Saturday 28 April 2012

There's no God.......

.......wits around today. An early trip to Holywell pond and no sign of yesterday's 30 strong flock of Black-tailed Godwits. On the Beehive flash, the Avocet remains along with a dapper Shelduck.

Avocet
Shelduck
In Tynemouth, at least two female Ring Ouzels were showing well behind the Coast Guard Cottages, and Tom Tams had brief tree tops views of a possible Hawfinch.

Ring Ouzel
With rain and easterly gales for tomorrow, Monday might just throw up a few surprises. A Wryneck in my garden would be nice!

Saturday 14 April 2012

Free Pest Control

If you take a moment to watch wasps, then you quickly realise that without them we could be knee deep in all sorts of other insects, such as this fly, seen here getting despatched and eaten by a Common Wasp.

Common Wasp
Wasps patrol every leaf and stem of the plants in our garden, searching for prey.

If people realised how effective they are at keeping plants free of 'pests', then they would probably be on sale in garden centres!

Friday 13 April 2012

Tread carefully!

I've had a macro lens for a few years, gathering dust in the company of a few other compulsive purchases.  But during the last couple of weeks it's been my constant companion, as I endeavour to tackle the smaller critters that live around our feet. Tread carefully!

Tawny Mining Bee
Crab Spider Philodromus aureolus
Mining Bee - Andrena barbilabris
Rustic Wolf Spider Trochosa ruricola
7-Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Sunday 1 April 2012

Lambing - No. 85, your time is up!

Ever wondered where those beautiful spring lambs spring from? Well, it's from a lambing shed. Here's Dean showing how it's done......