“Did you sort out that lens?” asked Grant as we fed our little darlings this morning.
Lucy was a little impatient as I fiddled with the camera:
“Stop messing about”, she said!
My answer to Grant was “no”, to Lucy “yes, alright, alright”, as I continued taking pictures.
No, I haven’t mastered it yet but there seems to be a marginal improvement in the bottom two ladybirds from a photographic point of view, that is, given that the one on the right was actually lifeless. I am trying to master a macro lens with the notion of capturing wee insects when they arrive this summer. I saw somewhere that this year the “Brood X” cicadas will be with us for their once-every-seventeen years mating spree. That should be fun.
The smallest creatures I had to practice on at the moment were ladybirds or ladybugs as they seem to be called here.
At times the house is full of them, but typically, where’s a ladybird when you need one? I would have preferred a live specimen.
Since I was a child, when my mother used to sing the ladybird song to me, I’ve always been fond of them and always wanted to care for them.
Which is why I obtained this book that talks about all sorts of animals, but doesn’t tell me a thing about ladybirds.
Apparently the author’s mother was a ladybug-rescuer, which is where she got her passion for animals.
When we were wondering how to help our tiny friends one day I remembered the book and went to fetch it.
Now I know why I never read it. No ladybird info, but a selection of inspiring but heart-rending animal stories.
I knew I’d never get through the first chapter.
Human beings do the most ghastly, thoughtless things to creatures that have no defense. I am no longer able to read these stories.
In the meantime we just put ladybirds right side up and Grant puts them in a flat bowl with wet paper towel as he says they are always thirsty.
The bowl goes on top of a kitchen cupboard out of cat reach, in theory.
However this morning I wasn’t using the macro lens. I was mesmerized, as is so often the case, by the changing light:
After last night’s water-colour sky:
The sun finally struggled above the brooding clouds:
Each time I looked, the scene was different:
Then another hill lit up:
Next I went to check on the remains of my ice couple:
January’s head was off and he looked a shattered mess
Whereas delicate February was still standing like a wind-blown stone formation
January deserved a new head, which made him look like the Sphinx and I left them to melt in peace.
Turning to see that the benign clouds of 0800
…had morphed in five short minutes!
But the morning came good, sunny and bright.
I wish I could capture for you the sound of the wind in the trees…
It’s wondrous!
I believe what you have pictured are Asian Lady Beetles, not Ladybugs or Ladybirds. Please do some research on them. They can bite, cause stomach upset to pets if eaten and cause some distress for people with asthma. The easiest way to tell the difference is the black mark on their heads. The Asian Lady Beetle has an M and the Ladybug’s head is mostly black. We have some real issues with them infesting homes here in N. Texas.
I’ll check it out! I know we do have ladybirds but I think probably some of the others as well and yes, they do bite. Grant says they do it to get moisture. Thanks for letting me know!
Hi Carolyn,
This is the first time I’ve posted a reply but I’ve been enjoying your blog and wonderful photography since I first saw you mentioned in Jon Katz’s blog. I’ve attached a link to an article from the Adirondack Almanack about local ladybugs. Your photo may be a nine spotted ladybug which while becoming rare, is also the state bug of NY.
https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2021/02/ladybeetle.html#more-178440
Thank you so much!
I never get tired of your photo’s of the winter landscape … it’s amazing how the combination of the clouds and nature “works together” to form the most beautiful pictures 👍🏻.
I feel sorry for January and February – but hey, when it’s time to go, it’s time to go ☺️.