2019 Project 52 by Geoff F - 2nd Quarter

[Cantab]

Moths spend most of their lives as caterpillars so are an important indicator of general environmental health.

At this time of the year I would expect to get around 50 moths from 20 to 30 species a night. Those which I find difficult to identify, plus a variety of other interesting insects, get uploaded to the Nature UK website with one of my P base galleries forming a holding/linking area for my uploads.

https://pbase.com/crustacean/2019_linked_images_2

Interesting. I'd never thought of moths had being an indicator of environmental health.

20 to 30 species a night: that's serious moth trapping! Do you have a number of traps or do they all pile into one?

[Wavelength]

Fantastic images and as have already been mentioned, the camouflage is fantastic...

[John 2]

Love your blackbird on a tombstone Geoff - just appeals to me (the blackbird, not the tombstone). The moth series is excellent as well. As I scrolled down and the Buff-tip began to appear, I thought I was about to see the end of a sawn off Branch. Amazing.

[Geoff F]

Thanks again.

I usually place two traps, one trap on each side of my house. Normally empty them about midnight then sometimes reset one in the doorway of my greenhouse, in case it rains, and leave until the next morning. They are home made traps which I put together for less than a quarter of the price of a basic shop bought alternative. You can pay over £300 for some of those.

[skitterbug]

Excellent photo work!

[Geoff F]

And from a couple of days ago; a Silver Y Moth pretending to be part of a leaf.

[Geoff F]

Week 24 - Wild Flowers. After the moths; some flowers which I chiefly photographed for identification where they were growing.

Bristly Oxtongue. There were a few plants growing in a group so I couldn't find a perfect clean angle which also showed all the elements required for identification.



7D with Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/200 F 11 Iso 400. Merge of three focus points; shot with flash

Monkshood. A struggle to find a clean background while showing the relevant flower details. In deep woodland shade



Sweet Briar. I needed to see some of the fresh hips as well as flowers for identification

[Wavelength]

Lovely flowers

[John 2]

The moth is a real catch Geoff. Nicely captured in its natural camouflage but still discernible. nice set overall.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments. And to finish this section in a similar manner

Week 25 - I am not a butterfly I am a leaf. Repeat after me . . .

A Brimstone pretending it isn't there

[Cantab]

A good shot and amazing camouflage! Was this in your garden or out on one of your wildlife inspection tours? If the latter, the insect would have been very very easy to walk past.

[John 2]

Amazing isn't it. Good find.

[Wavelength]

Excellent image

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments. I was photographing something else which necessitated kneeling down so I looked across and it was almost at eye level with me. But it meant crouching down a little lower to get the best angle; and I am getting too old for that sort of thing. Thankfully, a substantial tripod makes a useful 'get up again' stick.

The image is a merge of three focus points.

The 3rd Quarter of this project is here

2019 Project 52 by Geoff F - 3rd Quarter