The Outing

The Garden Snail
Helix aspersa

 

The Shell is 2-5-4cm long with a large rounded mouth. It is mostly chestnut brown with up to five dark brown spiral bands.
They generally have a moist grey skin. Their body produces a guie slime that prevents them from getting cuts, and they can
even crawl upside down with the suction created because of the slime. This slime is not harmful to the hands on contact.

 

Snails are noctural creatures, find food at night, and hide in the shade during the day.During the winter months they hibernate, but this garden snail was disturbed when my husband was cutting the grass, and was in search of shade.It moved very quicky as garden snails move faster than other snail species. Moving at a steady pace they can move 55 yards per hour, and I was really surprises to see how quickly he moved out of the sun, and into the shelter of the shade

 

The Garden Snail's head bears four tentacles, the upper two of which have eye.like sensors, and the lower two of which are smaller, tactile and olfactory sensory structures. They have poor eye sight and rely on sense of smell and touch to find food. Few low growing plants escape the attentions of the garden snail, and for this reason it is considered a pest by gardeners  because it  can do considerable damage to strawberry crops, courgettes, and many other garden plants.  

 

I think most of you will probably dislike the snail because of the trail of slime it leaves behind it. It will not be a favourite with gardeners, but it is a curious creature, which I have fondly drawn since childhood. I remember drawing pictures of snails on my bedroom walls before they were newly wall papered, and loved to see illustrations of snails in childrens books. I hope you will not find these images too offensive.

Rotund Robin Redbreast

The Robin
Erithacus rubecula
 

The robin is common almost everywhere and strongly territorial for most of the year. I never tire of seeing this bright bird in and around my garden throughout the year, and as you can imagine have taken many photos.The robin measures 14cm, the brown back and wings with red or more accurately, rusty-orange face and breast, distinguish it from all other species.It's song is crystel clear, and is a melodious medley of high pitched trills and warbles.This one is perched on one of the numerous new seed boxes placed in the trees,pausing a while to warm up after getting wet in the rain.

The Mark

The Comma Butterfly
Polygonia c-album

 

 

 

The Comma butterfly is named for comma-like mark on underside of hind wing. The ragged wings are mottled brown and resemble dead leaves which are perfect camouflage for when the adult overwinters in hedges and undergrowth. It measures 24mm,feeds on Hops Stinging Nettle and Elm, and can be seen in light woodland hedgerows and gardens.

The Lap in Luxury.

The Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
 

Hi fellow bloggers! I hope you all had a very Happy Easter. Saw this beauty on my travels, and although I have seen them nearer home, because of the most unseasonable dull and rainy weather, this is one of the few captures I made whilst on holiday.The Lapwing is about 30 cm long. It's black and white plumage is striking enough, but the black feathers also have a beautiful metalic green sheen to them. It is easily recognised by it's long thin crest. It has rounded wings, and flight pattern is zig-zag, with acrobatic rolls and dives. Will be catching up with all your blogs as soon as posible, see you:)

Decorative Duck 3

Sorry fellow bloggers but I don't know the name of this duck. They are two different ducks taken on different days but are the same kind. They are probably farmyard ducks, but I can't be sure. I will be taking a short break, just for a couple of weeks, so will see you on my return.

A Warbler

The Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla

 

Because the Blackcap usually keep well concealed, they don't really stay long enough on the bird tale or feeders, for me to get really good shots of them, however I was pleased to get any shot at all, so here they are.Black cap distinguishes the male and reddish brown cap the female. Juvenile resembles the female.They breed in woods, parks and gardens.

Beetle on Bristly Locust

The Rose acasia
Robina hispida

 

The Rose acasia is also known as the Bristly Locust, or Rose locust. It is a shrub or small tree and can even be trained as a supported climber. It grows to 2-4m tall with bristly stems and small pea like flowers which fall in large clusters.They attract many insects such as the longhorn beetle, and many butterflies.

