#wordless Wednesday.
Cooling off.
Month: August 2023
Buzz.
Some Hornets spotted while out in the New Forest this morning. Hornets are giant wasps with yellow and brownish-red striped bodies, reddish wings and a yellow head. The Queen is larger than the males and workers. They have a wingspan of between 2.5 to 3.5 cm. In the UK many people are fearful of our native Hornets but they are actually much less aggressive than the common wasp. It is also an important pollinator and a predator of species that feed on plants and crops, I have watched them hunt and decapitate wasps!
Sunday spiders!
Four-spotted orb-weaver (Araneus quadratus).
Wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi).
The Adder.
The New Forest Reptile Centre is located near Lyndhurst in the New Forest. There are unique outdoor ‘pits’ that provide a natural home for reptiles and amphibians found in the forest. During the summer season to help educate visitors to the forest and help them see our various snakes lizards and frogs they are on show in the pits (they are released after a couple of weeks).
As part of a walk through the forest on Friday we called into the centre. We arrived on foot just prior to the car park gate opening. So had the opportunity to chat to the staff before the influx of holidaymakers. The snakes were being offered food – this adult female Adder was quick to come out of the undergrowth and take the offering. Adders are the only venomous snake found in the UK. Sightings are not guaranteed.
A number of juvenile Adders were visible (about 8 inches long) note their zig-zag pattern has not yet developed.
Steamed up!
Traction engine New Forest this afternoon.
Hide in plain sight.
Grey Heron – showing nature’s natural camouflage – mudflats Calshot Point Southampton Water.
Close-ups of the same bird.
A splash of colour.
A distant Kingfisher.
#Wordless Wednesday
New Forest views.
Due to the nonstop heavy rain, this morning walk was under the trees on our forest walk.
Tree views set on monocrome with green highlighted.
Forest Pony brands on an old wooden forest pen.
Garden visitors.
Garden visitors or just passing through. Yesterday morning I thought I was dreaming as I woke I heard parrots! The noise got louder and interrupted by the cackle of Magpies. Our garden is small and divided at the bottom of the garden by large Beech and Sycamore trees.
Four Ring-necked parakeets were high in the Beech trees eating the beach nuts. With their strong beaks they can easily remove the nuts from the husks. At this point the Magpies try to steal the nuts.
Yesterday evening and this morning the sound of parakeets are again in the trees although I did not see them again.
Continued Reflections from my World. 