Saturday 30 June 2018

Pembrokeshire

Holiday time, just been away for a week and stayed near Wiseman's Bridge which is one of our favourite places on earth, we took the grandchildren for the first two days and they thoroughly enjoyed their selves, 4 years and 6 years and was their first time away without their parents, but we needn't have worried as it all went well.
Took cameras with me but apart from Martha and Rosie I didn't take many pictures, they went home Sunday evening and then the weather got hotter and hotter.

Having fun at Amroth.

Here is a photo of a Buff Ermine moth which was near to Carew Castle.



Caldy House Gardens gave me my first shot of a Golden Ringed Dragonfly, we visited here as it had got so hot on the beach.

We sat in the shade at the bottom of the car park for our picnic before we actually went in, amazing to see three large cars take up disabled spaces in the car park, saw two of the cars pull up and the occupants all looked really healthy to me, after we finished eating I popped over and wasn't surprised to see that none of the three cars had disabled badges.
Brand new Audi, a Mercedes and a year old Volvo, selfish and very inconsiderate sods!
I can just imagine the fuss they would have made if they were disabled and they couldn't have parked there.
I did mention this at the reception and to be fair no-one seemed bothered!

Also similar along the roadside at Wiseman's Bridge, one Landrover had actually taken up two spaces by parking sideways, just walking along the front I noted another dozen cars could have parked up if people parked properly.
And while I'm on the moan which I don't usually, I did see several piles of dog crap on the beach, don't people realise a lot of people walk along with bare feet, especially children, bet those dogs aren't allowed to crap on the carpet at home.

Rants over, hope to get some local wildlife shots posted soon.

Intended to do some serious painting whilst down in Pembrokeshire but was way too hot, but did manage to paint some rocks instead, the one below is of Wiseman's Bridge.


I did see one lady who was doing a watercolour, she was sat in the shade by the tunnel at Coppet Hall, think I may try sitting there for our next visit if it's hot, looked a nice cool spot, the watercolour she was doing was excellent, obviously knew what she was doing, a great use of colours, would sell well if in a gallery.
I have neglected my painting these past couple of years but hopefully going to put that to rights very soon, last one I painted outside was Colby Gardens near Amroth.

On way home to Kidderminster we saw at least 20 red kites, nearest was around Callow Hill, they are definitely getting nearer.

Thursday 21 June 2018

some unusual bugs


Sunday June 17th 2018
After not going out yesterday I made up for it this morning, it was bright at times so wandered along the Cloisters and by the side of Pirates Wood.

Cucumber Spider

My first Ringlet of the year




Yellow and black Longhorn beetles

Mirid Bug

Birch shieldbug

Crucifer Shieldbug

Blue damselfly

Just shows you need a very steady subject to do focus stacking!
And it was breezy this morning.

Monday 18th June
Only had chance for a quick hour down by the three pools, very quiet due to the high winds, but I did spot a young peacock butterfly caterpillar.

Wednesday 20th June

Dull and blustery morning, had a walk around the carrot field but nothing of interest really until I got down by Pirates Wood where I saw this Emperor Dragonfly sheltering from the wind.


This one is a stack of 3 images, but not perfect as the wind kept moving the subject.

Black & Yellow Longhorn Beetle

Thursday 21st June

Walkabout this morning down by the streams, but very windy, so spent most of the time looking in the undergrowth which revealed this Nursery web spider with it's egg sac.

A walk after tea, well it was such a lovely evening, plenty of macro moths and cinnabar caterpillars around, also painted lady butterflies along with a few small heaths.
Down near Stonechats Lane I came across a tree in which I spotted a couple of goldfinches, couple of swallows and a couple of dunnocks all at the same time.




Dead Man's Allotment, I stood there for ages watching the swallows, must have been at least a dozen of them, tried to get photos in flight but with just a bridge camera I didn't have a chance.


A lone buzzard was circling in the sky but too high for a photo.

Saturday 16 June 2018

More Insects


Photos from the past few days all from the same area, walk from Captains alongside Pirates Wood and then you will come to a hedgerow on the right, these photos are from along there.

Field Digger Wasp.

Large Skipper

Cinnabar Moth

The Snout moth

Green lacewing

Painted Lady in poor condition


Yellow & Black Longhorn Beetle

Scorpion Fly, (lots around)

Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar




Lava of Harlequin ladybird

Scorpion Fly



Thursday June 14th.
Female Blue Tailed damselfly

Female Azure damselfly

Small Magpie moth

Small Magpie moth

Friday 15th June
Met up with Jason Kernohan at Hillditch Pool Hartlebury, shame the weather went dull as it was so lovely first thing.
Saw a Jay on a fence post, when Jason arrived we heard a Blackcap singing and then saw 10, yes 10 Buzzards together and another in close proximity and finished off with 2 sightings of a beautiful Kingfisher.

Green Sawfly

Fly?

Red eyed damselfly

Silver Hairline moth

Azure damselflies

Bloody Nosed beetles

Scarce Chaser

Got home for lunch and was surprised to see a hedgehog in the garden, first one I have seen for years, sadly no photo.
Also a comma butterfly and a fly.


And a couple from this evening down by Pirates Wood.

Cinnabar Caterpillars

Tiger Crane fly from below.

Hoverflies

 The weekend of 14/15th May 2022. Sorry I've been neglecting my blog again, health issues keep getting in the way, so for now am working...