Category Archives: Flora/Fauna

Nov 30 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Farewell to the Kayu Arum

Friday 29th November 2019, 11.30am (day 3,018)

Kayu Arum flowers, 29/11/19

The last picture from my week in Indonesia, and the fourth one to be taken in the grounds of the Kayu Arum hotel, this time by the swimming pool. Yes, it would be nice if the blue line at the top were parallel with the rest, but hey. This blog is not a commercial venture so any endorsement I offer of a place or company is purely based on my own opinions — and this was a damn fine hotel, peaceful (once the weekend family groups had departed, anyway: and the early morning call to prayer was done), beautiful gardens, good food, etc. etc. If you’re in Salatiga I highly recommend it. Indeed I recommend the place as a whole; I haven’t had face-to-face engagement with a non-Indonesian all week, and feel my life has been better for it. Time to head home, however. Until the next trip.

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Nov 28 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

In flight

Wednesday 27th November 2019, 12.10pm (day 3,016)

Butterfly in flight, 27/11/19

Yes, I know, that makes two insects in a row. But despite visiting the temple of Borobudur today (impressive…) and an Indonesian football match (esoteric…) — I can’t avoid using this one. How often does one capture a butterfly not only in flight, but in focus. I’m rather proud of this picture.

Incidentally this is taken at least 5,000 feet (1,600m or so) above sea level, at the Ketep Pass, east of Borobudur.

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Nov 26 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Local insect life

Tuesday 26th November 2019, 8.20am (day 3,015)

Scary ant, 26/11/19

Was determined to get a picture for today that wasn’t one I could have taken at home, or indeed just about anywhere else in the world. And, for sure, we don’t get critters like this in England. I woke up yesterday having been covered in bites from some man-eating insect or other while I slept: it won’t have been this one, but looking at those mandibles, I’m thankful for small mercies, at least.

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Nov 21 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Mancunian squirrel

Thursday 21st November 2019, 12.20pm (day 3,010)

Manchester squirrel, 21/11/19

This squirrel and I were both out for a lunch break on campus today. He (or she) was busy gathering materials for the winter — I was trying to avoid work as much as possible. (But only for that 20 minutes.)

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Nov 14 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Jackdaw tiff

Thursday 14th November 2019, 9.55am (day 3,003)

Jackdaw tiff, 14/11/19

“I’m not talking to you.”

“Why aren’t you talking to me?”

“Because I’m not.”

“But why?”

“You have to ask?”

etc.

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Oct 27 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Geoff, the falcon

Sunday 27th October 2019, 2.10pm (day 2,985)

Peregrine, 27/10/19

When we arranged to go to Haworth this lunchtime to celebrate Clare’s birthday (a day late) I did not expect that this would also lead to coming face to face with this very handsome creature. Not to mention several other of his fellow raptors — owls, mainly — in a marquee in the pub beer garden. A photographic opportunity too good to miss. This peregrine falcon is called Geoff, apparently. I wonder how he feels about that.

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Oct 25 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

A is for Apple

Thursday 24th October 2019, 1.35pm (day 2,982)

Red apple, 24/10/19

Hard to caption this photo as anything much other than ‘APPLE!’. For appley (apply? Apple-y?) it most certainly is. Not that it’s sitting comfortably on this tree any more; it was definitely picked today.

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Oct 23 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna, Hebden Bridge

The last Muscovy duck

Tuesday 22nd October 2019, 4.55pm (day 2,980)

Last Muscovy duck, 22/10/19

First, there was the one Muscovy duck that took up residence at Hebden Bridge canal marina — this one. Then several more turned up (and had a few fights). But for a while now I have only seen one again, not the original one but this all-white one, which has made a couple of earlier blog appearances itself. The others have either died or moved on, leaving this one behind. Maybe it just likes it here. Or, maybe it is terribly lonely.

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Oct 17 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Dead flower

Thursday 17th October 2019, 11.30am (day 2,975)

Dead flower, 17/10/19

Dead flower masquerding as frail, semi-transparent moths? Or are the moths getting together for purposes of their own, and disguising their negotiations by masquerading as a flower? Either way, winter comes.

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Oct 12 2019
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna, Hebden Bridge

Under surveillance

Friday 11th October 2019, 9.35am (day 2,969)

Pigeon surveillance, 11/10/19

Tensions are clearly running high in the ongoing pigeon-duck war. With negotiations having broken down, the pigeon high command has sent out a brave scout to keep an eye on the mallards. But what it hasn’t spotted is the counter-espionage agent sneaking in from the left.

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