Friday at the Flicks - It's That Time of Year

 

It's a good job I always allow extra time for road journeys. Yesterday while driving the country lanes to visit the Wagon and Horses for a meal I had only travelled a mile before meeting:




The combine was nearly as wide as the twisty road so there was no chance to overtake. Not that that worries me. It makes a change to go at 5 to 10 mph and be able to see more of the surroundings. They have an important job to do and I had plenty of time. I have always found farm drivers to be courteous. On wider roads they normally find a suitable place to pull over and let traffic pass.

Overseas visitors may be puzzled by the black and white posts at the side of the road from time to time. They mark the edge of the road at night and in snowy weather give an indication of the depth of snow. Not many left these days. I don't think they get replaced when they are knocked down.

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: