3 June 2008 Holly Hill, Kent

A lunchtime ramble on Holly Hill in the drizzle was perhaps not the most inspiring trip - the view, however, was a little more inspiring than my desk. In a bid to educate myself just a little a few snaps of stuff we all pass by and we all ignore...

First in the lens was a wee Dark Bush-cricket, all of about 6mm head-to-toe. It's going to be a little longer before I can take a few better snaps to enter the competition with Mr Shoelace.

Next up was a hairy hover-fly called Volucella bombylans (I think). This beastie exists in two forms - this one mimicking the White-tailed Bumble-bee. A true fly - I regret to inform that it seems Diptera our now on my radar...

Finally a possible sawfly species - my new Collins guide shows many similar, but not the right combination of white markings, red markings and all that.

3 June 2008 The Lakes, Kent

I phoned Jasper Carrot this evening.
"It's only a matter of time and you'll be 'doing' spiders!", he proudly mocked. "Yeh right, " I replied, "I'm a birder and a bald birder at that!".

Shortly afterwards I was viewing a spid through the viewfinder and getting more confused than ever. And then another, and more confusion.

Still, on this damp June evening a few mollusca could slide in to photographic range. With my new-found 'put a name to it' philosophy, some of them seemed easy. Take Arion ater for starters - Large Black Slug.
Then there was the snails - on this topic, I definately need a new book.

For some of the odd stuff there was a few new names this evening; on the wild rose was Robin's Pincushion Gall (also known as Bedeguar Gall) - caused by Diplolepis rosae, and on the ground ivy was a gall caused by Liposthenus glechomae.

Dragonflies put in a good performance in the rain with a nice Black-tailed Skimmer and many Azure Damselflies (two years ticks on the old 2008 Odonata list). The Azures having a distinctive 'U' on segment two.

Further looking produced Spotted Crane-fly and a couple of other bits which will have to wait until another day before being named with any degree of uncertainty.

Enjoy!

1 June 2008 Pegwell Bay & other places, Kent

A late start saw me eventually heading out after breakfast (about 13.30 to be slightly more precise) - destination Pegwell bay for the adult American Golden Plover. Passing by Manston Airport it dawned on me that my bins were in The Good Lady's car - what with that and the drizzle beginning, I was starting to write the day off. Actually I shouldn't have been overly pessimistic at this stage as it would be another 15 minutes before I realised I hadn't got my camera adapter for the telescope - they say 'information is everything', I'd say that equipment counts for quite a lot when you're trying to see and photograph things!

The AGP duly showed well as did a Red Kite in wing moult as I headed off through Wingham in a bid to see avian stuff at Stodmarsh.

Arriving at Stodmarsh, the Whiskered Tern was showing, just about. A mere half mile distant and through the mist is wasn't perhaps the best. A female Red-footed Falcon was similarly distant and without the Hubble Telescope in my motor, the beauty of these indivuals escaped being captured - by me, at least. At least Bob Knight 'showed well' - see, every cloud's got a silver lining!

And then on to somewhere else for Monkey Orchids.

Just a few Monkey Orchids left in reasonable condition - the Common Twayblades put in a slightly better performance, though they are hardly show stoppers.

31 May 2008 Queendown Warren, Kent

With news of Terek Sand at Rye, Whiskered Tern and Red-footed Falcon at Stodmarsh, the choice of trip this morning was easy - avoid both sites and head for Queendown Warren!

Lots of stuff around - orchids, beetles, plants, reptiles, but alas, no Terek Sands, Red-footed Falcons or Whiskered Terns.

31 May 2008 Queendown Warren - Beetles

A couple of stonking males Stag Beetles. First one located in flight as it flew towards a Hawthorn tree, nearly knocking it over in the process.

Thought that one of the beetles uncovered was a female Lesser Stag Beetle - but now not so sure. Comments appreciated. As for the other two beasties - guess I'll just have to wait till Lee Gregory has a view of these pages and can send some identification suggestions through.

