Nature pics

[Lazarus]

Wouldn't you know it: I have tried in vain umpteen times to get some shots of one of our local Woodpeckers eating my nuts - the little blighter flies off at the slightest movement, however surreptitious.

He was there again a few minutes ago, and I told SWMBO of my difficulty.

She took charge.

Here are the results:

 

[Piltdownpaul]

A shield bug soaking up the sun this afternoon.

 

[Archived-1]

I had one of the bugs on my window today, great shot mrs tivu I would love them in my garden, I see them often when I am out metal detecting.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me at the time, but I saw a particularly odd spider in the garden. A shiny brown affair with two deep dimples in the back

 

[Topper]

Seems a bit early for this little fella to be out and about

View attachment 63056

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Seems a bit early for this little fella to be out and about

View attachment 63056

I found over 10 of them whilst pruning my old peonies from last weekend ,ive put them in my ladybird home i got for a christmas present. I hope they stay, i often have masses of greenfly around my garden in the summer. They were all red ones, i havent seen the yellow ones since i was a kid.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Hayling Island (south west) yesterday. A bit raw, but in the shade of the sea break it was rather pleasant. As usual the main activity was looking for and breaking rocks, in the hope of finding either mineral deposits or fossil remains. Can anyone identify what the indentation in the rock is/was ? From other images it could be either a seed pod or a weevil/snout beetle, though the latter is usually only discovered in or around Colorado.


http://www.insectsofalberta.com/images/2005-fossilbeetle1.jpg
http://www.catnapin.com/Fossil/Arthropoda/Weevil_-_Cretaceous_of_Colorado_small1.jpg

 

[nelson_b]

Stunning weather here this morning -- so drove up to the north of the lake district -- and went walking.
the pic is from the summit of "Blencathra" looking across to the "Helvellyn" area

 

[Captain Jack]

Is that snow there still?

 

[nelson_b]

Is that snow there still?

Yes -- that was midday yesterday, it was such brilliant weather
a few more pics below -- pic 1 -- Blencathra as seen on approach from the Penrith - Keswick road
pic 2 - the route to the summit ( you can see a person halfway on the ridge if you look close ) , pic 3 -- another view from the top, pic 4 -- slightly zoomed shot from the northern end - on my descent.
I will add that it was dammed cold up there -- the wind chill was hellish
still most enjoyable though!!

 

[Lazarus]

Excellent - haven't done any walking in the Northern Fells, but will get around to it.

There was snow above Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales as we returned from a week in Swaledale last Saturday. Really hairy driving after an otherwise benign winter, but the scenery was magical.

 

[nelson_b]

Excellent - haven't done any walking in the Northern Fells, but will get around to it.

There was snow above Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales as we returned from a week in Swaledale last Saturday. Really hairy driving after an otherwise benign winter, but the scenery was magical.

There have been so few - clear frosty days this winter to enjoy, so i grabbed my chance !
its a bit less busy in the northern fells - the lake district gets a bit crowded these days especially the mid and southern part .
not been in Swaledale for some years now --- nice area also --

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Ive always preferred the Northern lakes and round Ennerdale area myself,its always less busier.

 

[Lazarus]

Some bits and bobs from our recent week in Swaledale (Caution: Contains FrogsPorn)



1. SWMBO and I without our Wellies



2. Some of a great many Frogs



3. A loner



4. This Otter was petrified at our approach



5. Immigrant



6. These were ten-a-penny

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Ewe pair dont look too Baaad to me!!!

 

[Channel Hopper]

I had the first two wasps of the year come into the house, and within about an hour, both my pet spiders had made lunch of them.

I couldn't get the one in the front window to focus correctly, but the one out the back did alright and posed long enough for a couple of shots.

 

[Archived-1]

I've been feeding the birds for just over a year now, we get lots of goldfinches, I have seen as many as 20 in our garden at once, in the winter months, here's 3 I caught early this morning .

 

[nelson_b]

I've been feeding the birds for just over a year now, we get lots of goldfinches, I have seen as many as 20 in our garden at once, in the winter months, here's 3 I caught early this morning .

View attachment 64333

Nice one -- goldfinches have been scarce here this winter for some reason ? -- i,v only seen one on my feeders this year.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Yes same here Nelson, We havent had any over the winter and two have been coming morning and late afternoon for the last week. And i dont know what has happened to our Redpolls, no sign of them at all.

 

[Lazarus]

Loads here, Nelson.

Flocks up to a dozen or so.