chimney to the hole/burrow. also present investigating the chambers was this cuckoo wasp Chrysis viridula. terrible pic this one and heavily cropped but it shows a burrow and a chimney with the cuckoo and now i know they are there i intend to go back better equipped.

and with all the excitement i forgot to post this one from last weekend, terrible light and right down amoung grass tussocks but this shows mums dedication.

i don't get very far very quickly out walking, can't imagine why

[ChrisC]

anoher quick hour at martin down yesterday. not much flying at 10.00. still managed a few shots.
another attempt at small heath, a better picture than usual for me of one of these but still that blade of grass

male common heath, must have pressed the flash button as it fired for this one, the light was that bad at times, some moths certainly know how to show off thier antennae

i know ... another chimney sweeper but i was surprised at the gold dusting on this one, not sure if it goes as they get older

and i'm sure a better photographer would have had a field day with this little guy. I know i enjoyed wayching him.

and following on from dilletantes Meadow brown, i had put the gear away as i was nearing the car park and i know this is heavily cropped and a terrible photo but the light showed off this meadow brown so well that i had to try to get it. by the time the camera (no time for a lens) was out of the bag i only got this shot, it really was a stunner. so my lesson there was don't put the camera away til your in the car no matter what the weather.

[Wurzel]

Some great shots - I like the way that your skipper shot is from side view. I was at Martin Down too yesterday, from about midday on and it was terrible, and then just as I was giving up there was a break and there was loads of stuff about. I too managed to get (a much worse) picture of the moth so thanks for identifying it for me!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[ChrisC]

thanks for the kind words Wurzel, weather permitting i'm going to try slop bog myself at the weekend.

unlike Susie with her abberations, i just seem to find abominations, i had no idea they did this.

and i just love this old tree but i just couldn't get a picture that would do it real justice.

[Piers]

/\ /\ /\That slug! Chris that is kwality footage to capture! Well done fella.

[ChrisC]

thanks Piers. i do have some video funnily enough i uploaded a few last night. http://www.youtube.com/user/ccourtuk#p/u

[ChrisC]

a scouting trip to sovell down this morning. in just over an hour i got soaked in 3 showers but between the showers i managed to find a few butterflies.your challenge is to guess which i found down the rabbit hole sheltering from the rain

and a pair of burnets before and after a shower

was quite pleased as i wasn't expecting to see any butterflies with the weather.

[Mark Colvin]

I also got soaked this morning but at least you saw something! How about a Small Tortoiseshell in the rabbit hole though the underside of the forewing doesn't look quite right?

[ChrisC]

i had it down as a small tortoiseshell but i only got a brief glimpse before it disappeared in there. perhaps it's the subspecies madhatterus

forgot to add the only Ringlet pic i managed.

[Susie]

your challenge is to guess which i found down the rabbit hole sheltering from the rain

You managed to fit down a rabbit hole! we'll have to start calling you Alice

[ChrisC]

the tea parties aren't much cop though sue

so i made it to slop bog this morning, windy and cloudy (distinct lack of shadows) with the odd bit of sun. so i knew my results wouldn't be too good but they are still an improvement on my old camera

anyone know what plant this one is on?

and you know i can't resist a moth if i see one. this one is the rather local purple bordered gold Idaea muricata

[59 SPECIES]

Chris - I think the Common Blue is on Orpine - Sedum or Stonecrop family - it likes light soils.

[ChrisC]

thanks 59 i'll take a look .
CHris

[59 SPECIES]

Sorry about that Chris - SSB

On closer inspection I'm not so sure it is Orpine. The leaves look too small. I'm pretty certain it is from the Crassula family though.

[ChrisC]

thank goodness for that on both counts, i don't really like to correct or disagree but. . . . . . . . . i did plant native orpine in my old garden and seemed to remember it had very sedum like leaves. the mystery remains
Chris

[Susie]

What were the leaves like, thyme like or succulent? I cant make out the detail in the pic.

[ChrisC]

apparently it's the emerging flowers of cross leaved heath, ironically, because of the leaves, the first thing i looked up. good fun this nature malarky
thanks all.
Chris

[ChrisC]

heard all the talk and thought i'd see for myself what all the fuss was about down at Southwater. conditions far from ideal but still managed a few pics.

I even had a "Padfield" moment . need to take the close up lens off for this really

and could have done with some sun for this as the flash reflection detracts but you have to try these things

along with Silver washed frit and white admiral seen I can see the attraction. a lovely site.

[Padfield]

That first raindrop shows a knapweed reflected in it - beautiful.

If you can get a butterfly on a flower reflected in a raindrop I will be in awe of you!

Guy