Quick Cricket

Quick Cricket, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

A very young Bush Cricket, I think, sat quite happily in a Buttercup flower. Another tiny one, about 5mm again, but great to see.

Almost A Grasshopper Warbler

Almost A Grasshopper Warbler, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

This was taken while I waited for a Grasshopper Warber to pose for a photograph. There are plenty of young grasshoppers and crickets around at the moment and they can keep me occupied for hours.

Pale Face

Pale Face, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

A good breeze and a Sun that kept playing hide and seek, made this afternoons bug hunt a little difficult. Plenty about though, including a Common Lizard that tried to crawl up my shorts while I was sat on the grass.
That probably accounts for the scared look on his face.

Caution. Lapwing Children Crossing

Caution. Lapwing Children Crossing, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

First of all, I must apologise to drivers on the A354 between Salisbury and Blandford for any inconvenience caused by my actions today.
This is one of two Lapwing chicks that were trying to cross the busy road this afternoon and not doing a very good job about it. Mum and Dad were calling but the chicks decided to sit in the middle of the road and were obviously very scared. I actually drove right over one of them (between my wheels) and had to turn around before there luck ran out. I picked them both up and put them in the field where there parents were. Just managed a couple of shots, from a distance, before they toddled off.

More Close Encounters

More Close Encounters, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I couldn't resist posting another shot from last night.
It is always good to see a healthy Fox in its own environment, knowing that she has cubs gives me another excuse to keep visiting.

Honest Mistake

Honest Mistake, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Not the finest shot, but this is the female Fox 'transporting her cubs', or so I thought.
It seems ridiculous when I look at this, but I really did think the sausage rolls were cubs.
Anyway, it was getting dark.....

New Mum

New Mum, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I first saw this new mum with something in her mouth and obviously a fair amount on her mind. My first thought was that she was moving her cubs and after watching her for a while she dropped what she was carrying and turned to face me. I crouched, squeaked and waited. She then walked to within two meters of me before casually wandering off. I didn't check what she was carrying, (if it was a cub I didn't want to get too close) but waited, heart in my mouth, for her to return.
And return she did, with another mouthful of what turned out to be sausage rolls, perhaps the leftovers from a picnic.
This picture isn't cropped, in fact I had to zoom out to get her in shot.