dog walk Archives - Page 12 of 15 - Craig Rogers Photography

Morning Dog Walk: The Flying Wally

27th June 201827th June 2018Craig Rogers

I take a camera along on my Dog Walks to bring you some of the sightings that I see on my morning walks, these photos are rarely going to be great quality as its hard enough keeping an energetic Dog entertained and get close enough to anything. They also help me identify where species are so that I can plan to return.

This morning I was a long way in front of Wally on a downhill section of dirt track as he had found something very interesting to sniff. I gave him a whistle and he came full speed down the track so I crouched to get eye-level and fired off a few shots. Luck rather judgment gave me this great shot of him totally airborne.

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Morning Dog Walk: Egyptian Grasshopper

21st June 201825th April 2020Craig Rogers

Now that the temperatures are returning to normal (30+ degrees), the Egyptian Grasshoppers are becoming a common sight. The Anacridium aegyptium (scientific name) is very common here in the hills as it has the perfect climate and habitat.

It is a large Grasshopper (one of Europe’s largest), the females can grow up to 70mm long with the males considerably smaller at around 55mm. Although they eat leaves they are not really a pest as they are solitary rather than swarm, but of course, they may feast on your home-grown vegetable plot but as they are solitary they may not cause too much of an issue.

Morning Dog Walk: A Few Small Birds

16th June 201816th June 2018Craig Rogers

There are plenty of small birds in amongst the Cork and Holm Oaks, this morning I grabbed a few shots as I walked through with Wally;

First I spotted a small flock of Greenfinch, as you can see from the photo, they are still building nests to breed. Everything seems a little late this year due to the spring rain.

Morning Dog Walk: Female Napoleon Spider

10th June 201810th June 2018Craig Rogers

I take a camera (although just my mobile today) along on my Dog Walks to bring you some of the sightings that I see on my morning walks, these photos are rarely going to be great quality as its hard enough keeping an energetic Dog entertained and get close enough to anything. They also help me identify where species are so that I can plan to return.

This morning I saw a Female Napoleon Spider in very typical surroundings on a Daisy-leaved Toadflax (Thanks for Marja for ID’ing this plant on yesterday’s Walk).

The Napoleon Spider (Synema globosum) gets its name due to the markings resembling a silhouette of Napoleon Bonaparte (I don’t see it myself!). The photos were shot and edited in Lightroom on my mobile as I didn’t take a camera this morning.

Morning Dog Walk: Last Week A Fake, This Time The Real Hornet!….And Some Ants……

6th June 20186th June 2018Craig Rogers

Last week, I saw a Mimic Hornet Hoverfly, but this morning it was the real deal! I could hear a loud, deep buzzing noise and assumed it was a Carpenter Bee, however, I glanced up and saw some European Hornets feasting on Sap leaking out of a Cork Oak.

These are big, in fact are the biggest “true” Wasp found in Europe, in other words, the largest member of the Vespa genus. They grown to around 3.5cm long and although get a bad name for being aggressive, in fact they are not. However, approach their nest or food source and they will defend en masse and unlike Bees can sting repeatedly.

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Morning Dog Walk: Honey Bees On Illyrian Scotch Thistle

5th June 20187th June 2018Craig Rogers

This morning, I couldn’t help notice the size of the Illyrian Scotch Thistles that are now flowering, they are huge! The Honey Bees are going crazy for them, so I stopped and took a few shots. Yet again, we had very overcast skies, so the light wasn’t great.

One question I have is why are these Thistles White? Is it a slight variance? I’m pretty sure they are Illyrian Scotch Thistles as the way the bracts turn down almost like it’s been peeled, but usually these flowers are purple. Please help!

UPDATE: I have since (sort of) solved the mystery with the Flower, more HERE.

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