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Wildlife Photography - Blog Posts
photography by afton
photography by afton
My last two atlas moths have emerged from their cocoons. They are beautiful and absolutely fascinating.
Can you see the snake head markings on the tip of each forewing? They are there to deter potential predators, which I think is pretty neat.
They are absolutely gorgeous, and I am so glad that they have all hatched safely. Unfortunately, I think these two are both female so it looks like I won't be getting any fertile eggs.
One damaged it's hind wing a little when it flew into one of my orchids. It is the only one that has shown any interest in flying and has been having short (approximately 2 min) flights around my room every evening. Finding a new place to lay eggs each time.
I went along to a guided walk at Denge Wood near Canterbury (Kent, UK). The walk was run by butterfly conservation and we got to see some amazing butterflies, moths, orchids and lizards.
Including the Duke of burgundy butterfly, the green hairstreak butterfly, the dingy skipper, brimstones, orange tip butterflies, lady orchids, early purple orchids and twayblade orchids.
Unfortunately my camera is being mended so I had to take photos on my phone. But you can at least get an idea of how pretty they all are.
I would strongly recommend a visit if you are in the area and I recommend checking out the butterfly conservation website for local walks if you live in the UK as they are free and very informative.
Some wild fungi photos that I have taken this autumn. It always amazes me how quickly the fruiting bodies develop and the immense diversity of forms and colors that they can take.
I will probably be using this account to store photos that I have taken so I can use them later on, for work or in my art. Hopefully others will find them interesting or useful as well. I will avoid posting my art and other unrelated posts here.
The top one is the cap of a fly-agaric (a fairytale toadstool). I don’t know what species the others are but they were all photographed in the southeast of the UK.
A few photos from upton warren Worcestershire
Goldcrest
Goosander Green finch
Brambling over the foxholes kidderminster
Small skipper over the Devils spittleful nature reserve
It's that Canada goose (branta canadensis) time of year again here in Wales. HONK!
Common (European) starling (sturnus vulgaris)
May I offer you a frog in these trying times?
European common frog (Rana temporaria)
Crab spider (Misumena vatia) This tiny spider was in a very awkward place and this was the best picture I could get. They are apparently colloquialy known as a White Death Spider, which seems a little dramatic as long as you aren't a bee or butterfly, as these spiders wait on flowers to ambush pollinators. This image was taken with a Nikon 40mm lens on a 12mm extension tube.
This is a little mouse I saved from a friends bath, years ago, where it had been imprisoned by their cat. It was released back into the wild unharmed. I think it was a wood mouse but I’m not sure. Note: I absolutely didn’t intend for the flash to fire when I took the picture.
Long Tailed Tit (aegithalos caudatus), not much larger than the Goldfinch, extremely cute and floofy, literally builds nests from spiderwebs and camouflages them with lichen. 12/10.
The Goldcrest (regulus regulus), the smallest bird native to Britain. Weighing around 6.5g yet capable of crossing the North Sea according to my book. Not the best picture but I was pretty happy just to spot it.
The happiest moment of my life. Perks of being friends with a zookeeper. (who said after I got out of the enclosure "I can't believe they didn't bite you". Thanks dude, didn't know they were likely to!
Ever feel like you're being watched?
European Robin (erithacus rubecula)
European Starling (sturnus vulgaris) looking resplendent in the sun.
Common Buzzard (buteo buteo) quartering in the sun.
Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Oh to be a squirrel, hanging from a tree with the back legs, eating with the front.
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
This is the picture of the starling I've been looking for to show you! (I've got c. 20,000 photos I need to sort out 😅) Look at those colours!! Also note how the throat feathers prick up when they sing.
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
I know, I post a lot of Robins. This fine individual was very friendly and came within about 2 feet of me repeatedly. Didn't even seem to mind the shutter noise.
Ice crystals formed on a spiderweb.
I ordered some extension tubes for macro work, to replace the finicky reversed-lens method, and they happened to arrive on a day we had freezing fog. I couldn't resist having a play out in the cold with them and I must say I'm impressed with their ease of use compared to the reversed lens, (for reference see the woodlouse picture below) although I think there is more chromatic aberration. More experiments are needed but I'm pleased with these shots as a starting point.