A photographic diary featuring my latest images
Thursday 10th September 2009 to Saturday 12th September 2009
Garden
I have acquired a ring flash for my macro lens and have been using it in the garden.
Earlier in the year I photographed a Saw Fly, Arge pagana in my garden and I have now photographed the little bundles of joy that it left me.
These caterpillar like creatures are the larva of Arge pagana and are currently engaged in stripping my rose bushes of their leaves.
This Common Darter obliged me with some close up shots to test my new flash.
Look in most garden shrubs at this time of the year and you are likely to find the Garden Spider. The female sits in the centre of the web and monitors the web by holding a single thread.
Once prey is detected it is attacked and subdued by wrapping the victim in silk before devouring it.
These spiders also seem to be experts at camouflaging themselves. I disturbed this one whilst photographing it and she immediately ran and camouflaged herself against the dead flower head of a Pelargonium.
Mating is a tricky game for the male who is much smaller than the female and can be mistaken for prey and eaten.
The trick is to vibrate the web in a certain way to let the female know that the movement is being caused by a male and not by a meal! I watched this male approach on four different occasions, but each time the male lost his nerve when the female approached and dropped off of the web.
Tuesday 1st September 2009
Hurst Surrey
I went for a walk in the Hurst area of Surrey today and came to a small pond which had partially dried out, the combination of mud and reeds proved irresistable to three species of dragonflies.
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter
Migrant Hawker
Since the 1940s the Migrant Hawker once a rare resident, has spread from southern England north to Lancashire and Cheshire and west to Cornwall. it is now one of the most common species.
At the same pond I photographed the vivid green leaf beetle, Chrysolina-menthastri.
This Speckled Wood Butterfly was photographed in Henley.
Later the same day I had a stroke of good fortune, I had been told that there was an Arctic Tern at the Black Swan Sailing Club lake in Hurst. The wind was very strong and photography difficult. I watched Common Terns fishing on the lake and then spotted an Arctic Tern amongst them. I took a few flight photographs but was beginning to think it was just too windy, when suddenly the bird landed on the edge of the lake not fifteen feet away. I was looking into the sun but you can`t have everything!
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Henley On Thames
I walked along the Thames near Henley today and I was very pleased I did, as I finally managed to get a useable shot of a Kingfisher. This beautiful bird was sitting above a small pool on a stream which runs parallel with the Thames, I had a few seconds to take a couple of shots before the Kingfisher flew off.
In the same area I was a little surprised to see this Wood Pigeon sat on her nest in a tree right on the Thames.
Grey Heron in the meadow area alongside the river.
The weir gave me the opportunity to photograph a Common Tern, notice how this bird has a black tip on its beak, unlike the Artic Tern which has an all red beak.
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Virginia Water Surrey
I heard that there were Mandarin ducks at Virginia Water so I thought I would pay a visit, I walked the 5 miles round the lake and failed to spot one. I did however see a young Magpie, Great Crested Grebes and a Grey Heron.
Friday 5th September 2009
Henley On Thames
Only one photograph today but the first picture I have managed to get of a Comma with wings closed.
