A years first and a life first.

The years first comes in the shape of a Red Admiral butterfly, I was commenting to someone recently that I had only seen 2 or 3 Red Admirals this year and not managed to get a shot of any of them. Blow me if whilst out with the camera yesterday (28/9) I didn't see 4 within 10 feet of each other. I managed to get close enough with the 100mm macro to snap a few frames of one of them.

I'd forgotten just how large the Admiral is.

There were also a large number of Comma butterflies present too. Managed a frame of that as well.

I also got the caterpillar of the Comma, but from a different location.

The life time first was another shield bug I'm afraid. Initially I thought it was a Forest bug when I saw it, but having managed to get a shot of it I saw it was different. I confirmed it on the net and with my books as being a Spiked Shield bug, Picromerus Bidens.

I also got a few Bronze Shield bugs. Much smaller than most of the other shield bugs.

A very nice spider and the return of a moth complete the post this week.
Crab Spider:

and an Angle Shades moth.

It really is getting to almost bird time now, just got to wait for those until I get to Chester. Come back soon