World Photography Forum

Furrows

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 01:37:13 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: An example of some of my rare landscape shots.

9 comments

Wasp and newly subdued prey

Thomas Covenant — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:39:27 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: I once again witnessed the struggle for survival in my garden. Having spotted this Mason Wasp (or thats what I believe it to be) on the flowers it then proceeded to investigate the dead flower heads on a Spirea shrub so as it provided more photo opportunities I followed its movements. Suddenly it became what can only be described as aggressively excited around a cluster of dead flowers which on closer inspection were bound with silken threads. Over a period of a few minutes the wasp tested the spot for weaknesses and I then saw the occupant , a caterpillar , trying to avoid discovery. Having evaded capture expertly for a while the wasps persistence paid off and the caterpillar lost its nerve and made a fatal mistake trying to reverse unnoticed out of its nest. This was the chance the wasp needed and it grabbed its prey and dragged it from the woven chamber. After some thrashing about the caterpillar was subdued and its battle to survive lost. To the victor the spoils as they say. I was lucky enough to get shots of the entire struggle but here is the final result and one fairly smug looking wasp.

5 comments

.... er ... excuse me ... do you mind , I was here first !!

Thomas Covenant — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:32:13 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: This hoverfly which is I think Eupeodes sp. had pitched on this potentilla flower in my garden and while trying to get a different angled shot of it I noticed that it had one foot on the back of a pollen eating beetle ! The beetle seemed totally disinterested in its new position as hoverfly footstool and continued about its business not moving a millimetre. NB/ I think the beetle is a variegated carpet beetle ( Anthrenus verbasci ) which feeds on pollen in summer. This was taken 03/07/2016

4 comments

Small Tortoishell Butterfly. - Aglais urticae

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:56:00 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 5th August this year 2018 in my garden on buddleia blooms. My buddleia has had more whites feeding on its nectar than anything this year so it was nice to see this vivid splash of orange , black and blue turn up while I was in the garden camera in hand. I had also forgotten how lovely the separate little flowers on this shrub are especially in the right light.

3 comments

Marmalade Hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:18:28 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back in April 2017 in my garden. Have to be one of the UK's commonest hovers together with the eristalis species perhaps but I'll never hold that against either of them !

6 comments

Syrphus sp. hoverfly

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:07:54 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken April 2018 A bit of welcome Spring sunshine and the garden comes alive with insect life including this syrphus sp. hoverfly warming itself on the newly emerging leaves of Lamprocapnos spectabilis known as the ' bleeding heart ' flower. Enlarges quite nicely on here too.

1 comment

Ferruginous Bee-grabber. - Sicus ferrugineus

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:58:41 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 14th July this year 2018 in my garden. A strange looking wee beastie that belongs to the family Conopidae and commonly known as 'Thick-headed flies'. The female of this species will pounce on unsuspecting bumblebees and inject a single egg into the bees abdomen with her specially designed ovipositor. I think I read somewhere that the developing larvae inside the bee will force the host bee to bury itself alive in the ground thereby providing a warmer environment for the developing larvae / fly within its abdomen ! Nice eh ?? Aren't you glad you're human after all ?? ......... ( I think there's a song there somewhere ?? ) Adult flies feed on nectar and pollen.

1 comment

Bee. - Andrena sp. possibly A.scotica

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:55:13 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 30th April 2018 in my garden on honeysuckle. The more I try to identify these the more confused I get. Another case of ' ID work in progress ' I'm afraid though it could be A.scotica.

1 comment

Band-eyed Brown Horsefly - Tabanus bromius

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:21:10 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken today 15th June 2018 in my garden. As I have said many times to people I am not at all keen on being in close proximity to the ' bitey stingey ' insects so much courage on my part was involved in the taking of this image ! Yep, I'm a wus !! Tabanus horseflies are the largest here in the UK and T.bromius species reach about 15mm or so and inflict an extremely painful bite mainly by the females which I think this example I found in the garden today may well be hence my hesitation in being this close. Once they have found you they are annoyingly persistent in their attempt to bite you to drink your blood. Although I consider myself very fortunate to have a stream at the bottom of my garden it does mean I am plagued by some of this ladies smaller relatives which love damp areas and they are a wretched nuisance when I am down there gardening during the summer months. They approach their target with a slow deliberate flight and land on you so gently that you often don't realise one is on you until its too late and they've bitten you. Their bite can sometimes become infected and I saw some very nasty examples of this when I was working.

