Wildlife
"Ma feet micht be big, but the insects are safe" Michael Marra
Longhorn Beetle
Gannets near the Bass Rock, Firth of Forth
Caterpillar of Rustic Tussock Moth aka Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua)
Puffins on the Isle of May, June 2023
A Quokka on Rottnest Island (a short distance offshore from Perth, W.A.)
Echidna (Spiny Ant Eater) at animal rescue centre in W. Australia. The red on the spines is for identification purposes (the centre was looking after two echidnas at the same time.)
Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) in September
Minnows in the River Tay homing in on the cloud of silt disturbed by my foot! Like one of those fancy spa treatments! Very tickly!
Bumble Bee on Thistle, July 2022
Scorpion Fly (female) - scary looking but quite harmless! (June 2022)
Speckled Wood near the River Tummel, May 2022
Always great to see toads gathering in March!
Small Tortoiseshell with lid of bin providing a colourful contrast!
Northern Eggar moth (male) which brightened a poor day's fishing!
Garden Chafer - I think (many here in June last year)
Disgusting but interesting! This is a crab spider on - yes - a dog's poo, waiting for a fly to arrive! Usually crab spiders are found blending in with the petals of a flower. (Maybe it should be called a Crap Spider?!)
There were quite a few Woodcock in the local forest last winter. Even saw a couple feeding in our snow-covered garden on a couple of nights. The signs of their activity were quite apparent in the morning.
Calocera viscosa, a jelly fungus, bringing a splash of colour to the December forest floor
Leopard Slug in the garden. Fabulous markings!
A Pill Bug (NOT the common woodlouse)
Summer 2019 was great for butterflies!!..............
Comma
Comma - view of underside showing the wee white mark which gives this butterfly its name
Small Copper
Painted Lady on Buddleia in the garden
Dark Green Fritillary also in the garden. Gorgeous!
Hoverfly at Himalayan Balsam
The wasp-like stripey pattern of hoverflies is designed to scare off would-be predators. In fact, hoverflies do not sting - so please don't swat them!
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