The BBC have got a worrying story that the Asian Topmouth Gudgeon has been accidentally introduced to waters across Europe and it's spreading an infectious parasite deadly to salmon and trout.
First Grey Squirrels, then Harlequin Ladybirds and now these. Will we have any native wildlife left by the 22nd Century ?
Link: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Asian fish risking native species.
The BBC are reporting that Buzzards are now the most common raptors in Scotland even living within the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
This is interesting because a buzzard was seen in Framlingham just recently too, so they seem to becoming more widespread though England too.
Buzzard photo copyright of Sparkyfaisca
Link: BBC NEWS | Scotland | Buzzards become birds about town.
Simon Marsden is one of my favourite photographers. His work is always spooky and interesting. And I've just discovered that he has a large web site.
Link: The Marsden Archive.
This is a map of countries in the world that I have visited. India and Hong Kong should be turning red soon...
create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands
Harlequin Ladybirds are the most invasive on Earth. They have already invaded much of of northwestern Europe, and arrived in Britain in summer 2004.
There are 46 species of ladybird resident in Britain and the recent arrival of the harlequin ladybird has the potential to jeopardise many of these.
Unfortunately I think I photographed two at Framlingham Mere (a Nature Reserve) this morning.
I will file a report with the Harlequin Ladybird Survey to be sure, but I think these are H. axyridis succinea.
Update I have filed my report. My reference number is HAXY1980
Photo of H. axyridis succinea below taken from the Harlequin Ladybird Survey.
Six European Beavers have been released in England. Hopefully this will be the start of them recolonising the whole of the British countryside. They've been extinct here for about 500 years, but from now on keep your eyes open for something new !
Link: BBC NEWS | England | Gloucestershire | Beavers in 'wild' after centuries.
Do you read blogs ?
Obviously yes otherwise you wouldn't be reading this.
If you read more than a few blogs it soons becomes tiresome checking them from time to time only to find out that they haven't been updated.
This is where Bloglines comes in.
It's a simple and straightforward website that allows you to read all your favourite blogs from one page. Sure, you can get software to do this, but that involves downloading and installing it and keeping it up to date, and so on and so on. All you have to do with Bloglines is sign up for an account - and it's free too.
I'm on a healthy eating kick at the moment and am enjoying it immensely especially when it involves scoffing the finest foods available. This week I've discovered the nicest cottage cheese I've ever tasted.
I don't think I can go back to the generic supermarket cottage cheese after trying Longley Farm Natural Cottage Cheese. It's got a lovely texture and is more solid than most cottage cheeses. It's got a wonderfully moreish flavour too.
I notice that they also do Yoghurt, Fromage Frais and Creme Fraiche so I'll have to look out for that in my local deli.
I've been asked how I photograph dragonflies, so I'd thought I'd try to write a few tips.
The first point I'd like to make is that I am definitely no expert - I'd only ever seen one dragonfly in my entire life before this year ! However I am very pleased with how my dragonfly shots have come out.
Tip 1) Try to find a location where there are lots of dragonflies, the more there are the better chance you have of finding one resting.
The best location I've found was Westleton Heath. Hundreds of dragonflies seem to live here, most of them are very 'flitty' though and impossible to get near. However if you go to the main car park, and then walk up the path on the edge of the forest where the archery takes place then there's a good chance that you'll find dragonflies, especially Migrant Hawkers, resting on the gorse. I found one group of bushes where the dragonflies were hanging from the bushes like fruit !
Tip 2) If you find a dragonfly flitting about feeding on little flies watch it and be patient. If you are lucky eventually it will come to rest. If you are really lucky it will allow you to approach. It seems that sometimes, if it has eaten a lot, it can fly no more and just sits there digesting. These are the best photo moments.
Tip 3) Keep your eyes peeled at all times. Every now and then you'll come across one just sitting a few inches from you.
Tip 4) Keep trying. I've taken literally hundreds of photos in order to the few that I think are good enough to publish. I've also wasted no end of time trying to get close to dragonflies that fly off before I've managed to focus my camera.
Tip 5) When you finally get close to a dragonfly take lots and lots of photos. There's a good chance that you'll only get one or two where everything is in good focus.
Here's looking at ya ! (click to enlarge)
