Friday Feathers: It’s always the right time for Great Tits

Yes, I know. Sorry for being late, but it was a busy Friday and Saturday.

Wednesday Wings: The Story of the Kinglet

In German, a wren or kinglet is known as a “Zaunkönig”, the king of the hedges, and this is how he got his name.

One day, the birds decided to crown a king. They wanted the strongest bird to be their king so he could protect them, and they decided to hold a competition. They would all fly towards the sun, and the bird who could fly the highest would be their king. They all flew as high as they could. First, the small birds needed to return to earth. Then the geese and swans. the falcon flew very high, but finally he had to give up. The eagle flew higher and higher until the sun burned his light plumage to a dark brown. Finally, he was at the end of his tether and turned around. But the small king of hedges, who was still called by a different name back then, had hidden himself between the feathers of the mighty eagle. He had waited for just that moment, and when the eagle turned around, he came out, flew a bit higher and sang his triumphant song, declaring himself king.

The eagle was very angry at the cheating little bird and swore to kill him. The little king of hedges flew into the thick hedges to hide from the eagle, who was named king by the other birds. He keeps hiding there to this very day, but he still sings his song about beating the eagle in a flying competition.

Friday Feathers

Peafowl from Raucous Indignation.

Oh those colours!

My favourite one…
©Raucous Indignation , all rights reserved.Click for full size.

Macedonia 8 – All Creatures Great and Small

Nothing particularly unusual, just a small selection of Macedonian arthropods enjoying the end of summer / early autumn. There were so many more that I spent time just enjoying, including several other butterflies (in addition to the previous), various flying hymenopterans (including a wasp with a long narrow waist that I’d never seen before!), and my goodness the orthopterans – I swear I’ve gone down in grasshopper legend as a harbinger of doom because I’d wander through the grass, and they’d go fluttering off in all directions. The best part? They were all grey, brown, green on the outside, but in flight, those gentle camo colours exploded into bright reds, blues and yellows. Stunning.

Anyway, some insects:

An autumn walk

I’ve been taking up daily walks whenever possible. Because fresh air is good and the outdoors is free and also I have taken up Pokémon Go again. This even means that sometimes the kids will come with me, but most of the time I am alone and take the camera with me.

I usually take the wrong lens.

This time I had the wide angle and the small tele (55-250 mm) and kept changing.

One of the neighbourhood kitties
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Da pond.
Not that impressive at 55mm
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Wide angle: the creek
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

I basically dangled the camera over the creek here.
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Change of lens. I found my long tailed tits. I hope they will return to the garden soon.
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Fairy lace
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Thistle
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Droplets
©Giliell, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

A Tiny Moth in a Tiny Flower

It’s been a gloomy week in my part of the world, but Avalus found the perfect cure for my blues…a flower. A single, perfect, crisp white bloom being visited by a wee little moth. It’s just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for sharing, Avalus. Click for full size.

Top of the World

Because the views were so epic, mountains for everyone! Most photos behind the cut, because… I seem to have the same affliction when handed a camera as several other people around here. Anyway, epic views being epic, the flight in (and then, out) was probably the most epic experience of the whole trip. Turbulence? Ya. Although I was told if the overhead compartments aren’t popping open, then I’ve had the easy trip. But what remains most about the flights in and out is that strange juxtaposition of feeling pretty terrified (understatement) yet reassured – the way the pilots handled the airplane through the turbulence was strangely comforting. Even with all the shaking and the bouncing, I never once had the feeling that things were actually out of control. And that is a powerful skill. I tip all my hats to the training and experience of those pilots.

Also I have included pictures of some fluffy horses between the epic views. Rather epic horses, actually – I can’t name the breed, but they were so beautiful, exactly my favourite in terms of size and general shape. Very beautiful horses.

Today’s musical selection is Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, because I wanted to capture the dread of flying in through turbulence like I have never had the privilege to experience before. And there was a bald mountain looming over everything. And since playing the piece in my second season with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, I have a special attachment. This version is performed by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.

The bald mountain – I’ve forgotten its name, and I really shouldn’t, as all the mountains have names.
©rq, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Onwards for more mountain views!

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Macedonia 4 – Terrible Butterflies

Terrible picture butterflies, that is – the butterflies themselves were amazing, and everywhere! Very few of them were ready to co-operate and pose for me, so I was lucky to get these three at all – and from a distance, playing around with the zoom. There were at least two more varieties that I didn’t even try for, else I would get stuck in the burrs.

Blue butterfly
©rq, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Orange butterfly
©rq, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Yellow butterfly
©rq, all rights reserved. Click for full size.

Macedonia 1 – Foreign Spider

I was the foreigner here, as this is a lovely, satisfied, well-fed Macedonian spider enjoying the autumn sunlight. And a small side of fresh flies. Below the fold.

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Sawfly larvae

I have been wondering about who’s eating the beech leaves in the front yard and last week I found the culprits: Sawfly larvae.

Not that I mind, I don’t want a beech tree in front of the house so any help in keeping it small is appreciated. Though in these pictures they’re devouring the redflower currant, which I don’t appreciate that much.