Distant
“You should have been here this morning,” I was told. “The place was teeming with them.” This is, of course, the story of a nature photographer’s life: another woman I met today told me that she’d missed a kingfisher at … Continued
Oviposition site
Mate, no – you don’t want to be… Look, it’s not a good idea… No, really – wait, no – but… Look, just stop, woman, would you?? Go and do it SOMEWHERE ELSE!! I was happy and relieved to see … Continued
Hornet hoverfly
This is probably my favourite hoverfly – which is unfortunate, because I’m definitely not her favourite photographer. Unrequited love is such a drag. Given their spectacular looks, Volucella zonaria should be used to getting lots of attention, but they absolutely … Continued
Emergency ladybird
I thought I’d been clever and careful enough to escape it – but no. In the small hours of this morning, Baby B’s virus caught up with me. With a vengeance. I can only apologise if I gave it to … Continued
Droning on
“Can you say ‘Eristalis tenax’?” I said to Baby B. He thought about this for several seconds, then said, “Uh.” And then a few seconds later, “Ay.” Good grief, I thought. The child is a genius! Is it too early … Continued
Old acquaintance
I was walking back towards the house from the wild garden this afternoon, when I saw this old female Common Darter resting on the arm of the garden bench. I don’t have any way of knowing whether it was the … Continued
Dragonfly yoga
This morning I took both cameras and long and short lenses, and went to stake out the pond I discovered yesterday. I couldn’t believe my luck when this male Common Darter settled on the blackberries – I couldn’t reach him … Continued
Serendipity
Well. This was a lucky find. And I’m not even talking about the female speckled bush cricket in the centre of this rather messy image. I was out in the village this afternoon, photographing ivy-feeders around the hedgerows, when my … Continued