Garden Safari

Here are a range of insects that were about in the garden on April 1st. First image shows a minute Barklouse which is a small, scavenging insect that feeds on fungi, algae, lichen and organic detritus under bark. The wings may be absent or reduced as in this one. The next three images are of  Hemiptera (Bugs) followed by the very attractive Hairy-footed Flower Bee and Common Carder Bee. The tiny Ichneumon lays eggs in moth larvae while the Mining Bee (Adrena nitida) will be searching for holes in the ground to lay their eggs. Safari fiished with Peacock Butterfly and Common Wasp.

 

Practising Macro in the Garden

Yesterday was for first day when there were enough insects around to make it worth dusting off the 80mm macro and flash and spending some time photographing the insects and spiders. This Peacock showed a bit of damage to the wing tips but the colours were still vibrant. A Chironomid fly (midge) presented a very much small subject together with Nursery Spider, small solitary bee species and a pair of Rosemary Beetles, the female showing impressive multitasking!!

 

Alice in Wonderland at the Swiss Garden - Many Strange Encounters

They were holding an Alice in Wonderland picnic in the Swiss Gardens at Shuttleworth with lots of strange animals to encounter. The Peacocks had a hard day both displaying to the plastic flamingo and being chased by the children - especially my granddaughter. I retired from the noise to the lakeside walk where there were further strange encounters including Scorpions flies, a Fold-Winged Cranefly (Ptychoptera contaminata) a new Shieldbug for me (Crucifer Shieldbug Eurydema oleracea) and a Long-Jawed Spider

Rye Meads

I called in at Rye Meads RSPB reserve on my way to Camberley to lecture. The kingfishers were fairly active and are apparently sitting on eggs. The Gadwall pair decided to mate in front of the hide and then came closer to wash and preen. The resrve was full of butterflies, Brismstone, Whites, Commas and loads of Peacocks.

Trials with Peacock Feathers

Enlarging just a small part of the frame taken on the Canon 5D still gives an acceptable image for projection.