Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Move

I expect there’ll be all sorts of “moving” entries for this week’s photo challenge, but I thought I’d refer back to what I seem to know best … bugs 🙂

Only bits of this hoverfly were really on the move, I’ve read differing reports about how fast its wings actually beat (anything between 120 and 300 beats per second) but either way, it’s bloody fast. Even with the old “Anti-Ansel Adams” fast shutter speed going on, I still only managed a blur for the wings.

What a way to live!

(click on the photos for bigger and better viewing)

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2014]

 

Betrayal ….

Credit: The Fly movie

 
I haven’t blogged for a minute, because it would seem that someone, somehow, has figured out who I really am and felt the need to pass on this information to those who could potentially use the writings I share here against me.

Those of you who have held a passing interest in the bits between the photos will be aware that I occasionally discuss the struggles I have, both with my fluctuating mental health and with the care of my son. And until now, I felt safe to do so under a cloak of anonymity. To my knowledge, only a couple of hand-picked, trusted individuals knew the link between me, “Alice,” and Wordpress.

So it was disarming to say the least, to have two separate conversations in the last couple of weeks – one with the Court-appointed Psychiatrist and one with my son’s Social Worker – during which, both parties mentioned that they have had sight of this blog, and made various comments about the content.

The sacred cat, it appears, seems to be very much out of the bag.

I don’t know how they know. I have tried to “google” my real name, and there appears to be no obvious link to this blog that I can see. But the fact that they do know is disturbing and, frankly, I’m pissed off about it. In my opinion, neither of the two abovementioned parties have my best interests at heart, and as far as the court proceedings about my son are concerned, they are both on the other side of the table from me.

So, not content with interrogating me within an inch of my life for court assessments, both the Court-appointed Psychiatrist and my son’s Social Worker also have access to my innermost thoughts.

And who else? After all, it seems there have been many conversations about me recently – conversations that I have not been privy to. So, anyone happen to get a nod in this direction? My mother? My brother? My son??

For a while, I did consider throwing in the towel and actually give them links to every post I have written that might be of some interest to them … But you know what? Bollocks to that …. you want to find dirt, you’re going to have to dig for it. I have 180+ posts on this site, and I dare you to wade through all the bugs and flowers and dewdrops and pictures of nothing-in-particular to see what you can come up with.

I hope they are paying you plenty overtime ….

Oh, and I take back what I said about the cat earlier. Nothing’s sacred anymore.

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2014]

It’s my anniversary … time for a Wee Beastie! (#62)

The Computer God just sent me a message to inform me that today (as of approximately twelve minutes ago) is the anniversary of this blog site.
The second anniversary to be exact.
And, granted, while I have taken a substantial hiatus since my very first blog post “Into the Rabbit Hole” on 27th February, 2012, I am still about to press “publish” on my 183rd posting.

So in true reminiscent sentimentality, I feel a fitting tribute would be to return to my love of Wee Beasties. This is technically Wee Beastie #62 for those of you who may have a need for such numerical reminders – although I wouldn’t blame you if you have lost count, as my last Wee Beastie posting was as long ago as September 2012, when I finally discovered a grasshopper, doing what it does best (hopping in the grass?) during a day trip to Whitby. You can find it here if you fancy a trip down memory lane.
If you want to take a look at any of my previous woodland mini-fauna, just type “wee beasties” in the search box, or “bug-a-day” as they were initially called.
(I abandoned the term Bug-a-Day after number 39 as it started to sound a bit like a celebration of a rather unconventional sex act …).

I’m not sure (yet) exactly what this little darlin’ is, but I know that I’ve photographed it before in conventional light, so I’ll be digging out some of my back-catalogue of pictures and figure it out soon enough. I didn’t even realise it was in the picture until I was looking through some close-ups I took of a miniature iris flower that had opened up to welcome the Spring last evening.

