Uploads from J.J.(Kent), with geodata

Rhagium mordax (Cerambycidae)

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:34:05 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

This seems to be a fairly common longhorn beetle across the UK but one that I don't see myself all that often. I think I saw just one last year and non the previous. An easy one to identify as they are quite strikingly marked.

Harrier Jump Jet...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:07:57 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

These little bee-flies really are in appearance the jump-jets of the insect world

I photograph these most year but this time I decided to have a go at just natural light shots, of which this is one of the 20 or so I took one day.

I felt that what it lacks in detail was compensated by the unusual angle and pose? Looks quite good on black?

Moss sporangia (Spore capsules)

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:17:05 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Had a bit of a moss day when I photographed a few types in different locations.
Not the best subjects to chose with the weather being so bad as most involve laying on the ground to get the right angles.

Frosty car window

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:51:30 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Very cold again first thing this morning~this was at about 6.30am on the car.
Since then,there have been a few isolated sunny intervals and periods of rain.....

The next weather forecast will be at 14.00 hours :-)

Wrap you...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:28:27 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Another find of little significance but I found that the way this leaf had wrapped itself around the dried grass stem seemed somehow quite soulful and in turn, that reminded me of another song.

It's a song that I have know and loved for years but recently re-discovered it. youtu.be/SyLOxLI-Nn7I

Time has told me.....

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:48:10 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Looking at this dandelion clock reminded me of this classic song.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cche-h83qNQ&feature=share&...

I cribbed this info. from the internet:
While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, herbalists consider it a valuable herb that can be used as a food and medicine. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make wines.

Traditionally, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, dandelion has been used to treat stomach problems, appendicitis, and breast problems, such as inflammation or lack of milk flow. In Europe, it was used in remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.

So far, there have not been any good quality scientific studies on dandelion. Today, the roots are mainly used as an appetite stimulant, and for liver and gallbladder problems. Dandelion leaves are used as a diuretic to help the body get rid of excess fluid.

Honey Bee...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:52:43 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Only in England! Yesterday we had wall to wall sunshine all day, O.K. it wasn't THAT warm but still a beautiful day. A real taste of Spring that was crystalised by the sight of several honey bees on a Daphne plant. They seemed to be finding a good amount of pollen too.

Today....blimin' eck! Cold enough to freeze the doodahs off a brass wotsit! A really biting wind and little or no sunshine, threatening sleet. That'll be because I spotted some blackthorn ready to bust into flower and as one person keeps reminding me...that means a blackthorn winter, in other words, winter isn't through with us yet.
Oh well..yesterday was a beautiful day for many reasons and so I'll hang on to that whilst I get through today.

Single grass stem...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:50:44 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I've been on the grass again today, and whilst I was down there I took this arty-farty shot!
I was jut playing around with aperture settings really and this was the one that I liked best of the bunch.

Probably looks best on black~press 'L' or click on the photo.

Guelder rose?

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:34:58 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I think these might be the Guelder rose fruits that I photographed in the summer...now they're looking how I feel!

Seed heads...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:29:40 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

They may be dead but still look interesting and architectural to me. I'm not actually sure what these have been but thinking back to the summer in the area I found them, possibly fleabane?

Starling

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:47:56 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I think this is a youngster from this year's brood of starlings and it's looking pretty hot in its winter coat!

(Point & shoot through glass.)

Mallard enjoying the cold water...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:18:33 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I spotted this female mallard duck enjoying the cold waters of a local pond today. It spent quite a long time getting its feathers just right and watertight.

Taken with the Lumix point and shoot.

IMG_8242

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 05:28:42 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Click here to add a description says flickr...
Erm..it's some leaves that I've messed around with!

That old chestnut.....again!

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 03:47:39 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

What a difference a day makes...well, O.K. not a day exactly, a few days, actually,not a few days,a week or so! Anyhow...you get the picture?
The different light makes the tree look totally different to how it was in the last shot.

This was taken with a different camera too and so I suppose that accounts for some of the changes.

That old chestnut?

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 02:53:07 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Have you ever done anything similar to this? I must have passed this tree hundreds,if not thousands of times, yet it has never struck me to photograph it until now.
Look at it,it's a fantastic old Horse Chestnut complete with a few battle scars.

We are so lucky in this corner of the U.K. to have so many and such a variety of trees-when I lived abroad for a while, it was something I hadn't considered but really did miss.

A wasp nest...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:57:42 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I recently had occasion to get into the loft space and whilst there,noticed the wisteria had somehow weaved its way under the eaves and was growing quite happily (if a tad pale looking) inside the roof space.
When trying to remove some of the offending foliage,I noticed this wasp nest.
It was only small and I'm wondering if it was abandoned sometime ago. I know that the queen begins a nest and lays eggs as she goes,then the wasps that emerge from those eggs continue the building of the nest but,not sure if she gets to this stage before that happens?

I think also that these nests can vary in size according to the available food source for the wasps. Last year there were very few wasps around locally.

Anyhow, it's an amazing structure when you consider it is basically just wood pulp.

Looking at this shot on the PC I can now see that I could maybe have improved it by diffusing the light from above a little and maybe adding a reflector below.

Keys bokeh

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:25:41 -0800

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

It seems like an age since I last uploaded a natural light shot and so today I'm putting that right with this luverly winter bokeh picci.

Autumn leaf cave art...

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 01:25:19 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

Primitive cave art within an autumn leaf?
Well...a bit of artistic licence perhaps but that's how it looked to me.

Galls on Copper Beech

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:34:39 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

I think these are probably the same galls as in the other photo I've uploaded today?

These beech galls, 3-5 mm in length, were caused by the larvae of the gall midge Mikiola fagi. The female midge lays her eggs on leaf buds in the spring and the larvae burrow down to the young, still-folded leaves. The presence of the larva causes a gall to form as the leaf grows. The larva lives within the gall through the spring & summer. Before the tree loses its leaves in the autumn, the gall detaches itself and falls to the ground. The adult midge emerges early the following spring.

Gall on Copper Beech

nobody@flickr.com (J.J.(Kent)) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:29:19 -0700

J.J.(Kent) posted a photo:

An interesting looking gall on the underside of copper beech leaf. Here's what I've managed to find out about this one:
These beech galls, 3-5 mm in length, were caused by the larvae of the gall midge Mikiola fagi. The female midge lays her eggs on leaf buds in the spring and the larvae burrow down to the young, still-folded leaves. The presence of the larva causes a gall to form as the leaf grows. The larva lives within the gall through the spring & summer. Before the tree loses its leaves in the autumn, the gall detaches itself and falls to the ground. The adult midge emerges early the following spring.