In the Garden

Autumn is a time for clearing the garden, and over the past few days we've made some progress in clearing the more overgrown areas and cutting back overhanging branches from the small beech trees. There's plenty of untidy areas left for the smaller fauna to use though I would still welcome a visit from the larger regulars (i.e. foxes!), but in their absence here are a few garden sighting from the past three days.

We have a good colony of nursery web spiders. They're small, and dash for cover if your shadow crosses them as they sit out on a thick patch of ground cover.
Nursery web spider

The greenfinches have put in a late appearance, after being absent for much of the summer.

And there are still numerous species of hoverfly.

Among the numerous insects I've spotted…
A Rhopalus subrufus bug (I think the i.d. is ok)

A (hawthorn?) shield bug

Several dragonflies (actually quite a few are scouting the garden at the moment), but my favourite capture is this migrant hawker.

Much easier to photograph (because there are more of them, and they tend to rest more frequently) are the common darters.

And lurking under a pile of tree cuttings, a handsome (and large) frog. He hopped away as I cleared the corner.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens, except the migrant hawker and the greenfinches both of which were taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. serola

    12 Oct 2010

    Excellent pictures :up: Sometimes I wish I have a garden as well 😀

  2. gdare

    12 Oct 2010

    A hawthorn shield bug is the one who jumps? I think it was them in my room last evening :left:

  3. Ukwildlife

    12 Oct 2010

    Great set of wildlife there. The migrant hawker is a great capture – not easy to get

  4. SittingFox

    12 Oct 2010

    Greenfinches! I'm beginning to forget what they look like :insane: (though admittedly, I haven't done many birdwatching walks of late).

    That frog has wonderful markings 🙂

  5. Words

    13 Oct 2010

    Darko, I'm not sure if they jump, but that one had escaped from a spider's web :up:

  6. Words

    13 Oct 2010

    Sami, thanks! I really having a garden, but being greedy I would love a field with a stream running alongside it!!! That's a dream 😉

  7. Words

    13 Oct 2010

    Erwin, thanks!

  8. Words

    13 Oct 2010

    Neil, I was so pleased when the hawker decided to rest. I'd tried (and missed) getting a conjoined pair as they flew over the garden, so this was second best (but good enough for me).

  9. Words

    13 Oct 2010

    Adele, the frog was one of the most striking I've seen for a while (and none too pleased at being disturbed). The falling leaves are finally making watching birds in trees meaningful again.

  10. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    A garden full of live, yes beautiful this Is

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