Sea Views for Good Fences

We only live a twenty five minutes drive away from the coast. On a nice sunny day, we like to walk along the shore.

The board walks are a good way to observe the views whilst walking near the sea.

These birds look a little like Cormorants, but their bills don't  look long enough.!

Plenty of Herring Gulls to be seen, and a small Turnstone to the left.

More Gulls.

I love the fine soft sand around our shores.

I am linking this to GOOD FENCES, SATURDAY'S CRITTERS and I'D RATHER B BIRDIN If you want to see great fences, critters and birds do go there by clicking on the links to see some amazing photos from around the world.

Male Warbler

The Male Blackcap.
 

 

It had just stopped raining. I looked out of my bedroom window, and there he was on my balcony. I held my breath in case he flew away whilst I went to get my camera. Joy of joys, he was still there, click click, and he was gone.
WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS

Shield Stripes

Graphosoma italicum
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Graphosoma italicum is a shield bug. It's bold colours warn of foul taste, and few birds or other predators are likely to try to eat it. It measures 10mm, and can be seen from June-October, usually feeding on Umbellifer flowers. I took these photos in July last year and as you can see, they had laid their eggs on the flowers. There were dozens of these bugs, mostly mateing pairs, in fact I don't ever remember seeing so many.
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Fences in the Park

Fisherman by the river.
 

Ducks usually swim in the river, but on the day I took the photo, there were none in sight.
 

The café overlooks the river, and when we come here with Mel, we sit here.
 

A little fence over a pond.
 

Different side!
 

A pidgeon looking rather like a wise owl.
 

I am fascinated by all the fungi on the tree trunks.
 

Can't think it can be anything else!
 

And the ferns growing from old misshapen trees
 

These ferns are growing from the top branches.
 

The view from the other side of the bridge. You can't see much, but perhaps you can see two metal seats, which are dotted all over the park, and are really appreciated.
 

GOOD FENCES

Female Warbler

Female Blackcap
 

Where the male has a black cap, the female has a red-brown cap, and browner under parts.
 

A treat to see her at the bird table
 

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS

Brown Bush Cricket.

The Female Dark  Bush-Cricket   (Pholidoptera  griseoaptera)   
 

A close.up photo to show the ear which is situated on each face of the front tibiae.
 

 In most of the photos, I had to lose a little of the long slender antennae, to get a closer picture.
 

The males have very short wings, but the females are wingless. 
 

The female has blade-like oviposter, either short, or curved like a sickle, or as in this female, long and sabre.like.
 

They are mostly nocturnal insects, but this one,was outside in the afternoon, so I know it is a Dark Bush.cricket, because they like sun.bathing, but will become most active in the evening, and sing well into the night.
  

They belong to the same order as the grasshoppers, but unlike the grasshopper, they are partly carnivorous.
 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Gates

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was a dull day, but it wasn't raining, so not having any posts for Theresa's meme I got in the car and drove around the countryside looking for gates.These are a few of my finds, and it was so much fun. Thank you Theresa for making me take more notice of something I just took for granted.
GOOD FENCES

Shy Sylvia atricapilla

The Male Blackcap   Sylvia atricapilla.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rain and dull days were brightened when I saw this Blackcap through the window.
WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS

Scurrying Spider

This Spider is unknown to me, but because of it's huge size, it could be some kind of Wolf Spider.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cute little face, don't you think!:)
 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS