Rhino

Rhino Beetle, Sinodendron cylindricum, Serpentine Brick Pit, Peterborough. I don't remember seeing anything like this since I was a kid.
Canon PowerShot A640

Hornet Moth

This female emerged this morning at Serpentine Brick Pit, south of Peterborough. I am literally in love with this superb species of clearwing moth. I am ashamed to say these photos were taken using flash [at its lowest setting]) as it was very dark, misty and grim this morning.
Canon PowerShot A640

Sky Lark

One day I will take a decent digiscoped image of a Sky Lark. Meantime you are left with these less than satisfactory efforts...

Ooh, it chafes!

Summer Chafer (I think), Thurlby Fen, Lincs

More dragonflies

White-legged Damselfly (female)

Banded Demoiselle (male)

Banded Demoiselle (female)

Scarce Chaser(immature male)


Scarce Chaser (female)


Scarce Chaser (mature male)
I popped over to Glapthorn Cow Pastures this morning. There were about 30 car-loads of butterfly-watchers come for the Black Hairstreaks. I lasted all of five minutes, before the crowd had me fleeing (not their fault, just not my cup of tea...). I was told of a Silver-washed Fritillary there, but it wasn't enough to hold me, so I fled to Cotterstock to catch up on the dragonflies on the River Nene.
There were a lot of Scarce Chasers (mostly mated males, but also one or two females, pairs flying in tandem (a weird site, as they are looped up) and at least immature male.
Also there were loads of Banded Demoiselles, a few hairy Dragonflies, White-legged Damselfly (I only saw one female in the short time I was there), Red-eyed Damselfies and the first Brown Hawker I have seen this year.

Antpitta revisited

I've written the third (and final) part of a digiscoping mini-series for August's Bird Watching magazine. This month we are concentrating on 'tricks' of the experts. Included in this are Kevin Du Rose's patent rubberband technique. Using a bog-standard rubberband and a key ring, you can make a digiscoping adapter in seconds for next to nixpence.

That was how I digiscoped this shot of a Chestnut-crowned Antpitta in Colombia earlier this year (in very dark, forest conditions). I know you may have seen this shot before, but I just thought I'd present a close up, full size (if you click it), to see exactly what a rubberband can achieve. A quick check of the Exif data shows the photo was taken with a shutter speed of 1.0sec.

This is a song of hope

Emperors emerging from our pond (late May), ascending the stairway provided by Water Soldiers (all DSLR).

Three interesting insects

Black Hairstreak, Glapthorn Cow Pastures. This is a key site for this localised species, which draws insect fans and photographers from all over the country, each June. Jas, Ed and I met a few today, some down from Yorkshire, others from Watford, and still more from Lincolnshire. The full emergence hasn't happened yet, and most of the Brambles (which the adults drop down from Blackthorns to feed on), weren't yet in bloom.

Scarce Chaser (mature, mated male), the River Nene at Cotterstock. Compare this powder-blue insect with black, worn saddle in the pruinescence on its abdomen (from the female's grasping legs, during mating), with the rather orange immatures seen earlier in the year at Woodwalton Fen: see here and here

White-legged Damselfly (male), the River Nene at Cotterstock. This was an insect tick for me, gripping back from Bogbumper's recent post...

