Time Lapse movie of Ladybird emerging. Need to work on consistent lighting though. Love the way it looks like a lentil when it comes out and then hides under the leaf to dry.
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The Harlequins are now out in force on the small Weeping Willow in the garden. I had some pupating larvae on time lapse and after 5 days of filming they went. Unfortunately the card had filled overnight so I missed it! I have started again with another so hopefully I will get it this time.
An excellent day was had in WWT Slimbridge.
A couple of lifers too.
The Reed and Sedge Warblers were very accommodating and gave us some great views.
Reed Warbler
The ladybird was taking a risk!
Sedge Warbler
At the South Lake the Spoonbill was very obliging but didn’t move much, it just slept and had the odd stretch. I haven’t mastered taking white birds yet though.
The Reserve was full of juveniles, Tufties, Shelducks, Swans, Goslings, Little Ringed Plovers and Bunnies!
I missed the Ducklings diving every single time!
Little Ringed Plover
Bunny 🙂
The Rushy brought us our first lifer of the day, the Common Tern. It is so elegant.
Further up at the Robbie Garnett Hide the Green Sandpipers were showing well (also the Little Ringed Plover)
I had never noticed that waders shut their eyes when the feed (although I suppose it makes sense)
Walking to the Middle Point was full great for butterflies:- Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Brown Argus and Ringlet.
After bemoaning the lack of Raptors all day, we were about to leave the Holden Tower, when lo and behold – A Peregrine, no wait… A hobby! Lifer! No decent photos though. Then a Buzzard!
A great day all in all.
Final Shot – Black Tailed Godwits in flight
The leaf cutter bees have been making use of insect house
I managed to see one sealing the hole
I’ve also noticed what I assume is the female, flicking her abdomen up and down. Presumably to attract males.
We put up a little Insect House box a couple of months ago and it is now seeing some action. Spiders are hiding between the canes and the bees love it.
The leaf cutter bees appear to really like the cut bamboo canes
They bask in the sun on top
And build their nest in them too
Other bees are using it as well, such as this Wool Carder Bee.
Not sure if it’s defending the territory or building the nest, but either way it doesn’t look happy.
Yay! Another Springwatch favourite.
The Great Tit Fledgling seemed to be having a bad hair day. It was so engrossed in eating the sunflower hearts it let me get really close. Hope it pays more attention to predators.
The Siskins are still hanging around (but no sign of youngsters yet). They love the sunflower hearts.
It is amazing to see them use their tongues to get the sunflower hearts.
And then they shred them!
We have a gang of 5 juvenile Starlings hanging around the garden. They have hardly left all day. Making mince meat of the suet cakes and any mealworms I put out!
I want some food please, originally uploaded by TheLilacGrove.
3 Goldfinch fledglings turned up today. We have had a fledgling fest this week!
And then Great Tits!
And of course Blue tits
