Creatures of the garden...

Here are some more pictures of interesting creatures that abide in our garden.

There are loads pics but most are not worth bothering to upload, because said creatures move before one gets enough time get the shot...

1 Bats

They fly about at dusk a lot, but you never see them up close, except when...

... discovered a tiny fluffy was flitting about in the shed. I initially thought it was a Lady Grey moth.

I think, it thought it had roosted there as I had left the door open. Then when it woke up, It couldn't work out how to get out and go eat insects. It eventually just stopped, seemingly a bit knackered and crouched on a piece of wood.

From the back. Furry!

It flew off eventually, so hopefully it was fine after its experience

2. Foxes

Betty Pug is the official household canine. This interloper is no pug, but they are very beautiful.

 Closer up...

A great brush there...

Just for clarity, this is the official dog of the house. This shot was taken in the 1950s during atomic bomb tests on Bikini Atoll. She forgot her glasses. Duh.

All that radioactivity grew her into a monstrous size

Caught drinking from the pond. She emerged minutes later with a green tache.

uh?

2 Fat wood pigeons 

These will eat anything they can get at. Notably the cherries if you are not quick. I have planted hawthorns, and we have quite a bit of ivy so they do have some sanctioned berry options.

This one is sticking its tongue out at me...

Corvids - 1 Magpies

Super smart magpies - every morning without fail they come down to nick the dog's food. It starts with flapping noises, clicky squawking between at least two of them and then there they are, perched and scroungy, eyeing up the chances. 

Mainly they just get scraps, as the pug likes its chow

Corvids 2 - Jays

These don't visit often and when they do, they don't hang about if they see you. They are very shy, unlike the cheeky magpies.

 

They hop about looking for stuff. 

But in this case, way too late after the event...

Maybe jays are not so smart. At least the magpies have worked out to eat the dogfood before the dog has already done so.

After an investigative peck on that pug-provided nugget though, it sensibly decided against carrying off the morsel. The expression says it all. It may have thought it was a caterpillar. Probably tasted better than some. 

Corvids 3 - Carrion crows

These do occasionally land, but mostly perch high up on a large radio aerial next door.

 

Invetebrates

There are loads of invetebrate creatures. Here are a few of the more notable recent ones

Dragonflies

This magnificent specimen was sunning itself long enough to capture. I believe it is a Migrant Hawker

They like our pond - here's a different type on one of the edging logs.

Not enough resolution to zoom in in detail, but it's a Common Darter

Elephant hawk noth caterpillar

About the size of my pinkie finger. What a beast..

Chomping away, as caterpillars must chomp...

In a sieve, being moved off the path so it didn't get trodden on...