Almost by accident, as I was trying to photo a tiny wild orchid growing on the retaining wall behind the house, I spotted this:
It’s not a normal cricket - those would have long gone before I could have thrust the lens into its face. No, I think it may be a juvenile katydid. They seem to have a cow-like equanimity that allows them to be photographed easily.
Those yellow dust flecks you see? That’s pollen from the large stand of pine trees a couple hundred metres to the north of us. Great, eh? It’s everywhere at the moment.
And so when will I see a stick insect? Or a mantis? I guess we’ll have to get through spring yet.