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.