Category Archives: Flora/Fauna

The doorstep journey

Friday 21st May 2021, 11.30am (day 3,557)

Doorstep snail, 21/5/21

“Listen, I’m as pissed off as you it’s still very cold and wet for May. I have to forsake my usual comfortable haunts because the ground is too wet. And you’re not at risk of getting fatally stomped by random humans.”

Well, these are valid points. But it still let me stick my camera in its face.

Tagged , , , , , , ,

The watcher

Sunday 16th May 2021, 1.15pm (day 3,552)

Watching cat, 16/5/21

Not a day that will live long in the annals of photographic history, at least, not for me. But this cat was cute (despite the reflections) and in fact, this is the first cat to appear on the blog since 3rd March 2020 — which is pretty poor form for this self-declared ‘cat person’. Lots of dogs, lots of birds, even a pig or three, but no cats for a while. Let’s rectify this.

Tagged , , , , , ,

Saluki

Thursday 13th May 2021, 5.30pm (day 3,549)

Saluki, 13/5/21

I don’t mind dogs on the whole but I’m never going to make myself responsible for one, and there are plenty of people who seem to think I should find their pets as endearing as they do. But these salukis — this is one of a matched pair — were OK, attractive animals I thought. If I’ve got the breed wrong blame the info I got from the owner.

When I put the tag in, and something else came up under ‘Saluki’, it was — where, when? But now I check I see it was the name of a train in Illinois. After nearly ten years doing this, sometimes things get forgotten.

Tagged , , , , , ,

Tree portrait

Wednesday 5th May 2021, 6.00pm (day 3,541)

Stockwood Park tree, 6/5/21

This tree has a noble aspect. I like its seeming formality and the way the guys disport themselves below it in various ways. I like the little cloud fluff that it seems to have caught in the top branches. Pictured in Stockwood Park, Luton — a town which makes a classy debut on the blog (though see also tomorrow).

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Dandelion

Sunday 2nd May 2021, 2.40pm (day 3,538)

Dandelion clock, 2/5/21

May is here. The dandelions are happily engaged in their task of creating further dandelions. And that’s what life is all about, don’t you think.

Tagged , , , , , ,

This year’s potato creatures

Thursday 29th April 2021, 3.20pm (day 3,535)

Potato creatures, 29/4/21

When the potatoes went in the ground earlier last year, May frosts killed them off. So we’re hanging back on planting these for a bit longer yet. Time for the sprouts to adopt their own interesting shapes, for all the world like a family of bunny rabbits sitting on some boulders (or have I spent too long indoors lately?).

Tagged , , , , , ,

The latest robin

Saturday 24th April 2021, 2.10pm (day 3,530)

Robin, 24/4/21

Three minutes after I had dug over the garden a little and this robin perches not six feet from me and virtually demands that I capture its close-ups. Seeing as this is taken in pretty much the same spot as the picture of the last robin to grace this blog, only 22 days ago, it might be the same one — either way, it is the latest example of how this particular species really has learned to not be in the least bit bothered about us humans. Perhaps it, too, is slightly annoyed by the presence of the white plastic tie, but what the hell.

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Ladybird love

Friday 23rd April 2021, 1.10pm (day 3,529)

Ladybird love, 23/4/21

Lately most of the ‘likes’ on this blog have come from bots — can I just say hello to the five or six different accounts, all with the same profile picture, who have supported my efforts lately? Clearly I need to spice up this photo-feed a little, so here’s two beetles getting it on in the springtime. So attached (in both senses) were they that they remained entwined even after I manouevred them up onto my finger, in order to avoid squashing them when sitting down on the bench (at university) on which their amorous activities were occurring. I hope they and their babies are now grateful for this consideration.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Play with me

Sunday 18th April 2021, 3.40pm (day 3,524)

Play with me, 18/4/21

“I don’t know who you are, but play with me anyway! Look, I have the Thing ready!”

Sunday afternoon — in a pub beer garden once again. Well, it’s still a novelty, and the sun is still shining.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

The rooks know

Monday 12th April 2021, 9.25am (day 3,518)

Knowing rook, 12/4/21

Plenty of work to do after Easter, which today meant another day locked in the house with limited photographic opportunities. The knowing look on the face of this rook was the best I managed, and even then it’s somewhat out of focus. But then again, that also epitomises the day.

Tagged , , , , , , ,