Today in pictures

[Exile on Spencer St]

Originally Posted by Ryewolf90

Exotic Pigeons

1. Nicobar Pigeon
2. Victoria Crowned Pigeon

Love No.2’s socks!

[Margaret Pilkington]

I like the birds fascinator...didn't get that from BHF

[Ryewolf90]

A couple from today: Common Lizard

This is the 3rd year in a row that I've seen Common Lizards on these drystone walls behind Pendle Hill.

[Ryewolf90]

Celestial Skies, a Topaz Studio twiddle of a shot taken today: The blurb for the preset says: "makes skies soft and vibrant".

[Ryewolf90]

What do Earwigs do in your ear?

Despite popular belief, and its name (from the Old English for 'ear beetle'), the Common Earwig will not crawl into your ear while you sleep.... Both my Grandfather and father told me that they would crawl into your ear and bury into your brain..!! Mind you they were both practical jokers...!!!

Earwigs did like to hide in cauliflower and would come running out when my Grandmother would break them apart to clean prior to cooking, I still don't like cauliflower to this day, the earwigs I'm not bothered about...

Looks like there's several of them here on this thistle....

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Ryewolf90

Celestial Skies, a Topaz Studio twiddle of a shot taken today: The blurb for the preset says: "makes skies soft and vibrant".

A lovely pic....can we see the original so that we can compare?
This would make a lovely background for a card.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Ryewolf90

What do Earwigs do in your ear?

Despite popular belief, and its name (from the Old English for 'ear beetle'), the Common Earwig will not crawl into your ear while you sleep.... Both my Grandfather and father told me that they would crawl into your ear and bury into your brain..!! Mind you they were both practical jokers...!!!

Earwigs did like to hide in cauliflower and would come running out when my Grandmother would break them apart to clean prior to cooking, I still don't like cauliflower to this day, the earwigs I'm not bothered about...

Looks like there's several of them here on this thistle....

While I have heard of earwigs...and yes those myths were told to me a s a child...I have never actually seen one.
So this is a first for me....and NO...I don't like ths subject, but your picture has educated me...what a fearsome looking beetle.

[Gremlin]

Originally Posted by Ryewolf90

What do Earwigs do in your ear?

Despite popular belief, and its name (from the Old English for 'ear beetle'), the Common Earwig will not crawl into your ear while you sleep.... Both my Grandfather and father told me that they would crawl into your ear and bury into your brain..!! Mind you they were both practical jokers...!!!

Earwigs did like to hide in cauliflower and would come running out when my Grandmother would break them apart to clean prior to cooking, I still don't like cauliflower to this day, the earwigs I'm not bothered about...

Looks like there's several of them here on this thistle....

AS I have previously said, I didn't take any photographs at the Zoo because of the rain. My camera and lenses are too expensive to expose to the rain.
The intention was to get a few shots similar to your Mr Ryewolf for my partner to paint, as Margaret can vouch she is a very talented artist.
She wonders if you would mind if I print one of your zoo photo for her to put on canvas. We wouldn't proceed without your permission. This is a sample of her work.
Thank's in advance,, Russell.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes....Russell, your lady is very talented and her pictures are a pleasure to view...the lion is no exceptiion....beautiful.
I wish I could paint like that!

I have to be satisfied with varnishing floors (and I didn't know I could do that)

[Ryewolf90]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

While I have heard of earwigs...and yes those myths were told to me a s a child...I have never actually seen one.
So this is a first for me....and NO...I don't like ths subject, but your picture has educated me...what a fearsome looking beetle.

The one with the curved pincers is the male, this one I photographed earlier this year is the female.


I've only managed to photograph them on 3 occasions, they are nocturnal and hide themselves away during the day time.

[Ryewolf90]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

AS I have previously said, I didn't take any photographs at the Zoo because of the rain. My camera and lenses are too expensive to expose to the rain.
The intention was to get a few shots similar to your Mr Ryewolf for my partner to paint, as Margaret can vouch she is a very talented artist.
She wonders if you would mind if I print one of your zoo photo for her to put on canvas. We wouldn't proceed without your permission. This is a sample of her work.
Thank's in advance,, Russell.

Yes, my camera and lenses are expensive too, I invested on one of these Stormjackets, they come in various sizes and I've used them when it's been absolutely pelting down.


Yes, that's fine Russell, be interested to see the results when finished

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Ryewolf90

The one with the curved pincers is the male, this one I photographed earlier this year is the female.


I've only managed to photograph them on 3 occasions, they are nocturnal and hide themselves away during the day time.

I am glad they are nocturnal Ryewolf..they are gruesome.

[Ryewolf90]

These guys are the ones to fear - if they were the size of lions.....

The “trash bug” may look like a tiny, harmless ball of meandering fuzz, but upon closer inspection, you will discover that these little guys are really predatory masters of disguise with big scary pincers (maxillae) and a very creepy secret. The “trash” part of this curious insect is not part of it’s body at all, rather it’s a shield composed of dirt, lichen, and various other debris; including the body parts of it’s many previous victims.

Lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla carnea) are prolific eaters of aphids and are often referred to as “Aphid Lions” or “Aphid Wolves”.

The last image is what they grow into, a rather delicate looking fly....

[Ryewolf90]

A cute little owl....

The northern white-faced owl (Ptilopsis leucotis), it along with the Southern white-faced owl were known as white-faced scops-owl.

[Ryewolf90]

Bengal Eagle Owl

I guess I'm quite lucky that a friend of mine has a owl and bird of prey sanctuary...