The Robin Peanut Cake blocks I ordered from C J Wildlife are proving to be very popular with my garden visitors, especially as many birds are feeding nestlings at the moment. A short video showing Blue Tit, Robin and House Sparrow:
The 'cake' consists of peanut flour, tallow, Sunflower hearts, kibbled peanuts, dried mealworms and other seeds and fruit.
The camera nest box hasn't been taken by any birds but does seem to have a resident wasp. I am sure there is a Song Thrush nest in the Ivy at the bottom of the garden, or very nearby. A couple of days ago I saw two Song Thrushes together on the lawn and one keeps visiting to collect worms and always flies back to the same spot in the Ivy. So far I haven't managed to video it as the Song Thrush is very wary and timid.
Saturday, 21 May 2022
Monday, 16 May 2022
Monday Mystery
Last week's close view
was correctly identified by Wilma and Ellen D. as
a pack of emery boards / nail files. Well done and thanks to everyone who had a go.
This week I have a close view of
what? If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
was correctly identified by Wilma and Ellen D. as
a pack of emery boards / nail files. Well done and thanks to everyone who had a go.
This week I have a close view of
what? If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
Saturday, 14 May 2022
Fledgling Starling Feeding Time
A couple of days ago there were two fledgling Starlings in the garden. Yesterday there was only one, patiently waiting to be fed. After feeding the youngster the parent had a shower and dried off in the Sun.
So far today I haven'n seen any in the garden.
So far today I haven'n seen any in the garden.
Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Yellow Eggs
I was pruning some overhanging branches on a fruit bush when I spotted a flash of yellow on one green leaf.
On a closer look I could see a group of tiny yellow eggs.
Just the subject for another macro focus stacking session. Here I set up the Canon M5 with 18 - 150mm zoom lens and added the Raynox MSN-202 super macro conversion lens on my home brew automatic stepper unit.
The results - closer views of the eggs of a Large White Butterfly - often called a Cabbage White as cabbage leaves are one of the plants they often lay their eggs on for the caterpillars to consume.
I wrote about my home brew Arduino driven automatic system HERE in 2020. The first of today's macro photos used eleven shots, each with a slightly different focus, stacked using Helicon Focus. The second used 20 shots.
On a closer look I could see a group of tiny yellow eggs.
Just the subject for another macro focus stacking session. Here I set up the Canon M5 with 18 - 150mm zoom lens and added the Raynox MSN-202 super macro conversion lens on my home brew automatic stepper unit.
The results - closer views of the eggs of a Large White Butterfly - often called a Cabbage White as cabbage leaves are one of the plants they often lay their eggs on for the caterpillars to consume.
I wrote about my home brew Arduino driven automatic system HERE in 2020. The first of today's macro photos used eleven shots, each with a slightly different focus, stacked using Helicon Focus. The second used 20 shots.
Monday, 9 May 2022
Monday Mystery
Last week's close up photo
seems to have had everyone scratching their heads. No correct guess this time. Thank you for having a go.
It was part of
an intruder deterrent designed to be fixed to the top of a wall or fence. The spikes have blunt ends and the plastic material is partially flexible rather than a solid, hard material. I have used these to stop Wood Pigeons landing and pooping over everything below.
The new close view is of
a pack of .... what? If you would like to have a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
seems to have had everyone scratching their heads. No correct guess this time. Thank you for having a go.
It was part of
an intruder deterrent designed to be fixed to the top of a wall or fence. The spikes have blunt ends and the plastic material is partially flexible rather than a solid, hard material. I have used these to stop Wood Pigeons landing and pooping over everything below.
The new close view is of
a pack of .... what? If you would like to have a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
Tuesday, 3 May 2022
Plume Moth
When I went to open the large shed I could see two Plume Moths resting on the doors with their wings rolled up. First I tried for a single decent photo with the Nikon Colorpix S9050 but ended up with half a dozen fuzzy shots. Next I tried the iPhone with similar results. All this time, with the camera lens within a couple of inches of the moths, they stayed absolutely still. Even when I unlocked and opened a door they did not move.
In the end I though I would try the Canon M5 with a macro lens attached. No single shot was near half in focus on the subject so in desperation I tried for a series of hand held shots to put in a focus stacking program. Zerene Stacker did a grand job aligning things considering the way the position of the moth in each photo varied from shot to shot.
Camera set up - Canon M5 + Canon 18-150mm zoom lens + Raynox DCR-150 macro / close-up conversion lens.
In the end I though I would try the Canon M5 with a macro lens attached. No single shot was near half in focus on the subject so in desperation I tried for a series of hand held shots to put in a focus stacking program. Zerene Stacker did a grand job aligning things considering the way the position of the moth in each photo varied from shot to shot.
Camera set up - Canon M5 + Canon 18-150mm zoom lens + Raynox DCR-150 macro / close-up conversion lens.
Monday, 2 May 2022
Monday Mystery
Last week's close view was
correctly identified
by Adrian and Wilma as a battery. Well done. As it happens it was a rechargeable size D. My thanks to all who have a look at these puzzle photos and especially to those who have a go at identifying them.
This week we have a side on view
of part of .... what? If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
correctly identified
by Adrian and Wilma as a battery. Well done. As it happens it was a rechargeable size D. My thanks to all who have a look at these puzzle photos and especially to those who have a go at identifying them.
This week we have a side on view
of part of .... what? If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
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