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

Making the Most of the Colour while I can

 Well, that was an intergalactically hot weekend. I'd been looking forward to a warm weekend, but cricket on Saturday was brutal, Sunday was grey and tropically sultry, and then Monday was so blisteringly hot that even going for a sit down by a river resulted in my phone shutting down, my kindle being too hot to touch, and my feet getting burned through my shoes. 

So long distance runs and cycle rides were out of the question. 

Instead, short walks to the library gardens or through my work campus, and see who was enjoying the sun. 

Lots of bees on the wildflowers, and also loads of tiny moths - the colourful mint moths, and another small species with the rather baffling name of the apple leaf skeletoniser moth sat on yarrow. 

The colours there are stunning, with the yellow of ladies bedstraw being the dominant hue, and I'm making the most of it while it is there. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.07.25

Another Photographic Miscellania

 Well, what do I have from random small wanderings over the last few days, sometimes accompanied by tourettes tics and other weirdnesses, sometimes not.

On the wing and the fluttery department, we now have gatekeeper butterflies on the move, while in the more buzzy department, spined mason bees and masked bees. 

I hope you are all enjoying what you can see around you. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.06.25

Small Skippers are Fluttering

 Last week on our campus, the hot weather brought the emergence of the well named small skipper butterflies. 

These dinky orange butterflies with the wing arrangement that always makes them look like the flights of a dart were far too busy flying about to settle anywhere. 

Today, however, they were happy to feed off ragwort and pose for photographs. However, this was complicated by the fact there was a very strong wind blowing across the badlands, and so you had to find one sitting on a shorter plant that wasn't being blown almost flat to the ground. 

So I present to you this fine specimen. 

Also captured today was a new insect for me, albeit a common one. A red spotted parasite fly, so named for its sinister habit of paratising moth larvae. Of course, this was sitting on the stinky curry plant that seems to attract the underclass of the insect world!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.06.25