Time for another update methinks.

A slow worm was out today, first time Ive managed to sneak up on one Given I only have my compact with me whilst in the field, I was only about 6" away from it





nother raft spider, this one carrying eggs


Large skipper butterfly (I think)


Very dead, and very mangled, sand lizard


Another horse fly trying to eat my clipboard:


Orchids by the bucketload at the last site:

Quote from: Clockd 0Ne

What was the last insect you posted, another dragonfly?

Great shots these, Ive tried taking pictures of butterflies before now and they never hold still long enough for me.

Yeah I have that problem - they always fly off at the last second: nearly there, nearly there, just need to press the bu..... ARGH YOU LITTLE BASTARD!!

and like many of natures creatures, they seem to have the ability to determine the maximum effective range of any camera/lens combination on sight, then land just outside it. It doesnt seem to matter if I have my SLR + 90mm macro with 2x converter fitted (range for a butterfly, about 1.5meters), or my Panasonic compact (range about 6 inches) they wait until Im just pressing the button before flying off.

Theyre the UKs largest native species of spider, so yeah, theyre pretty big

Which I find odd considering the number of times people comment on finding house spiders that are "way big" (like people say hand sized etc). The biggest raft spider Ive seen was maybe 2.5"/50mm across, their body length gets up to maybe 1" for reference, but they have long legs...Im guessing these massive spiders people are seeing around the house are sure, big, but not *that* big...kinda like fishermen saying it was "thiiiiiiiiiiis big" etc.

Im not a spider lover (ironic I know) but I do quite like these guys. They sit on the water surface and wait for insects to fall in the water, or in some cases will grab small fish that swim past under them.

The first time I saw one Id mis-stepped in a bog and was shin deep and sinking when I looked for purchase and saw a good sized one near by. Id never seen them before and wondered if it was an exotic escapee. I managed to get a shot as I was slowly sinking though haha, Ended up just over knee deep but it was worth it

I think partly its not just the dark, but people see the legs and they make them look bigger.

Wouldnt worry too much about raft spiders, theyre quite local to Southern England, I think Dorset and the New Forest is pretty much their stronghold in this country, and you need to be somewhere pretty wet and boggy.

I dunno. I keep meaning to ask the Forestry Commission rangers every time I see them what they know about it, I mean, its quite interesting as well as spooky. Itd be hellishly freaky though if they say "what house? Theres no house there!" and I go back and its just empty...

Also did make me wonder, if its empty, and no one cares about it, doesnt that mean it might be potentially cheap accommodation, depending on why the last occupants left (or did they leave?)

I dunno. I keep meaning to ask the Forestry Commission rangers every time I see them what they know about it, I mean, its quite interesting as well as spooky. Itd be hellishly freaky though if they say "what house? Theres no house there!" and I go back and its just empty...

Also did make me wonder, if its empty, and no one cares about it, doesnt that mean it might be potentially cheap accommodation, depending on why the last occupants left (or did they leave?)

Squatters rights? get your own falloutesque shack

Quote from: zpyder

I dunno. I keep meaning to ask the Forestry Commission rangers every time I see them what they know about it, I mean, its quite interesting as well as spooky. Itd be hellishly freaky though if they say "what house? Theres no house there!" and I go back and its just empty...

Also did make me wonder, if its empty, and no one cares about it, doesnt that mean it might be potentially cheap accommodation, depending on why the last occupants left (or did they leave?)

Squatters rights? get your own falloutesque shack

That thought had actually crossed my mind

Very cool! Awesome shots