Saturday, August 01, 2009

The Beach and Other Stuff

I spent the morning yesterday baking breads, soda bread, corn bread and truck stop cinnamon buns. The Seafest festivities were suppose to start a 1 o'clock so we went to the beach at 2:00. It was a bit of a disappointment as most things hadn't been set up by the look of it and hardly anyone there. A few people on the beach. We only stayed for a short time, I took a few pictures then returned home.

Last evening after supper I took the camera and went outside. The place was alive with bees and other creatures. The Motherwort, Thistle and Monkshood in particular were just full of them. I noticed that a few of the Delphiniums were falling over with the weight of the flowers so was tying them up to a stake when by my shoulder I saw something that was a fair size. Turned my head to see as at this point the flowers were over my shoulders and there was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. I was shaking with excitement. It was mad for the Delphiniums so I was taking pictures and following it across the garden to more Delphs and back again to the other ones. Heaven only knows how many pictures I took then came rushing in the house yelling out that if I got one good photo I'd be happy. Himself says "Who are you talking to?" "Just talking out loud to myself," says I. Well, I didn't get one, not one presentable photo. All blurry! What a disappointment. The moth was just moving too fast.

I did however get a few shots of this flutter. Looks to me like a Silver Bordered Fritillary.




A couple of other bugs about.



Bug collector.



Some uninteresting pictures on the beach. Maybe it will be better today although it's calling for showers.






9 comments:

Tricia Ryder said...

How frustrting about the Humming Bird Hawkmoth - but they are incredibly quick!

Shame about the Seafest - hope it's livened up a bit today. And here - well it's raining just for a change!!!!

Lovely pics - especially the flutters and insects!

Anonymous said...

You take the best insect photos. They aren't an easy subject to capture. How lucky you are to have a beach so close by too!

Ali

The Quacks of Life said...

nice to see more of your environs

Cicero Sings said...

I think your girls are pretty good bug catchers ...you should give them a camera! LOL. So disappointing to not have one of that moth turn out. Drats.

Nice beach.

ShySongbird said...

OC, I'm so sorry to have missed so many of your lovely posts lately, I don't think I have commented since mid July, I have had such a struggle keeping up for the last month and haven't even managed to get a post out until this weekend, life just got in the way! Anyway I have put you on my sidebar now so I can keep a closer eye on you ;)
I love the flutter photos, they are gorgeous! What a shame about the Humming Bird Hawk Moth, I have only ever seen one once and that was some years ago but it was stunning and I was completely entranced. I have never forgotten it and live in hope...

The Wessex Reiver said...

Good to know you're still a-blogging Oldcrow. Seafest looks like my kind-a gig - empty - sad though. Have Canadians invading me at the end of the month, can't wait.

Roses and Lilacs said...

I haven't been able to lure a hawk moth to my yard this year. Your butterflies are beautiful. We are starting to see more of them just this last week.
Marnie

Jan said...

Still reading your blog mate, whenever I can, glad you are getting a decent summer, wish we were! It's been peeing down all day again today and they give worse for tomorrow. Sigh.

Nics pics as always.

Bimbimbie said...

LOL you do the same as me, click away and hope for one good photo - thank goodness for digital cameras although it can be annoying when the battery or card tells you it's time to change, usually just when you know that would have been the shot of the day *!*