Tessera

Martin in the UK

@izzythedog.bsky.social

UK IT contractor, obsessive photographer and massive fan of Ukraine. All photos are taken by me (apart from reposts) and they're mine, OK?

1358 Posts420 Follower 431 Folgt

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · yesterday

A follow-on from #MacroMonday More fun with the grasshoppers in the garden today, better light and posing. This was an antenna cleaning moment. Notice the bright red abdomen tip which means it's probably an adult male. He's about 1" long nose to tail. #Photography #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography

An adult male common or field grasshopper is resting on a flower stem attached to a flowerhead that has dried out and is now decaying. The grasshopper is rubbing one of its antennae with a foreleg and its body is light brown tapering to orangey brown toward its rear and the tip of its abdomen is bright red and just visible. The background is a jumble of out of focus green grass stems.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2d ago

#MacroMonday I've been catching the odd sight of a grasshopper on the front lawn which is really dry and they are so well camouflaged they're hard to spot. I finally managed to get a couple of decent shots of one, taken today. #Photography #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography

A common grasshopper is resting on a plant stem. Colouring is light brown and they are very well camouflaged in the dry grass stems.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2d ago

@atlanticbirding.bsky.social has the chair today and the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Firsts Well.... I searched my archive files (I never delete anything, it's an IT thing) and the earliest I could find is Dec 2004 taken on a Canon EOS 10D. Collared Doves and a Robin feeding. #Birds #nature

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3d ago

A post for #Stunday A Common Darter dragonfly This is another frame, similar to yesterday, but edited, something I very rarely do. I removed the highlight on the right eye & slightly lightened the left eye for a bit more detail. #Macro #Macophotgraphy #ECK #dragonfly #bugSky #photography #Art

A male common darter dragonfly is sitting in dappled sunlight on a dried out flower head. The dragonfly is facing the camera, wings extended but in a relaxed, dropped position. The face is brown and orange with similar colouring at the top of the wings. The light against a dark, out of focus, background is shining through the wings illustrating their complex structure.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3d ago

A post for #Stunday Galloway, Scotland. The 2nd picture shows the pool of water taken an hour and a half earlier from a closer, different angle. Just a drinking spot for cows but transformed at dusk. #ColorADay #OrangeSun #ECK #landscapephotography #scape #photography #photographersofbluesky

Sunset with vivid oranges on the west coast of Scotland, in Galloway looking out to sea with the dark land in the foreground. A drinking pool for cows is in the foreground lit up by the bright sky in sharp contrast to the darkness of the land.

A group of cows standing at a drinking pool in farmland in Galloway, Scotland. This picture was taken around one and a half hours before the first one when the light levels dropped considerably and the cows had departed.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3d ago

I saw this and thought you might like it @marburybirds.bsky.social

Wurzelmann (Taylor Swift era)@wurzelmann.at · 3d ago

😍 /via mastodon.zergy.net/@Enalys/1170...

Drawing of three crows:
- A normal sized one, labeled ”Cro“
- A smol one labeled “Micro”
- A big one labeled “Macro”

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 4d ago

Another male Common Darter dragonfly in the garden today. I really like the wing position in this one and the dried out flower head he was standing on was perfect. #Macro #Macophotgraphy #ECK #dragonfly #bugSky #photography #Art #ArtChallenges #ArtPrompts

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 5d ago

#Flyday (live, self-propelled, flying creatures) Here's a male Common Darter (Sympetrum Striolatum) clinging to the end of some deadwood in the garden today. They always look incredibly pleased with themselves close up. #ECK #dragonfly #bugSky #photography #Art #ArtChallenges #ArtPrompts

A bright red male common darter dragonfly is clinging to the end of a dead branch in full sunlight against an out of focus background of multicoloured foliage.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 5d ago

#Flyday (live, self-propelled, flying creatures) Here's a Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria Scripta) hovering above an Evening Primrose flower head around dusk. Just 1/2" long with gangly legs, a great little insect. Taken 2 days ago. #ECK #diptera #bugSky #photography #Art #ArtChallenges #ArtPrompts

A Long Hoverfly is pictured hovering above an Evening Primrose flower head in a UK garden at dusk when the flowers open. The flower is intense yellow with masses of pollen which attracts a multitude of pollinators. The hoverfly has long, gangly legs and these can be seen hanging down from the abdomen and the wings are a faint blur from rapid movement. The background is dark and out of focus providing a sharp contrast with the bright yellow flower and insect.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 6d ago

#InsectThursday Honey bees love Evening Primrose nectar and turn up in our front garden most days at sunset to get their fix. Early arrivals feed on the previous days wilted flowers before the new fresh ones open in very low light. #Bees #Nature #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography #Photography

A honey bee hangs from the stamen of a bright yellow Evening Primrose flowerhead against a completely blurred grey/brown background.

