On the 1st day of August it was my Auntie's Birthday. I took a few hoverfly pics in the morning, then we went for a scrummy lunch in Canterbury in the searing heat. Then a late evening dog walk to avoid the intense heat. He thought he would pretend to be a pig and wallow in one of the only puddles around to cool off. He full on rolled in it. Yucky stagnant watery sludge. How delightful. Nose to tail smothered in vile smelling mud and boy did he pleased with himself. Not so smug when we had to wash him when we returned. Mum and I resorted to tipping bowlfuls of water over him out the front of the house.
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| Episyrphus balteatus commonly found in gardens and here seems to be enjoying our lovely Tansy plant (Tanacetum vulgare) |
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| Is that a grin on your face young Bracken?! |
On the 2nd day of August mum went to water the plants. It was early morning and this moth made a wise choice clinging to the wall. CT am I right in thinking this is a silver Y?? I also had one on my bedroom wall last night so they must be quite prevalent around here! You will also be pleased to know that on Sunday night I saved a huge moth from the horrible fly fryer in the pub kitchen. While my boss stood waiting for me to leave so he could lock the doors, I was jumping around trying to gently catch the moth in my hands to release it outside. Not sure what it was, but guessing it was some kind of hawk moth!
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| Silver Y |
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| Buddleia in the morning sunlight |
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| The individual flowers of the agapanthus are almost all out now. I thought it looked pretty with the highlighted spider spindly web |
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| Worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) on the Tansy plant |
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| Another species of hoverfly - Sphaerophoria scripta |
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| Male house sparrow looking rather inquisitive |
In the afternoon of the 2nd we made an impromptu trip to Oare. After first having a drink in the Three Mariners and Lunch in the Castle due to the former being fully booked for lunch, we drove the short distance to the Kent Wildlife Trust reserve and took a wander around. Lots of nice boats and barges which kept my Dad entertained. Lots of bugs and birds which Mum and I enjoyed. All happy!
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| Not sure of this species... Edit: Wild carrot (Thank you Brian) |
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| Ruddy darter - male |
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| Hundreds of godwits, a couple of avocets and a scattering of coots |
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| Sea lavender in the foreground. On the other side of the creek is the saxon shore way - a route we walked on the 4th day of August ... separate blog post to follow. |
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| Does anyone have a clue what this red stuff is on the rose leaves? Some sort of parasite or fungi or disease??? |
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| Big spider alert.... a funnel weaver which is a member of the Agelenidae family |
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| Agelena labyrinthica |
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| Summer plumage golden plovers, avocets, black headed gulls and a lapwing all on one little island |
Thank you to everyone who reads and comments, much appreciated. My next post will have photos of our 5 hour long walk along the saxon shore way and news on recent KWT volunteering :)
Hi Lou Mary Great post with wonderful selection to see. Lovely flowers and hoverflies. Love all the waders, those spiders give me the creeps, I have no idea whaat the red stuff is on the leaves adn Bracken looks happy.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret, sorry about the spiders! :)
DeleteYup a Silver Y- lots pf them around at the mo. Well done for saving the moth from the fryer! Lovely pics as always - I especially liked the landscape one of fields, beautiful light. The rose growth looks like Robin's Pincushion Gall which is common on wild roses and contains female gall wasps that hatch out in spring. Hope Bracken is sweet smelling again now- Ted is in dire need of a bath too :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you CT :) I keep seeing the silver Y's flying about in the day while I'm volunteering. I will add the species to the post at some point :) Thanks! Another reason I love blogging - such a range of knowledge that usually people can help with Identification :)
DeleteSome great photos - especially love the hoverfly ones. Am trying unsuccessfully to get photos of those at the moment. I would agree with CT - looks like Robin's Pincushion to me :)
ReplyDeleteThey don't stay very still do they! Thanks for ID confirmation :)
DeleteI think I'll have to get some Tansy plants looking at you wonderful hoverfly photos. Beautiful images and I particularly love the birds in the water and the plumage against the background in the last image. Seabirds are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzie :) The bumble bees and other flying insects love it too! Our main reason for planting it was that our lovely old dog, who passed away a couple of years ago, was called Tansy.
DeleteWonderful photos. I love Bracken in the golden light and the little Sparrow is gorgeous. The reserve at Oare looks a beautiful place to visit and watch wildlife (and barges!) I look forward to reading about your Saxon Shore walk.
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy :) Oare is wonderful! I have been spending a lot of time there and never ever get bored of it!
DeleteGorgeous post. My favourites are the Hover Flies and that brilliant funnel spider. Looks like you're having a fabulous August so far.
ReplyDeleteThanks Em :) This August has been great! So difficult to keep up though!
DeleteThe picture of the developing flower head above your pic of ruddy darter is of wild carrot.
ReplyDeleteBrian Laney, Botanist.
Thank you Brian!
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