Cornucopia of wildlife at Ouse Fen 02

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Part two of my little expedition to Ouse Fen Nature Reserve, which finds me on the lookout for its smaller inhabitants as they hide in undergrowth, doing their best to keep out of my way as I trample through their habitat.

Which makes it sound like I'm engaged in some sort of wanton destruction of their little homes, and in a sense I am, and I'm glad. No of course I'm not, but there is so much happening in the shrubs and the grasses, that just the act of walking among them reveals a bounty of wildlife, as they scurry or flap their way to safety.

So a keen eye allows you to follow their journey, and hopefully snap them as they temporarily rest among the brush, it's actually a very absorbing way to spend some time, as it engages you completely. No wonder grasshopper is the name of a yoga position.

Female common blue butterfly perches on a blackberry bush.

This labyrinth spider watches me as I try and get a shot in focus.

Male ruddy darter takes a small rest in the afternoon sun.

Thankfully this meadow grasshopper lived up to its name, as I found it in a meadow.
I think we would have both been embarrassed if I'd discovered it somewhere else.

Reed warbler among the reeds, where they tend to stay most of the time, which
makes it very difficult to get a clear shot of them.

A lesser marsh grasshopper looking very dragon like.

Here's the same fellow from above, much more recognisably a grasshopper.

A type of barred moth, with lovely variegated browns across its wings.

A rather plump bumblebee covered in pollen.

Probably a female blue damselfly, but minus the blue colour, which is not unusual.

Long-winged conehead grasshopper, the same type as in the first image, with
impressively rangy antenna.

A female brown hawker dragonfly on a blackberry bush.

Another one of a labyrinth spider, where you can really see its fearsome fangs.

A speckled wood butterfly warming itself in the late afternoon sunshine.