Photographing our Wildlife during 'lock down'. - Week 7 & 8

Some mixed weather during the past couple of weeks, has made it difficult to get decent images. Days of hot sunshine and 30 degrees, followed by days of heavy rain with thunder and lightning, has resulted in me wearing just a pair of shorts one day and full wet weather gear the next!  I also invested in a pair of 'waders' recently and have been making good use of them in our neighbours lake, to get shots of recently hatched Damselfly.

Wildlife photography, is about putting yourself in some extreme places, to get the shot!

Of course, my camera gear has had to deal with the same conditions, so thank goodness, for waterproof camera and lens covers, tripod leg protectors, and my waterproof hide etc.

For me, the highlights have been capturing the rare and elusive 'Turtle Dove'; insects in the early morning rain; the surprise attack on a Sparrow, by a Magpie (which sadly ended badly for the Sparrow); watching the fascinating Crab Spiders, capturing their prey; and of course, the 'Little Owl', who will now be starting to hunt earlier in the evening, as the female is sitting on eggs.

From Monday 11th May 2020, our 'Covid-19', lock down here in France is partially lifted. This means that I will be able to visit our local lakes again, where I hope to be able to photograph the waterfowl and in particular, the visiting Herons and Egrets.  

In the meantime, here are some shots from the past two weeks......

Little Owl - 'Eyes on the prize'!

A selction of bugs, after the rain!

A rarely seen, Turtle Dove.

A Tiny and fascinating, Plume Moth.

Spiders in the rain!

Mud Dauber Wasp.

a 'Click' Beetle.

Magpie, takes out Sparrow!!

Found this Slug climbing a very thin shoot, to eat the flower head at the top.

Common Blue Damselfly.

Honey Bee pollinating.

Small Copper Butterfly.

Little Owl.

Tiny Sweat Bee.

Soldier Beetle.

More pollinators at work.

Crab Spiders will take on much larger prey than themselves.  -  The Spiders ability to change colour, gives it perfect camouflage to lay in wait on the white petals.

a Tiny (3mm long) Weevil, sitting on the end of a daisy petal.

Small Heath Butterfly.

Unknown Moth.

Silpha Tristis Beetle.

The incedible Crab Spider......the only Spider that can change colour, from White, through Yellow, to Green!  -  This helps it to hide from its prey, by blending in to its background.

Black & Yellow Robber Fly

The very delicate Lacewing