Creepy Scotsman Tape

Sin, devil
Heaven, Hell,
Adam, Eve
Angel, prophet
Gabriel, Holy Bible,
Demon, ghost
Atheist, atheism
Forbidden , soul
Conscience, fate
Pilgrim, pilgrimage
Grave [page turn] symmetry
Discontent,
Miracle, Priest
Martyr, telepathic
Alas, what a pity!
Compassion, compassionate
Yearning, sensitive
Communist, sorely,
Soulless,
Divorce
Pessimistic,
Opimistic,
Incest,
Adopted, adopt [page turn]
Ejaculate [smirk in voice], ejaculation
Fiancé [pause], fiancée
Grift, keen
Deceive, apologise
Gossip, absent-mind
Reassure
You're so far from reassured
Gloomy, blank
Hysterical, aloof
Consideration, considerate
Coolly, unfortunately
Bald [pause/page turn?]
Rare, repentant
Pleasant, suspicious
Sarcastically, politely
Dumb, deathtrap
Blind, frustrated
Frustrate
I protest
Suffer, virgin
Virile, pregnant
Traitor, traitress,
Complimentary, congratulations
Congratulate
Bet, experience
Wedding, bother,
Don't bother about me
Talent, brave
Miraculous, youth
Fears, metaphor
Poem, Casanova
Bride, gasping
Gasp, geneal
Grin, daft,
Poison, coincidence
[stumbling] Incontinent
Passion,
Desirable, envious
Jealous, feast
Trial, blonde
Fans, fortune-teller
Manners, dreadful
Superstitious, proud
Punish, punishment
Greedy [pause]
Famine,
Honeymoon,
Copying,
Greed [pause]
Accidentally, arrest
Death, tame
Hypocrisy, hypocrite
Hypocritical
Affectionate
Embrace
An affectionate embrace
Your mother
System
[pause]
Queer
Coward
Emigrant, emigrate
Enchant, enchanter, enchantment, enchantress
Sort [pause]
Enchanting
Empirial [sic] EmPIRial [sic]
Emotionalist, emotionless
Emotive, em... empiric
Jumpy,
Fretful
Frowsy,
Dopey,
Admonish, admonisher, admonition,
Much ado about nothing
Miser, scent
Shabby, elegant
Sympathetic, sympathise
Skillful [page turn]
Occupied, doubtful
Orphan, bachelor
Spinster, widow
Widower
Naked
Prestige
Slave
Enemy
Nightmare
Deported
Hijacker, hijack
Definitely
Adventure, adventurer
Venture, adventurously
Repent [pause and turn]
Remarkable
Satisfaction
To give satisfaction
Satisfied
Satisfactory
Remark
Democracy
Democratic
Demolish
Demolition
In demand
On demand
Crime
Commit
Commit suicide
Argue
Commando
Sabre
Member
Problem [pause]
Faith
In bad faith
Faithful
Faithfully
Thoughtful
Thoughtless [pause]
Thoughtlessly
Dangerously
Illegally
Behave
Behave yourself
Romance
Suppose
Surprised
Terrible
Beauty
Comfortable
Common
Education
Desecration
Cautiously [almost whispered; pause; turn]
Caution
Despondent
Gratify
Grateful
Gratification
Disease
Discussion
Discuss
Accused
Accuse
Witness
Argument
Furious
Furiously
Exchange
Temptation
Tempt
Temptor
Surrender
Surround
[Stumbling] Surreption [sic] [pause]
Surreptitious
Shame on you
Target
Reminder
Remembrance
Drug addict
Suggest
Suggestion
Influence
Objection
Ransom
Kidnapper
Terrorist
Splendid
Confidence
Confidently
Conspiracy
Consort
Recently
Absolutely
Glorious
Reaction, react
Innocent, innocently
Relation
In relation to
Content
Self content
Encounter
Deception
Guillotine
A man [pause] went to the guillotine in France, yesterday
I support Scotland
Love is blind
Confess, confessional
I am going to [pause] con [pause] going to the confessional to confess my sins
Confident, confidence man
Lam rushing [laughs as he corrects] I am rushing
Vegetarian [still laughing embarrassedly]
Improve, improvement [turn; urn]
Situation
Response
Genius
Scotland will play against England
Interpreter
Difficulty
Interesting, interested
Organising, organise
Suitable
Miraculous
Occasion,
Hostage
Detective
Operation
Excite
Exciting
Admire [pause]
Permit, permission
Performance
Expression
Savagely
Reputable [stress on second syllable]
Reputation
Revenge
Conjurer
Perform
Ridiculous, ridicule
Motto
My motto
Ode
He sends his regards
With kind regards
He says hello to you
Give me respite
Responsible, responsibility [pause; turns page]
Pervert, perverted [slight smirk]
Emotional, emotion
Zionism, Zionist [pause and end of session]

