Random Crap

 

The random crap people leave at ponds! This stool was left at the pond a few years ago and someone had put it on the wooden post! People leave the most random things in nature! I would guess someone used it to sit on while fishing perhaps? 

Hitchhiker

 

We found this little hitchhiker on my partner's white hat! It is a little midge. Midges are very common in Scotland.

Walking Along

 

I have always been captivated by Ladybirds and get excited when I see them. This one was walking along the branch. 

A Deer In The Woods

 

I spotted this deer in the woods. I always enjoy seeing deer and where I live there are plenty THOUGH they are in decline, like most creatures in this world.

A Snail And A Raspberry...

 

Can you make an interesting story from this...A snail and a raspberry? I really liked the pattern on this snail. It had fallen asleep on the back of this raspberry leaf. The raspberries weren't quite ready yet. 

The Flies Are Guarding The Beetle

 

It looks like these 2 flies are guarding the Soldier Beetle! Dandelions are wonderful flowers, insects love them and I do not consider them to be weeds unlike most people! They grown in my garden and I let them be, though I do get photos of the bees on them!!

Barn Swallows

 

These are a few Barn Swallows. They are lovely little birds.

Crocodile Rock

 

Not the Elton John song! This structure is know as Crocodile Rock. It is on a little island called Millport which isn't too far from Glasgow. We visit Millport a lot and it is great for wildlife and has a wonderful beach too. Here is a link to more information on it: Crocodile Rock.

Balancing Act

 

This little weevil was balancing on the leaf! He is an expert!

Holding Bees

 

These photos are all a few years old. These are 3 bees that I helped with sugar solution during the summer when they ran out of puff! Every summer I carry sugar solution when I am out and if I see a bee struggling I put some of the solution on my hand and pick the bee up and it usually takes it and flies off. The last one, I place it on a flower. If there are flowers about I normally put them on the flowers. Holding a bee isn't a scary thing. It can be quite tickly at first though and takes a minute to get used to. In all my years of helping them I have never been stung by a bee. 

Sparkling Water

 

Not quite fizzy drinking water. I saw this last week and I just loved how the sun was shining on the pond.

They Are Back

 

The frogs and toads are back for spawning at the pond! I was so very happy to see them! These 3 photos are of the same toad. I sat on the ground and was talking to him! I really wanted to get a close-up of his eyes. After I got my photos he hopped off into the long grass. Ever since I was a kid, I have been obsessed with frogs and toads, I think they are amazing and wonderful.

Remembering Jimmy

I made a post back on 11th November 2024 to say that our friend Jimmy had passed away on the 7th of November 2024. He was killed on his Motorbike. Today would have been his 68th Birthday. So I would like to post photos from our 2 trips to Amsterdam and remember him.

First from our trip in 2023.

And a few from 2024.

The stairs in the hotel were very steep!!

And finally Jimmy with the biker jacket be bought when we were there.

RIP in Jimmy. 

Bluepassion Flower

 

This is a Bluepassion Flower (Passiflora caerulea). It looks so pretty and colourful and I like the patterns it forms too. A lot to look at and take in I think!

What Is He Looking For?

Something caught this Moorhen's eye. I wonder what it sees? 

A Wall Of Bluebells

 

I really like this little wall of Bluebells. Aren't they pretty.

He Fell Asleep During The Race

 

These are African Spurred Tortoises, we saw them at Blackpool Zoo back in February. The one on the left has won the race as the one on the right has fallen asleep!

Cleo Deep In Thought

 

This is one of my new cats, Cleo. She looks like she is deep in thought. She is such a lovely little girl. Very shy and timid but also very brave at the same time! One of my older cats, Chiana, is like this too - timid and shy yet brave!

A Famous Saying

 

What's the famous saying here? Too obvious maybe?

A Beautiful Bird and Sky

 The crow is standing proud up in this tree and I am in love with that sky!! Isn't it just gorgeous?

Can You Spot It?

 

Can you spot the Cormorant hiding here? This was up at the pond a few years ago when the Cormorants came to visit for a short time. 

