something lurking in the woodshed

An unusual sight locally at the best of times, a humming bird moth taking an interest in our woodshed, and a photograph (1/3200 at f8) taken in 2012 that shows their amazing ability to hover while feeding on nectar.

pony nekking

Ponies on Bodmin Moor this (lovely) morning. The stack of Kit Hill can just be made out to the left on the far horizon. The bracken is turning, and the leaves are falling, Autumn is upon us already.

the fetch

the difference between working for a living, and living to play

crunchie bar

continuing the close up season, this caterpillar was found munching on the plastic netting protecting our rosemary shrubs from the hordes of ravenous rabbits. I haven't been able to identify to which species it belongs.

Lists of Gold

The little stream that rises at the duckpond in Venterdon runs the length of the valley below Old Mill where it takes a meandering course before gathering pace and running through Luckett into the Tamar. Today golden ringed dragonflies were patrolling up and down the path that runs on the northern side of the stream. It was bathed in warm sunshine. Himalayan balsam (that has spread like mad in this area) lines either side of the path, and bird's foot trefoil and eyebright grow on its floor. This creates a natural space for jousting. The males fly up and down, and when they meet engage in high speed agile aerial combat. In WW2 fights between fighter planes were always referred to as dog fights; dragonfly fights would have been more accurate. After a fight the combatants land to take a breather and allow some close up photography. At the same time a couple of male common blue butterflies were also engaged in territorial warfare. In previous years this path was lined by more familiar plants like valerian and hemp agrimony. I am not sure how much of a problem Himalayan balsam is, but it would be a mighty undertaking now to get rid of it.

The close up shows the amazing pixellation of the dragonfly's compound eyes.

the admiral's tongue

There are dozens of our big late summer butterflies around, gathering on the butterfly bush, up to 6 or 7 at a time on one flower head. And there was one holly blue in the garden today.