Garden Spiders.

 As I move round my wilderness of a garden I keep getting entangled with the webs of the Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus.  Easily recognised by the white abdominal cross, which gives it its alternative name of Cross Spider., several of them are now building enormous webs and catching their winter food supplies. One has obliginly spun its web in front of the lounge window which makes observation of its activities easy.

Garden Spider.   Photo. John Elliott

Usual prey items are small insects, but one individual has greater ambitions and is busy entombing a Large White butterfly.

 

  Garden Spider and Large White. Photo. John Elliott.

Click to enlarge photos.

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Tawny Owls.

 During my Neighbourhood Watch patrol yesterday evening it was great to hear a Tawny Owl calling from the trees at the back of the Manor House At this time of year this year's brood spread out looking for new territories and nesting sites. For many years the owls were resident in the rather delapidated old coach house, but had to move out on its renovation . Perhaps an owl box would enable them to live in the village once again. Those of us who wander round the village at night would welcome the hoooouh.......ho, ho 'ho' ho'hoooouh which is the usual call of the male owl, often followed by a sharp ' kewick' from its mate.

 

 The latest bulletin from my Cuckoo

 160 km north east of Sayaan and also in Sudan is Irish Cuckoo Cuach Torc. He has been on the western edge of the Marrah Mountains, approximately 73 km (45 miles) north-west of the town of Zalingei since early August