3 comments

Common Carder Bee. - Bombus pascuorum

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:42:17 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Giving a helping hand - assisted re-fuelling Taken on 31st July this year 2018 in my garden. I spotted my dog Drummer watching this carder bee wandering with difficulty along the ground and showing signs of being 'low on fuel' so with something I remembered a Flickr pal Tom Lee having done faced with a similar situation I assisted the little fella (or lady) with some watered down golden syrup to give it that extra 'oomph' to hopefully see it safely home. After a short time sucking up the liquid the bee had a quick clean up and performed a pre flight check of its flying gear then set off. Mission accomplished !

6 comments

Green-veined White - Pieris napi

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:25:52 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 25th July this year 2018 in my garden. The trees down by the stream at the bottom of my garden provide dappled shade and some welcome cooler conditions for the insects in the recent heatwave here which is on its way back apparently. Although the green-veined whites were not deterred by the soaring temperatures I found that I was being visited by speckled wood butterflies together with both common and holly blues in the cooler shaded area of the garden. The only drawback from mine and the dogs point of view down there were the unwanted attentions of the wretched horseflies that also love the damp shade. Image enlarges quite nicely on here I thought.

3 comments

Pipunculidae sp. - 'Big Headed Flies' mating in flight.

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:14:04 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken - 25th August 2018 in my garden. If this pair hadn't been in the act of procreation directly in front of my nose and at eye level I doubt I would have even noticed them they were so small. I estimate no bigger than a couple of millimetres each they hovered in an erratic dance around the leaves of a shrub never once landing and this was more of can I get a shot than anything else as I knew they were way too small for me to get any significant identifying detail. However I was very happy with the outcome I must say as they were difficult for me to see and keep track of at the time. Have to say also that upon examination of the resulting image I am not sure the 'dance' like hovering was in any way some kind of erotic ritual or just the male struggling to stay airborne because as you can see here his chosen partner is not helping in the slightest and dare I say may have even dozed off !! ........ I'll leave it there fellas I think ... !! ;0)

3 comments

Thirsty hoverfly. - Eumerus sp. ?

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 23:35:48 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 15th July this year 2018 in my garden. Spotted what I think is one of the Eumerus sp. overflies quenching its thirst with some of the fast evaporating morning dew on a rose leaf in my hedge. Like many hoverfly species the identification down to the actual specie is nigh on impossible without microscopic observation or even sometimes dissection. It was probably about 10mm or so in length but an interesting little fly.

1 comment

Hoverfly. - Syritta pipiens

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 23:25:41 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back at the end of July this year 2018 with the hoverfly sat on the flowers of Alchemilla mollis - 'Ladies mantle' I seem to remember thinking I had paid a small fortune for a couple of these plants from a garden centre a number of years ago only to find that they seed themselves for a pastime ! I now regularly dig up and bin lots of seedlings. Typical eh !

2 comments

Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 23:14:24 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back in mid-August 2017 One of my favourite migrants to our shores and to my garden some years though sadly not this year nor did I come across one elsewhere here in 2018

6 comments

Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 22:52:50 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: This meadow brown was feeding along the edge of a quiet field which I was told soon after taking the shot is due for development sadly meaning another local wildlife habitat lost forever to tarmac , bricks and mortar !

2 comments

Honeysuckle Sawfly - Zaraea fascinata

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 22:29:22 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 12th April 2018 in my garden. A newly emerged honeysuckle sawfly which sadly doesn't stay this beautiful golden colour

3 comments

Firecrest - Regulus ignicapillus

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:43:07 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back in March 2018. I am very fortunate in that I often get the odd Goldcrest visit my garden and I have even had a family of them come to the feeders one year but this is the very first Firecrest I have seen in the garden and it did cause a bit of excitement I must say as it foraged in the forsythia bush beside my conservatory. I grabbed the camera and thankfully managed to record the visit though he didn't stay still enough for a totally clean-cut image. Still I'll settle for just the visit alone.

