Fireweed

A morning visit to Swaddywell where I photographed the intense fiery hues of Rosebay Willowherb (also known as Fireweed)  against the limestone cliffs, and gathered a few brightly coloured leaves to photograph in the studio, including some from a small Turkey Oak - a new and unwanted colonist!

While I was photographing the willowherb, a female Long-winged Conehead (see extra) decided my bag was an ideal basking spot. I managed to grab a couple of shots of her as she disappeared into the reed - not easy on such a breezy day! 

Once considered so rare in Britain that it was on the Red Data List, Long-winged Conehead has now spread but is still found mainly from the English Midlands southwards. It can be found in a variety of habitats, but particularly favours damp sites with tall vegetation such as Common Reed. It's omnivorous, feeding on grasses as well as small insects. Females bite a hole in hollow stems of grass, reed or rush, and then insert an egg with their scimitar-shaped ovipositor.