Sunbathing Dragonflies

 For some reason, the cycle track bridge over the A1 becomes a favourite sunbathing spot for dragonflies this time of year. 

More specifically, common darters, and even more specifically today, female common darters, three of which were out enjoying autumn sun on the bridge today, their huge brown eyes following me as I tried to get photographs. 

Most of the time, dragonflies are pretty skittish and hard to photograph, but at this time of the year with colder nights - and it was chilly last night - they take a while to warm up and are a bit more amenable to posing for irritating photographers.

The coralberry bushes were busy too today, lots of bees going like hooligans at the last of the flowers. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.09.25

The Last of late Season Colour

 The warm weather disappeared largely very quickly, replaced by unsettled weather and occasionally heavy rain that blocked my guttering and caused water to run down my kitchen and living room walls. 

Plaster wrecked, good job I'm renting. 

Back issues have eased, but sciatica remains an issue some mornings when I wake up. I get into some mad positions when I sleep. 

So, what's out there?

White butterflies are still around, honey bees too and bufftailed and common carder bumblebees. All feeding of the last flowers in bloom - hawkbut, bristly oxe tongue, the occasional creeping thistle. Ivy mining bees have also been around feeding off guess what ivy flowers. 

I'll show you what I've found. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.09.25

Photo Dump amid more Health Issues

 Summer's over, Autumn begins, and with that I've had a sudden spike in Tourettes, IBS and eczema symptoms. Joyous stuff. Goes to show how neurodiverse conditions, GI issues and skin troubles are all linked. 

That being said, I've still got out there briefly, to take photos at the library gardens or on my work campus, waving my Pixel 6A around and getting strange looks from a few folk as always!

Let's see what we found, starting with a small white butterfly I found in the library gardens nature reserve today. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.09.25 

A Tiny Brown Argus

 With my back in somewhat better shape, I've been able to be a bit more mobile again, and get a bit closer to the generally rather low down action. 

The hot weather has gone and the weather is changeable, but still pretty pleasant when the sun decides to make an apperance. Therefore butterflies and bees have been on the wing, although on our campus there's not much in bloom for them to nectar off - ragwort, coralberry, and the remaining creeping cingquefoil. 

So lets see what's been out there, that I've managed to successfully stalk without my Tourettes ticcing scaring them off! 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.08.25

A Butterfly in the Garden

 Finally I have some new content for you!

I've had a rotten few days. I've had time at work, but gave myself a back spasm - thanks again, cricket - and it left me immobile for a few days. I've only been able to go for walks again the last couple of days, and so sad as always that the time of colour is coming to an end. 

This week has felt distinctly autumnal. But these last couple of days, a hew buzzers and flutterers have been out notwithstanding. 

As I left my flat this morning, a comma butterfly was feeding off the "communal" buddleia. I rushed back inside to get my phone, and got one shot before it headed for the rather grey heavens. A beautiful specimen, fresh out of the packet. 

I've found bees in the park and library gardens, scabious, rudbeckia and cornflower are still out for them to feed off. 

And I've been bending down very gingerly to photograph them. 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.08.25

Latest Critters from our Campus

 Welcome back!

What have I been up to? Well, struggling with food is where I have been. I'm now wheat intolerant as well as lactose intolerant, and have to avoid foods high in FODMAPs like the plague. 

No more normal bread - I'm on gluten free stuff that is only free if toasted. No more cheese or milk. No more fried food. A lot of fruit and veg is now out. No more caffeine. 

Worst of all, no more rum. Jack Sparrow would be weeping. 

No more joy lol. 

So, rice and chicken anyone? 

There have been some improvements, but working out what is best for me as an IBS-M sufferer is proving to be really really tricky. This is a long term slog. 

I'm still keeping my eyes out on nature. Today's big prize was the sinister bee-wolf, a solitary parasitic wasp that likes to paralyse honey bees before feeding them alive to its offspring. 

A charming creature, to be sure. 

Hope you are all well. 

Si 

All text and images CreamCrackeredNature 08.08.25 

A First Common Blue of the Year

 You know me when I'm at work, when the Tourettes tics become too much, when the ADHD demands movement, that I take 5 minutes to have a quick bimble outside, to see what's afoot on campus, to spy what's on the wing. 

On a patch of grass,where a few birds foot trefoil where to be found - a species that seems to have suffered horribly locally with the dry spring and summer - a low flying glimmer of blue caught my eye.

Creeping a little closer, and taking great care not to lose it as it flew, I saw the tan coloured spots on the wing that indicated the presence of a male common blue butterfly. 

It settled on one of the yellow blooms, and edging closer still, I was able to get a few shots - sadly not great ones - as it happily nectared away in the warm sunshine. 

Small, and rather lovely. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.07.25

See if I can find you Some Butterflies

 Let's dig into my recent photographs and see what butterflies and moths I can find for you! 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.07.25

Kinoulton Fun

 Sunday saw me take a side out to play Kinoulton at their pleasant little ground down endless bumpy lanes going out towards the Leicestershire border. 

I was thinking we were going to be going in with an actual 11 players, but as it turned out we had two late drop outs, so I was left with 9. Ah, never mind, I thought. It was a nice day, we'll figure it out. 

After "winning the toss" - me basically being asked by the very pleasant Kinoulton co-captains if I wanted to bat first, I tried to sort out some kind of batting order and see what would unfold. 

Kinoulton had said they had a very young side, but it certainly wasn't as young as ours. But our opening bats, the youngest and oldest players on the team I think, made a fantastic start, and batted with great authority for the first 15 overs and getting a fine 50 partnership on the board. I umpired for the second half of this, while spending the first half filming a hummingbird hawk moth that was putting on a show feeding off the buddleias in the posh gardens overlooking the ground. 

It was after drinks when things started to go wrong. One of the Kinoulton skippers, wearing an Oasis bucket hat which I found myself wearing while he was bowling. 

Cue much terrible punnage - "Champagne Super-Over", "Wonderball", and most disgracefully "Well that's Definitely Maybe out" being said myself when I had to give our young opener out plumb LBW. 

He then castled two more of our bats, taking three wickets for no runs and leaving us without much more batting in the tank, or so I thought. However, a debutant played decided to go postal in the last few overs with some big hitting. 

His power was remarkable, given that he didn't seem to move until the ball was about a foot away from him, before he whipped his wrists through generating incredible bat speed. In partnership with a young players dad, he got us to 124 for 6, much to my joy as it meant I didn't have to bat. 

I was actually going to send out a couple of the young ones to bat again. 

So 124 didn't feel like enough, especially as the big slogger who wiped us out last year was playing. But our young opening bowlers made a good start, although one of them said "You can't catch anything" when I offered to field at slip. 

No respect from the younger ones for their skipper.

He didn't need any fielders, as he soon castled one of the Kinoulton openers with a beauty. But this meant the big slogger came in, and it was time to patrol the boundary. 

But as it happened, he never got away from us. Our young slow bowler had him totally baffled, and he walked up and down the wicket before having to play a little block, or push a gentle single. He eventually holed out to the debutant at the other end, caught by his own captain who was fielding for us, and who refused to celebrate. 

So, they weren't murdering us, but they were getting the runs at the required rate. Gave myself a little bowl, and it went well, bowing their opener who top scored with one that turned two feet out of a footmark and kept very low. 

Too bad in the 28th over I suddently dragged a couple down short to lose us the game. 

In the end though, it didn't matter, we had a great afternoon playing a great bunch of lads, and there was a well stocked bar to retire to after the game. So all was well with the world. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.07.25