Caterpillar Quandary for Good Fences.

Our Balcony where I found the caterpillar on a potted fern.

I took off a frond to better photograph them.

A closer look at the design. This caterpillar will eventually become a moth.

The moth is a Callopistria Latreillei,  Latriell's Latin Moth. I took my fill of photographs, and...

a view from the balcony.

When it moved underneath to munch away at the tender leaves. I turned the frond upside down.

I eventually relocated it to some other ferns in a sheltered spot, but not on my balcony or garden.

Our back fence covered in Sta Teresa Roses.

A view of our front driveway with the Azáleas in full bloom.

There are thousands of European caterpillars, and I have seen several hundreds of images to look for an ID, but none of them look like this one. I'm hoping that someone might recognize it! My thanks to fellow blogger and good friend Nick Morgan fom Butterfly Pictures, for finding the ID of this pretty caterpiller. The name is Callopistria latreillei Latrielles Latin Moth. Thank you again Nick!:)
GOOD FENCES

Inauguration

A pair of Blackcaps have taken up residence in my garden, both the female
 

and male are very possessive of this new feeder.
 

especially the female, who is most confrontational with any bird who comes near.
 

There have been a few altercations between the Blackcaps and The Great tits.
 

My daughter Eva gave me this new feeder at Christmas, and I love it but couldn't find a place near enough to the house to hang it, so that I could take photos through the window. In the end I hung it near our fish pond,...where I could still see it, albeit a little far away, and here are some of the captures I took this week.


One Coal Tit with the Great Tit, who seems to be checking out the other birds!:)
 

The Blue Tits just wait patiently until the Blackcaps move away, but they don't linger.
 

There are a pair of Great Tits also in the garden, and I'm hoping to get a shot of them both together one day
 

 

The Coal Tits are often chased away by the Blackcap female, who hides in the vines overhead.
 

The Crested Tits were the first birds to inspect the new feeder.
 

Besides the birds shared here, the Robins and a Long-tailed Tit and Greenfinches have paid visits to the feeder.
 

I am linking this post to the following memes.

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D RATHER B BIRDIN

At last a Butterfly, and a Gate for Good Fences.

The Comma Nymphalis c-album (Nymphalidae)
 

The sombre underwings are marked with a white comma.like shape.
 

It's one of the most distinctive European butterflies because of the colour and shape of it's wings.
 

It's ragged margins are easily recognizable even in silhouette.  Here are a few of last summers sightings.
 

Flight period is from March -September, in two broods.
 

It is widespread and common, and I love to see it in my garden.
 

Last but not least a gate for Thereas meme Good Fences, with these lovely Trumpet flowers.
 

GOOD FENCES

Garden Flowers and Critters.

It's a long time since I shared a few flowers from the garden, and Camelias are looking pretty just now.

The early Daffodils didn't last long, but I enjoyed their cheerful yellow blooms whilst they lasted.



Another Camelia, .. I  love them, and the garden soil is acidic so they do really well, as do the Azaleas.



This delicate pink Camelia is not in bloom at this time of year, but I wanted to share it with you today.



One last Camelia,

 

This Mole Cricket found in our pool, was recued by hubby, and immediately started to burrow underground. They make extensive tunnel systems that may reach a depth of over a metre

 

The European Mole Cricket,  Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, the scientific name derives from the latin, "gryllus" meaning cricket, and "talpa" mole, because of it's similarity to the mole both in looks and subterranean habits. It's body is brown, and covered in fine velvity hairs, and the forelegs are modified for digging.

 

We were going down towards our main gate, when we saw this pretty duck sitting by one of our water tanks
 

If you would like to see more critters or birds, click on the links below. My thanks to Stewart, Eileen, and Anni for hosting these wonderful memes. WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D RATHER B BIRDIN

Just Trees and Fences.

The gnarled tree I shared on my Nuthatch post was just one  of many misshapen trees in the park, so I had the idea of going back with the express purpose of photographing more, and just trees, because I saw some very interesting ones when we were there last. On our way there, the sky darkened and it began to look like rain. I had never seen the park in this light before, nor had it ever seemed so quiet. Where had all the birds gone, I wondered!


It did seem strange without hearing birdsong, but the trees had been my objective, and there would be another time for birds. I photographed this one first, it's also in the background in my third photo.

The twisted limbs and tangled branches take on an eerie, almost mystical appearance in this light.


This wonderful tree is rather special, with it's gnarled trunk and moss covered roots. Far from showing weakness, it's weather-beaten appearance shows it's strength as well as it's longivity.

The same tree, just from a slightly different position. It's strong and mighty ancient knobbled trunk and green gnarled roots, made me think of myths and legends, and it's perhaps my favourite tree in the park.

Gnarled trunks and roots, and bent and twisted limbs are in evidence everywhere in the park...


and moss and ivy covered trees, many of which look as though they have been blown over to one side.


The deeper one goes into the wooded areas the more ivy is apparent covering the  whole of the tree.


It's hard to believe how they lean and bend, and twist and corkskrew their way upwards and sideways, but although they show signs of distress, they are deeply rooted, and magnificently steadfast.

Many slender branches and twigs litter the ground but that is what I like about this natural environment.


they have been here for a very long time. This is a strange looking tree, being thicker in the middle than at the base of the trunk, and the branches also weirdly misshapen, rather like the tenticles of an octopus.

This scene for some reason captured my imagination and reminds me of a magical enchanted wood,



I am including the last two photos, but they were taken in a different park, where the trees grow straight and tall.




It's Good Fences again, where you can see gates, railings, and fences from different parts of the world and if you would like to participate, just click on the link.  My thanks to Theresa our gracious host for her Good Fences meme.
I'm also linking to Naturefootstep's trees n bushes meme.