Tuesday, August 18, 2015

In My Garden

We've had a pretty dry summer with a decent number of sunny days. All a boon for me because it means I can play more with my camera :-)

I don't really have too much to say about the camera, other than it's a Canon Powershot SX60 HS and it can take pictures of the moon :-) I've also got a few great long range photos on land. And I'm always playing with getting the most close up image I can.

Here are a few recent photos, some up close and some far far away!

(Fr Ted fans will get this reference!)

Don't forget you can click onto any of these images for a closer look!

UP CLOSE

Hypericum
aka St John's Wort

Drinker Moth
named because the caterpillars love drinking dew

Cinnabar Moth
variety: Tyria Jacobaeae
Cinnabar Moths feed on and lay their eggs on ragwort
Cinnabar Caterpillars are easily identified by their yellow and black
banded bodies and feeding on the ragwort where they hatched

Irish Honey Bee and Cinnabar Moth

Irish Honey Bee and Cinnabar Moth

Irish Honey Bee on Ragwort

Scarlet-Tailed Bumble Bee

FAR FAR AWAY


Pied Wagtail (m)
named for their wagging tail while ground feeding

Pied Wagtail (baby)
having a rest after learning to fly

Ringneck Dove
a feed, a bath, and a nap

Goldfinch (f)

Goldfinch (m)
Feeding on thistle seeds by using a hard surface
to rub off the thistle fluff to get at the seed

Housesparrows
sunbathing after a big feed and a roll in the dirt

Starling (m)

I hope you've enjoyed these photos. Click here to see other photos in my collection.

Thanks for visiting.







Saturday, August 01, 2015

Once in a Blue Moon

What's a blue moon?

Most months only have one full moon. But in the Nineteen Years Cycle, or 228 calendar months, seven or eight calendar months within that time will always have two full moons.

In other words, there’s a month with two full moons every two or three years. When it happens, the second one is popularly called a Blue Moon.

The last blue moon occurred 31 August 2012 and the next is not until 31 January 2018!

The term 'once in a blue moon' stems from our own lunar cycles . . . something that happens once in a blue moon means it happens rarely.

Here are a couple images of  the July moons.

Enjoy!

(all images taken with a Canon Powershot SX60 HS - hand held on superzoom)







Here are a few Blue Moon songs to celebrate the occasion:

Billie Holliday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LOB_I7sgoI
Elvis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AAOM-BRxcg
The Marcels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0fy1HeJv80
Beck - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIWbgR4vYiw
Chris Isaak - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCZDanw3aE
Rod Stewart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnfP_wlAq5k
Ohia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz2nyOLVwg8
The Rolling Stones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gy3PH4Sf6g
Ella Fitzgerald - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqwSde_eEv4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo3JznMhpWc
MIke Oldfield - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80qhyovOnA
Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21scyhRP_IU
Erik Henderson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsz4zNtHQ9k
Glen Miller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuVfmfaNupQ
Audrey Hepburn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOByH_iOn88
Apollo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4