Winning The Race

 

It looks like there might be a clear winner in this race, but who knows!

Glasgow Mela 2024

Something a wee bit different today. At the end of June we went to the Glasgow Mela. The Mela celebrates Asian culture in Glasgow. Asian in the UK is Indian, Pakistani and surrounding areas and not Chinese or Japanese. It is a wonderful event and I have been going for many years now. There is a lot of dancing, singing, plenty of good food and lots of event for the kids. Here are some photos from the event this year.

The 3rd photo is a little Aphid that landed on my hand, of course I had to get a photo of him before he flew off! And the last photo, I somehow ended up with the official photographers and got a good shot of these dancers

Well Eaten Leaves

 

These are some well eaten dock leaves! The Green Dock Beetle and maybe slugs too, feast on these leaves.

A Lovely Hoverfly

 

This is a hoverfly. I really liked the colouring on this one.

A Twisted Tree

 

This tree is amazing, It twists round. It like the texture and how this tree looks.

Soldier Beetle Hiding In The Shade

 

This little Soldier Beetle is hiding his head in the shade! 

Friendly Deer

 

We visited Chessington a few months ago, I'll post photos soon. It is about a 9 hour drive back home so we stopped at a service station on the way back and came upon this glorious sight! 2 deer right next to the cars on the grass. I obviously took the opportunity to get photos! There was a forest at the back, so they must have come from there. They did seem relaxed with humans, something I would warn all animals not to be haha!

Autumn Is Coming

 

There are signs of Autumn all over the place just now in Scotland. I really liked this leaf. I am not sure if someone put it on the fence or if it fell like that. Either way, I was impressed! I took this photo last week.

Standing To Attention

 

This is a lovely squirrel. I was lucky to capture this moment a few weeks ago. He really is a cutie.

Does anyone do fasting? I have just finished a 3 day water fast. I actually found it okay and intend to do it again soon.

A Hungry Wasp

 

Someone had spilled juice on a bench and this wasp appeared. It was hungy I think. I do like wasps a lot and love taking photos of them. They are interesting little things.

A Nice Pair

 

These are a lovely pair of Yellow-Bellied Terrapins. Something has caught their attention!

Water Lily

 

This is an unopened yellow water lily. I spotted it a long the canal in July. Isn't it pretty.

Happy September :-D

Caught In A Web

 

This Damselfly wasn't very lucky. The spider had caught him and by the time I got to them, he was dead. It is sad, but part of life. The spider needs to eat.

Feeding Time

It's feeding time again on the log! Here we have a Blue Tit on the left and a Female Chaffinch on the right. This is a great spot for feeding the smaller birds, they all come here when I put the seeds down. There are a few other people that feed the birds and the squirrels, so that is good I am not alone. They really are a pleasure to watch.

A Shy Duck

 

This duck looks a bit shy but he still his eye on me! 

A Cool Tree

 

Check out the branches on this tree! It is so cool. The Bluebells look so pretty as well.

Spiderman Was Here

 

This looks like a rather crazy looking web, not exactly sure what was going on with the spider! Either way, I think it's pretty cool :-D

Starting To Get Busy

 

It is starting to get busy here on this flower. There is a bee already on it and the hoverfly is joining in on the fun. I am sure there will be more insects in a minute!

Green Veined White Butterfly

 

This is a Green Veined White Butterfly. Isn't it cute!

Seen Better Days

 

These boats certainly have seen better days! The first is along the canal near to me. I spoke to the woman in tha marina about it and she said it had been like that for a while and it had been a childcare boat. As we walked passed it you could see all the legos and toys. From what I gather, Narrowboats are quite easy to restore.

The second photo was taken in Balloch near Loch Lomond. Not exactly sure what this boat's story was though. These were both taken last years, so hoping they were saved or removed. 

Green Bottle Fly

 

This is a Green Bottle Fly. I usually call them Disco Flies! They look like they are heading off to the disco I think! I am really not a fan of flies mainly because they bite me and I usually take a bad reaction but I do realise they are so important in our world. I remember someone saying to me if it weren't for flies we'd be knee high in dog poo! Yes people just let their dogs crap all over the street in Scotland sadly. My spider friends have also told me that they are very tasty, but I think I'll pass!

2 Damselflies

 

These are 2 different Damselflies that decided to land on my hand! So decided to get photos of them, as you do! On a rare day when I didn't have my nails painted haha!

A Starling

 

This is a beautiful Starling. He was very friendly and let me close enough to get good photos of him. Though, I think, in the last photo he is kinda like, "What you looking at?" Haha! Starlings look almost iridescent in the sunshine. Their coats are gorgeous colours.

An Interesting Trio

 

The duck at the front is the Male Goosander, the middle is the Female Goosander and we have a gatecrasher, a Female Mallard. Not quite sure what the Mallard is up to though! The Goosander is also known as the Common Merganser

A Robin Ice Skating

 

I took this photo in January up at the pond. There was a huge part that had frozen over and some of the birds were standing on it so I threw seeds over to them. This Robin was happy to eat the seeds. Isn't he a pretty looking fellow!

Clouded Border Moths

 

These are Clouded Border Moths. Aren't they pretty. I like moths, they are such interesting little creatures.

Zebra Spider

 

I am pretty sure this is a Zebra Spider. They do appear in my garden and I have posted one before. This one has more white than black compared to the previous one I posted here. Either way, I think it is a very beautiful spider. I took this in my garden in July. Spiders are so very important in our world and I think they are really cool. Here in Scotland, we don't have any dangerous spiders so all good. They come into the house and I never chase them, I just let them be. 

Carrion Beetle

 

This is a Carrion Beetle or a Burying Beetle. It is actually on the back of a mushroom called Dryad's Saddle which I have posted about before here.

A Leaf

 

I am not sure what tree this leaf is from but I really liked the colours on it.

A Toad

 

Ever since I was little I have been obsessed with frogs and toads. I think they are amazing little creatures. I hadn't seen any for a long time until I started to visit the pond about 4 years ago. They go to the pond to spawn and then leave. You need to catch them at the right time. This is a fellow I made friends with a few years ago.

A Few Hoverflies

 

These are a few different Hoverflies. They are really common over here and are harmless. They kinda look like wasps to the untrained eye, I guess it is their defence mechanism! Isn't nature wonderful :-D

Another Crow

 

I really should have called my blog Ananka's Crows instead of Ananka's Photos. I have so many great crows photos! Mind you, I have a lot of snail photos too! Anyway, this crow is gorgeous and I love his eye. I really love crows so much. I took this photo in April.

I got out a short walk today for the first time in ages! I went to the pond and was so happy to see how overgrown it was and thriving. There were only about 7 female mallards in the pond, but so many insects and bees. I was so happy to see so many bees! First of many walks I hope.

Shield Bug

 

This is a little Shield Bug. They are very common in Scotland. 

Green Lacewing

 

This is a Green Lacewing. I remember seeing him at the pond for ages and could never really get a good photo of him. I managed to get this. He is a real cutie.

Baby Snails

 

Here are a few baby snails. They are so tiny and cute. The first little guy popped his head out to say hello and the other 2 are fast asleep!

Cats Eyes

 

To celebrate International Cat Day, which is today, I have posted photos of my four cats eyes. First up we have Abby she is the oldest cat 15.5 years old. Second is Abby's daughter Chiana, she is 14 years old. Third is Jethro the Bengal, he is 14 too and doing okay considering he has kidney troubles. Lastly the kitten Stitch, he is about 1. So let's all celebrate International Cat Day :-D I love my cats so much and would say I was a crazy cat lady!