Pillar from Innominate tarn.

There are two things to gather from the fact that I have posted two new paintings in succession: It's been rubbish weather this weekend and I have an exhibition coming up! It takes ages for oils to dry so it's full on painting time in any spare time (whatever that is!).

My interpretation in oil ...

...of the view!  

Luskentyre beach - Isle of Harris.

Variously reported as being in the top 10 beaches in the uk ...and the world, Luskentyre certainly is not a spot to be missed. As I blogged on 13th August 2014 - was it really that long ago? ....it is a fabulous spot and I still can't help wanting to paint it!

Today's painting ...

Previous paintings ...big, large and mini!

Maryport Harbour SSSI

A really miserable day, but the sun was due to come out ...so off to Maryport to see the bee orchids ...in the drizzle! Broomrapes and pyramidal orchids too.

Elephant hawkmoth success

Last year (mid -August) we rescued some elephant hawkmoth caterpillars from the field opposite the house, just before the vegetation all got ploughed back into the soil. We kept them over winter in soil in our porch, which is nice and cool and two successfully hatched. Unfortunately the other ten were parasitised - but at least they had a chance!

Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) caterpillars feeding on broad-leafed willow herb 

around mid-August in a large fallow field.

The numerous pupae of the hawkmoths and a comparison  to the large ichneumon that had parasitized the caterpillars earlier on in their lives. The ichneumons broke out of the pupae early June at the same time that any unparasitised moths also hatched. The species is likely Amblyjoppa proteus or similar which specifically targets the elephant hawkmoth as it’s host.

A successful unparasitised hawkmoth just after it hatched from the pupae.

Marsh Fritillaries at Finglandrigg

Well, it's been a busy week off and I have finally caught up with the blog! Yesterday we went to Finglandrigg to see the Marsh Fritillary butterflies and we weren't disappointed - there were plenty on the wing and the orchids were good too. A lovely reserve and quite varied habitat wise.

Mating pairs

Small heath and red admiral butterflies :  heath-spotted and northern marsh orchids.

Solway excursion ...

Yesterday Tom and I wanted a break from work so we went down to the coast ...gorgeous views, lovely thrift at Dubmill and a possible/probable sighting of the black-headed leaf cutter bee. Photography in the wind was challenging for bees!

The views.

The insects : painted lady, wall brown, cinnabar moth, burnet moth caterpillar...
the possible/probable black-headed leafcutter bee and a small heath ...the common blue whizzed past!

...and the thrift and bird's foot trefoil at Dubmill. 

Inner Farne Highlights

The last of my posts, I promise, about the Farne Islands. After our morning on Staple Island we were dropped off on Inner Farne. The terns were superb - bobbing those people that ducked and flapped and just hovering around those that walked peacefully along the path ...and yes there were more puffins! The female eider were beautifully camouflaged and ducklings cute ...mind even gull chicks are cute. The gulls though were pests, trying to harass the puffins into dropping their sandeels.