Wanderings » Ayrshire

Butterfly

Elaine — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:39:21 +0000

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)

Taken at Culzean, 21 July 2013.

Fly

Elaine — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 07:21:48 +0000

This image challenged my preconceptions of flies as ugly, dirty creatures. If you feel the same, take a look at the full-size version of this one. It is stunning: iridescent blue body, shining eyes, and covered in coarse, clean, hairs. I don’t swat flies anyway but if I did this picture would stop me. Why crush such beauty and precision? And, of course, they play an important role in the ecosystem.

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)

Taken at Culzean, 21 July 2013.

Black Bean Aphid

Elaine — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:25:19 +0000

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)

Taken at Culzean, 21 July 2013.

Husk

Elaine — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:47:51 +0000

It took me a while to work out what I was looking at here.

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)

Taken at Culzean, 21 July 2013.

Catching flight

Elaine — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 08:30:21 +0000

I’ve been captivated by insects all summer. The colours and textures of the tiniest creatures are just stunning close up, magnified by the macro lens in the spotlight of bright sunshine. In these shots the camera has caught insects flight, frozen the movement, made the whir of wings visible.

Not sure if this is a honey bee or a hover fly just about to land on cow parsley flowers.

Selecting the landing spot.

You can see the blur of wings on this white-tailed bumble bee checking out a bramble flower.

Here, the wings are caught and frozen as this bumblebee is about to land.

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)

Taken at Culzean, 21 July 2013.

Grass moth

Elaine — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 21:22:37 +0000

In close up this grass moth looks like a mad-hatted hussar in a comic opera – take a look at the largest version to see what I mean.

White-tailed bumble bee

Elaine — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 19:44:29 +0000

This white-tailed bumble bee was feasting on meadowsweet. I love its shining eyes, luxuriant hairiness and bulging pollen sacks. It was wonderful to see so many insects that morning thriving in the warm sunshine and abundance of food.

Sunday morning 21 July 2013, a greenway, Culzean Castle estate, Ayrshire.

(A couple of clicks opens the full-sized image.)