Tiger Beetles

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

After taking some nice photos of Japanese tiger beetles in Kyoto last year, I've been keen to get some better images of the common British species - Cicindela campestris this summer:

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

The photos above and below here show how the same two individuals change colour depending on lighting conditions: with the sun behind them, they appear blue-green (above), while they are much more yellowish-green when viewed from the sunny side.

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

After copulation, a violent and protracted struggle ensued - the female trying to free itself from the male's grip, but I didn't witness the beginning or the end of this encounter.

Cicindela campestris - Tiger Beetle

Rough Gatepost

Fencepost of the Week #141

Badgers Playing

Some young badgers messing about at the entrance to their sett.

Macrolepiota clelandii

Macrolepiota clelandii

A very tall, thin parasol mushroom, native to Australia and New Zealand.

Fresh Ferns

Fencepost of the Week #140

Marasmius wynnei

Marasmius wynnei

Fairly common, trooping in dense tufts under beech trees.

Lace-webbed Spider

Lace-webbed spider - Amaurobius similis(?)

A fuzzy little house-spider - this species is fond of setting up webs around windows, but this one is just hanging from my bathroom wall.

Sunset Gilded Posts

Fencepost of the Week #139

Adder Breath

An adder (Vipera berus) sun-bathing on a cloudy day.

Repurposed Holly Tree

Fencepost of the Week #138

Here is another fencepost made by wrapping wire round a live tree - this time it's a holly tree.

It certainly seems like the fence wire has killed off the main trunk, but the rest of the tree is flourishing outside of the loops.

Orange Grisette

Amanita crocea - orange grisette