My Feathered Friend

Many people have a chirpy Robin follow them round the garden, especially when digging or weeding. Here the Robins seem to be shy and disappear when I go outside. Starting late Winter I had a bird which would come down as soon as I started to top up the feeders. Over the months she has got bolder and bolder. Which is my feathered friend? A female Blackbird.

Late yesterday she came down as soon as I started to top up the feeders. As usual I scattered some seed on the ground for her and she stayed there while I fetched the Nikon to take a few photos. For these she was about six feet away and carried on collecting seed while keeping one wary eye on me:






Today, while I was removing some grass from the rockery, she came within three feet of me and once again allowed me to photograph her:

 

One day I will have to try holding out a handful of seed to see whether she will dare to come that close.

Macro on Monday - What's Wrong?

Pleasing to see several correct guesses for last week's mystery photo. It was indeed a close up of Penny's eye. It was one of those rare days with glorious Sunshine and the grass reflecting in her eyes made her look like a wolf with glowing green eyes in a horror movie. Anyway, congratulations and virtual gold stars to TexWisGirl, Ragged Robin and Adrian.

Something different this week (couldn't find anything to macro!)

This time you can see the full object but there is something wrong.
Can you spot what is wrong?

Daddy-longlegs Spider  -  Pholcus phalangioides

It was a while before I noticed it.

Guesses in the comments will be revealed next Monday along with the answer.
No prizes, just for fun.

Goldfinch

Often get a pair of Goldfinches visiting these days but don't often manage to see one in the clear:

Tatty Tyke

A couple of days ago one of the local squirrels made its usual raid on the bird seed feeders:



As I watched I noticed it had several large patches of fur loss:

 

 

 

A search of the internet resulted in finding several possible reasons for this to happen:

1) Result of a fight

2) Mange which can be caused by squirrel mange mites

3)  dermatophytoses - a variety of fungal infection. The fur isn't lost but breaks off as it brushes against things.

There are other causes but I think in those cases the squirrel would likely be nearly or completely bald.  The above mentioned causes tend to be temporary and the probability is that the fur will grow back in time.

Friday at the Flicks - Snail

It so often happens I have nothing new for Friday at the Flicks until the very last minute. As we returned from our early morning perambulation this morning I spotted this snail climbing the bungalow wall:



With the return of damp weather there have been many dowdy looking garden snails in evidence. Good news for the thrushes, not so good for gardeners. There are far less of the more colourful types like this one.



Camera Nikon S9050 hand held.

Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.

Around the Garden Pond

A quick look at some of the wildlife in and around my garden pond:

Fly:


Wasp:


Pond Skater:


Not seen so far this year are any water boatmen.

Tadpole:


Pond Snail:


Stretch Spider:


Bathing Birds:

Robin:


Juvenile Goldfinch and Starling:



Miniature bullrush,  First of this year's male Blue-tailed Damselflies
  

I have spotted some newts but so far they have been too shy to photograph.

Andrena Solitary Bee?

At first I couldn't make my mind up whether this was a bee or a fly.
Size - a bit smaller and slimmer than a honey bee.





I think looking at the ends of its legs I would definitely lean towards it being a bee.
Possibly of the Andrena genus of solitary bees.