View allAll Photos Tagged brooding
Another photograph of the nest under one of our hall windows. Here, the female is brooding her now quite large chicks on a cold afternoon. You can just see an eye and beak of one chick that is peeping out at the front of the nest. It is amazing how quickly they develop at this stage.
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I have seen the House Sparrows and Starlings congregating at the bird feeders feeding their young, over the last week or so. Some of these visits have led to some comical moments. Today one adult starling appeared and was trying to feed 4 fledgling chicks.
This male Magicicada tredecim was emerging from its nymphal case about 10 p.m. on the wall of my house, along with several others. I caught a few shots of the process, and then kept it in an enclosure, perched on a stick, so I could observe the adult in the morning.
If fools ate no bread, corn would be cheap.
Wicket Brood Morris
The 32nd Straw Bear Festival
In Whittlesea, from when no one quite knows, it was the custom on the Tuesday following Plough Monday (the 1st Monday after Twelfth Night) to dress one of the confraternity of the plough in straw and call him a 'Straw Bear'. A newspaper of 1882 reports that "... he was then taken around the town to entertain by his frantic and clumsy gestures the good folk who had on the previous day subscribed to the rustics, a spread of beer, tobacco and beef".
The tradition fell into decline at the end of the 19th century, the last sighting being in 1909 as it appears that an over-zealous police inspector had forbidden 'Straw Bears' as a form of cadging.
Revival
The custom was revived in 1980 by the Whittlesea Society, and for the first time in seventy years a 'Straw Bear' was seen on the streets accompanied by his attendant keeper, musicians and dancers, about 30 in all. Various public houses were visited around the town as convenient places for the 'Bear' and dancers to perform in front of an audience - with much needed refreshment available.
LATIN NAME: Grapholitha molesta (Busck)
LIFE CYCLE: Overwinter on or near host as mature larvae, and pupate in spring. First adult brood emerges in early May. Larval broods present June, late July, early September and October (overwintering brood). May have up to four generations per year.
MONITORING: A pheromone is available to monitor male moths. Inspect new spring growth for larvae or feeding damage. Inspect growing tips and fruit for subsequent larval broods.
HOSTS: Mainly peach, but also plum, cherry, pome fruits.
COMMENTS: Oriental fruit moth larvae and damage can be confused with that of other pests. Oriental fruit moth larvae are grayish white or pinkish in colour with a brown (young) or black (mature) head. Oriental fruit moth larvae closely resemble codling moth larvae but Oriental fruit moth has an anal comb, while the codling moth does not. Consult a specialist if in doubt.
BODY LENGTH: Adult - 7.0mm; Mature larva - 11.0mm.
My dear friend Jodie, looking quite thoughtful. I am currently borrowing a GREAT lens (Canon EF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM) It is awesome.
Also being borrowed and used in this shot: Canon 580EX II Flash gun. It is amazing. Thanks to Ruben Rivera.
Tyranid Brood Lord from the Space Hulk Box Set/Game. I added some diamond plate to the base to keep with metal hulk feel. Also added some sticky gore to his claws and the skulls.
Casa Grande Mountain, near where my father was buried. The water in the left, foreground, is an indication of the amount of rain there in central Arizona. Almost set a record for the month.
Figured a black & white treatment was necessary for this Prowler fully loaded on a damp day.
There is a Version Two out there if you'd like.
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