What's Buzzing or Flying near you today.... 2014

Brilliant pics @Yvonne Donnellon

I managed to snap a Banded Demoiselle today,there were lots about on the River Chelmer today but they wouldn't keep stil for long enough


Common Blue Damselfly..


Moor hen and a couple of little followers...you can hardly see them...

 

More a case of what's not buzzing or flying in this case.

Those of you with teasels in your gardens will have noticed how rainwater tends to collect in the 'cups' formed where the leaves meet the stem. These small pools of water seem to trap and collect insects quite efficiently. Here's a selection of expired insects I found this morning, all on the same plant in my garden.





This got me wondering. Is there actually any benefit to the plant derived from this? In nature, there is usually a good reason why particular features evolve on any plant, so what is going on here?

Turns out teasels are partly carnivorous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipsacus

 

Then I would say the rotten flesh feeds the teasel.
Very interesting - well spotted Trunky,
Jenny

 

Brilliant post Trunky who'd have thought

 

Protien

 

A rainy walk along the canal today and I was meet by 9 swans, 2 sets of parents and 5 kids. Lovely to see after the sad event with the other swan.

 

Marvellous Yvonne,a lovely sight

 

A few insects I spotted on a walk around Landguard point today.

First two were on yellow horned poppy.





This on a nettle.

 

Lovely picture Yvonne, swans are such graceful birds.

 

A big moff



and an appropriately sized bee

 

I went with a bird group to Morden Bog /Wareham Forest to look for Hobby and Redstarts.
We saw neither! but apart from distant Tree Pipits.

and Wood Lark (first for me).

we came across what we thought was a pale Buzzard in a distant Pine. On closer viewing and lots of debate, we discounted a Honey Buzzard due to it's size, phone calls to raptor experts and checking books on the spot, it has been id'd as a (hoped for) Short Toed Eagle.
You can just about see it has tiny talons for an Eagle.
Probably overshot as it is far north of it's range in Mid to South of France. It may fly back south in a day or two.




This is definitely an Eagle face and not a Buzzard.

 

Fantastic Strongy

Bet you'm well chuffed

 

Brilliant!

 

Great shots nFrost and Strongy! Love that Eagle!