Just the one silent video today. A few nights ago a Hedgehog visited just as the daylight was fading. It would appear to be a good job I hadn't cleared up all the seed the Starlings had scattered from the feeders as Spiky seemed to be enjoying the sunflower hearts. He/she had arrived just as I was about to put the dish of dried mealworms and crushed unsalted peanuts out so I waited for a while and took a few video clips.
When I went out with the dish I hoped for a few still photos but the hog made a dash for cover until it considered the coast clear before coming back to tuck in to the usual feast.
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife wherever you are.
Friday, 9 September 2011
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Wings for Wednesday
A couple of red eyed flies this week.
The first is a Flesh Fly: (Sarcophaga bercaea)
Easily recognised by the large red eyes, the stripes on the thorax and the checked abdomen. They do not lay eggs but carry them until they hatch. The larvae then burrow into food material.
The second appears to be a Root-Maggot Fly . (Anthomyiidae)
Both photos are somewhat reduced in sharpness as they were processed twice. First using the Redynamix plugin in PaintShop Pro. Then they were transferred to the iPad to convert to greyscale and colour pop the flies using the ColorSplash app.
Why colour pop? This is a small crop from the photo as taken. I feel that the bright colour of the plastic barrel detracts from the subject.
Goldfinches:
Now the breeding season is over the Goldfinches are back to moving around in flocks. Yesterday teatime the Birdy Bistro was invaded by upwards of forty all trying to feed at the same time. One noticeable fact is the number of youngsters. I would estimate that at least half were this years juveniles which is great and should help to improve their numbers in the area.
The first is a Flesh Fly: (Sarcophaga bercaea)
Easily recognised by the large red eyes, the stripes on the thorax and the checked abdomen. They do not lay eggs but carry them until they hatch. The larvae then burrow into food material.
The second appears to be a Root-Maggot Fly . (Anthomyiidae)
Both photos are somewhat reduced in sharpness as they were processed twice. First using the Redynamix plugin in PaintShop Pro. Then they were transferred to the iPad to convert to greyscale and colour pop the flies using the ColorSplash app.
Why colour pop? This is a small crop from the photo as taken. I feel that the bright colour of the plastic barrel detracts from the subject.
Goldfinches:
Now the breeding season is over the Goldfinches are back to moving around in flocks. Yesterday teatime the Birdy Bistro was invaded by upwards of forty all trying to feed at the same time. One noticeable fact is the number of youngsters. I would estimate that at least half were this years juveniles which is great and should help to improve their numbers in the area.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Macro on Monday - Guess What + Birthday Bash
It would seem last week's mystery plant was more difficult than I thought it would be. Maybe the top negative picture put people off. Only Glo managed to suss it out and gained the virtual gold star 
for identifying the piece of Groundsel. It was an anagram of 'under logs' in the clue.
Better luck with the new mystery plant.
Guess What:
No prizes. Just for fun. Don't be shy - have a go.
Grand Birthday Bash
I think I am still recovering from last Saturday night. Clinton, a close neighbour and friend, had a garden party and BBQ to celebrate being 80 years young.
Yvonne, his wife, had asked me if I would video some of the event as Clinton's daughter was to make a surprise visit from Australia where she has been living for the past five years.
The photographer was from the local paper.
The whole evening went very smoothly and so, fortunately, did my little videoing episode. Beside the constant supply of food from the BBQ and never ending supply of the wobbly leg liquid there was entertainment from a couple of belly dancers
and a pole dancer, who I missed as it was too dark for my camcorder and I had to get back to Bobby who was already panicking. It is very rare for me to leave him at night, especially for several hours. Of course my early exit might also have had something to do with the fact that video clips were in danger of looking as though I was filming on a trawler in a North Sea storm. Today I was able to put together a quarter hour video which was burned on to DVDs for the family.
for identifying the piece of Groundsel. It was an anagram of 'under logs' in the clue. Better luck with the new mystery plant.
Guess What:
No prizes. Just for fun. Don't be shy - have a go.
Grand Birthday Bash
I think I am still recovering from last Saturday night. Clinton, a close neighbour and friend, had a garden party and BBQ to celebrate being 80 years young.
Yvonne, his wife, had asked me if I would video some of the event as Clinton's daughter was to make a surprise visit from Australia where she has been living for the past five years.
The photographer was from the local paper.
The whole evening went very smoothly and so, fortunately, did my little videoing episode. Beside the constant supply of food from the BBQ and never ending supply of the wobbly leg liquid there was entertainment from a couple of belly dancers
and a pole dancer, who I missed as it was too dark for my camcorder and I had to get back to Bobby who was already panicking. It is very rare for me to leave him at night, especially for several hours. Of course my early exit might also have had something to do with the fact that video clips were in danger of looking as though I was filming on a trawler in a North Sea storm. Today I was able to put together a quarter hour video which was burned on to DVDs for the family.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Friday at the Flicks - Goldfinches, Blue Tit
There are so many Goldfinches visiting at the moment there is usually plenty of squabbling, especially amongst the impatient youngsters. Like us they have three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and teatime.
