My binos

 Having tried numerous options for bird spotting/star gazing I've settled on these Bresser Hunter 7x50s. Great pair of binoculars, very sharp and lightweight. 

Micro worlds

 Got myself a new microscope and I've been exploring. 

Some cyanobacteria:

A rotifer shell:

Some white  mold from a Strawberry:

Some macro shots

 Some flower shots from the garden. 

Used a Pentax 50mm lens reversed onto my Canon 5D mkII for 1:1 macro 

Revisiting an old book

 Years ago I borrowed a library book on pond life and was fascinated by what I might see. I remember seeing Spirogyra and hoping to see it one day for myself

Years later I found, if not the same book, but one very similar on Abebooks so I bought it.

And sure enough, Spirogyra is in there. Along with lots of mini beasts.

Moths

 Some moths I've spotted over the last few years.

Silver Y, Magpie moth, Willow Beauty,  Footman, Juniper Carpet 

Little spider

 My daughter found a dead spider, so I popped it under the scope at 20x

Sawfly Summer

 Spotted these caterpillars on the birch in my garden in June. Turns out they're a species of Sawfly which are related to bees and wasps (Hymenoptera)

When alarmed they assume a defensive posture where they all hold their bodies in an outward curl.

Very cool.

Species is Pristiphora testacea

Phone shots