A Quick Bit of Butterfly Love

 So many reports of large numbers of painted ladies being seen around the UK this spring, and I can certainly confirm that I've seen a couple. 

More than I can say for small tortoiseshells, which seem to have had a disastrous winter hibernation season. 

This individual was lurking among the cotoneaster bushes on campus, you'd think they's stand out a mile, but they really don't until they move. They are so beautiful, and I love the fact that their latin name is "Vanessa"!

The second butterfly is a female orange tip, and like other species that have spent the winter as pupae, they seem to have done much better than the early rising imagos. I've seen plenty flying around, and this one was in the library nature reserve, and unlike most orange tips was actually rather easy to photograph! 

Hopefully you are all seeing some lovely butterflies about. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.05.26 

Butterflies and Beasties

 We had a decent Monday here, that resulted in me taking a long old walk through the park - with a tea stop of course - and around to the cemetery, before rounding off my exploration in the library gardens nature reserve. 

I took a lot of photographs on this walk, but for now, I will concentrate on the shots that I got in the library gardens of an orange tip butterfly, a holly blue, and finally a sun fly in its Juventus style football jersey.

Of course, these butterflies were not being very co-operative and I couldn't get close to them, so apologies for the shots being a bit soft. 

Now that we are getting better weather, it feels incredibly important to me to be outside as much as possible again. Getting the walking done, doing training runs for my half marathon in August, playing cricket sciatica allowing, and also maybe even doing some painting with the pocket set I bought. 

All while listening to Radio 4 and trying to learn new things. Ah Radio 4, the sign of middle age! 

Well, I am, I guess. 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.04.26 

Making Furry Friends at the Cricket on World Bee Day

 Not having a match this past weekend, my role in proceedings was merely to spectate and watch in the sunshine while making the occasional jug of orange squash for the actual players. 

Thus I wasn't totally superfluous to requirements.

Of course, this gave me more of a chance to take in the nature at the ground, which was full of birdsong and flutterous comings and goings. A small white commotion in the grass intrigued me; it turned out to be a very smart white ermine moth struggling to get itself going.

Its wonderfully furry form gratefully enjoyed the warmth of my hand before gaining the energy to fly off about its business.

With it being world bee day, I off course wanted to find some buzzers and bumbles in action, so roamed the hawthorn blossom to track them down, with the bonus presence of a female orange tip butterfly. 

Our second team won the game comfortably, and the insects were pleased with the result. Maybe.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.05.23

A Stunning Orange Tip!

Hello!

I'm just back from Berlin, where I had a wonderful time in wonderful city. More of that later though. 

For now, I just want to show you something that was shown to me just before I left for Germany. I was sitting on a bench at Rumbles cafe when a little girl walked up to a plant, and deposited an orange tip butterfly on it. 

I've never seen an orange tip sit so still for so long, I'm guessing it was newly emerged and still waiting for its wings to properly dry out when she found it. Hence I was able to finally to get decent photos of one of these beauties for you. 

I hope you like them.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.04.23

A Floral First

 Took myself out to Farndon today, to have a look at Cottage Lane nature reserve, and by golly I'm glad I did.

It's only a small reserve, about the size of a football pitch with three ponds and a couple of hides slash shelters, and at first glance when I arrived - it isn't too far away - I was disappointed. There didn't seem to be much going on, the pasture largely devoid of flowers apart from a few clumps of lady's smock. 

However, closer inspection revealed a lot of male orange tips were fluttering about, and I decided to follow one, more in hope than expectation it would land anywhere, they are very restless butterflies after all. However, it did settle on some lady's smock, and I was able to get a not terribly good shot from distance. 

It wouldn't let me get any closer.

After a walk round the boundary, and nearly back at the entrance, I noticed in the field some drooping purple wildflowers I did not recognise. Having a closer look, I was excited to see that they were snake's head fritillaries, a species I have never ever seen before. 

What a pleasant surprise!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.04.22

Just a Single Shot...

 Was walking in the old oak wood at Sconce and Devon Park when I came across this beautiful lady.

A female orange tip upon cow parsley.

Pictures speak louder than words today. 

Or even "picture".

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.05.21