This time Little Packington

[James G]

I took a walk around Little Packington, a hamlet and ford, close to where I live. A rather nice haul ....
I was particularly pleased to get some captures of the Velvet spider mites which are less than a milimetre in size and very energetic.

The shot of the Median wasp is not the best I've ever taken but I have never seen one before so of note to me at least

C&C welcome

#1 Vapourer moth caterpillar, Orgyia antiqua


#2 Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria female


#3 Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris, male


#4 Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris, male


#5 Small Heath, Coenympha pamphilus


#6 Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus male


#7 Red or Velvet Spider Mite, Trombicula


#8 Red or Velvet Spider Mite, Trombicula


#9 Median Wasp, worker, Dolichovespula media


#10 Green Veined White, Pieris napi


#11 Comma, Polygonia c-album


#12 Comma, Polygonia c-album


#13 Bee, Andrena nigroaenea maybe?


#14 Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteratus female.. I've photographed these before, this season, but this one just appealed to me

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[teokf]

Good capture for a day. I know the feeling of capturing something that we see for the first time even if it is blur. My fav is #14

[Wavelength]

That was like a full course dinner; much to enjoy....

[Geoff F]

Is the bee a Honey Bee, James?

Can you zoom in on the original to check the wing cells?

[James G]

Can you zoom in on the original to check the wing cells?

Geoff, I'm guessing you are right... I'm getting better as I get some of the new Wild Guides but I only have Paul Brocks Insect Guide and the photos are not brilliant so I'm not sure what cell structure in the wing to look for. If it is a honey bee it seemed a bit larger and paler than I'm used to.


The image below is cropped right in on the bee so there is more wing detail.

[lesno1]

These are brilliant James looks like you had a very good day

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set James, my fav is the last one with the lovely BG of flowers

[Geoff F]

That Paul Brock book is good as a general reference work and I sometimes use it when I'm totally lost for a place to start but, yes, the images are mostly small and the text is minimal. However, moving on to the definitive work for each group soon gets expensive at around £40 or more per publication and because they include all the rare localised stuff it can end up making you even more confused.

With honey bees the outer wing cell on the leading edge is very long. Also, females have a rather flattened hind tibia, just like your bee.

[James G]

With honey bees the outer wing cell on the leading edge is very long. Also, females have a rather flattened hind tibia, just like your bee.

Thanks Geoff, definitive as usual

[Rainforest]

That was a feast - really nice.

[JohnRostron]

That was a good day's work! My fvourites are #4 (Small Skipper) and #12 (Comma).

John

[IzzieK]

Well, at least someone has a good day...my favourite is #10 even if it is hard to choose a favourite as they are all good ones.

[ST1]

Excellent series James, well captured.

[RandyRFJP]

A great set of images, James, and a great accomplishment getting so many wonderful captures on a single outing.

[James G]

Thanks Randy, Peter, Izzie... Some days just work out right... and when they do it does make up for all those others when you are just plugging away.
On a purely personal note, it was the first time back to Little Packington since my wife died last year. It was a favourite place she would always go to when she needed to get away from the hustle bustle of every day things, and just relax.