There is a microphone behind a small solar panel on the shed. One day I could hear constant tapping which turned out to be a Blue Tit pecking at the woodwork where a cable enters the shed. The hole is plugged with Blu-Tack. The bird then goes on to investigate the tapes which hold various cables together. Insects use those as safe havens and the Blue Tits often go looking to see what they can find..
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
There is a microphone behind a small solar panel on the shed. One day I could hear constant tapping which turned out to be a Blue Tit pecking at the woodwork where a cable enters the shed. The hole is plugged with Blu-Tack. The bird then goes on to investigate the tapes which hold various cables together. Insects use those as safe havens and the Blue Tits often go looking to see what they can find..
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Wings for Wednesday
Once again the flock of Goldfinches has increased. There can be as many as twenty arriving by 7 a.m. and by the sound of chattering in nearby trees they stay until it is time to roost for the night. Not the sharpest of photos as they were taken early one dull morning.
A mixture of ages can be seen. The youngest still have the speckling on the breast. Those slightly older have the brownish chest tint while the adults have the red on their heads.
The first was enhanced using Paint Shop Pro's auto enhancement facility and the second was enhanced using the Redyamix plug in.
A mixture of ages can be seen. The youngest still have the speckling on the breast. Those slightly older have the brownish chest tint while the adults have the red on their heads.
The first was enhanced using Paint Shop Pro's auto enhancement facility and the second was enhanced using the Redyamix plug in.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Macro on Monday - Guess What
Last week another full house with Adrian, Keith and Glo all gaining virtual gold stars for identifying the piece of Heather. When I was about five years old the gypsies used to go from house to house trying to sell dolly pegs and 'lucky heather' and telling you it would bring bad luck if you refused.
A third plant from the garden, but not one I planted.
Guess What:
Answer next Monday.
No prizes - just for fun.
A third plant from the garden, but not one I planted.
Guess What:
Answer next Monday.
No prizes - just for fun.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Still Squabbling
Wasps
Not only was there a wasp nest under the front hedge but also one in the roof. The indoor one I knew about but as they were entering high up I didn't bother about it too much, until recently. Over the past week or so more and more wasps seemed to be finding their way down to the living area and the last straw was when one landed on Bobby and he obviously removed it with his mouth. First job late last Friday was to find a pest controller. The local council no longer provide that service and they would have shut down for a long weekend anyway. Plenty to choose from on the net so I eliminated those with non geographical phone numbers and chose one who lived a few villages away. Emailed for a price late Friday night and had a reply within the hour. Phoned Saturday morning and after arranging a Sunday morning visit he then phoned back to say he could fit me in that morning. Within the hour he was doing what was needed to eliminate both nests. Today there seems to be a very welcome absence of wasps.
Squabblers
Since the temperature took a tumble several days ago there have been more small birds visiting the Birdy Bistro. There just aren't enough perches and a lot of squabbling takes place. This morning there were about twenty House Sparrows competing for the six perches on the feeder. For once the Sun was shining so I was fortunate enough to take a few action shots.
It looks as though today will be reasonable weather so I had better get some more tidying up done in the garden as the green waste bin gets emptied tomorrow. The fat cats may well be able to laze in the sun on their yachts or be wheeler dealing on the golf course but the grafters who keep the country ticking over work on a Bank Holiday Monday.
Not only was there a wasp nest under the front hedge but also one in the roof. The indoor one I knew about but as they were entering high up I didn't bother about it too much, until recently. Over the past week or so more and more wasps seemed to be finding their way down to the living area and the last straw was when one landed on Bobby and he obviously removed it with his mouth. First job late last Friday was to find a pest controller. The local council no longer provide that service and they would have shut down for a long weekend anyway. Plenty to choose from on the net so I eliminated those with non geographical phone numbers and chose one who lived a few villages away. Emailed for a price late Friday night and had a reply within the hour. Phoned Saturday morning and after arranging a Sunday morning visit he then phoned back to say he could fit me in that morning. Within the hour he was doing what was needed to eliminate both nests. Today there seems to be a very welcome absence of wasps.
Squabblers
Since the temperature took a tumble several days ago there have been more small birds visiting the Birdy Bistro. There just aren't enough perches and a lot of squabbling takes place. This morning there were about twenty House Sparrows competing for the six perches on the feeder. For once the Sun was shining so I was fortunate enough to take a few action shots.
It looks as though today will be reasonable weather so I had better get some more tidying up done in the garden as the green waste bin gets emptied tomorrow. The fat cats may well be able to laze in the sun on their yachts or be wheeler dealing on the golf course but the grafters who keep the country ticking over work on a Bank Holiday Monday.
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