Ruby-Tailed Wasp

Since getting into photography, insects have become far more interesting than they used to be. I had never heard of Ruby-Tailed wasps and first saw one when I was living in Spain, but it turns out we have them here in the UK too. So I was proper excited to find one in the garden here this past summer, in fact not even find, he was at head height on the wall as I stood by the back door! By the time I reached for my camera he was moving all over the wall, with only seconds for a few shots, he was gone. They don’t hang around! I managed to get marginally better shots in Spain, but only because this one was saved from the pool and I had a couple of minutes to try and work around him drying off and being off on his travels again.

Ruby-Tailed Wasp – Spain
Ruby-Tailed Wasp – Spain

Other than these two, I can’t think I have seen any more but given how small the UK one was, I probably have but just didn’t have time to see the flash of colour to identify it.

Ruby-Tailed Wasp – UK

(c) K Wicks

Today’s sunrise (16.11.20)

I love sunrise and today I was up at the right time to catch it. Not one to usually want to remember anniversaries of things, but today marks 17 years since my mother passed away. She loved pink, so maybe this one was for her 🙂

These changed within about 5-10 minutes from pink to purple to looking like the sky has become a volcano. A nice way to start the say.

(c) K Wicks

Cherry Tree…

A cherry pip dropped into our garden earlier this year and took root. From an established tree in our road, the birds have been distributing the seeds by flyover.

Mostly a few here and there, picked up and discarded so the dog doesn’t eat them. But I planted a few and one appeared growing on it’s own. That’s the one that has made it and I gave it it’s own pot – I can’t have it growing in the ground as it would be too close to the house. Hopefully it makes it through the winter and can be repotted in the spring for the next growing season.

These first two photos were taken in July, only a few months after they sprouted. It’s exciting to see how quickly trees can grow.

Now Autumn has set in, the leaves turned a wonderful orangey yellow and into deep red as the days and weeks have progressed.

I’ll miss the leaves for a little while.

Winter is well on the way, the little cherry tree is taking a bit of a battering and will soon just look like a stick, waiting to burst back into visible life in the spring. I look forward to it.

(c) K Wicks

Sometimes your walls need love too…

In case you – or your walls, office, bedroom, living room or other room find yourself in need of some brightness for these dark times, bring some nature and colour inside.

This photograph is one of my favourites, a sunset with great clouds taken at Haresfield Beacon in Gloucestershire. A fantastic beauty spot where I used to walk my dogs and got to see some great skies and views. A few products shown below but is available on many more (link at bottom of post).

LS.78 – Framed Print
LS.78 – Tote Bag (all over print)
LS.78 – Throw Pillow
LS.78 – Coasters

https://www.redbubble.com/i/framed-print/MKW-LS-78-by-Darling2425/27029844.G2LGY

Spanish Moths

When in Spain for a couple of years, I used much of the time for photography and enjoying the abundance of nature.

Here are the few Spanish moths I managed to photograph. My absolute favourite would have be the hummingbird moth shot. With my Nikon D5500 I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I turned my head and there it was! Having a drink of the bright Lantana nectar.

(c) K Wicks

UK Moths

There have been a few moths in the garden over the summer as well, not always easy to spot so I imagine there may have been many more.

The Poplar Hawk Moth is a previous photograph from out walking and he was just on the pavement! It’s such a super moth, I had to include it and felt lucky to have found it.

(c) K Wicks