Yesterday, we did a different local walk through a very large Barley field over the hill to one of the local golf courses. It was windy and cloudy when we started but the skies later cleared giving much more contrasty conditions. 

A Bit of Fun During Lockdown

Sadie and I spent the day compiling a Video entitled Hedgehogs like to Boogie.

you can view the result here

https://youtu.be/sU5kQUEK5Ag

Photographing a Leaf Insect Egg with Coupled Lenses for Extreme Macro

Having used the setup with a single reversed lens (image of set up at end of this post), I decided to try the two-connected-lens technique for extreme macro.The set up included glueing two filter rings together with the screws to the outside to allow two lenses to be connected lens to lens. I used the Olympus 50mm with aperture set to 1.8 and a 10-24mm Fuji lens. The Fuji needed to be used at 24mm zoom length to give sufficient circle of view. It was mounted onto a focusing rail over a lightbox. The egg is only about 2mm and the focusing distance less than 1cm so an LCD light was needed to get light onto the subject. Also photographed an Eyed Moth wing - shows the individual scales in detail (first image). The second moth wing and the White butterfly wing were photographed with the single reversed Olympus 50mm lens.

Four-spotted chasers Emerging from Our Pond

I missed the first 3 or 4 emergences from the pond this year, though one later visited the pond most days. So I was pleased to find two yesterday morning and cover the stages showing just escaped from the larval case to just beginning to colour up on the wings.

Wildflower Project 4.

Continuing with my  project to record all the wildflowers in our village, here is another batch starting with Bramble, Wild Rose and Oxeye Daisy. The Yellow Irises are out in our pond along with a yellow flower I still have to identify. Others include Hedge Mustard, Herb Bennet, White Clover, Dusky Cranesbill, Wild Strawberry, ?? , Hairy Tare (a very delicate vetch), White Campion, Hedge Woundwort, Purple Toadflax, Cypress Spurge and Mouse Ear.

Toft Safari

Spending more time in our home locality has provided lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting and photographs. Last week on my early morning walk, I spotted four hares in a wheat field - too far away for great shots but still good to record. The Four-spotted Chasers are emerging from my pond now and displaying well. Add to these, lots of mating Hoverflies, very bristly Empid flies, minute Long-horned moths and at least three species of Shield bugs and there is plenty to keep the camera (photographer) exercised.