Making Furry Friends at the Cricket on World Bee Day

 Not having a match this past weekend, my role in proceedings was merely to spectate and watch in the sunshine while making the occasional jug of orange squash for the actual players. 

Thus I wasn't totally superfluous to requirements.

Of course, this gave me more of a chance to take in the nature at the ground, which was full of birdsong and flutterous comings and goings. A small white commotion in the grass intrigued me; it turned out to be a very smart white ermine moth struggling to get itself going.

Its wonderfully furry form gratefully enjoyed the warmth of my hand before gaining the energy to fly off about its business.

With it being world bee day, I off course wanted to find some buzzers and bumbles in action, so roamed the hawthorn blossom to track them down, with the bonus presence of a female orange tip butterfly. 

Our second team won the game comfortably, and the insects were pleased with the result. Maybe.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.05.23

A Stunning Orange Tip!

Hello!

I'm just back from Berlin, where I had a wonderful time in wonderful city. More of that later though. 

For now, I just want to show you something that was shown to me just before I left for Germany. I was sitting on a bench at Rumbles cafe when a little girl walked up to a plant, and deposited an orange tip butterfly on it. 

I've never seen an orange tip sit so still for so long, I'm guessing it was newly emerged and still waiting for its wings to properly dry out when she found it. Hence I was able to finally to get decent photos of one of these beauties for you. 

I hope you like them.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.04.23

A Floral First

 Took myself out to Farndon today, to have a look at Cottage Lane nature reserve, and by golly I'm glad I did.

It's only a small reserve, about the size of a football pitch with three ponds and a couple of hides slash shelters, and at first glance when I arrived - it isn't too far away - I was disappointed. There didn't seem to be much going on, the pasture largely devoid of flowers apart from a few clumps of lady's smock. 

However, closer inspection revealed a lot of male orange tips were fluttering about, and I decided to follow one, more in hope than expectation it would land anywhere, they are very restless butterflies after all. However, it did settle on some lady's smock, and I was able to get a not terribly good shot from distance. 

It wouldn't let me get any closer.

After a walk round the boundary, and nearly back at the entrance, I noticed in the field some drooping purple wildflowers I did not recognise. Having a closer look, I was excited to see that they were snake's head fritillaries, a species I have never ever seen before. 

What a pleasant surprise!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.04.22

Just a Single Shot...

 Was walking in the old oak wood at Sconce and Devon Park when I came across this beautiful lady.

A female orange tip upon cow parsley.

Pictures speak louder than words today. 

Or even "picture".

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.05.21