9 comments

Anthophora plumipes - Hairy-footed flower bee

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 17:21:51 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Here is the male in its more usual colour. I first thought I had found a bee mimic hoverfly as they sound and move more like a hoverfly than a bee to my way of thinking.

2 comments

Araneus marmoreus var. pyramidatus - Male

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 17:11:29 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back in August 2017 Here we have the male spider which I found some distance from the female I posted before but I subsequently found more males and females dotted all around the area of the field and hedge bordering the road but no further spread was evident. There were other species of orbweb spiders in evidence and I even found a male of the species A.diadematus attempting a liaison with a female of the uncommon species here !

Araneus marmoreus var. pyramidatus

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 01:36:12 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken August 2017 In my search for hoverflies I came across this beauty which is quite a sizeable spider and described as 'uncommon' so another ' feather in the cap ' so to speak together with a broad grin when I identified it. It is nice to come across something a little out of the ordinary occasionally. This is a female and there appeared to be a male spider of similar colour though much slimmer and smaller trying to approach her but she was waiting for a fly she had captured to succumb to her venom so showed little or no interest in what could be a possible suitor. If she was hungry this could have worked in his favour and ' saved his bacon ' so he could try and find favour with her when she was more amenable.

4 comments

Megachile sp. Bee

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:21:05 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 15th June 2018 in my garden. I think this handsome bee is a Megachile sp. of some sort. This family includes Leaf cutter and Mud bees. Quite robust looking bees which look to have a blunt end to their abdomen rather than the usual sort of tapering down bee shape.

3 comments

Common Wasp - Vespula vulgaris

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:14:44 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on the 21st July this year in my garden feeding on fennel flowers. Not an extraordinary capture but I just liked all of the colours in the background. The purples and violets come from the out of focus leaves of Cotinus coggygria - the 'Smoke Tree / Bush' which gets its name from the pink coloured, plume-like inflorescences, giving a smoke like effect. I bought this shrub several years ago in the 'reduced prices' section at my local garden centre looking a little sorry for itself but it has gradually picked up and this year is the first that the smoke effect of the flowers really showed well.

2 comments

Small Copper Butterfly - Lycaena phlaeas

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:08:03 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on the 31st August this year 2018 in my garden on rudbeckia flowers. One of a few of these lovely little butterflies In had visit my garden this season.

2 comments

Hoverfly. - Syritta pipiens

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:03:38 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 25th of July this year 2018 in my garden on a bramble flower. Small ( 7 - 10mm ) dark hoverfly pretty widespread throughout the UK and common in gardens.

5 comments

Scorpion fly (M) - Panorpa communis

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 16:58:20 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: aken on 14th May 2018 in my garden. The first shot I've managed to get of the male showing the 'scorpion' - like tail from where the insect gets its name and it does bear an impressive resemblance. These insects do not sting and the tail contains its genitalia. We have three species of Panorpa in the UK but they are indistinguishable without microscopic examination. Adult flies feed mainly on dead insects some of which they steal from spiders webs. Mating can be a dangerous game as the female can decide to kill him if he is not careful and to try and avoid this outcome he gives her a gift of a drop of his saliva ! Cheaper than our gifts employed to woo the ladies eh guys !

4 comments

Honey Bee - Apis mellifera

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 16:54:47 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back in March 2017 My Forsythia was a mass of yellow blossom and early risers amongst the bee and hoverfly fraternity were making good use of the pollen and nectar as were other fly species too.

2 comments

Large House Spider. - Eratigena atrica

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 23:00:05 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 28th May 2018 in my garden. I went to get a large container I use as a bucket from the log store and trapped inside it was this bad boy or more likely bad girl due to its size. I would have put its leg span at somewhere around 100mm ! These spiders seek shelter indoors during the late autumn to benefit from our central heating over the winter months and can cause many a shriek of horror from women , children and men alike due to their size as they scurry across the floor looking for a quiet place to hide and not be disturbed. Harmless though they are I suspect many meet an untimely end under someones boot just because they look slightly menacing. I released this one back into the log store where she should have plenty of prey to eat.

