Whirlygig Beetles, Bumper cars and Grass snakes!

Like crazed dodgem cars, the Whirlygigs were enjoying the autumn afternoon sun, speeding up when disturbed and then settling down to a less frenetic pace when they sense the danger has passed.

This grass snake was making its way across the pond as I was watching the beetles.

 

Autumn...

Crabapple

Reedmace

Sweet Chestnut

Elderberry

Walnut

Cherry Laurel

Crabapple

Dogwood

Field Maple

Medlar

Sparrowhawk - Early breakfast (Click to enlarge pictures)

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

While making my breakfast I glanced over to the trees near the bird feeder and saw that I was not the only thing up early and having breakfast at Longbeach farm! I had seen the Sparowhawk just the day before harassing some pigeons on the lawn, and occasionally I have seen a hawk dash past the bird feeders hoping to catch a finch or tit.

While it is sad to see a songbird come to an early demise, even the hawk has to feed and so goes the circle of nature. Amazing to be privileged to see such beautiful birds just meters from the kitchen window.

It was low light conditions so had to brighten the image outside of the camera resulting in a rather grainy image, but happy to have captured the shot dispite not noticing I had the Camera ISO set to a very low 200!