New session
Sway
Breath
Breathe
Abruptly
To lock up
I have locked up
Violence
Kick
Fury
Vegetarian
Peel
Cucumber
Cereals [pause]
Imagine
To sack him
Detective
Result
Colonel
Arrested him
Groan
Collect
Blonde
Rack
Screw
Frown
Robot
Blush
To stand up
Plug
Tap
Sink
Curtain
Cover
Pillow
Mattress
Carpet
Against
Scotland will play against England
Perfect
Previous
Cough
Corpses
Skull [pause]
Excavate
To petrify
Petrified
Ice lolly
Swoard
Humid
Percent
Tart [big pause]
Tear up tear off tear up[sic]
Nest
Gift
Practice
Slow down
Point
With force
A loafer [pause
Employed
Unemployed
March
Rest [pause/turn]
Shooting
Aimed
Thread
Customs
Sofa
Veil
Realise
Bump into
Bumper
Short-sighted
Far-sighted
Heart
Heard
Squeeze [pause]
Ring
My father is keeping me
Net
Row
Cork
Porter
Triangular, triangle
Snake
Sharper
Axe
Tin opener
Kite
Bench
Drawer
Walking stick
He shot him dead
Hire
Holder
Son
Artery
Nibble
Pulse
Fog
Fumes
Polluted
Bribe
Interview
Shock
Comme… comment
Transfer
Traini…trainer
Economic
Funnel
Approach
Oregano [pause]
Cloves
Sesame
Ground [pause and waits for help, heard very faintly in distance]
Pavement
Ostrich
I grew up
Bee
Honey
Honeycomb
Will
Knock
Chat
Scene
Agree
Row
Kneel
Talent
Examiner
Brave
Direction
Sense
On a diet
Realised
Insist
Miraculous
Boil
It is boiling
Yeast
During
Fur
Rise
Among
Brief
Briefly
Occasion
Br[can’t hear, one syllable]
Depends
Hide
Naturally
Bear
Deer
Turtle
Turkey
Account
Simplify
Rate
Divide
Mulitply
Subtract
Anon
Annual
Chase
Sup
Mumbled
Lick
Swallow
Limbs
Tortoise
Raw
Ripe
Narcissu… Narcissus [with hard c]
Jasmine
Pink
Violet
Rose
In consideration of
Ear
Tongue
Lip
Cheek
Eyelid
Eyebrow
Eyelashes
Forehead
Chin
Bare feet
Bend down
Hostage [pause/turn]
Boarder
Au Pair
Given her notice [correction to] give notice
To[stumble] support
Go out to work
To put up
Dump
Instalment
I don’t buy things on the instalment system
Hang
To hang about
Hanger on
To signal
Signalling
Toes
Path
Distance
Descend
Descent
Ascent
Relax
Awe
Hot
Tunnel
Applaud
Warm
Approach [coughs]
Mutter
Method
Assurance
Caption
Advertisement

Pipit with grubbeth

Meadow Pipit asking me to please vacate Dogbite Bench, Maxey pits, so it can feed its young on what appear to be mayflies (digiscoped)...

In our garden

Frog
One of swarms of frogs and toads in the garden at the moment. And there are still at least hundreds of tadpoles metamorphosing to froglets in the big pond. It is interesting how the tiny froglets are much smaller than the tadpoles they develop from. This one, though, is a largish fella, and he has taken up residence in our smallest pond, no more than a rubber carrying basket/bucket we have sunk into the lawn (he shares it with several froglets and one or two mini-toads). Small toads (a few cm long) are in good numbers in the long grass round the drinking pond.


Small Tortoiseshell
Despite the pretty good weather of the last few days, butterflies have been in short supply inthe garden. All I have seen is one Large White, one Large Skipper and this Small Tort which was fond of the Red Valerian.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Part of my attempt to identify the bees of the garden is an attempt at bumblebees (by looking and photography). I believe this is a Buff-tailed, but if anyone knows different...

Pretty Hairy

Hairy Dragonfly (male).
This was the best look I've had of this normally very active species (which seems to rarely sit still). Up close, it is remarkably attractive, particularly with those dramatic, marbled blue eyes.
Photographed with Canon PowerShot A640

Our pond

In case anyone is wondering, this is what our garden pond looks like (sort of). There is a view from the north, looking over the birch logpile (beloved of Lesser Stag Beetles). Note the abundance of Water Soldier (which I love, as it seems to be the dragonflies' favourite plant), with a mix of other aquatic and semi-aquatic plants and the odd logpile around the edge.

Then a view to the north, toward the birch logpile (with bananas added for colour...)...

And finally, to Mt Weedon, the flower-rich mound built of debris from the digging of the pond (note edge of pond):

Emperors' Old Clothes

Kazakhstan Part 4: Mountains near Almaty

Sunrise hits the mountains looming above our Almaty hotel
Big Almaty Lake, purportedly home to Ibisbills, but we dipped (perhaps better later in the year, when the ice has melted somewhat)

Black-throated Accentor

These mountains echo to the lonesome wails of Himalayan Snowcocks


Himalayan Rubythroat

Lesser Grey Shrike

By Big Almaty Lake

This marmot looks pretty similar to the steppe version to me, but I was assured it was a different, mountain species...

Q: Why is Dale Forbes looking so pleased with himself?
A: After meditating over a dead beetle, he has just found a pair of Eversmann's Redstarts. Lovely.

Male and female Eversmann's Redstarts

Male Eversmann's Redstart