Solifuge

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

The summer temperatures are slowly climbing as we move into the New Year, and so the camel spiders or solifuges are coming out to prowl in the heat.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

This hairy fellow looks frightening, and he is frightening and very fast as they run across the ground hoping to bump into something to eat, but rest assured they have no venom.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

Then again, with jaws as powerful as these you don't need any venom to overpower your prey.  These are fascinating creatures, not spiders, not scorpions but a species somewhere in between - there are over 1000 different types of solifuges.

Merry Christmas !

Spring day hike

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/100, f7.1, ISO160

 While hiking on the Pat Busch Private Nature Reserve recently, I snapped a few photographs of what late spring had to offer from ferns....

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/200, f8, ISO250

 ...to these beautiful blue flowers...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/320, f8, ISO160 

...and these wild iris-like flowers growing along the stream...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/250, f8, ISO160 

...to the amazing warm texture of this driftwood washed down from the forests...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/180, f13, ISO160

...to this gnarled & stunted tree pushing up through a pile of enormous boulders.