Just a wasp

[Staghound]

She's a 'potter wasp' wasp of some kind but that's as much as I can say. There are many different species.

 

[Staghound]

A couple more critters from the last few days.

1. hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)

2. My attempt at a shot like Pignut's, it's so hard to get the timing right and the focus somewhere near. Even then the little swine decide to face the wrong way.

 

[British Red]

Love the hoverfly (and sandbenders nest builder)

Its very hard isn't it? This is the best I've managed since seeing yours

Also this young GSW who hasn't learned to be quite as wary as mum and dad yet!

 

[British Red]

 

[JonnyP]

Loving that woody shot, Red...

 

[Staghound]

Gotcha indeed, how many goes did it take though? Looks like you've had better weather today than us, it's peed it down all day here, anyone know if summer's been cancelled?

The great spot's a beauty too.

 

[British Red]

Err - 50?

Is it me or is that his tongue sticking out ?

Thanks Jon - they are nesting in those big tees behind the dutch barn - nice to see

Red

 

[Gailainne]

Lovely stuff guys, I've just got myself a canon 450D, finally entered the digital age, I would hope to get something even closely approximating some of the shots posted here.

Regards

Stephen

 

[British Red]

Jump right in any time Stephen - its fun comparing stuff (plus I learn a lot from the knowledgable people when I just take snaps with me box brownie!)

Red

 

[British Red]

I've seen the enemy and they are....lumpy and slimy!

Red

 

[hiho]

very nice now all i need is a decent camera

 

[scrubcutter]

This wasp has been in and out of our flat over the last few days on a mission to build small nests, either on the sleeve of my motorcycle jacket or the folds of the curtains.

I'm having little luck in catching a good shot of her, she is way too fast...

However here is a nice one of a completed nest...

Not sure what type of wasp she is. She is quite large though at about three centimeters nose to tail.

Could be Chalybius sp., a Sphecid wasp, but my knowledge of east European wasps is not good. This particularly species is known as one of the mud-daubers. There 'constructions' are similar to the well known potter wasps or Eumenidae.

Hope that helps.

Scrubbity

 

[Staghound]

Wood Wasp or Horntail (Urocerus gigas)

and a friend for the slow worm

common lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

very obliging this one, he/she sat and posed for me for about 5 mins.

 

[JonnyP]

Wow........

 

[British Red]

Fantastic!

Was the sand lizard on wood shavings of some sort?

Either way who cares? Fantastic photos - I consider myself outclassed but will keep competing to learn

Red

 

[JonnyP]

Fantastic!

Was the sand lizard on wood shavings of some sort?

Either way who cares? Fantastic photos - I consider myself outclassed but will keep competing to learn

Red

Learn you must, young Jedi....Tis a common lizard, not a sand lizard...

 

[British Red]

Oh yeah the clue was probly in the title of "common lizard"

 

[Staghound]

Fantastic!

Was the sand lizard on wood shavings of some sort?

Either way who cares? Fantastic photos - I consider myself outclassed but will keep competing to learn

Red

I am but a rank amateur who gets lucky sometimes, besides which, we've seen some of your shots, outclassed my posterior region!!.

I'm building another log cabin and the lizard came and sat on one of the logs that was covered with chips from my chainsaw. I was just packing up for the day, 5 mins later and I'd have missed it.

 

[British Red]

So cool - we will have to negotiate on a cabin in a year or so!

 

[British Red]

Just a couple from today - nothing very startling

The garden is full of wee warty jumpies right now - they always seem to breed in our pond

and a cyclops hoverfly (his head is tilted to one side of course really)

Red