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Less is More, or Little Things Mean a Lot (1 Viewer)

matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout
Just been going through my folders and found these two little beauties!!

Taken last summer at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB, I don't get to see Common Lizards very often so was a bit chuffed with getting the following pic on macro (No big lenses here!!!)

I think the Lizard might have been thinking about inviting the Common Darter back for supper:-O

Matt
 

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Pam_m

Well-known member
A super pic of the Darter and Lizard, Matt! You were lucky to find them together and very skilful in your photography! Well done, a great pic!:t:
 

brianfm

Botanical Birder
I'm positive that the fungi below are the same as the one photographed in Norfolk by Matt. There were numbers of them at Potteric Carr. Perhaps they like the rain as just like Matt's they were soaked and facing heavy rain.

I have given it a scientific name Tartus Morrisonus
 

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brianfm

Botanical Birder
How's this for a little thing? Tis the pin feather from a Woodcock.

I don't think you will be stumbling across too many of these tiny feathers on your walks. A Woodcock has only one pin feather on each wing. I believe it is the covert of the leading primary feather.

These pin feathers are popular with artists and used as one would use a brush. I know Colin Woolf does paintings with them. The feather is very stiff. The feathers I think are also often sought after by wildfowlers and the like to put in the bands of there hats and I read somewhere that this particular feather led to the saying 'feather in your cap' although I am not entirely certain if that is true.
 

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Pam_m

Well-known member
Blimey, Brian! That feather would be hard to find on a walk! How tiny!:eek!:

A brilliiant 'little thing'!:t:
 

brianfm

Botanical Birder
Some Curlew feathers below.

The Curlew is the emblem of the Northumberland Nat Park and Europes largest wading bird. I doubt if there is many who don't know it's rather haunting call. A great shame that there are concerns about this species future although we still see many around these parts.
 

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Peewit

Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover
Lovely feathers, Brian - you have an eye for finding them.

I have to admit that we where lucky to see lots of Curlews up on the Scottish hills, and to hear their calls echoing in the hills is an unforgettable experience.

They like to reside on moorland and heathers, so that is one of their homeland haunts. Lots of open Scottish climes for them to reside in.

Hope that they are not in decline as that would be sad for them and us as bird lovers

Good to have them as an emblem (a bit like the SWT having a Advocet as their emblem)

Super birds :-O
 

brianfm

Botanical Birder
Lovely feathers, Brian - you have an eye for finding them.

I have to admit that we where lucky to see lots of Curlews up on the Scottish hills, and to hear their calls echoing in the hills is an unforgettable experience.

They like to reside on moorland and heathers, so that is one of their homeland haunts. Lots of open Scottish climes for them to reside in.

Hope that they are not in decline as that would be sad for them and us as bird lovers

Good to have them as an emblem (a bit like the SWT having a Advocet as their emblem)

Super birds :-O

Sadly they are in decline Kathy, like so many of our birds that many take for granted. I think it is probably problems in their breeding grounds, but I shall have to read up on it to get the full details.
 

Pam_m

Well-known member
A good set of Curlew feathers iin your photo, Brian.:t: It is sad to read of their decline as with lots of other species. Let's hope the situation can be reversed.


The 2 photo's I have added are 'little things' that were found whilst on short holiday's this year.
The first one is an insect that my daughter Emma found in Norfolk. I was given the job of finding the ID. We have a folder with a few insects that are awaiting ID's, with plenty of winter days ahead this will be a project for me to pass a few hours away on. Keeps the brain alert at my age!;)
The second one was found by me on Skomer Island.

I did a lot of research on trying to ID the insects myself, especially so Emma's insect.
I have recently put them both on the appropriate board on BF for ID. I was pleased that I had ID'd the larvae correctly myself. The Scorpion was a puzzler for me, however it was kindly ID'd for me yesterday.

They are both 'little things' that bring back happy memories.
 

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palval147

Well-known member
Reading back & then through this thread, I realised I hadn't made any contribution to the photo's here at all. I will now remedy this. These pics were taken earlier this year.
First pic is a May bug. (Cockchafer, melolontha melolontha)
Second pic has a caption.
 

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brianfm

Botanical Birder
Both excellent and interesting photos of little things Pam and Val.

Val dont worry about having not added a photo previously, the thread is here for interest enjoyment.

Pam I find an afternoon nap is good for one of your age after so much brain cell activity.o:D;) Better go now.:-O
 

Pam_m

Well-known member
Both excellent and interesting photos of little things Pam and Val.

Val dont worry about having not added a photo previously, the thread is here for interest enjoyment.

Pam I find an afternoon nap is good for one of your age after so much brain cell activity.o:D;) Better go now.:-O


I hoped you feel well rested after your afternoon nap, Brian. I am lucky in that I have yet to get to the stage of needing afternoon slumber.8-P

Can't stop...got some insect pics that I need to ID!;):-O
 

palval147

Well-known member
Thank you Brian, I enjoyed looking through all the photo's again.

Sorry, Pam, I was so eager to post my pics & I had a hassle with them too, I totally missed yours.
I don't think I have ever seen a Scorpion fly before. I do remember seeing 'Woollie Bears',|=)| Tiger moth caterpillars,though not recently.
 

Pam_m

Well-known member
Hey, no problem, Val!

Where you holding the May bug?

That is one bug I do not like to see or hear, they make such a racket when they bash against the windows too. Spectacular to look at though, when I am behind glass! One day I will overcome my terror of them I hope.o:D
 

palval147

Well-known member
Hey, no problem, Val!

Where you holding the May bug?

That is one bug I do not like to see or hear, they make such a racket when they bash against the windows too. Spectacular to look at though, when I am behind glass! One day I will overcome my terror of them I hope.o:D

Yes, Pam, it was on my hand. I rescued it from a spiders web, when it flew into the sunlounge, you can see the cobwebs on it. Poor thing!:-O
 

brianfm

Botanical Birder
Yes, Pam, it was on my hand. I rescued it from a spiders web, when it flew into the sunlounge, you can see the cobwebs on it. Poor thing!:-O

That comment reminded me of the Peacock Buttefly I watched that was trapped in a Garden Spiders web. I was astounded by the speed the spider pounced upon it, stripped it of its wings and wrapped it up in the spiders silk and stored it to eat later. It wasn't too pleasant to watch, but one of those things I hadn't seen before and very interesting.
 

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