Tag: Ayrshire

Creatures of a Brief Season

Just a flutter of bright orange like a piece of confetti blowing across the moor, – the male Small Heath butterfly (above). They’re fairly widespread in the UK and, of course mostly found on heathland – not in suburban gardens. It’s quite a small butterfly, only just over half an inch from head to tail, and they always perch as shown…. with wings closed. That way you won’t see the bright orange across the upper surface of its wings until it starts to fly. The male, slighter more colourful than the female, commands its own territory, while the female tends to wander all over the place.

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Culzean Castle, Ayrshire

Like many Ayrshire natives, I’m no stranger to the Culzean Estate. Last Sunday, I was going to see the ‘Forces in the Field’ event, but thought I’d get down early to have a wander. The lighting was so good I started with some shots of the castle. It’s not the type of photography I’m striving for, but when it’s there in front of you………

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Insect World – 6 June

Eventually I sit down at the edge of the pond, and let the damselflies drift along the bank towards me. They settle on the grasses or glide over the water, just there. It seems in part magical as these little slivers of jewellery waft around. Mostly Common Blues …. but some red ones too. At one time, they were called the ‘Devil’s darning needles’ – and the myth was that if perchance you were to lie and sleep beside the water, they would come and sew your eyelids up – a story to scare the kids.

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