Found in the garden

[basquesteve]

There some fantastic shots on this topic its about time I pulled out the old camera, I think I need to catch up with the quality of the posters I am digging out some old ones Hawkmoth Spurge Hyles euphorbiae

[Oldblueraincoat]

This rather plump Little Owl has taken a liking to the apple tree and spends hours just watching the world go by -

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[Doug]

What a lovely little baby one, we used to have them when living in the Lot along with Scops Owls and once a Short Eared Owl.
Here its just Tawny and Barn Owls.

[Doug]

As stated the farmers bird scarer this spring frightened off a lot of our visitors, the Egrets haven't come back so here is a photo taken a couple of years ago when a lot visited.

[Sunflower]

Enjoying all the pictures.

[Doug]

Having just finished cutting down the part of the park which we leave for wild flowers.
here's a lovely orchid.

[Doug]

This baby Short eared owl was pictured at our last property in the Lot,
his fluffy feathers came off in a couple of days.

[Spardo]

Can I refer you back to my friendly toad in the swimming pond?
He was there again today when I went for my swim, in the water midway between the 2 corners and paddling away as if to climb out, but it is steep, even overhanging, there.

So I climbed in carefully, did another couple of lengths checking on him every time, I didn't want to hurt him as I touched the end each time. Then I stopped to talk to him, right up close, he wasn't a bit afraid, so I ventured a gentle stroke down his back. Still no fear so I put my finger in front of him and he took hold, very lightly. Emboldened and thinking that maybe he wanted to climb out I put my upturned palm underneath and gently lifted him from the water.

Then I noticed something I had missed before, where his left rear leg should be there was just a stump. It was not recent though, it was all healed over, so was he born like that, or has a snake taken it just as one I pictured some years ago tried unsuccessfully with a frog? I looked again at the close up photo, couldn't see a leg or foot at all, just assumed before that it was tucked underneath him.

Anyway, he was happily sitting there on my hand, so I took him to the corner where I had first seen him and held it there and he slowly crawled off and settled into the crevice. I'll check again on him later.

[basquesteve]

Having just finished cutting down the part of the park which we leave for wild flowers.
here's a lovely orchid.

They always look as if they are laughing Great shot

[Blaze]

[mention]Spardo[/mention] That's very interesting about your toad. Having seen your other photo with the snake having a go at the frog, it's quite possible that Mr Toad had a lucky escape. With your pond, he probably has everything he needs to lead a "normal" life !