Insects and Spiders

and found my first ever Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)

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Was this at Otmoor too? I was just thinking about heading over there tomorrow morning, then thought there won’t be much birdsong to hear at the end of July, but if the insects are showing off, I might just do that. Mind you, last time I went there I wrote off my car by picking a fight with a roe deer.

Yes and loads of obliging Ruddy and Common Darter for photos. We also saw the pair of Common Cranes that have successfully fledged a chick(?) for the first time this year (from the main hide) and some Cattle and Little Egrets as well as various duck (from the 'first screen'). So though relatively quite on the songbird / warbler front still plenty to see.

Well, that’s tomorrow sorted then. Maybe I should go on a bike to avoid killing any more deer.

We walk in from Oddington - its a bit of a trek but parking in the village is reliable, the path is good for Odonata and so far we've managed to avoid any close passes with deer.

So you are alongside the Ray most of the way?

Park in Oddington, follow the track due east out of the village, after about 400 to 600 m you get the the 'New River Ray' - a man-made drain. As soon as you cross this drain over a bridge, turn right and follow the drain SW. You eventually cross the R Ray. Keep going straight on - the path swings round the far SW corner of the reserve giving you good views over the reserve to your left and eventually comes out near the main hide. Hope that makes sense.

like this ..

Thanks, that all makes sense. I isually approach from the east and through Beckley (we nearly bought a house there) but it will be good to try a different approach. I cycle round that way quite often but didn’t realise there was a path from Oddington. Would it be nuts to take a flash with me? I’m new to this insect lark.

Flash help s give a more balanced image even in relatively bright light, but not essential. I've not got one but its definitely something I need to get before autumn / winter.

The main thing is a slow steady approach to the resting dragonflies (they usually return to the same perch), take loads of photos and your bound to get some good shots.

This was the one I was most pleased with today.

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That Brown Hairstreak is lovely. 👍

They're really smart aren't they. And it was very confiding so made taking photos relatively easy!

Nooooope nope nope nope. I’ve fed hundreds of mosquitos on my arm but fuck letting horseflies, deer flies or clegs having a go.

This little dude hanging out on top of my door

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That's a wonderful photograph.

Thanks! it’s just with my phone but the light was pretty perfect and the subject was pretty willing

@Eejit love it!

Bees well in to this

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spotted this guy on the garden fence when I was doing a bit of tree pruning.

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Snap
Spotted at work today

Can someone ID her/him it

Aren't they false widows? Supposed to have a bit of a bite to them but mostly harmless unless you are a small bug

Oh wow cool.thanks

Some more from work today. The false widow is such a cool looking spider.

Looks like you may get a few more from that nest!

Edit: actually, I'm not sure it is a nest zooming in - time will tell though!

I was clearing and taking apart anold shed that was rotten as you like. There was def one nest with loads of baby spiders not sure if they were false widows though. Also one bastard massive long legged quick one that ran over my hand....I shat it and threw the pannel i was holding and swore alot...it was massive !