Vigilant

The  Crested Tit
Parus cristatus

Another picture of a bird on one of my peanut feeders I'm afraid.The feeders are in well lit areas of my garden and entice the birds out of the coniferous trees, where it is almost impossible for me to get a good shot. The Crested Tit is easily recognised by it's well visible crest, and it's black and white head markings in all sexes and ages alike.

Caterpiller Charm

I have hesitated in posting this caterpiller, because I don't know if it's a moth or butterfly caterpiller, so don't know it's name. There are so many different ones, and it's been very difficult to identify.

Quietly Quietly.

The Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris

The Treecreeper likes a mixture of nuts dried fruit and cake

The Treecreeper breeds fairly commonly in older woodlands and established gardens and parks. In S Europe it prefers coniferous woods at higher altitudes.

Tit forTea

The Blue Tit
Parus caeruleus

The Blue Tit is a sweet little bird. It measures 11cm, and it's blue cap, wings and tail make it easily recognizable. Juviniles in summer have yellow cheeks and greyish-green cap. It can be found in mixed woods, parks and gardens.

Another Flutterby

The Meadow Fritillary
Melitaea parthenoides ( Nymphalidae )

The colourful orange upperwings are adorned with black markings, and the wing tips have chequered fringe.

Orange and white on underwings.
 

This small butterfly (wing span 4cm) favours open flowery meadows from lowlands to lower mountain slopes of around 2,ooom.

These Don't Get My Goat

The goat

 

 

 

 

A couple of days ago we ( hubby and I ) went up the mountain and discovered these unattended goats.I think the long haired bearded one is my favourite, and I'm only sorry that I didn't get the opportunity of taking more photos.I really must go back there one day and try to find them again.

Good Wishes

 

Yesterday I hadn't prepared a Christmas post,so I quickly went outside and took this photo of the front door. It wasn't snowing, but I added the not very convincing snow flakes just for fun:) I want to thank all of you who regularly visit my blog, and give you my warmest best wishes. Although I have already visited many of your blogs to wish you a Merry Christmas, and many of you have passed by to wish me the same, I still want to be sure that I have not left anyone out, so Merry Christmas everyone, and a very Happy New Year to you and your families. See you all in 2013.

Eagle Eyed

The Short- toed Snake Eagle
Circaetus gallicus

 

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is a medium bird of prey. It can be found in open cultivated plains and deciduous scrub areas. As it's name implies, it's diet consists mainly of snakes and other reptiles, mostly lizards.

In It's Element

The Marsh Frog
Pelophylax ridibundus

 

Taking a leap to the bottom of the pond using it's long hind legs
 

Breeding takes place in March and April

The smaller male holds on tightly to the larger female whilst mating

The March Frog has a large head, and it's eyes are on top of it's head. When swimming it can remain submerged whilst looking for prey, and keeping safe from predators .

The lighter green back stripe is clearly visible on this photo

The March frog is Europes largest water dwelling frog, and a powerful swimmer. It is also an amazing jumper,and always ready to jump into deep water at the first sign of a disturbance sprinting with it's long back legs. It is green in colour although there is a large variation in colour pattern, ranging from dark green to brown or grey. A lighter green line on the back is generally present. The female grows to 17cm in length but the male is much smaller. The diet of the March Frog consists of dragonflies and small invertebrates.

A Charmer

The Coal Tit

Tufty Ears and Bushy Tails

The Red Squirrel

 

 

 

 

 

They come in all shapes and sizes.Some are chubby and in certain positions I think they look more like little bears than squirrels, and others are slender. Some are red like these, and others are light or dark brown,and can be even black in colour. Their striking ear tufts are a prominent distinguishing feature of the Red Squirrel in Winter, but they lose them in Summer. Their bushy tails vary in volume, but are usually 15-20 cm in length.They are daily visiters to the garden and give me endless pleasure.

Enigma

One evening about three years ago I came across this unfamiliar sight. I stood there in disbelief as I took this photo with a small digital camera, because it was something I had never seen before, or since for that matter. It gave me quite a start, as it was so alien looking. Could it be some sort of reproductive process, or something more sinister!! Any ideas fellow bloggers, what is happening here?