B is for bird protection

37 comments

black and red froghopper in thistle

B is for…I could have chosen so many different  photos. There are so many “B”s in my life at the moment. I love bees. Bumble, honey, mining. I already have a fair number of bee photos posted up here and there will be more.

I could have gone for bat. If you are looking for me at 4:30 in the morning, and, no,  I’m not sure why you would be, you might find me out in the garden, watching our bats coming in to roost in the chimney. Fabulous sight. There again, lots of photos on the blog already for bats.

I could have chosen my daughter or Blue our dog, or even the baby robin chicks in my potting shed.

Instead I’ve chosen two photos of red and black froghoppers. I like finding these little bugs. They can propel themselves in an amazing fashion. Their hop is impressive. Extremely fast and quite a distance. Brush passed the foliage that they are resting in and they will spring. Point a camera lens at them and they disappear in a blink.

Hang on. Froghopper doesn’t start with B. You’re right. The photos are about froghopper’s bird protection.

Most nature loving children will know about cuckoo spit. It is white frothy stuff that you find on certain plants at this time of year. This is the bird protector manufactured by the baby froghopper or nymph to keep it safe from predators. It provides cover for the vulnerable nymph and also tastes bitter. Birds do not like it.

black and red froghopper on briar

My B is for bird protection. As these froghoppers settled down for the night (best time to photo them as they are more likely to stay still) I couldn’t help noticing how the foliage would protect them. A tangle of thistles, briars and nettles. If I was a bird, I might look for easier picking. Even as adults, they find the best bird protection that they can. Nature is always so inspiring.

Joining in with Podcast‘s #AlphabetPhoto linky. Absolutely fabulous photos last week for A. I’m looking forward to seeing what other people choose for B.

37 comments

    1. Might be wrong, but I think I only have one other post with a froghopper and that was a while ago. So many “B”s to choose from.

    1. Thanks Hannah! 🙂 These ones are so colourful and I doubt they will be around for “F” week, so sneaked them in here.

  4. Great photos and thanks for showing me something new, I never knew what is in cuckoo spit and now I do 🙂 #Alphabetphoto

    1. Not all froghoppers are as colourful and the nymphs are very disappointing to look at. This type of froghopper is very striking. 🙂

  5. What a fascinating post Cheryl, I love that you’re up searching for bats! So much choice for B isn’t there, think I changed my mind several times. I’ve never seen froghoppers before so glad you shared #alphabetphoto

    1. I think I am at fear of being classed as eccentric. Up at dawn. Cup of tea in hand. Still in my nightie (coat on though). Watching bats. They wake me up, as their roost is in our chimney. I don’t mind. Really is a sight worth seeing. Must practise my dawn photography.

  6. What a lovely photo! Yes, B is definitely for bird protection, as well as protection for all our other creatures 😉 😛

    1. Thanks Dean. Their spring must protect them too, but in the evening they are much easier to photograph. Lots of other bugs taking shelter too.

    1. My children love finding froghoppers and, of course, trying to catch them! Fingers crossed that we don’t get baby bats in the kitchen again this year.

  15. Fantastic! We call those bugs spittle bugs back in Canada, where we were very familiar with their white frothy slime. They’re a beautiful insect, aren’t they! Popping over from #AlphabetPhoto

    1. They really are interesting wee beasties. Hadn’t thought of them as being frightening. No, I think you would be OK with them in real life. 🙂

  19. Maybe the markings do help. Being red they stick out for the human eye, but maybe its different from a bird’s view.

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