Wordless Wednesday

Scarecrows?

Recently it was the annual Village Summer Show. As in previous years there was a scarecrow competition. This year the theme was 'A Personality'. These were two of the entries from people living locally:













A couple of the classic cars on display:





I was hoping the birds of prey would be there again this year but that wasn't to be.

Another Muntjac Deer Sighting

Taking our usual mid afternoon route it was a nice surprise when I glanced down a recently cleared public footpath and spotted a Muntjac deer. It was well down the path and stopped a while watching us.

What the camera could see even on full zoom:



Fortunately one shot was well enough in focus to be able to crop for a better view:



As is usual in such situations all that could be see most of the time was a back end:



We continued with our walk and I had another look on the return journey. The deer was still there so I decided to try creeping closer for a better shot. Unfortunately a dog in a nearby garden chose that moment to bark and the deer disappeared in a flash.

Viewed From Above and Below

Saw this moth on the outside of the kitchen window this morning:



Not a brilliant photo through two sheets of glass.

Went outside hoping it would stay still while I got a top yiew:



I must admit, much as I hate moths, this one was very pretty.
It was about 25mm across.
It appears to be a Geometridae moth but which one I don't know.


Looks as though it is going to be an expensive day.
The dishwasher was emitting a nasty smell this morning.
That odour you get when electrical wiring is well above its working temperature.
By the clunking from it I guess a solenoid is past its use by date.

A Swallow of Sorts

In a way it's been a moth day. As we were getting ready for our early morning walkies I spotted a beautiful ginger coloured moth. Unfortunately I forgot about it when we returned and by the time I went looking it was nowhere to be seen.

I had more luck with our final walkabout. When we reached the cricket field I could see the gang mower was there, along with his two dogs racing about. A sharp about turn and off in the opposite direction. On one garden hedge something caught my eye:



Fortunately the little Nikon can get within a few inches for a close shot:



A Swallow-tailed moth Ourapteryx sambucaria. As the larvae feed on privet, hawthorn and blackthorn it was in the right place as there seems to be a mixture of all three along that hedge.

The Great Cover-up Begins

No, I'm not referring to Deserter Dave or Mediocre May but to the temporary cover being erected over the village church roof. Last Friday:



No work done on Monday as there was a very strong breeze all day.
Today the covering has resumed:

Itsy-bitsy Spider

When I went to the greenhouse to check on the tomato plants I spotted a new thread about four feet long. A quick examination brought to view one of the smallest spiders I have seen spinning its web. A quick dash to grab the macro camera set up and found both batteries flat. Fortunately I had a couple of spares ready charged so I was soon back in the greenhouse trying to grab a hand held macro shot:



It was a problem to find it in the viewfinder, never mind trying to focus on it but I did manage one more reasonable shot as it was more interested in weaving its web than posing for a photo shoot:



Legs spread it can't have been more than 5mm across.
If it hadn't been moving I doubt I would have noticed it.