Yet another grey day, but the garden proved to be a good source of variety despite that. Admittedly, I had to hunt some of it out, but not these starlings. They seem to be beginning the annual 'massing' and a large flock descended on the tree at the rear of the garden. Poor light once again played havoc with photography (compromise between burning out the sky and the birds being in deep shadow), but of about 50 or so here's one of the more successful attempts.
On the rare occasion (such as today) when I mow the lawn I use a manual rotary mower and take reasonable care to make sure that none of the smaller creatures are in its way. Long grass is cut with shears. Anyway, the 'technique' means I'm crawling around on my knees which is how I found this grasshopper.
I've not yet identified this next little creature. It was sleeping in the long grass, under an overhanging shrub. I was able to 'rescue' it (i.e. move it to slightly safer place).
Yesterday I posted another moth on the fallen apples. They are always a good source of insect life, and unsurprisingly I found these two striped visitors feasting away.
And on the theme of apples, I spent some of last night (when the wasps weren't around) filling up the compost bin with them. The brandling worms are already getting to work.
This evening I caught a glimpse of a slow worm by the pond, and of course some frogs. And after several days of the briefest of sightings, the nicked ear vixen deigned to grant a brief audience.
She seemed to be holding her right front paw awkwardly, though I doubt it's causing any real problem for her. She managed to scale the five foot fence at the side of the garden without a second thought. So just one of those perennial fox scrapes. No sign of the other pair (the old dog fox and the bold vixen). They could well be passing through late at night (we're approaching the annual territorial shake-up), or simply giving the garden a miss for a while.
Camera note: the starlings were photographed with the 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The vixen was caught with the 40D and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. The macros were taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro and EM-140 DG ring flash, which are more or less permanently attached to the 400D body at the moment.
zetorres
29 Aug 2008Fantastic, all this wild life just in one garden! :up:
Amazing photos, words! :up:
CedarFox
29 Aug 2008Nice shots :up: The grasshopper really blends well into the background.
SittingFox
29 Aug 2008That vixen is so queenly :queen: My garden fox sightings have dropped off sharply too, but I kind of expect that at this time of year.
Very interesting moth! Have you identified it now?
Vulpes vulpes
29 Aug 2008I do like your garden!!
Words
29 Aug 2008Adele, I'm still waiting on an i.d. for the moth but we're narrowing it down. When I say 'we', I mean the experts over on Wild About Britain. I agree, the foxes are going to be a bit more erratic for a while, but roll on next spring 😉
Words
29 Aug 2008Eric, yes they have good camouflage. I often hear them but they can be tricky to actually see unless they jump.
Words
29 Aug 2008ZT, thanks. Most is very common and I would think nearly every garden has them! Maybe not the fox 😉
zetorres
30 Aug 2008😆
cakkleberrylane
31 Aug 2008Amazing to think of all these photos in one place! Congratulations on some great shots!
Words
1 Sep 2008Lois, thanks. I'm always amazed at how much is out there if I take the time to look.
cakkleberrylane
1 Sep 2008That's what my dad always says. Once he told me there are many, many things worthy of photographs between the house and the end of the driveway if only I would look.
Words
1 Sep 2008He's absolutely right!