An Evening Visitor: Fire Salamander

I don't know how they survive the hot dry Summer, but as soon as it's wet and reasonably warm these cute fire salamanders come out and sit on my doorstep. 

Note: they are not lizards but amphibians, like frogs and toads.

Lavender Summer 2021

Bees, bumblebees, butterflies — and a humming bird moth!

They all congregate on a small lavender bush right outside my front door. 

Bumblebee bathing in hollyhock

 

Hollyhocks still going strong — and attract bumblebees who bathe themselves in rich pollen.

 

Bumblebee bathing in hollyhock

Midsummer glory! A bumblebee is bathing in hollyhock pollen.

 

Le vol du bourdon.

(Flight of the Bumblebee / Полёт шмеля)

L'été en Normandie. Les bourdons volent.

Court-métrage de ©A.Anichkin

à la flute —

de " Kill Bill " avec Uma Thurman, le thème de " Green Hornet " —

The Flight of the Bumblebee.

Mid August and Normandy is in full bloom. Bumblebees are swarming on the flowers in our garden.

1. First, let's check out the hollyhocks - 

2. Nice! 

3. Now the lavender, not bad!

4. Daisies! We'll give them a miss this time.

5. Ooh! Lavatera! 

6. That's something!

7. Zooming in and landing!

8. Yes, we love it!

9. And more!

10. Now, home to sleep it off!

All photos ©A.Anichkin, 2107

Flight of the Bumblebee/Green Hornet theme with Al Hirt on the trumpet -

Snails flying

It's this time of year again, snails are flying...

A Salamander and a Slug.

Summertime and it's raining. Walked out into the garden this morning and was greeted by a tiny fire salamander and a slug. It looked like they were having a conference, but neither spoke, so it was hardly a replacement for a parrot or a sunny morning.

(The ruler is in centimeters)

Flying Snails.

Right, snails flying around. Perhaps it's time to wash the windows.

Toad-in-the-Bowl.

This silly little one got himself in the dogs' water bowl and couldn't get out. In the morning I found her, and came to the rescue. She didn't say a croak! Maybe he was too tired after a long squawk.

I have a soft spot for these amphibians, but can never decide, are they Frog Princes or Frog Princesses?

Holyhocks and Bumblebees.

Summer bliss. August, holyhocks in bloom and bees flock to have a bath in gold. There is a firebug watching.

The Green Woodpecker.

This is a large bird, the size of a pigeon, or bigger. She landed just outside my window to inspect the grounds.

Looking her up, I discovered that rather than pecking wood they mostly feed on ground catching ants with their long tongue (up to 10cm/4" long). When not in use it's coiled inside the bird's head. 

A flying ant-eater!

Wisteria. Flight of the Bumblebee.

Wisteria in full bloom is swarmed by bumblebees. It had been a sad little bush until we replanted it a few years ago. Against a south-facing wall it shot up right to the roof.

Growing Through Creosote.

Francesca Bostock stumbled upon these incredible tree mushrooms on railway sleepers in a local garden centre. They grow right through creosote, the thick tar substance with which sleepers are treated to prevent the wood from rotting. It looks like the fungi had enough force to resist creosote.

Photos by Francesca Bostock.

Frog Prince, or Princess.

This friendly toad comes to our door every evening. She sits by the door as though awaiting for a chat or a treat. I don't know what treats toads like, but I like her visits.

The Green Grasshopper.

This photo is from last Summer. A huge green grasshopper flew into my study and sat for a while watching me working. He was at least two inches (5cm) long. What a creature!


Photo ©A.Anichkin 2011.

Summer Caterpillar

A beautiful image of Summer by Francesca Bostock: 'A very hungry caterpillar'.

 

The Incredible Hummingbird Evolutions

The Hummingbird Hawk-moths are common visitors to a Norman garden when it is warm, sunny and dry. They love to hover around buddleja butterfly-bushes (summer lilacs), feeding without actually landing on the flowers.

The Hummingbird moth's hovering behavior, accompanied by an audible humming noise, makes it look remarkably like a hummingbird while feeding on flowers.

They are an evolutionist's delight, a living proof that similar natural tasks result in similar developmental solutions in species as far removed from each other as birds and insects.

It is just over 150 years ago that Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859, but debate about the meaning of his findings still goes on.

Early Christian symbol adopted for modern debate

Photos by A.Anichkin

Eggs and A Worried Parent

Here is a nest full of eggs found hidden in a bush...

 

And soon the worried parent was spotted.

 

Sent by Francesca Bostock, the Manche.