The first sea-dip of 2014

Enduring very difficult conditions for a sea-dipping session and nearly losing Robert's shoes, our plastic tray, bottles and net, not to mention the loss of most of what we caught to the howling wind and getting a good soaking in the process, Robert and I were pleased with the first results obtained using the new £15 shrimp net obtained from traditional fishermens' supplies chain, Amazon.co.uk. We caught many hundreds of Common Shrimps Crangon crangon and a small number of other goodies including Sea Lettuce Ulva lactuca, the Common Jellyfish Aurelia aurita and those whose photos appear below.

Compass Jellyfish, Chrysaora hysoscella, Holme, 11th August 2014

Idotea linearis, Holme, 11th August 2014

Flounder, Holme, 11th August 2014

Brill, Holme, 11th August 2014

Another impressive Tachinid from Ringstead Downs

Nowickia ferox, 11th August 2014

Ringstead Hoverfest

Volucella pellucens, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014 

Volucella inanis, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Volucella zonaria, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Sphaerophoria scripta, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Myathropa florea, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Large Thyme, Sweetbriar, Small Toadflax and some oak galls

Large Thyme, Holme NWT, 11th August 2014

Sweetbriar, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Knopper Gall, caused by the wasp Andricus quercuscalis,  Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Marble Gall, caused by the wasp Andricus kollari, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

Small Toadflax, Ringstead Downs (foot of west end chalk pit), 11th August 2014

Holly Blue - second brood

Holly Blue, Ringstead Downs, 11th August 2014

One of three species of blue butterfly on the wing in the downs today - the other two being Common and Chalk-hill. I bet this hasn't happened for decades.

Grayling

Grayling, Holme NOA, 11th August 2014.

 Once common on the patch, the species is now scarce - this being only the 3rd I've seen this year.

Tachina fera

Tachina fera, Holme Marsh, 10th August 2014

A taste of Honey

A well marked Honey Buzzard flew south, low over the house, yesterday at 11.30 BST. A new garden tick (observation) for me and a nice one to go with the Long-tailed Skua in July.

Sundays highlights....

Brown-veined Wainscot

Flecked General

No flies on this guy - The Banded General

Banded General, Holme NWT, 28th July 2014