31 May 2008 Queendown Warren - Adonis Blues

I haven't really got any nice snaps of Adonis Blue, so this was one of my target species for the day. Several on the wing, including mating pairs, individuals with odd wings, adults taking minerals from dog shit and just some nice ones pearching out in the open shouting, "Oi Baldie, take my picture!".

31 May 2008 Queendown Warren - Stuff!

Adder and Common Lizard were both new, in terms of species I've snapped for the Grand Photo Competition with Paul. Not sure that these snaps are going to be short-listed, but at least I now know the whereabouts of fours Adders at Queendown Warren - we'll see.

The Broad-bodied Chaser put in a good performance, as did several Brown Argus - or is that Brown Argi?

30 May 2008 Wye, Kent

Promises of Burnt-tip and Late Spider Orchid drew me like a moth to a light to meet up with The Spaniel and Mr Bootlace. Arrived later than others - even from the middle of Wye it was easy to spot two pillocks wandering over the Downs. A failure seemed even more inevitable when a call through to James Hunter confirmed we'd be out of luck. We were.
Evening rescued by The Good Lady who suggested trying out the New Flying Horse in Wye - now who am I to turn down such an offer?

27 May 2008 Chappets Wood, Hants

An early morning visit to the Doctor confirmed that I was in danger of contracting man flu. Clearly I should not go to work - indeed, spreading my germs around the family home could put the good lady wife in danger of this terrible disease. The prescription: fresh air.
Taking the nature of the illness most seriously, I rang Lorna to arrange a day out. Shortly afterwards, the Bearded One and I were heading for Chappets Wood (spelling?), not far off the A30.
One Sword-leaved Helleborine seen along the road leading to the wood - in the wood itself, vast carpets (well, a few hundred plants). The rain of the past few days had caused lots of petal spotting so few flowers were really photographable.
The Bearded One wandered off in his usual senile, "where am I?", way, only to wander aimlessly back with tales of White Helleborine and Bird's Nest Orchid - yeh, right. I then followed The Bearded One who showed me several White Helleborine and a very smart Bird's Nest orchid - nice. A mass of strange snails mooching around, provided me with a new species - though I have no idea exactly which species as yet.
We headed off to explore New Forest stuff.
A call from Mr Bootlace informed me that he and The Spaniel would be heading for Cornwall to see the Small-flowered Tongue Orchid on Thursday - I wasn't sure that I could do Thursday.

27 May 2008 Rame Head, Cornwall

With Paul and Dan's Thursday trip to Cornwall in mind, the car load of the Bearded One and I, discussed the rather daft option of heading south...

Heading south, we crossed into Cornwall via the Torpoint vehicle ferry - free in one way and only a £1 on the return leg. A criss-cross of country lanes and, eventually, we were in the right car park. Armed with Adrian's rather precise inch by inch directions we immediately got lost. Only skill, a sixth sense and copious quantities of luck found us in the right spot - fantastic!

27 May 2008 Buckfastleigh, Devon

The day had been going well...

In celebration of events thus far, the Bearded One enticed me into the Abbey Inn - not for beverages, of course, but to witness the Greater Horseshoe Bat colony that vacates a cave they call 'home', at dusk every evening.

Armed with bins, camera gear, bat detector and a pint of Carling, we waited - and then it all happened - excellent.

25 May 2008 - The Lakes, Larkfield

Common Tern seen this morning from the rear bedroom was a new species for the house. Another Hobby put in a brief appearance but chose not to hang around long enough to be grilled.

22 May 2008 - Detling

A quick visit to Stockbury Wood produced a nice selection of orchids - all within elbow distance.

21 May 2008 - Homefield Wood, Bucks

A quick post meeting in the depths of Buckinghamshire produced some welcome distractions from the minutes of the previous meeting. Military Orchids were putting on a nice performance - though I suspect not as good as I remember them in previous years. A selection of butterflies on the wing included several pairs of Common Blues - next year's generation of butterflies were clearly being created today...