You Don't Need To Go Far ...

... to observe nature's beauty and loose yourself.

Yet another late afternoon stoll, making my way towards the grasshopper nursery. It had been raining earlier but now the sun was out and it was lovely and warm.

Over time I have learnt not to go and 'look' for objects to photograph, but instead to just be aware and without thought so that I could see what is rather than look for what might be. And suddenly I have no end of subjects and objects to see and talk about. It's wonderful!

There were sparkles in the sunshine everywhere as the raindrops were 'trapping' the sun beams and reflecting back to us 'copies' of the sourroundings.

Depending on the surface, water drops seem to look different. On the more greasy (forgive the non-scientific description), they form lovely, round spheres, crystal clear ...

 ... while on 'hairy' surface, they seem to be more 'flat' or half-spheres.

 

There are two flields nearby which are not cut all year round. This is perfect for all kind of insects as well as ground nesting birds.  More and more insects are making an appearance and once again, its a case of 'pick a spot and wait'. :)

Above a click beetle. 

Compared to other beetles, this species is more 'bendy' as the section between the head and the thorax (the middle section) is flexible. This allows them to move their head and the first pair of legs separately to the rest of the body. They can snap these two sections, making a lound 'click' sound, hence the name and use this to flip onto their back .If it is a windstill day, you will be able to hear it as you approach them IF they are not happy with you.

Right next to the click beetle I noticed this crab spider having lunch / tea /dinner. It caught itself a tastly, tiny weevil. The little chaps is still twitching and trying to get away but eventually the spider gets its head between the fangs, and that was the end of that! Simple, pure, honest, based on need and not want. No drama ... just 'what is, is'.   That is why I am attracted to observing these beings again and again, even though sometimes I 'humanize' them if I am in a silly mood.

I was quite happy where I was in the field was also drawn to go to see the grasshopper nursery, so I made my way over. 

At the nursery I was rewarded by not only a much greater number of nymphs appearing but I also had the joy of observing this little chap slowly emerge from its skin. More photos and info here on a designated page on this blog.

 

But not only is it a grasshopper nursery! And here we have the Blue Bug Larvae. Yes, they are red, for now. But they will eventually turn into a metallic blue-ish shield bug.

There are all kinds of insects now, bugs, beetles, spiders, other 'hoppers', flies and even a few wrens nesting in the stonewall (the remains of it). All happily coming and going, regardless of my presence. As always, time doesn't exist and there is a great peace in all this.

Thank you for being with me :)