These are Hideous!

 I am not going to try to pretend that these are anything but hideous. On a hot day out in the countryside I am always plagued by flies and biting insects which  drive me mad, but that doesn't stop me from finding them fascinating. They are quite ugly too, but again that doesn't stop me from finding them interesting as subjects to photograph. I think it is because up close there is so much more to these pesky things. They are really quite complex and when we brush them away as they buzz past we don't ever see the detail.

So every now and then I do like to pause for a moment and take a closer look. It doesn't make them look any better and I still get annoyed every time they buzz around me but I do try to appreciate them a little more, as part of the complexity of nature and the fact that annoying as they are they still have a role to play.

Fabulous Woodland Fungi

Today I went for a lovely woodland walk in Brock Bottom in Lancashire. I had gone hoping to see lots of autumn colours but was slightly disappointed as there wasn't the variety of colour that I had expected. Nonetheless I had a really nice time and there were some interesting sights including squirrels, tree creepers and dippers and of course some really nice fungi.

I love fungi, the varied colours and shapes and so I can't pass up an opportunity to capture a good image whenever I come across some. Especially when it is a variety that I haven't seen before or if they are in an interesting formation. This specimen fits both criteria and I think they make a lovely picture growing together on this moss covered log.

I have tried to identify this particular fungus but so far haven't been able to so if anyone can tell me please let me know in the comments. I will keep trying to identify it but any help is always welcome.

What Makes an Island

A  closer look at the shoreline shows some of the tiny creatures which colonise the rock pools and help to build up the coast. 

As well as these two macro images the other shots show different views of Hilbre Island looking across the seaweed covered rocks and pools.

One of the nice things about visiting the island is the fact that invariably it is possible to see some of the common seals which live in a large colony on a sand bank out in the bay. I tried to get some pictures of the colony but due to poor light and with the distance I wasn't able to get a good shot. However as the tide went out and the seals came to rest on the sand they were incredibly noisy and the sound carried clearly across the water. It was a nice bonus on my early morning walk.

The Postman...

This beautiful butterfly is called a postman butterfly, I wonder why, I'm sure its not going to be delivering my mail anytime soon.  It is quite stunning though. 

Just like yesterday's specimen this little beauty has really fancy eyes.

I give you butterflies...

Yes indeed some really beautiful butterflies captured at the Butterfly House in Williamson Park. I spent just over an hour in there recently on a Saturday lunchtime and would ideally have loved to stay longer because a great deal of patience and a steady hand is needed to get the best shots but the tropical temperature inside had me sweating profusely and I needed to take a break. Anyway over the next couple of days I will share a few more pictures and I hope that you will think my time inside was worth it...

Busy Bees

For the eagle-eyed among you it will be obvious that strictly speaking the title of today's post is not 100% accurate, more like 66% but even so every picture is a winner.

About a week ago I posted a couple of pictures of humble bumble bees busily at work sucking up the nectar and today I have a couple more, plus one of a hover fly at rest on the stem of a wild rose. 

I love my Canon 100mm macro lens because it lets me get right up close to the little things and there is always so much we would miss without a closer look. Take a close look at the final picture and you can see the individual hairs on the mandibles, the segments of the antennae and the barbs on the "foot" clasping the petal. 

Buzz Buzz Bunny

Although my intention when I went out with my daughter to the Peak District was to take some landscape pictures I couldn't resist getting my macro lens out for the busy little bumble bee at the start of out walk. I love that you can clearly see how the bee is feeding on the nectar from the tiny little flower cups, I also like the dusting of pollen that you can see coating the bee's furry coat.

Then right at the end of the day on the final leg back towards the car this beautiful little bunny popped up at the side of the road and again I took this snap for everybody who like me loves verge bunnies 

After The Rain

Yesterday I went to Ness Botanic Gardens. I have lived in this area for almost 25 years and have never visited the gardens before so in hope that the weather would stay favourable and that there would lots of flowers to see I headed out with my camera and my 100mm macro lens (in truth I had all my gear but only used the one lens) and went wild...

Although it was quite cloudy and cold it was a nice day. It having rained heavily the night before everything was fresh and green, if a little squishy under foot. 

At first I couldn't decide which pictures to start with but thought that as I had posted pictures of water splashes for the past two days I would lead into my selection from Ness with these beautiful water droplets on succulent leaves. 

I like the first image with the tiny bubbles glittering in the large droplet but my favourite shot is the second one with the smooth round droplet and with the bokeh the droplets in the background appear like fairy lights.