Thursday, 4 July 2013

Wings and lots of legs

On this afternoons sunny jaunt we had a walk around the strawberry fields and down to the field which has been left to form a wonderful meadow. With buttercups and clover aplenty, I took my camera just in case there was anything of interest. I went down a few days ago and saw a really cool spiders web that kind of encapsulated the head of a nettle, so this was another reason for the cameras outing. Below are some of the fabulous insects and creepy crawlies we encountered. As per, if my identification isn't right please do let me know using the comment facility :)

Large skipper?



5-spot burnet moth














Arachnophobes look away....

Silky nettle

The silk producing culprit... a Nursery web spider??


Can't say I have ever particularly taken an interest in identification of these 8 legged creatures, but recently anything and everything is catching my attention! I used this website  http://www.uksafari.com/spiders.htm  to try and identify the spider above but if anyone can suggest another site which may be better that would be great :)

We also saw a number of damselflies and numerous small tortoiseshells. Another 6 legged friend we heard before we caught a glimpse. Its powerful wings vibrating at an impressive speed. Our first dragonfly on patch. Not sure of species because it darted off before we got a good look.

Small tortoiseshell amongst the thistles

 
Every time I step out of my front door I feel lucky to be surrounded by wonderful countryside and an incredible variety of insects, plants and birds!

I nearly forgot... before I donned my wellies and disappeared off to worthy farm for a week, both my mum and I were lucky enough to see cream spot tiger moths. I saw one on a walk the other day, mum saw one at work then we had a fresh individual in the garden too. Our garden visitor wouldn't have chosen our grass to rest on had it known we have a playful puppy who tries to catch bees, flies and yes moths too. Mum quickly rescued it before Bracken pounced! It was a cracking specimen, but due to doggy circumstances the photo doesn't really do it justice. There were also a few freshly emerged red admirals, the first of the summer anyway.

Cream spot tiger moth

Red admiral feeding on the valarian

Red admiral sunning itself

That is all for now folks! I hope you have enjoyed post full of winged and 8 legged critters :)
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22 comments:

  1. Tim5 July 2013 at 00:29

    Lovely photos. A nice find on the spider - I don't think I've ever seen one of those before.

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    1. Lou Mary5 July 2013 at 09:17

      Thank you Tim :) It was the biggest spider I have seen in a long time!

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  2. Julie 5 July 2013 at 07:36

    I enjoyed the wings but can't say the same for the 8 legged critters! Me and spiders don't mix well..lol
    Julie x

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    1. Lou Mary5 July 2013 at 09:17

      Haha! Thank you Julie, I think a lot of people would feel the same as you. Can't say I would like to be too close to it, but camera distance is manageable! :)

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  3. Anonymous5 July 2013 at 10:10

    loved the moth snaps in particular- I have yet to get either of those in the moth box. As per Julie I'm not a spider fan! Super butterflies though- we're not getting many here at all this year :-(

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    1. Lou Mary5 July 2013 at 11:10

      Hopefully this predicted warm spell will bring some your way :)

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  4. Margaret Birding For Pleasure5 July 2013 at 10:36

    Hi Lou Mary What a lovely selection you have given us today. I particularly liked the Burnets and Tiger Moths. That spider is BIG, wouldn't like to see that in my bath tub!! Margaret

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    1. Lou Mary5 July 2013 at 11:11

      Thank you Margaret, they are such exotic looking moths aren't they! I think I can wholeheartedly agree that I wouldn't want the spider anywhere near my bath tub!!

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  5. Em Parkinson5 July 2013 at 21:28

    I loved the moths best too. The Burnett is SO beautiful. I like the spider too...

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    1. Lou Mary6 July 2013 at 12:38

      Thanks Em :) I saw another day time moth today but didn't have my camera. Definitely seem to notice them more now! Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

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  6. Wendy6 July 2013 at 13:45

    Lovely photos. I agree, your butterfly does look like a Large Skipper. I love the moths, too. I'm OK with spiders, although I couldn't ID the different types.

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  7. Douglas Mcfarlane6 July 2013 at 15:04

    Poor ol' spiders do get a bad press :) I can't help with the id, but on my left hand side of my blog is a blog by David James he had some spiders on there that might help. Great images

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    1. Lou Mary6 July 2013 at 20:56

      Ah great thank you Douglas, I'll take a look! Yeah I do feel for our 8 legged friends!

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  8. David James7 July 2013 at 09:49

    Hi Lou, many thanks for the nice comments about my pics on my blog. It certainly is a Nursery Web Spider. They are so called because they spin a web around their egg sac and stand guard to protect them. Sometimes they can look pretty big when they are stretched out across it. Distinguishing things to look for is a light coloured line across the top of the head and pale flaps down either side of the eyes. A nice blog you have here and I love the Tiger Moth :-)

    And ps one of the sites I use all the time for spider id is found here http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/spidhome.htm

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    1. Lou Mary7 July 2013 at 14:43

      Thanks for your comment and feedback it is much appreciated! Just took a look at that site which seems very helpful indeed :) I had a look for crab spiders this morning but to no avail.

      Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

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  9. Sandy's witterings7 July 2013 at 10:57

    Great butterfly and moth pictures (and spider too - don't want to descriminate). Actually seeing some of these without getting a picture would be a great find. Don't think I've ever seen anything like a 5 spot burnet moth before.

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    1. Lou Mary7 July 2013 at 14:11

      Thanks Sandy I was pretty pleased with a few new species :) I don't think I knew there were different types of burnet moth so I learnt something new :) Also thanks for visiting my blog and following :)

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  10. Tom Young7 July 2013 at 21:35

    Fascinating finds Lou ! Some great photos as well - love that tiger moth and nursery web spider! I have never seen either of those before! Hope you have had a good weekend and managed to get out and about :)
    Tom

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    1. Lou Mary8 July 2013 at 19:40

      Thanks Tom :) Always nice to see new species! Saw some more today... but that's for another post!

      I hope you enjoyed our sunny spell too :)

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  11. Ragged Robin11 July 2013 at 12:14

    Lovely photos of some great butterflies and moths and well done on tiger moth - what a beauty :)

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    1. Lou Mary11 July 2013 at 12:45

      Thank you :) A couple of years ago when I was at uni in Reading there was an influx of scarlet tiger moths! They are certainly one species which bucks the trend of people thinking moths are boring!

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