2 comments

Spider - Unidentified

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 22:55:54 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 3rd June 2018 in my garden. As yet unidentified spider I photographed in my garden early one morning really just because I liked the position and light together with the clean background. It was busy building or repairing its web. I could not get an angle on it to see any pattern or markings so not sure if I will be able to ID it but it was very small.

2 comments

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus (Female)

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 18:58:34 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden mid-May 2018 This is the first year from memory that I have seen these lovely blues in my garden. This little ladies wings were a little the worse for wear but seemed to be able to carry on regardless. This must have been a good year for this species as I encountered a number of them in my travels.

4 comments

Common Blue Butterfly (F) - Polyommatus icarus

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 22:07:52 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken on 6th August this year 2018 in my garden on Solidago flowers ( Dwarf Golden Rod ). The strong sunshine caused the vivid yellow of the flower to reflect back onto the underside of this lady butterflies wing and put me in mind of my childhood when girls would hold a buttercup flower under your chin to ' see if you liked butter ' ! The innocence of youth eh ! Having gone out into the garden without the camera I sadly missed photographing a visiting Silver Washed Fritillary before I noticed this female Common Blue who not only waited for me to get the camera to photograph her but also chose to stay on the same plant for at least another couple of hours.

5 comments

Common Wasp - Vespula vulgaris

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 21:54:53 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken early September this year 2018. All I can say here is that I am extremely uncomfortable being in close proximity to anything insect or arachnid that bites or stings. Silly perhaps but as I suffer from allergies I'd rather not tempt fate however sometimes you just have to risk it ..... don't you ? This wasp seemed more interested in a good grooming session than giving me any grief thankfully.

2 comments

Speckled Bush-cricket - Leptophyes punctatissima - nymph

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 16:58:49 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back t the end of May 2018 I spotted this little fella ( or lady perhaps ) sat in the flower of one of my potentilla shrubs. The flowers are quite small so he or she was tiny. Every year I like many people get lots of these little cricket nymphs in the garden yet I cannot remember ever seeing an adult in the garden until I spotted one in August this year on my honeysuckle hedge. I imagine many of these little fella's fall foul of spiders and other predators bless them but some must make it through to adulthood so good on 'em I say !

4 comments

Sarcophagidae - Flesh Fly

Thomas Covenant — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 00:15:17 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden in May 2018. Belonging to the family Sarcophagidae these flies lay live maggots and not eggs on carcasses. Knowledge of the life cycle of certain genera of Flesh Flies can be valuable information. The presence of adults and larvae at a crime scene can actually assist a forensics specialist in determining how long a body has been in that area.

2 comments

SPIDER - Misumena vatia - (M)

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 23:57:34 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden in May 2018 Previously seen many females of this common little crab spider but this was the first male I've managed to photograph. These spiders have the ability to change their colour to blend in better with their chosen ambush point. Like most spiders they are capable of tackling prey much larger than themselves.

Rhingia campestris

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 23:43:30 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back in May this year 2018. This distinctive hoverfly has an exceptionally long proboscis hidden away in that snout.

Hairy-footed Flower Bee - Anthophora plumipes

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 18:33:52 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken back in May 2018 in my garden. One of my favourite little early bees. Males can appear as early as late February some years and fly until late May. Females appear 2 - 3 weeks after the males and fly into June. Males are usually buff in colour with a pale yellow hairy face but fade to greyish like this example towards the end of their flight season ( a bit like myself ) in May. Females are easy to distinguish as they are all black in colour though occasionally a buff form occurs like a male but more robust and with a dark face. Adults visit a number of flowers and a favourite is Lungwort which are an attractive early flowering plant to have in the garden if you want to attract these little beauties where the bees occur. Quite common in Southern England but only the South coast and eastern parts of Wales. Only relatively recently (2013) recorded in Scotland (Ayrshire) and not reported in Ireland.