A Few Mini Shetland Ponies

 

These are 2 of the Mini Shetland Ponies at The Beech Tree Inn. It is a lovely little spot just outside Glasgow in the middle of nature. It has a selection of animals, good food and a play park for kids. We often go there with my daughter for a day out. It is a popular spot with walkers too, as it sits right on The West Highland Way Walk.

A Wasp On Wood

 

Wasps are much hated creatures. Yes, they do sting but so do bees. I understand a dislike and fear if you are allergic to them. I know someone who is. I have never had a problem with them and they are needed in our world. Let them get on with their lives and they'll leave us to it. I've been reading up on how intelligent wasps really are, amazing. I really think most people don't give nature enough credit when it is due. Some people do though :-)

Good View Point

 

It is no secret that I love crows. I am not sure what my favourite animal is...toss up between cats, crows and ducks. All 3 amaze me. Crows are just so special I think and they always seek me out on my walks. This one had a good view point up the tree! I left seeds for him and he was happy. It takes a few days for a crow to be my friend and build up a relationship. I think a crow is a good friend to have.

Moth On A Wall

 

From what I can tell, this is an Antler Moth (Cerapteryx graminis). The pattern on it looks like the Antler Moth certainly. 

Everyone loves Butterflies, never met anyone that didn't BUT I have come across people who haven't liked Moths? Which I think is weird, I think Moths are wonderful too. 

If They Can, We Can Too

 

If these Ducks and Coots can live in harmony surely we can too! 

This relates to my post made on 25th Feb HERE where the Coot was gatecrashing the Ducky Party. Now he has brought his whole family this time. Baby Coots are so very cute I think. 

Little & Large

 

I just thought this was so cute. A baby snail and a large snail together on one leaf. This is from a good few years ago.

Follow The Leader

 

There were a few Tufted Ducks at the pond a few years ago. I had never seen them before at the pond so they must have been stopping for a short time. It's a case of follow the leader here but the back male is distracted by something! The males are the black and white and the females are kinda brown. The female is in the middle.

Rhino At Edinburgh Zoo

 

This is one of the Rhinos from Edinburgh Zoo. There are 2 that live there. I took this photo a few years ago.

A Good Looking Face

 

Check out this Damselfly's handsome face. Isn't it a cutie!

One Creature's Rubbish....

....is another Creature's treasure!

Someone had littered in the local supemarket carpark and these Gulls and Birds were feasting on the contents of the bags. It looks like some sort of pastry. 

A Fairly Happy Elephant

Another one from our trip to Blackpool. We went to the Zoo and they have a few Elephants. I thought this one looked fairly happy. I have mixed feelings about Zoos.

 

Getting My Daughter Into Photography

A few weeks ago when the schools were off for a few days I took my daughter down to Blackpool. We visited a few places and Sealife, which I posted the Starfish photo from last week. I am really into photography and want to share this passion with my daughter and teach her about the importance of nature. She has my old Huawei P20 Pro phone which has an amazing camera. It is really good for macros and I used it a lot for photos. So when we are out she takes lots of photos. Here is a photo of her at Sealife taking a photo. The phone doesn't have a sim card and she only uses it for a few games, some music I put on for her and photos. 

Meet Cali and Cleo

On the 20th of Feb we got 2 more cats taking me up to 6 cats! They were with a household who couldn't look after them so they were going to end up in the shelter where they came from. I couldn't see that happen so stepped in and brought them home to their Forever Home. They are both girls and wonderful little cats. First up is Cali:

Cali is a lovely girl with a sweet personality. She has settled in well and is very chatty and loves a cuddle.

Up next is Cleo:

Cleo is pure black apart from a little white bib on her front. She is very shy but also very brave! She is very sweet and loves cuddles too but she doesn't talk! My other black cat Stitch doesn't talk either, I wonder if it is a black cat thing?

I am so glad to have taken these cats and they are now very happy with us.

A Happy Squirrel

 

This grey squirrel was happy to eat the seeds I put down for him. I just hope he didn't bother the little slug at his foot! I am pretty sure the slug was feasting on the seeds too!