Nature

ROBIN

in

24.08.21

A friendly little robin perched only a few metres away from me, I assume hoping I would have some food. I passed on the kids Christmas Wishlist and he went on his way.

///rewrap.paprika.breads

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

225mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/400s / ISO 250

JERSEY TIGER MOTH

in

17.08.21

A scarce moth found mostly in the south of the UK but populations are rising. I found this one on a pane of glass on an old farmhouse window. I gave it a gentle nudge to see if it would land on some of the fern next to the window but he flew off. Amazing deep red colour to the underside of the wings.

///capitalists.formally.spiral

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

180mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/80s / ISO 400

DARTER II

in

09.08.21

One of the five dragonflies darting around in the same small field below St Saviours Church. Although there were five, they were on a feeding frenzy and just wouldn’t stay still, until I clocked this one land on an apple tree. It didn’t really move but trying to get a clean contrasting background was tricky. The dark areas came from the shady area under a tree about 20 metres away.

///diplodocus.frontrunner.placing

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

220mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/320s / ISO 320

DRAGONFLY

in

03.08.21

For months I’ve been trying to grab a shot of a dragonfly. They’re all over the place but trying to find one that’ll stay still and allow me to get close is hard work.

///herbs.holding.dethrone

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

240mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/160s / ISO 320

GATEKEEPER

in

05.07.21

Found around 50 of these Gatekeepers on the edge of a field up at Pleinmont. Never seen so many in one place. There’s a few butterflies on my list to find this summer, the main one that I’ve only found once is the Green Hairstreak. I found one a few years ago on some gorse at Petit Bot but didn’t get a chance to get a shot.

///freelancer.ankles.lushly

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

215mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/640s / ISO 400

SUPER HAPPY FACE

in

29.06.21

I can’t unsee a really happy and over excited flower that’s just had its tummy tickled or a flower version of Pikachu but it’s a Bee orchid. Designed by nature to mimic a bee so that they would attempt to mate with it and spread their pollen.

///mocking.formed.develops

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

150mm / ƒ9.0 / 1/80s / ISO 400

GREEN

in

25.06.21

Set myself a colour theme today to make things a bit easier. There’s green everywhere you look but delve deeper into the green grass and you’ll see more than first meets the eye.

When these crickets are fully grown their wings grow the entire length of their body and I’ve seem them take off and fly pretty far!

///scaffold.wellies.output

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

125mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/320s / ISO 320

POLLINATION

in

22.06.21

Th vibrant lavender was like a magnet for the bees once the rain had cleared. We all know by now how important bees are but if you haven’t watched Black Mirror yet, check out the Series 3 episode 6 - Hated in the Nation.

///gaps.collated.booklet

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

210mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/125s / ISO 500

MR FROG

in

15.06.21

Whilst watering the plants, the frog jumped out. It’s happened before but there’s absolutely no way in, or out, of our garden unless the gate is open (which it wasn’t) and frogs can’t jump 2 metre high walls and fences!

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

200mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/320s / ISO 100

COMMON BLUE

in

10.06.21

They may be common but they’re a stunning mini species of butterfly. With the sun hiding for most of the day, the insects tend to stick to one spot until you disturb them.

///warden.constituents.subplot

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

220mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/200s / ISO 250

PAINTED LADY

in

09.06.21

Macro, a miniature world that often gets overlooked. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that every time I see a butterfly you have to actually say in your head ‘ooh, a butterfly’, or maybe it’s just me!

Difficult to photograph during the day as they are most active and don’t like to stay still for long. This one looked a bit battered and seems to have lost part of it’s leg from the rough winter.

///arrive.diddled.coughed

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

220mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/640s / ISO 200

BLACK OIL BEETLE

in

02.03.21

In my 36 years of existence, I’v never seen one of these beetles. I was informed by a very helpful guy from ‘The Pollinator Project’, who was passing by as I was taking photos, that these are now very rare insects and encouraged me to record the finding. Apparently once their eggs hatch, they wait on plants to hitch a ride on bees who then take them back their nest where the larva feed on the bees eggs and emerge the next spring!

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

150mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/100s / ISO 320

JALFREZI

in

06.11.20

The latest prickly visitor to find it’s way into our garden, how, I still have no idea. I’ve found one small gap in the fence, possible big enough for a baby hog to squeeze though. He had ticks on his face so I took him to the GSPCA where I named him Jalfrezi, after my favourite cuisine!

Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM

200mm / ƒ6.3 / 1/125s / ISO 500