A honey bee hangs from the stamen of a bright yellow Evening Primrose flowerhead against a completely blurred green foliage background.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 6d ago

#BirdOfTheDay theme is: #YourChoice This was a chance encounter, I pulled up at the side of the road at dusk so virtually no light, very challenging. It's noisy, soft and cropped but there is something magical about spending time with an owl that knows you're there but doesn't feel threatened.

A barn owl at dusk hunting over a meadow. The owl is white with brown and orange feather details visible on one wing and is in sharp contrast to the dark, out of focus background. The owl is looking directly at the camera as if acknowledging my presence but didn't appear to feel threatened. A magical encounter with a wonderful bird.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #MultiColour, and alt theme is #DucksOutOfWater This is a Common Shelduck family in the Mull of Galloway, taken a while ago. I counted them and they had 12 ducklings 😄 Not the greatest quality picture but it's just a bit of fun isn't it? #birds #photography

A pair of Common Shelducks with white, black and brown plumage are herding their brood of 12 small grey and black ducklings toward the water in the Mull of Galloway, Scotland., an area renowned for its wildlife.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

#MacroMonday Last post, I have work to do for customers that I keep putting off. A Four-Spotted Chaser looking quite dark and hairy but a bit bruised and battered in the wing department. Not a recent capture, from a while ago. #Dragonfly #Nature #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography #Photography

A Four-Spotted Chaser Dragonfly is perched in full sunshine on an aquatic plant leaf, clasping it in its black spiky legs. Its dark eyes are in contrast to the golden brown of its thorax and body which are covered in white hair. Its wing tips are showing signs of damage along the rear edges.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

#MacroMonday I'm still having a hoverfly obsession this summer, they are so photogenic and interesting up close but really difficult to capture in flight because of their small size. This is a male Long Hoverfly taken this morning. #Diptera #Hoverfly #Photography #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography

A male Long Hoverfly captured in flight, yellow and black stripes with large compound eyes and gangly legs. About 1/2" long and completely harmless but a very important pollinator.

A male Long Hoverfly captured ar rest, yellow and black stripes with large compound eyes and gangly legs. About 1/2" long and completely harmless but a very important pollinator.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Grey any bird with Grey in its plumage. Alt theme #RedBeaks, any bird with a Red Beak. In an attempt to be different, here's a skein of Greylag Geese. #birds #photography #ECK

A flock or "skein" of around 60 Greylag Geese are flying in a rough V formation against a cloudless, bright blue, sky. Flying from left to right (East), the afternoon sunlight highlights their rear ends.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

#MacroMonday Thick-legged Hoverfly (Syritta Pipiens) with its dangly legs and at rest having a scratch. #pollinators #Diptera #Nature #Insects #Macro #MacroPhotography #Photography

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

A post for #Stunday I like the pink cloud reflection in this one. #ColorADay #OrangeSun #ECK #scape #photography #photographersofbluesky #photographersunited #landscapephotography #scotland #beach #seaside

A deserted beach at sunset in the West of Scotland, the sand is wet from the lapping small waves and a cloud coloured pink by the setting sun is reflected in the wet surface. Seaweed is scattered on the foreshore and the rocky shoreline is visible on the left. The sky is virtually cloudless apart from the horizon where islands are just visible.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · last wk.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme: #CHE Cormorants, Herons and Egrets Here's a Heron gliding to its next fishing spot above a Scottish beach. #birds #photography

A Heron is pictured in bright sunshine against a blurred light blue sky background, flying from right to left. Everything is tucked away as it glides towards its next fishing spot on a Scottish beach.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

Either a Mining or a Carder Bee, not sure which and nor is Obsidentify. I think the colour contrast between the Bee and the Sea Holly flower head makes the picture. Taken in the garden this month. #Insects #Macro #Bees #Nature #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #MacroPhotography #Photos #Photo #ECK

