Category Archives: Flora/Fauna

The second most dominant lifeform in the downtown Toronto area

Saturday 16th October 2021, 11.45am (day 3,705)

Toronto squirrel, 16/10/21

At one level this is a cheap rodent shot, but it does epitomise a particular feature of Toronto’s urban scene — because there are thousands, tens of thousands perhaps, of these critters around every tree and greenish space in the city. They’re all brown, too, rather than grey (as most of the UK’s squirrels are) or red (as a very few of them are). If anything, this example is uncharacteristically pale compared to his city brethren. Either way they’re lining themselves up as the runner-up species locally, I’m telling you.

Last day in Toronto. Home tomorrow, as long as my government decides to let me back into the country.

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The wasp in the plum

Thursday 7th October 2021, 5.30pm (day 3,696)

Wasp in plum, 7/10/21

The last of the plums have finally been harvested off the tree. I’m leaving the rest for the wasps: this one’s already made a start on the bounty, as you can see.

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Jackdaw on the bridge

Thursday 30th September 2021, 2.30pm (day 3,689)

Jackdaw on bridge, 30/9/21

A fifth day in a row in Hebden Bridge. One reason I have not got away from here this week has been the weather — far too poor to consider a walk anywhere, even though my diary may have allowed it. So I’ve just sat at home, feeling rather like this jackdaw looks. Then again these birds always appear somewhat pissed off.

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Hunting heron (the return of Humph?)

Monday 27th September 2021, 3.15pm (day 3,686)

Hunting heron, 27/9/21

Is this the return of the much-seen Hebden Water heron that I call “Humph” (e.g., this shot)? Maybe, maybe not, but either way this was a much-needed piece of interest in another dull day.

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In the woods

Wednesday 22nd September 2021, 2.50pm (day 3,681)

Two-pronged tree, 22/9/21

According to my diary today was the ‘first day of autumn’, but although it was rather windy, summer seems to still be with us for now. I liked this tree for its two-pronged appearance, like a couple of arms reaching out over the path, in the woods near Mytholmroyd.

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Roadside butterfly

Monday 20th September 2021, 11.50am (day 3,679)

Butterfly on buddleia, 20/9/21

This beauty — I have given up trying to identify specific species, I always get it wrong (I thought it was a Red Admiral, but apparently not) — was perched not two feet from the traffic on the Keighley Road this morning. Obviously it wanted its close-ups doing.

Also, a curiosity — this is, almost certainly, the first picture of all the thousands on this blog that I have rotated through 180º. Technically you are looking at this upside down.

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Angry blue beetle

Sunday 12th September 2021, 12.50pm (day 3,671)

Angry blue beetle, 12/9/21

A couple of thousand feet up a Scottish mountain (Mount Battock), populated almost entirely by grouse. There were no other people, which meant that the grouse were somewhat surprised to see me. And this beetle was crossing my path regardless of my own intentions, with this determined look on its little insect face. “You’re in my way — move, now.”

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Moth, the sequel (with plums)

Monday 6th September 2021, 5.05pm (day 3,665)

Moth with plums, 6/9/21

Emboldened by the appearance of its fellow moth five weeks ago, this one flew over and demanded I did its close-ups. The plums in the background prove that the tree has eventually borne fruit, despite half of it giving up the ghost.

Unless I’ve miscounted — but you can’t prove this, so might as well take my word for it — this is the 1,499th picture on this blog to be taken in Hebden Bridge. Number 1,500 will be along before the week is out.

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Jay and Silent Bob

Monday 23rd August 2021, 1.45pm (day 3,651)

Jay and Silent Bob, 23/8/21

Further proof, if proof was needed (see also this shot) that the provision of fake owls throughout the country has not only failed to deter other birds, but that they may in fact encourage other avian life in attempts to befriend them. Jay the gull admires Bob’s taciturnity as they keep an eye on the pickings available from the local fishing fleet.

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Plum preservation

Thursday 19th August 2021, 12.05pm (day 3,647)

Plums in vodka, 19/8/21

Despite the propping up (an action which probably saved most of the remainder), half our plum tree has given up the ghost; the weight of the fruit was too much. So today I had a great many green plums to process. It was the fate of these ones to end up in a demijohn with sugar and vodka. Apparently, in a year, we’ll have slivovitz. Or, I’ll forget about them, stashed in the closet as they now are, and our descendants will rediscover them in forty years, playing host to entire new ecosystems.

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