Anyway, Happy Anniversary to me, and Happy Blogging to you x

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2014]

They DO exist! Wee beasties #61 – Grasshopper

I have not seen a Grasshopper for years! Their absence has been noted on more than one occasion around my local area, and to be honest, I haven’t seen one since I was a child. They used to be seemingly everywhere when I was young – often heard before they were seen – and something to chase through the field until disappearing into a bunch of stinging nettles. (I can still feel the blisters as I think about it).

I have memories of them being a common sight when I was a younger girl. Granted, I haven’t spent a lot of time in England during my adulthood, but I have been around for the last ten years, and I haven’t spotted a single one. Is it a Yorkshire thing? Or are they dwindling in numbers in other areas too? I’ve actually wondered, more than once, if they were becoming extinct.

Until today! I just stumbled across this rather crusty looking character while I was on blackberry-picking expedition. He’s not the sleek green version I remember from days of yore, and he looks like he’s had a pretty tough paper round . . .

but a Grasshopper is a Grasshopper.

At last!

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]

WPC – Wrong again / Wee beasties #59 – Grey striped fly

I have been remiss with the Wee Beasties series.  Quite frankly, the weather here in England has been absolutely pants, and much of the local landscape has been waterlogged. Motivation to go for my previously daily walks to the woods has waned – and the poor dog is lucky if I let her out of the back gate.

But I found enough energy to wander out today, camera in hand and took a few shots.

I came across this Grey Striped Fly (not the most imaginative title) on some water iris leaves – smashed flat by the recent floods (the leaves, not the fly). I was taken by how cooperative he was, as they are usually rather skittish. It was only later, when I reviewed the pictures, that it became clear why this one hadn’t flown away.

(Click on the images for better clarity).

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]

Weekly challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge – Wrong

I’m beginning to wonder if there really is a “right” colour of Ladybird:

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]

Weekly challenge

Wee beastie #58 – Wasp

OK, I’m cheating a little bit, because I said I would not repeat a bug during this challenge. However, the other time I pictured a wasp, it was in silhouette and didn’t reveal much detail.

See here for the previous post.

This one, on the other hand, was not buzzing around my bedroom window (thank goodness). It was outside, waging war on the spiders that had set up shop in a rather scruffy looking conifer in my neighbour’s garden. No, those aren’t fangs protruding from its face – I believe they are antennae. But, in my opinion, they just add to its fearsome look.

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]

Wee beastie #55 – Black-clouded longhorn beetle

My last three “wee beastie” posts have emerged from one trip I took to the woods last week. When I first noticed this little guy, I thought it was another weevil as I showed here, but on closer examination, he had more of an ant’s face than the long nose of the weevil.

I have since learned that he is a rather descriptively named Black Clouded Longhorned Beetle.

(As usual, click on the images for more clarity).

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012

Wee beastie # 54 – Clothes moth? and 52 Pick up challenge: Bokeh

I saw this stunning coloured moth near the pond the other day. It was only about a centimetre (half an inch) long, but the shimmering bronze feathery wings were so dramatic in the sunshine. I photographed it and went back to look it up. I typed in what I thought would be pertinent descriptive key words, such as “bronze,” “shimmer,” “shiny,” and “beautiful” but came up with no images that matched my special creature. But then, looking through my Nature book, the closest image I found was that of a Clothes Moth! As in “common” and “pest” and “clothes eater” (at least, its larvae eat holes in clothing).

This voluptuous creature is the reason moth balls were invented.

Incredible!

I also like the softness of the background – especially in the first image – so I think this classifies as “bokeh”? And for that reason I want to add it to Print-Sense Photography’s 52 Pick-up photo challenge for “Bokeh” this week.

PS. They look a lot clearer if you click on the actual images.

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]

Wee beasties # 53 – Picture-winged fly

As I was hanging out in the same clump of plants next to the pond in which I found the Long-nosed weevils yesterday, my phone rang. During my conversation, this pretty fly landed on a dock leaf nearby. So with one hand holding the phone to my ear, I reached the camera out with my other hand and clicked when it looked like it was in focus.

One click was all I got, because the fly took off straight away.

It’s not the best picture I’ve taken, but it’s the only one I have …. and I wanted to share this Picture-winged fly with you.

© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]