Holidays day six part one

 The final day of our holidays and I have finally gone through all the images. As I said this was our final day and we spent it back at Otmoor where I was hoping to see some Dragonflies but the weather was against us most of the day and once again, I was disappointed. There was however somethings of interest.

Early instar Spiked Shieldbugs. (thanks AM).

Hornet.

Harlequin Ladybird.

Another Harlequin Ladybird.

A pair of Harlequin.

A pair of 14-spot Ladybirds.

Dock Bug. I have never seen as many.

Ruddy Darter the only Dragonfly we saw.

An unfortunate Damselfly has become a meal for a Spider.

Brimstone Butterfly.

Carrion Beetle a Black Snail Beetle. (thanks again AM)

Tabanus tergestinus Horse Fly (love the eyes).

Dark Bush Cricket nymph.

Holiday day five part one

The penultimate day of our holidays was, for me, spent like the rest of the holiday looking for anything interesting, wildlife wise, to take pictures of. Here are some of the things I found.

Holly Blue Butterfly.

Cinnabar Moth.

Bishop’s Mitre Shieldbug.

Volucella bombylans Hoverfly.

Harlequin Ladybird.

A pair of Alder Leaf Bugs.

Thick-legged Flower Beetle.

A pair of Click Beetles.

A Nettle Weevil.

Red-tailed Bumblebee.

Carder Bee.

Nettle Tap.

Possibly a Common Conopid.

Grey Wagtail with a beak full of insects.

Coot Chicks.

One of the parents feeding its chicks.

Pied Wagtail with a tasty morsel

But do you feel sorry for the Spider the Wagtail is about to catch or glad that the Wagtail is going to get something to eat.

Swallow sitting on the cottage roof.

Holidays day two part one

 We spent part of the day back at Otmoor as the weather was bright and sunny perfect for loads of Dragonfly or so I thought while we did see some there were more Damselflies of which I took far too many images. Other insects were also photogenic. The banks of the River Thames, later in the day, proved fruitful for only one species of Damselfly the Banded Demoiselle. A canny day out.

I thought at first these next few images were of Common Darters however I now think they are Ruddy Darters but I’m happy to be proved wrong.

Male Banded Demoiselle.

Female Banded Demoiselle.

Male Azure Damselfly having its bait.

Female Azure Damselfly.

A mating pair.

Another mating pair.

 Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Rufescens-obsoleta female Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Infuscans female Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Violacea female Blue-tailed Damselfly.

A mating pair.

Common Blue Damselfly.

Dock Bug.

Bee.

Zebra Spider.

Harlequin Ladybird.

Harlequin giving a fly a lift.

Caterpillar of the Lackey Moth.

Caterpillar of the Box Tree Moth with a Spider.

Small Heath Butterfly.

Small Copper Butterfly.

Are these Ants protecting or predating these what look-like eggs or mites?

Common Malachite Beetle.

Tree Bumblebee.

Could this be a Blue Shieldbug on the ground.