A black and ginger Bee is crawling towards the camera over the top of a vibrant green and blue Sea Holly flower head with an out of focus background of greens and browns.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

A Coal Tit hiding in the branches of a tree in Angus, Scotland, taken a while ago. #SmallBirdSaturday #Birds #Wildlife #Littlebirds #BirdPhotography

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme is #ForJanet, any of the Robin Species will do. Here's a gorgeous Robin taken in Ardnamurchan several years ago. #birds #photography

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today's #BirdOfTheDay main theme is an unusual one with #OneTwoThreeFour, 4 photos with 1, 2, 3, 4 birds of the same species. I really wanted all 4 images to be Blue Tits but had to settle for Great Tits for the group of 4 as that's all I could find in 6000 images! #birds #photography

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

#BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures Northern Wheatear juvenile looking soft and downy in the evening light whilst perched on a rough lichen covered stone wall. Taken in Scotland a while ago. #birds #photography #ECK

A juvenile northern wheatear is sitting on a dry stone wall with decaying lichen on its surface. The bird is looking to the right towards an autumnal setting sun and is bathed in a golden light on it's beak, eye and breast. The background is an out of focus mottled green and yellow of vegetation.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

When is a Bee not a Bee? When it's a Drone-Fly. Cleverly evolved to look like a honey bee, this hoverfly is quite harmless and very common. Another overlooked everyday important pollinator. Pictured on Buddleia in the garden today. #Macro #Macrophotography #Insects #Photography

A picture of a type of hoverfly called a drone-fly which has evolved to resemble a honey bee as a means of avoiding predators. It is feeding on bright pink Buddleia blossom against a blurred, out of focus, background.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

Almost forgot it's #macromonday Cricket-bat Orbweaver female spider (Mangora acalypha) About 6mm in size, lives in the parsley plant growing in a large tub in my garden. I like the "trigger wire" attached to its leg. #InsectPhotography⁠ ⁠ #NaturePhotography⁠ #photography #Nature #ECK

A female Cricket Bat Orbweaver spider is pictured upside down suspended from a single strand of web with a "trigger wire" web attached to one of its legs to alert it when prey becomes entangled in it's sticky trap. The spider is light yellow with a white and black striped abdomen.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 2w ago

Decaying Cupola on an old stable block on a Scottish highland estate. Probably built in the late 1800's. The legendary Nikon D700 sensor revealing the lush colours in soft autumnal and shadowless light. #photography #blueskyartshow #scotland

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3w ago

A post for #Stunday Taken in the Rhins of Galloway, 3 frames bracketed and then merged into an HDR. I wanted to keep some foreground detail, the old cottage and the cow still grazing into the evening but retain the drama of the low clouds. #scape #photography #scotland #ECK #landscapephotography

A view from The Rhins of Galloway on the West Coast of Scotland, looking towards Northern Ireland with the sun setting to the right, a bright orange just behind a headland illuminating an unusual, low, cloud formation. In the foreground, the sea is grey and a small cove leads to an old cottage not far from the shore. The surrounding land is rich, green, pasture and a cow can be seen still grazing at around 10pm in June.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3w ago

#BirdOfTheDay #ScreenFiller One of this years juvenile blackbirds with something it just found in its beak. I'm not sure it was edible!

A juvenile blackbird with brown and speckled plumage is standing side on next to a garden water bowl with what appears to be a dried out insect or a small piece of gravel in its beak.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3w ago

#Flyday I think a close up of a common Green Bottle Fly should cause plenty of people to go URRRGH 😱 #Nature #Garden #Insects #PreciousPollinators #Macro #MacroPhotography #PhotographersOfBluesky

A close up picture of a Green Bottle Fly feeding on a small flower head. The fly is facing the camera and its compound eyes, mandibles and probiscis are all in sharp focus and look quite startling.

A close up picture of a Green Bottle Fly feeding on a small flower head. The fly is side on to the camera and its thorax,, compound eyes, mandibles and probiscis are all in sharp focus and look quite startling.

Martin in the UK @izzythedog.bsky.social · 3w ago

#FlyDay A Dull-Bellied Blacklet Hoverfly (apparently), very small but quite interesting up close #Nature #Garden #Insects #PreciousPollinators #Macro #MacroPhotography #PhotographersOfBluesky#ButterflyWeek