A Low Profile

The past 2 days have been very windy and also quite cold for this time of the year. 

Stalking insects in the grass meadows was no good as I could not possibly get a focus on any insect that was clinging on to a blade of grass, swaying in the wind.  

The fields where I normally 'hunt' are quite exposed to the weather and the winds were even stronger up there. There weren't many insects in the long grass anyway. I can only guess that they prefer to stay low as they (beetles/bugs) can't possibly fly / land in this wind.

It was time to examine what happens on the ground. Some of the fields are currently used for growing hay and the passage through the open gates is now dry, cracked soil with new plants shooting out of it. At first it didn't look very promising and was quite a bleak affair until my eyes adjusted ...

... bright yellow/orange eggs on the soil. Not sure who'd lay them so exposed.

 Inside one of the crack in the soil I discovered this litte mason bee.

I spent some time following this sawfly crawling over the ground and young plants. Not entirely sure what it was looking for. There were plenty of ladybirds too, perhaps it was after one of them?

 And another type of sawfly. Perhaps the suspect from CSI Nature??

Appart from getting the attention from some walkers because I was on all my fours cowering on the ground, not much else was happening. But I cold see that the long grass nearby was beaming with all kinds of insects and hopefully I get back there over the weekend when the weather is more suitable.

Having had too many cups of tea earlier and the cold wind made my decide it is better to make my way back indoors. On the way back I was however distracted by a spot on one of the stone walls. The flies love to gather there, as well as other insects.

 A fly ... possibly part of the blow fly family. I am not sure. So many similar flies ... so many names!

 At last a result! For some time now have I attempted to capture one of these alien looking aphids but they are so small, its hard for me to see if they are in focus or not! They do look otherworldly, with they long legs, green body and red eyes.

This little wind swept moth here was struggling with the wind and holding on for dear life it seems ...

There have also been a few cases that I have filed under the CSI Nature.

Hopefully the warmth returns, the winds easy off and the insect hunt can continue!