Wildlife August 2011

[Peter Maguire]

I thought that before August finished, I would post a couple of wildlife images from a trip to France (Haut Savoie) and Switzerland earlier this month. Didn't go for the photography particularly, only took 800-odd photos.  

Firstly a couple of Dragonflies
1. Anax imperator male. Taken in Lausanne Botanic Garden during during a short foray from the hotel after a day confiend to bed with food poisoning. It was good to get some fresh air, but my feet got sunburnt through my sandals.  
2. Coenagrion pulchellum perched on a mooring rope in Lausanne harbour.

3. Great Crested Grebe and Chick, Lausanne harbour - I posted a couple of grebe photos earlier this month from my sickbed - we did at least have WiFi!
4. Edible Frog, Lausanne Botanic Garden (in their one an only pond)

[Peter Maguire]

And a few more...

5. Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis). This chap was happy to pose in the sunshine whilst I changed lenses and carefully moved closer.
6  Decticus verrucivorus. Known as a Wart Biter 'cos apparently that's what they used them for.   Also it's a female, the long bit sticking out the back is it's ovipositor. 
7. Possibly a field grasshopper, but I don't know the species. Anthony..?
8. High Brown Fritillary (Arginnis ardippe)

All of these were taken around St. Gervais-les Bains, nr Chamonix

[Maggi Young]

Such an attractive picture of the young Grebe.

It was good to get some fresh air, but my feet got sunburnt through my sandals.

Good grief, Peter, you're English.... don't you know you are expected to wear woolly socks with your sandals?  

 By the way... in view of the amount of travelling you ( and your camera) have done this year, I felt you really must have a title.... so you are now officially  our   "Camera- toting Gadabout"   

[Michael J Campbell]

Spot the bird.

[angie]

Where, I can't see anything.

Angie

[Maggi Young]

Neither can I     I've blown up the image, searched up and down, back and forth.... I cannot spot any bird... I'm quite glad that the picture is not a jigsaw puzzle... it'd be pretty tough!

[illingworth]

I think it is about 11 o'clock from the stone on the bottom right.
Sharon

[Maggi Young]

Well, I know you Illingworths are great birders and photographers, so I guess if it is there you can spot it, Sharon..... but I still can't see anything 

[Maggi Young]

I've extracted "something" from around the area Sharon suggests.... if I really squint I can almost convince myeself there's a bird there .... almost!

I though I was looking for a wader of some sort, though this "bird" looks more duckish....



 This is the area the first blow up was taken form....

[Maggi Young]

Fascinating! I wonder how many of us are peering at Michael's photo?
Can't only be the 15 showing in the counter at 18.40pm, surely?

[Michael J Campbell]

Here it is

[Martinr]

b****y h**l, no way was I ever going to spot that!

[Maggi Young]

Ha! That's great! Sharon was spot on.... but what I thought wasa beak is its tail!
Great shot Michael, well done... and three cheers for Sharon's sharper than sharp eyes  

[fredg]

So there I was on "holiday" ( sorting out aged family) in Scotland, putting together a flatpack in a bedroom in mid afternoon.
Up goes the cry "Eeeeeeek there's a bat in the living room eeeeeeek". So there's this large ( for a bat) flying mammal flapping around the room trying to find the way out. Up steps your hero ( yes me, what do you mean hero?) to try and guide it out through the conservatory. The bat takes an immediate liking to me ( now that's understandable) and lands on my lower lip.
Now at this point why do I immediately think of the SRCG forum, when there's this bat hanging upside down on my face?
Anyway, after a short rest (where's the camera when you really need one) the bat managed to navigate its way out and back I go to the flatpack.

[angie]

I think I need to go to spec savers 

Angie