Repetition. Epistrophe grossulariae, Repetitive Hoverfly, and a Jungle, Diemer Vijfhoek, Over-Diemen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Not quite a jungle like those of far-off climes - see for example
www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/3738689569/in/photolis... - but a very similar atmosphere! And certainly more mosquitoes in the Diemer Vijfhoek! Biting me right through my batik shirt!
Anyway, I went out today to The Pentagon (=Vijfhoek), not the one we know and fear, but the nature reserve to the east of Amsterdam on the IJmeer side of the Diemerzeedijk.
That island is manmade (1970) from the dredge turned up from the building of what is now the NUON Power Station, which kind of looms over the dike. It's a wonderfully wild reserve of about 200 acres, much of it swamp. But there are paths and with a bit of care you can make your own way into the Green. But beware: it's not difficult to get lost as I did when I came to a Creek I couldn't cross (and no waterproof plastic for my camera etc. so i couldn't swim over) and had to retrace my muddy, brambly steps.
As I took a breather, this Repetitive Hoverfly delighted me; I think Epistrophe grossulariae.
Repetition. Epistrophe grossulariae, Repetitive Hoverfly, and a Jungle, Diemer Vijfhoek, Over-Diemen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Not quite a jungle like those of far-off climes - see for example
www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/3738689569/in/photolis... - but a very similar atmosphere! And certainly more mosquitoes in the Diemer Vijfhoek! Biting me right through my batik shirt!
Anyway, I went out today to The Pentagon (=Vijfhoek), not the one we know and fear, but the nature reserve to the east of Amsterdam on the IJmeer side of the Diemerzeedijk.
That island is manmade (1970) from the dredge turned up from the building of what is now the NUON Power Station, which kind of looms over the dike. It's a wonderfully wild reserve of about 200 acres, much of it swamp. But there are paths and with a bit of care you can make your own way into the Green. But beware: it's not difficult to get lost as I did when I came to a Creek I couldn't cross (and no waterproof plastic for my camera etc. so i couldn't swim over) and had to retrace my muddy, brambly steps.
As I took a breather, this Repetitive Hoverfly delighted me; I think Epistrophe grossulariae.