[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankinzonda/5526644940/"%20title="Long-tailed%20Tit%20by%20frankinzonda,%20on%20Flickr"><img%20src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5526644940_2e60edf0db_b.jpg"%20width="859"%20height="1024"%20alt=&qu...

Coating the stomach lining with the fermented juice of the Elder berry stops you feeling the insect bites,,, your legs, feet, and other extremities. There is a fungus that thrives on old, and dead Elder bushes. Auricularia auricula judae or Jelly ear, the former common name is now dropped (political...

It is boring, for sure, and a bl**dy awful pic. I think i'll delete the rubbish. Nice to get an ID tho.

Gibster:

Tis a Chiff. 100% mate. 1st year female with IBS.

LOL, shows what i know, i had it down as an early Garden Warbler.

Yes! I have often wondered, is my repellent making my insect photography a tad more difficult?. After last year, when i was 'clegged' twice, i wouldn't go anywhere without it . Insect repellents are valuable aids for the roving wildlife photographer, and maybe essential. Not so much for butterflies,...

Maybe its a 'body heat' thing. I know for sure that i run hotter than the missus. I certainly get bitten by midges more than she does.

LOL

Another puzzle for Gibster, and if he can get this one,,,, ultimate respect forthcoming. Taken at Portland on the same day as the Meadow Pipit. I may or may not have made up my mind on the ID, but one bird has been sealed in my mind. Have a go,,,, i shall not think any the worst of you if you cannot...

Last week i found a large dead frog in my pond. I think the whole thing was too much for him, but whatta way to go.

My favourite word is diarrhoea, mainly because nobody,,, except me, know how to spell it. Including most peeps that have suffered it.

I brought the tone down again,,, didn't i?

Jack: Pity I didn't see the picture before Gibster had given a totally unnecessarily lengthy reply. I could have told Zonda in far more succinct language that his bird quite clearly is an: LBJ Strange,,, there is a mushroom with that name. No butterflies as far as i am aware, but maybe a few moths. :D

Thanks for that Gibster. Cocky? No mate, just expansively informative. Wonder what's on Sami's mind?

Gibster ,,, we all know Sami is your girlfriend. The way you refer to her is however how someone refers to their 10 yr old daughter. Not a problem with me,,, is it with her? None of my business tell me to get lost. From a married man,,, Zonda.

This is exactly the time last year, when i removed my bird lens, and went about looking for butterfly business. BIG MISTAKE. Apart from the hibernators its a wasteland. This year the 'bird lens' is staying on for another month.

In Dorset the Blackthorn is in full flower in some places, no leaves as yet. Hawthorn is budding freely.

rodgerdodge: I seem to suffer a great deal more since I gave up smoking. See my point? Nicotine is a poison and keeps loads of stuff at bay, except 'lung cancer' of course, it maybe prevented these ticks biting you at the time. I gave up smoking some years ago, and when i did this, everything hit me...

I rolled all over Fontmell Down last season,,, never had a problem. However,, my bloodstream consists mainly, of alcohol and warfarin, with a little digitalis thrown in. I've had adders drop off me ,, DEAD! The trick with poisonous things, is to be a bit more poisonous than they are.

Popped down to Portland in the week. The Hoopoe had disappeared of course, but did manage a couple of Meadow Pipit pics. Not too good with Larks and Pipits, so maybe some Gibster confirmation maybe called for. :D https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_wGSRUg9JC5Q/TYIvriki4NI/AAAAAAAAJUk/2fdMpLB3y5I/s640...

if its all about 'interests', i can't really see the point of having so many points of connection, i can connect perfectly well on here, and sometimes too well. It's always been the case with me, if millions do it,,, i have to think seriously before jumping in. I can't stand 'messenger' and all that...

Why is it that all early butterflies do not settle. I had a Brimstone this morning, and another butterfly that passed me so fast, i couldn't ID it. To be fair,,, i was in the hide, with the wrong lens on, so i could not record either. This little chap did settle, and i was able to grab a few shots. ...