Spur Gears / Cogs

Chaffinch: Fringilla coelebs

I was surprised to discover the chaffinch is the most common bird in the U.K. If I had to guess I would've said the most common are seagulls, pigeons, sparrows, blackbirds and starlings.

The most common birds are actually as follows. It looks like I need to take a few more photos to complete the set!:

1. Chaffinch ✓
2. Wren
3. Blackbird ✓
4. Robin ✓
5. Wood Pigeon
6. Blue Tit
7. Dunnock
8. Great Tit
9. Starling
10. House Sparrow

Snowflakes

This morning we had the first decent snow of winter and the first chance to take photos of individual snowflakes. Here's the best attempt so far. The trick is to pick out a snowflake with the tip of a knife and move it a cold black surface. :-)

The first was taken on matt black plastic. Photo 2 & 3 used black paper. I'm still looking for a less reflective background and a better way to control the light.

Catrigg Force

Catrigg Force is an impressive waterfall as Stainforth Beck flows into a haunted dell. No-one seems to know who or what haunts the dell. I certainly didn't spot anything unusual when I visited after dark :-)

Autumn Maple

At the weekend we visited Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and walked the gardens and woodland trail. The autumn leaves looked quite spectacular, particularly the red maple. :-)

The berries of the yew tree look unusual. The seed is formed first then the red flesh grows around the seed, leaving an opening at one end. The seeds are poisonous, as are most parts of the yew tree...

Warrendale Knotts Cave

Warrendale Dale Knotts Cave is hidden on Warrendale Knotts 60m above the Settle to Attermire footpath. The cave isn't the easiest to find, located behind a limestone block and a patch of nettles. There are approx 20m of passage, all crawling :-(

Spider Cave

Spider Cave is a high opening in Beacon Scar. The debris strewn passage quickly lowers to a crawl which enters a small chamber. A squeeze through to the left enters a passage which is too narrow to follow :-(

Brent Scar Cave

Brent Scar Cave is a high fissure to the south of Victoria Cave. The passage closes in after about 5 metres :-(

Spider

I spotted this monster spider earlier today. There seems to everywhere this autumn, lurking just out of sight :-)

Sawfly Larvae

Our rose bush is covered with sawfly larvae at the moment. This strange looking bug is approx 14mm long :-)

The Old East Passage, Gaping Gill

A few days ago we paid another visit to Gaping Gill, a pothole in Yorkshire with a 110m drop from the surface. Once inside we went off to explore the Old East Passage.

After climbing the east slope and scaling a small ladder we entered a wide low passage.  Progress along the passage varied between stooping and a crawl.

The passage is well decorated with an abundance of stalactites :-)

Dragonfly

I suspect this dragonfly I spotted a few minutes ago is a blue hawker, another insect that isn't mentioned in Complete British Wildlife :-)

The View from Victoria Cave

Victoria Cave is in King's Scar high above the village of Langcliffe and offers a fantastic view to the distant hills. :-)

Spider

I visited a few caves over the weekend. Now I know how Spider Cave earned it's name - it's full of spiders :-(

Coquet Island

Coquet Island is located off the Northumberland coast, but landing is strictly forbidden to protect the seabird colonies. The island is home to the medieval ruins of Saint Henry the Dane's hermitage which have been incorporated into the Victorian lighthouse.

Hobthrush: Saint Cuthbert's Isle

The small island of Hobthrush or Saint Cuthbert's Isle lies just off the coast of Lindisfarne. Saint Cuthbert lived here as a hermit before seeking solitude on Inner Farne.

Northern Marsh Orchid

Found in an abandoned quarry along the path of Hadrian's Wall. :-)

Forget-Me-Not

One of my favourite flowers grows wild in the garden. The forget-me-nots are approx 7mm in diameter. :-)

Comma Caterpillar

I spotted a few comma caterpillars in the garden this morning. The caterpillar above is 6mm. His bigger brother munching a currant leaf is 11mm :-)

Mystery Photo - Caterpillar Eggs

I spotted this for the first time this morning... Can you identify what it is? :-)

Thanks to everyone who guessed and congratulations to Sparkle and Sheila who correctly identified caterpillar eggs. Also well done to everyone who mentioned eggs, close but not quite close enough! :-P