Wordless Wednesday

Pleased and Disappointed

Sunrise over my lane this morning, with the telephone wires removed.




Really disappointed later on though. A Robin stayed close singing its little heart out and let me video it with the Nikon. I had a feeling the sound wasn't working properly a few days ago and yes, none was recorded! At first I though the Nikon was broken but I went into the menu and reset it. Too late for that Robin but at least the sound is working again. How it got switched off  I'll never know as I can't find anything in the menus to switch it on or off.

Another Nice Sunrise

There have been quite a few lovely Sunrises recently. This morning was no exception:



It's a pity they last such a short time but that tends to make them even more special.

Wordless Wednesday

On a Different Subject

I usually get round to cooking from scratch twice a week. Fish for one meal; skate, plaice, haddock or sea bass in order of choice. Always covered with plain flour and shallow fried in olive oil.

Fairly recently I found the local Post Office stocked locally sourced sirloin steak. Usually I shallow fry in olive oil for a short while to seal it then steam it in the pressure cooker. This time after the frying I added OXO stock to the frying pan, enough to cover the steak, and covered the pan to leave it simmering for an hour. A first for me was cooking a baked potato in the microwave. Had to research the timing. Finally some mixed frozen vegetables gently boiled for a short while. For once everything came together just right:



A bit of 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' on the potato and OXO stock from the frying pan completed a thoroughly enjoyable, tasty meal. Lovely moist, tender meat. Must stock up on more of those.

Oh yes, Penny did get her share.

Sunrise This Morning

Let Me In

Not many bees visiting my hibiscus bush this year. Normally it is full of visiting insects.
I did spot a bumble bee which insisted that the way in was to try squeezing between the petals rather than fly a couple more inches and approach from the front:









Most of the honey bees seem to be attracted to the ivy at the moment.

I Prefer My Wildlife To Be Outdoors

Bedtime, final visit to the bathroom. About to switch the light off. Look down to see a shiny black shape ambling across the bathroom floor. Do I capture it or photograph it? Silly question, grab the pocket Nikon, flash raised:





A Common Black Ground Beetle about 15mm, 1/2 inch, long waiting patiently until I had finished.

Next, take it back outdoors where it belongs. Went to the kitchen and fetched an empty jar kept for such occasions. Back to the bathroom in time to see it disappearing from view. Just as I was about to give up it reappeared at top speed scurrying back across the bathroom floor. Managed to plonk the upturned jar over it and slide a piece of cardboard underneath. Captured. Unlock the doors I had secured for the night. Gently tip beetle on the lawn, followed by the four legged supervisor to see what was going on. Wildlife back where it belonged. Lock up again and so to bed.

Wordless Wednesday

Common Toad

Red Lily Beetle

I wondered why my lily plants had no leaves:



Red Lily Beetle.
15 focus stacked photos

A First For My Pond

Pottering round the garden I suddenly noticed a pair of Common Darter Dragonflies. I have often seen them singly but this was the first time of seeing a pair together. Had to dash in to grab the Canon as the pocket Nikon would never have focussed on them:



Not only that but the female kept dipping her 'tail' in the water:



Which I assume meant she was depositing eggs:



I was able to grab a few seconds of video before they moved on:



Here's hoping the pond is now a breeding ground for Dragonflies as well as Damselflies. Not forgetting the frogs and newts which also breed there.

Stand By to be Invaded

No, not the two legged animals I read about on social media. This invasion has wings. A short while ago I read about this on The Weaver of Grass blog and now the message has reached my local paper.

 

The local article is entitled "Plague of 200 Billion Daddy Longlegs on the Way"
Apparently the previous mild winter, the warm Summer and recent rain will cause millions upon millions of Crane Flies (daddy longlegs) to emerge. I guess the one shown above, photographed yesterday, was an advance scout checking out the lie of the land.

The larvae, known as leatherjackets, live in the ground and feed on the roots of plants. Crane flies are harmless to us, just a nuisance when they come indoors and spend the remainder of their lives head butting any source of light. Fortunately the adults only live for 10 to 15 days.

It's a Dogs Life

I'm exhausted just waiting around for the postman to arrive:

Time for a Breather

Farmers are working long hours to bring in the present harvest and then prepare the ground for the next crop. This tractor driver looked as though he was taking a well earned break:



I see that tractors still have CB aerials. Years ago I used to listen to them putting the world to rights. At least it relieves the loneliness and possible boredom of what must be a monotonous task.



That is quite some plough:



Nice to see the stubble ploughed in to rot down in the soil. Hard to remember the days when it was burned off and the village would be covered in sooty pieces when the wind blew in our direction. I must admit it was quite an amazing sight at night looking across to the higher ground and seeing many fields on fire. I'll never forget one terrifying time when I suddenly found myself driving through the choking smoke from a field fire and couldn't see the end of the car bonnet let alone the road or any possible obstructions.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunrise This Morning

Common Darter Dragonfly

Here is another dragonfly which seemed as though it liked to have its photo taken as it kept returning to the same planter even when I was very close:

Migrant Hawker?

Spotted down the lane on our afternoon walk:



I could only grab a quick photo with the pocket Nikon before it moved on.
The body pattern and size seems to me to suggest it was a Migrant Hawker.
Unusual though is the apparent change in colour, part brown and blue and part black and blue.

A Bit Worried About ....

Adrian, Adrian's Images. He sometimes takes a rest from blogging but unusual for him not to answer an email so I hope he is OK.

Glo, Porcelain Rose. Suddenly stopped blogging at the end of March. Unusual as she normally has an end of month pictorial blog. If anyone knows she is OK that would set my mind at rest. I seem to have mislaid her email address.

Going to try catching up on replies to comments here. For some unknown reason about a week ago Firefox suddenly refused to put in my proper profile when I write replies and they don't show. I tried logging out and back in to no avail but have found it works with Opera and probably Safari.