Hot Day at Pingall

On a scorching hot Sunday the 7th July I went to Pignal Inclosure in the New Forest in the hope of finding some Silver-Wash Fritillary butterflies to photograph.  However the heat and sun was making all the butterflies and insects hyperactive, and was unable to get any to pose like last year.  However I did manage to get some insects to pause for a shot, and laterly a toad that was hoping across the paths.

Firstly a shot of a posing female keeled-skimmer of which there were several about on the day.

 Female Keeled Skimmer.   Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/200.  Natural Light.

Then  fairy-ring longhorn beetle which was busy getting nectar from a flower.

Fairy-ring Longhorn Beetle.   Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/400.  Natural Light.

There were also lots of Large Skippers about, this next one posing on a thistle was my best attempt at them.

Large Skipper.   Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/320.  Natural Light. (Slight Crop).

Then I spotted these wood ants carting a dead woodlouse across the path, I presume towards their nest.

Wood ants with dead woodlouse. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F7.1 1/125.  Natural Light.

Finally a couple of shots of the toad that posed.

Toad with fly on head.   Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/200.  Flash from Camera.

Toad.   Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/200.  Flash from Camera.

Map of Location

Pignal Inclosure , New Forest.