Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Seasons Page 30

Image Taken on 21 Dec 2010 at 08:07 Image of day on 22 Feb 2011

The tree sparrows have become 'sort of' regular visitors here in the extended frozen period, and seem to be mostly tolerated by the more resident Dunnocks. We have a surprising number of images of this grouping of birds (we assume the same individuals) over several days.

Ref: 20110222_d45_20101221_0807_080_fb1 2 tree sparrows and dunnock feeding on snow(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Apr 2015 at 17:48 Image of day on 31 May 2015

This year the Tree Sparrows have spread from the Kitchen window feeder to the open areas of the site as well. Here are three of them in a young apple tree.

Ref: 20150531_df3_20150411_1748_382 3 tree sparrows in young fruit tree(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Nov 2017 at 16:00 Image of day on 11 Dec 2017

Our rural view of the storm clouds to the east shortly before sunset.

Ref: 20171211_df3_20171104_1600_020 autumn trees lit by setting sun against storm clouds (orig & final)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Mar 2023 at 07:14 Image of day on 10 Apr 2023

Two nights with snow fortunately didn't hang around for long. The second shower was accompanied by a strong East wind, and you can see here the snow has stuck to the east side of these trees, but also left a 'tree snow shadow' on the west side. The morning was overcast - the dark is not a sunshine shadow.

Ref: 20230410_d72_20230309_0714_015 trees with snow shadow & streak of snow down opposite side (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Mar 2012 at 10:48 Image of day on 22 Apr 2012

The cherry blossom is all over the plot. We find it difficult to capture the feeling 'in the mass' so here is a little detail to delight.

Ref: 20120422_df1_20120327_1048_004 twig of cherry blossom (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Dec 2022 at 10:59 Image of day on 06 Jan 2023

At the back of the main pond we have 2 Viburnum Birkwoodii bushes that create some lift from the winter gloom by flowering in the winter. This group of buds is covered in frost icicles, but expect to flower anyway.

Ref: 20230106_d72_20221210_1059_092 viburnum flower buds with frost spikes(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Aug 2007 at 20:06 Image of day on 23 Sep 2007

Its easy to forget just now small these creatures are - the purple-red wild plum is barely larger than a cherry.

Ref: 20070923_d36_20070827_2006_150 fb1 vole and fruit(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Sep 2010 at 19:21 Image of day on 16 Nov 2010

Some of the bounty of Autumn moved to the photo sites lets us see them stuffing themselves in preparation for the hard times ahead, even if they don't know why.

Ref: 20101116_d45_20100923_1921_040_fb1 vole eating blackberry fruit (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Dec 2009 at 10:21 Image of day on 12 Jan 2010

We are fascinated by images in water drops (all that early philosopher/scientists had for magnifying lenses) and are always delighted when we find a drop positioned to give a microscopic inverted world. Genuine 'found' drop - you have to be so careful not to bump the twig or its all gone.
This is the best of dozens of tries - you have to find a drop with a radius of curvature that brings the drop, what it is on and what it is imaging all into reasonable focus at once - very much trial and error.

Ref: 20100112_p34_20091209_1021_063 water droplet on sycamore (q) bud with inverted image (crop 1)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Dec 2009 at 10:21 Image of day on 12 Jan 2010

A silly montage of course, to turn 'the world' right way up.

Ref: 20100112_p34_20091209_1021_063 water droplet on sycamore (q) bud with inverted image (montage with inverted image 2)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 26 May 2018 at 17:34 Image of day on 10 Jul 2018

These wonderful wild roses drench several metres around them with their perfume.
Dog Rose is pleasant but nowhere close in strength.
We recently read that Rose experts say that half of modern roses have no discernable scent at all - breeders concentrating only on appearance.

Ref: 20180710_df3_20180526_1734_029 wild rose clump outside our north hedge including spent + flowers + buds (orig & final)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 28 Nov 2005

Another from the unusually frosty November morning of some sort of wild rose showing a hip the birds haven't had yet and frosty leaves yet to fall.

Ref: 20051128_p20_1040476 wild rose hip and fading leaves in frost 2005nov20_10-11-06 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 May 2017 at 17:59 Image of day on 12 Jul 2017

The wild Roses are starting to appear - you smell them before you see them. This flower bud is opening

Ref: 20170712_df3_20170523_1759_026 wild rose opening flower bud (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Mar 2007 at 10:28 Image of day on 28 Mar 2007

This Willow warbler teased us for a while before we got this little portrait in the blossom.

Ref: 20070328_p34_20070313_1028_389 willow warbler in cherry blossom(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Mar 2020 at 09:30 Image of day on 05 Apr 2020

This Wood Pigeon lands on very long Ash tree branch which drops half a metre under their weight. Once the branch has stopped bouncing the Pigeon proceeds to eat every bud conveniently within reach.

Ref: 20200405_df5_20200314_0930_058 wood pigeon eating ash tree buds 6 of 6 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Nov 2024 at 09:46 Image of day on 26 Dec 2024

One of the many Wood Pigeons hunkering down on the top of the meadow post.
Not a place a human would choose, but the Pigeon has lots of more sheltered places they could perch and this is the one they picked.

Ref: 20241226_d01_20241119_0946_030_fb6 wood pigeon hunkered down on snow covered meadow post(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 05 Jan 2025 at 08:38 Image of day on 13 Feb 2025

The overall snow cover was only a few centimetres, but this exposed site got some extra drifted snow.

Ref: 20250213_e6a_20250105_0838_142_fb5 wood pigeon in drifted snow at meadow site(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Mar 2023 at 07:51 Image of day on 12 Apr 2023

Next morning sees another fall of snow which quickly melted.

Ref: 20230412_d01_20230310_0751_194_fb6 wood pigeon on meadow post in snow (full frame)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Aug 2015 at 14:07 Image of day on 30 Oct 2015

A Woody Nightshade with blossoms suggesting to us Japanese lanterns.
Looks delightful, but all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Ref: 20151030_da1_20150822_1407_375_ft1 woody nightshade with buds and open flowers (crop 1)(r+mb id@768).jpg

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