Oldt1mer - Keith's photos with the keyword: Green

The Common Wasp – Vespula vulgaris – is normally a mild mannered little creature. Although they can be extremely annoying, they will not attack or sting unless provoked or scared so it is best to not wave or try to bat them away. (Don’t ask me how to get them off your picnic sandwiches though, without doing just that). This one was seen happily searching for pollen at Three Sisters, near Wigan. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Common Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni – can be found across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Being the only species of its genus, it is generally known as simply the Brimstone. A medium to large Butterfly with a wingspan up to 6cm, the female has pale yellow/green wings whilst the male are much brighter yellow/green, both have a small orange spot on each wing. Often one of the first Butterflies to be seen each year, adults feed on nectar from preferably blue and purple flowers such as teasel and bluebells whilst the caterpillars feed on the leaves of their host plant which is Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. This female was seen feeding at Martin Mere. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

This is the Eurasian Teal – Anas crecca – which is a small dabbling duck which breeds in Eurosiberia and migrates south in the winter. Also known as the Common Teal or Eurasian Green-Winged Teal it is commonly found in sheltered wetlands feeding on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. This is a male in nuptial plumage, as can be seen by the white stripe running along his flanks, which was seen at Martin Mere Wetlands. Explore No 254, 19 July 2023. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

These two male European Greenfinches - Chloris chloris - can be seen in this picture but just imagine when green buds start sprouting and then become leaves, you really have little chance of spotting these beautiful birds unless they come out into the open. The greenfinch is widespread throughout Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia and has been introduced into Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand and Australia. These two were seen checking something out, possibly a female, at Martin Mere. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

This is the male Northern Shoveler – Spatula clypeata – in its breeding/winter colours. Originally classed as Anas clypeata, a study of DNA sequences caused it to be moved into the Spatula genus. It feeds on aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans and plankton by swinging its bill from side to side and filtering the food through small comb like structures on the edge of its bill. This one was seen at Pennington Flash. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The common Green Bottle Fly - Lucilia sericata - is slightly larger than the House Fly and is brilliant metallic blue-green with black markings and short black bristles on the thorax. Also known as a Blowfly or Carrion Fly, it is extremely common and found in most areas of the world. The larvae of this little creature may be used in 'Maggot Therapy' where the maggots are introduced into non healing skin and soft tissue wounds for the purpose of cleaning out the dead tissue within the wound and disinfection. Sounds nasty but it really can work. This one was seen at Three Sisters Recreational Area near Wigan. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The mere sight of a Common Wasp - Vespula vulgaris - hovering around is enough to send many people running and flailing their arms about trying to get rid of it. It is exactly this action, though, that may cause it to sting because under normal circumstances it will usually not sting without being provoked by sudden movement or threatening behaviour. The sting is, however, rarely life threatening and is an alkaline venom as against Bee venom which is acidic. I find it fascinating how the body flexes at the middle. This one was spotted peacefully enjoying nectar at the Three Sisters Recreational area, Wigan. Explored No 466, Jan 18th 2023 This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

This is the beautiful Spotted Forest Skink - Sphenomorphus maculatus - also known as the Stream Side Skink or the Maculated Forest Skink, which is commonly found in South and Southeast Asia. Normally nocturnal, it lives in wooded and forested areas near streams and small rivers in lowland and hilly areas, foraging among rocks and vegetation close to the waters edge where it feeds on small insects and invertebrates. This one, however, was seen happily sitting on a rock, in the afternoon, by the side of the footpath through a forest leading to Little Sandy Beach (or Little White Sandy Beach) in Khaolak, Thailand. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.