Rolling Harbour

DARTMOOR ROCK WALL STUDIES: MOSS & LICHEN

Published on August 30, 2013November 8, 2013 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

The images below come from one small section of rock wall in a remote part of Dartmoor. Every rock shown touched at least one of the others, yet the variety of rock composition, mosses and lichens over one area of wall is astounding.

BARN OWL, DORSET: CLOSE-UP STUDIES

Published on August 26, 2013 by Rolling Harbour8 Comments

These close-up studies of a Barn Owl Tyto alba in Dorset show different aspects of its head, starting with the characteristic heart-shaped face. Despite their size, Barn Owls weigh only a few ounces and are completely silent in flight.

DRINKER MOTH Euthrix potatoria – Dorset

Published on August 18, 2013 by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

I’ve recently posted images of a moth I have never previously seen / noticed MAGPIE MOTH. Here’s another one that’s new to me – the endearingly alcohol-suggestive ‘Drinker Moth’. I thought at first it was an Oak Eggar moth, until I checked the ID. In some positions it looks more like a tiny mammal – check out those little feet (photo 2), and furry tail (photo 7)… I rescued it from inside the house and took it outside. It didn’t much care for being on a sheet of paper and dropped to the ground, where it fluttered round rather feebly. In the end I put it on a flower to avoid inadvertent underfoot tragedy.

MAGPIE MOTH Abraxas grossulariata

Published on August 16, 2013June 15, 2014 by Rolling Harbour9 Comments

This is an insect I had never knowingly heard of or seen until last weekend when it turned up in the kitchen. The species was once prized by collectors for its marking and colouring, apparently. They like currant and gooseberry bushes. And unwisely flying into kitchens. It’s also the first time I’ve seen or heard the word ‘Abraxas’ other than in the context of Santana’s 2nd album (1970), with its (at the time) controversial cover (Mati Klarwein’s ‘Annunciation’).

‘BUSY BEE’: COMMON CARDER BEE

Published on August 13, 2013 by Rolling Harbour6 Comments

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

COSMOS: THE FLOWER (with white-tailed bumblebee)

Published on August 11, 2013 by Rolling Harbour8 Comments

NOW YOU SEE IT… …NOW YOU DON’T

SUNDIALS AT HOUGHTON HALL, NORFOLK

Published on August 9, 2013 by Rolling Harbour6 Comments

On a recent trip to Houghton for an exhibition, I forgetfully left my camera in the car. Suddenly we were confronted by a fine ornate C18 pillar or column sundial, fit for one of the marginally better-curated theme pages of this sub-blog, SUNDIALS. Resorting to an iPh*ne in low light was far from ideal, so apologies for the quality of the images. Fortunately you can see the ingenious ways in which the 4 gnomons are attached to achieve the correct shadow angles; and the numbering variations of the faces, depending on their orientation. The result is dawn-to-dusk time-telling. Always provided the sun is shining!

1. A FOUR-SIDED C18 PILLAR SUNDIAL IN THE GARDENS AT HOUGHTON

2. A FOUR-FACED SUNDIAL ON AN OCTAGONAL TOWER: HOUGHTON HALL, WEST FRONT

By the time we got to the house a light drizzle was falling and there was no hope of a decent photo. I’ve had to borrow, as credited. I’ve included 1 poor effort at the end simply to give the sundial’s context in relation to the house. Thanks to Elliott Brown for use permission for the first two. You can see these and his other images HERE. Again, you can clearly see the variations in the gnomon placement; and in the numbering / angling of the faces. And, thankfully, proof that the sun does shine in Norfolk.

The image below is credited to Edmund Patrick and licensed via wikimedia commons

Bad weather shot… in all senses

JULY BUMBLEBEES IN DORSET

Published on August 5, 2013 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLIES DESERVE A CLOSER LOOK?

Published on August 1, 2013August 1, 2013 by Rolling Harbour5 Comments

These cabbage whites – a name redolent with faint scorn (contrast Purple Emperor, Red Admiral, Peacock etc) – were out and about on a warm Dorset July day. They couldn’t actually get at the cabbages / purple sprouting broccoli, where they no doubt would have liked to lay their eggs – too well covered over. So I decided to see if they merited a photo-shoot in their own lepidopteran right. I think close-to they have their own beauty.

I’m often surprised how ragged the wings of a butterfly can get, without its flight being affected. I guess it is the sign of impending doom though, a rather sad thought…

GREEN WOODPECKERS IN DORSET: A FAMILY STORY

Published on July 27, 2013 by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

This morning my attention was caught by some inept avian fluttering in our field. Two birds, medium size. A flash of red on the head, and a large beak: green woodpeckers. The lack of vivid green ruled out adult males – this was a mother / fledgling education lesson in flying and self-sufficiency. By the time I had grabbed a camera from the house, they had moved further away. I had to creep up to the field fence so as not to scare them, and fire off some distance shots from a slightly awkward position (avoiding barbed wire was one issue). These are quite poor images, as photographs go. But the story is a good and rather sweet one…

Mum!