Sunday 29 March 2015

After The Rains




Autumn is in full swing and our rains during the summer have not been as plentiful as could be expected. However, recently we were blessed with almost three inches of rain over a period of four days. It is amazing what this does to the world on Rookwood.


Rookwood in Autumn


  

You know autumn is here when you see the thousands of Barn Swallows ‘lining up’ on the telephone lines or fence lines early in the mornings or late in the day. They take to the skies with a chattering sound while feeding, catching as many insects as possible to build up their fat content in preparation for their long migration back to Europe.

 



the wings of the alate


Evidently with these rains, the added bonus
is the number of flying termites (often incorrectly called flying ants) that appear.
an alate destined for a life underground






Flying termites are extremely difficult to photograph, but very interesting to observe. The ones not consumed by the birds, end up on the ground and shed their wings. These alates, as that is what they are referred to, are at this stage of their life cycle very high in nutrition levels.This is their nuptial flight and if they make it to the ground become destined to remain underground for the rest of their life.