These are from two visits to Stainburn Forest. It was two recent visits because on the first visit I saw and heard a Redstart but was not quick enough to get a photo, hence the second visit. Unfortunately, as far as Redstart go, it was less successful than the first. I might try again soon.
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Birds
Throughout both visits Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Wrens and Robins could be heard.
Dunnock, Chaffinch and Curlew were also around. A Garden Warbler managed to keep out of sight, but not sound, for both visits.
Butterflies & Moths
Green Veined White butterflies were quite plentiful on the road side. I have seen caterpillars hanging under the tree canopy many times but this time I got a good enough view to see that it can climb back up the thread by collecting a ball of it between its lega.
The second moth is a Brown Silver Line I believe, and the third a Common Wave.
Ladybirds
I was surprised at the numbers of Ladybirds in their various guises. Larvae, Pupae, red with black spots, orange with black spots and black with red spots.
Other beetles also hung about on the same leaves. Apparently Ladybirds emerge from the Pupa with no spots. The spots form as the wing cases harden.
Bumblebees
It’s a bit of a cop out just labelling these as Bumblebees. I should be able to identify them, surely?
Insects
Before setting off on a walk in Stainburn Forest I did a few test shots to check that I was using something like the right settings for the camera and ring flash. I pointed it at the top of a post and checked that the exposure was somewhere near, and then thought no more about those photos until I got home; and there was a reasonably exposed, not quite in focus, Thrip. I think the Weevil was alive, playing dead on my jacket. When I tried to check it fell off and was gone.
The orange/brown grasshopper is possible a Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus. I would think that the shape and form of the antenna would help an expert, but I’m no expert. Are those white tips to the antenna that could mean it is Rufous grasshopper, Gomphocerippus rufus?
The green grasshopper is, I think, a Stripe Winged Grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus.
The dark brown grasshopper is another Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus. But a very different colouring. But then it could be a completely different grasshopper. I keep putting IDs to these things that I see and hope that I get feedback. I am sure that most of the time if you know what to look for it helps. It helps if you know that If it has a black dot on its head then it is a black dot grasshopper.
This is the first time, I think, that I have come across a Shieldbug that is of the Parent Bug variety. Apparently they stay with the eggs that they have laid, and even when they hatch, to protect them.
Views and other things
These are some of the general shots. The reservoirs are very low. I often wonder how honest those that know are with us. Is the hard work that the Victorians put in going to be enough to keep us going? The numbers are available and I am sure someone is doing the sums. Quick, lift the carpet up.
This is the first time I have noticed a You are entering a Patrolled Area sign. Apparently it is volunteers that keep an eye on things for farmers. My initial thoughts were that it was related to Menwith Hill. Back in the days when I was serious about playing Ingress it was in this sort of area that I was questioned twice by armed police about what I was doing. Admittedly being in a pub car park at 1:30 in the morning is questionable, and being reversed into the entrance of Fewston Cemetery is perhaps slightly unusual.
The two photos of Pine trees are a normal shot and one where I tried a bit of intentional camera movement (ICM). Not really my thing.
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The images are published under the Creative Commons, BY-NC-SA license. Feel free to share them, edit them, but please keep my name in the credits. And if I have got the ID of anything wrong please let me know, I don’t consider myself an expert but I have write something. It is often a best guess and it would take up too much room to say It could be this, or it could be… or perhaps.
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