4 comments

Ichneumon wasp

Thomas Covenant — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 13:44:08 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back in May 2018. Looks to be either a male Pimpla rufipes or Apechthis compunctor but as always I am more than happy for anyone to offer another ID if I'm wrong. The males of both species are of a similar size being 7 - 15mm and are not easy to distinguish apart in the field. The male Apechthis has a yellow face whereas the Pimpla is black but you cannot see enough of the face in my image to my mind to positively ID. Apechthis flies May to October and Pimpla from June to October so as long as both species abide by the written word of the experts this one could be Apechthis my having taken this shot in mid-May however I'd rather leave my options open !

3 comments

Nomada sp. - Nomad Bee ( possibly N.flava - female )

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 15:49:11 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back in May 2018 Cannot be positive about the exact ID but it does look as if it could be a female N.flava. These little wasp mimics are 7.5 - 10mm in size. Nomada species are termed as 'cuckoo bees', as they lay their eggs in the nests of other species - more often that of Andrena sp. bees but not exclusively. Adult bees feed on pollen and nectar. Found over much of England and Wales but not recorded in Scotland or Ireland. Flies April - June

4 comments

' Murder Most Foul ' - Coenosia sp. tigrina

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 22:42:06 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Title reference to the 1964 film starring Margaret Rutherford but I fear there is no need for the services of Miss Marple here as I caught the culprit 'bang to rights' as they say with the poor unfortunate victim still in its clutches. Photographed in my garden on a geranium flower. This is a common predatory fly species often seen in my garden but is widespread here in the UK. The fly is around 6 - 7mm in length.

2 comments

Hoverfly. - Epistrophe eligans. (F)

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 17:08:53 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: A shiny metallic hoverfly of around 9.5mm. This little lady was sunning herself on my honeysuckle hedge back at the beginning of May this year 2018.

Fly - possibly Leucophora sp. - Satellite Fly

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 16:52:37 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: If only I could find a good book on identification of UK diptera ! I think this to be one of the Leucophora species - Satellite fly. It was photographed in my garden as were all of this years images due to my getting myself a Deerhound pup which I didn't want to leave alone for long. I am fortunate to get a wide range of insects visit my garden so all I have to try and do is be there camera in hand when they stop by ! I wonder how many I miss ??

9 comments

Eristalis sp. - possibly Eristalis Pertinax

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 16:35:16 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: The Eristalis species are a favourite of mine as during their flying season there are usually a good variety to photograph. E.pertinax are one of the most commonly encountered and can be identified from other species as the tarsi of the front and middle legs are yellow as seen here on this individual so I am fairly certain of the ID. I say 'fairly certain' as unfortunately in my experience insects tend not to read the reference books that describe how they should look so can be deceiving leading to many a wrong ID on my part !! Wing length in this species is between 8.25 - 12.75mm and this hoverfly is a common visitor to gardens as well as open countryside and woodlands etc.

Nomad Bee

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 18:42:15 +0000

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Taken in my garden back in May this year 2018. These little wasp mimic bees of the family Nomada are so convincingly wasp like I thought that is what they were a variety of for some time. Many are less than 10mm in length.

6 comments

Rock Pipit

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:15:54 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Got virtually the same shot of one as this last year ! Virtually the same spot too.

Stonechat

Thomas Covenant — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:04:38 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Another of the Stonechats from the other day. When you�re roughly �pack lunch� size for a passing bird of prey the last place I�d want to be is sat up on top of a twig in full view of everything ! No Fear !! John

1 comment

Mr & Mrs Linnet

Thomas Covenant — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:32:13 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Managed to catch them both together ..... before they had a bit of a fall out :) They path of true love never runs smoothly no matter what you are it seems !! John

4 comments

Male Linnet

Thomas Covenant — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 16:56:29 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Had to crop in on this one unfortunately as they are difficult to get close to especially when you are up against a barrage of joggers and dog walkers. Not that I'm against them of course but they do have an uncanny knack of turning up at the wrong time.

3 comments

Stonechat

Thomas Covenant — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 15:19:34 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: Here is Mr Stonechat from yesterday who, unlike his misses , would only afford me a sideways glance ! :)

7 comments

Stonechat

Thomas Covenant — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 20:09:20 +0100

by: Thomas Covenant

Description: One from todays outing. Who'd have thought eh ? A Stonechat interested in photography or certainly what I was up to and very bold with it !

8 comments