Ashridge Colours in May

Unfortunately not a native Ladybird species, these Harlequin Ladybird colours are dramatic.

Fly on Oxeye Daisy
A brightly coloured Froghopper

Ashridge Chalkland Orchids (pt 1)

We found six species of Orchids on the chalk escarpment around Ivinghoe Beacon over the last two summers. Below are two species:

Firstly, the Bee Orchid

The detail is worth a click for a closer look.
Secondly, the Fragrant Orchid, a number here colonising a bank and perhaps past their best, but still impressive

A white variety of the Fragrant Orchid

The other species to be shown on further posts

Midsummer Memories Steps Hill

Photographs from the evening of a rare hot summer's day at the end of June 2011.

A view from Steps Hill of corn fields and Pitstone Windmill

In amongst the grassy slopes of Steps Hill, I spotted a Dark Green Fritillary that had only just emerged from its chrysalis. Its wings were not fully extended when I first saw it.....
...but after a few minutes of continued pumping of fluids, they were nearly fully inflated.

Earlier I had come across a Damselfly sitting on the blackthorn bushes Two beautifully coloured insects.

Summer Fallow Deer in Ashridge

Photographs of Fallow Deer in Ashridge taken in July 2010

A fawn in the summer grass

The deer were agitated by something in the corner of the field all afternoon. Perhaps a loose dog earlier. This shot shows the range in colours from the dark melanistic coat to the lighter coat.
A few have now spotted me.

Later this doe with three fawns decided to make a break for it...

......with this single fawn following ten seconds later.

I do not know if the fallow deer operate a creche system, but there seems to be some evidence here.

July Butterflies

Butterflies photographed on a short walk along the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal one afternoon at the end of July 2011.

Gatekeeper

Small Copper
Speckled Wood

The Aylesbury Arm canal at Puttenham

A Frosty January Day & An August Contrast

The last days have have been cold and clear, great for photos - But I am frustrated as I am convalescing, and limited to taking photos of garden birds through the window. A Blackbird on a frosty wall this morning.

However, I now have time to go back through some summer photos. All these taken the same evening in August 2011 around Steps Hill near Ivinghoe Beacon.

A Strange Moth on Ragwort
Field Stubble patterns

A wasp feeding on Wild Carrot

London last Autumn

Photographs taken in London last autumn

London Bridges

Street Art improving street signs (1)
Cleaning reflections
Street Art improving Street Signs (2)
Crosses on Charing Cross bridge

Memories of Summer

Some random photos from July 2010

Female Darter

Harebells

Canal boat flower pot
A worn Blue

London in Winter Sun

Photographs taken recently on a sunny day in London during a visit to an unoccupied floor in a city office block

Snow Bunting still at Tring Reservoir

The beautifully marked first winter male Snow Bunting is still at Startops Reservoir. Very accommodating in the afternoon sun.