Small is beautiful

It's the time of year that the insects start to make their presence felt. And time to get out the macro lens.

Dandelion seed head

As for the creatures, the bees are becoming active and doing a good job of spreading pollen.

Bee on dandelion

And here's a hoverfly. These aren't bees or wasps (despite their striped appearance), and are excellent predators of greenfly. Good for the ecology of the garden, and a favourite for macro photography.

Hoverfly

But there are other small creatures to photograph, and today's pick of the smaller birds was a distant whitethroat, and this very cooperative skylark.

Skylark swooping to land
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: the macros were all taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens, with the on-board flash set to help freeze the action and draw out the colours (I dialled in lots of negative flash compensation to stop the shots from being over exposed). The birds were taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

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This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. gdare

    15 Apr 2009

    A bee is bathing in pollen 😀

  2. studio41

    15 Apr 2009

    the wings are so delicate, fun to see… like that dandy lion, too!

  3. Ukwildlife

    15 Apr 2009

    Well done on finding a cooperative skylark – my local ones are not quite cooperative enough! Nice macros too

  4. annoushkiss

    15 Apr 2009

    Fabulous macros, very beautiful! The "gray" dandelion is superb :up: And the skylark is very nice, too!
    All in all, just a great post 🙂

  5. Words

    15 Apr 2009

    Darko, thanks! Bees are fascinating to watch, so industrious.

  6. Words

    15 Apr 2009

    Thanks Neil. It's a relatively enclosed wild area on the edge of town. Perfect for birds as they tend to stay in more or less one space.

  7. Words

    15 Apr 2009

    Thanks Jill!

  8. Words

    15 Apr 2009

    Thanks Anna! Unfortunately it means we'll get more dandelions in the garden. 🙂

  9. SittingFox

    16 Apr 2009

    Good catch with the whitethroat – it's years since I've seen one.

    Wonderful macro shots as always :up:

  10. Flying Red Fox Blog

    16 Apr 2009

    That Dandelion seed head looks like a beautiful Chandelier :yes: well done!

  11. Words

    17 Apr 2009

    Thanks Adele!

  12. Words

    17 Apr 2009

    Thanks Mark!

  13. cakkleberrylane

    17 Apr 2009

    Beautiful photos! Art and science meet!

  14. Words

    17 Apr 2009

    Thanks Lois!

  15. ForestFloor

    18 Apr 2009

    The dandelion seed head is stunning!! :up:

  16. Words

    18 Apr 2009

    Thanks Christine!

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