Richard Lewis

@z3r0gravitas

Extropian sci/tech geek. Improving moderate #MEcfs, #non24-hour sleep. #ADHD-PI, #AuDHD, #dyslexic. "ZeroGravitas" in PC gaming. He/him. 42. Please correct me.

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Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 19d

- Top of our garden. Oddly semi-camouflaged outer wind surface,

Side view of a Red Admiral butterfly with closed wings resting on a plant stem, showing its mottled underside pattern.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 19d

- On next door's wild roses. #BloomScrolling - On our drying dishcloth. - Landed on the ground next to my bike, just when I was thinking I'd never get a shot of them.

Red Admiral butterfly with folded wings perched on a blooming white rose.

Red Admiral butterfly with worn wing edges resting on a textured beige cloth.

Top-down view of a Red Admiral butterfly spreading its wings on muddy ground.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 19d

Feels like butterfly season here, with some red admirals for a start! #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 347

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 20d

But, of course, US supreme leader went back for round 2 with Iran. Which predictably escalated, cutting off a further ~4% of global oil trade: youtu.be/kwTP3ylKDdM?... So the squeeze is back on, Western reserves are almost out and as far as I can tell, the inevitable has merely been forestalled. 7/

Screenshot from tl;dr news - Graph of US strategic reserves plummeting.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 20d

So, the big update to this is that China saved everyone's arses by cutting it's oil consumption *in half* (from 10% to 5% of global trade) via various strategies, including deploying it's massive strategic reserves: youtu.be/BkA0bkb6ZO0?... 6/

Graph of the world's largest oil reserves, with China massively on top.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 25d

2/2 - Hooker's hebe (Veronica). - Not sure what this flower was, but the stamen stems are white-ish.

A bumblebee (Bombus species) clinging to the side of a partially open pink wildflower with a hairy green stem and sepals, likely a wild Geranium or Campion (Silene).

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· 25d

1/2 Sorry for the lack of pics, I've been a busy bee. Let's continue the theme of them on white flowers... #BloomScrolling #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 346

Macro phone shot of a bumblebee foraging among the dense, bright yellow stamens of a large white Rugosa rose.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 11

2/2 - Bonus bee butt! - I'm not sure why the blooms on this same bush were so much paler, this year, compared to last..? See DNP 103. Interesting to note this was at the old edge of my walking distance, now it's just on my way out, on my bike. kinda cheating, heh.

A bumblebee (Bombus species) hanging vertically by its legs beneath a cluster of star-shaped, white and pink Deutzia blossoms to reach the nectar.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 11

1/2 Bumble #Bees on a Deutzia bush in late May. Oops, repost for hashtags... #BloomScrolling #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 345

A bumblebee (Bombus species) foraging upside down on pale pink and white Deutzia flowers against a blurred green background.

A bumblebee (Bombus species) clinging to the underside of pale pink Deutzia flowers, showing its fuzzy abdomen with a slightly buff-tinged tail.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 10

2/2 Day 2 of bees on white flowers. Or at least, bee BUTTS sticking out of them, here!: Neighbour’s huge Mock Orange (Philadelphus) bush was absolutely BUZZING every time I went past. Before we had any bees in our back garden at all (they're still fairly scares this year.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 10

1/2 I think we all deserve a break... #BloomScrolling #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 344

White-tailed or Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum or terrestris) diving headfirst into a white Mock Orange (Philadelphus) flower, with mostly its white-tipped abdomen and splayed wings visible.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 9

2/2 Wide crop of the first shot. Which do you prefer..? Any landscape screen orientation users out there?

A top-down, close-up view of a bumblebee—likely a Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) due to its ginger-brown thorax and yellowish abdomen—foraging on a broad cluster of small white flowers. The plant is an umbellifer, possibly Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) or a similar species. The background is a bright, completely blurred out green.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 9

Three #bee species, one roadside plant. Kicking off a series of white flowers with fluffy pollinators on! - Common Carder Bee(?) on Hogweed (as alluded to yesterday)... - Bumble bee. - Western Honey Bee #BloomScrolling #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 343

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 8

Thank you. It would be nice to get some of my photography up on our walls... 🤔 For the moment it only lives in the Google Home Hub in the kitchen. The grass certainly has desktop wallpaper qualities too. Although I'm undecided if I'd prefer the softer tones of this (possible future post):

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 8

2/2 Sorry for the late post today. Trying to get some serious 'paperwork' (emails) done yesterday. Thought I'd have a break today, but more of the stuff has come home to roost... - Grass seed stalk, maybe our back garden. - Hogweed (Apiaceae family), I think. Segue to tomorrow...

A detailed, vertical close-up of a single wild grass seed head set against a dark, blurred background.

White Apiaceae wildflowers backlit by the sun, standing tall in a grassy field.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 8

1/2 Today's mood: sun drenched grass inflorescences (it's hot). #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 342

A field of tall wild grass (by a drainage pond) illuminated by warm, golden backlight against a dark, soft-focus background.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 7

#UKbirds: - Stock Dove, not a pigeon! As I mistook them. So 1 more for my collection. - Pied Wagtail, fuller shot, still tricky to find. - 3 male Mallard ducks, mysteriously cruising my street. - 2 Magpies, for luck (I like the symmetry). #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 341

A Pied Wagtail standing on the edge of a grassy verge right next to a paved path. The small bird faces left, showcasing its striking black, white, and grey plumage, along with its characteristically long, slender dark tail.

Three male mallards flying in a loose formation against a pale, overcast sky. The backlit birds are partially silhouetted, clearly displaying their uniquely large, spoon-shaped bills and swept-back wings in mid-flight.

Two Eurasian Magpies perched on the horizontal arms of a metal rooftop TV antenna against a clear blue sky. The birds are facing right and are illuminated by warm, golden-hour sunlight, highlighting their striking black-and-white plumage and characteristically long tails.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 6

3/ Thanks to eagle eyed @annakwood.bsky.social for pointing out my post was a 4 for the price of 3! It was a House Martin in frame with the Sparrowhawk! Apparently it was hanging out with the Swifts, as they sometimes do. I think this is all 3 in another shot I took.

Left to right: Sparrowhawk, Swift, House Martin..?

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 6

2/2 Swifts, I have take a *lot* of even less detailed shots of these super-streamlined sky-fish careening about high over our house... But they reliably fly lowest in one particular area on the far side of our estate. Best I could achieve:

A Common Swift soaring through a bright blue sky. Viewed from below, the dark bird perfectly displays its long, crescent-shaped wings and short, slightly forked tail.

A Common Swift captured mid-flight against a bright blue sky. The bird is banking slightly to the right, showcasing its dark, sooty-brown plumage and iconic scythe-shaped wings.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 6

1/2 Three more new/unique #UKbird sightings for my collection: - Common buzzard, over that one farm field I visit. - Sparrowhawk, high over our house. I think this is the grey blur I've glimpsed bombing through our garden! - Segue to below... #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 340

Backlit silhouette of a Common Buzzard soaring against a bright white sky. The bird is banking slightly to the right, highlighting its broad wings, fingered wingtips, and short, fan-shaped tail.

A Eurasian Sparrowhawk captured mid-flight, gliding directly toward the viewer against a pale sky. Its broad, rounded wings are spread wide, revealing its yellowish eyes and the heavily barred brownish-grey pattern across its underwings and body.

A wide view of a pale, overcast sky featuring two birds in flight. In the lower-left corner, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk glides upward, displaying its barred underbelly. High in the upper-right corner, a much smaller Swift (or Barn Swallow?) flies away, recognizable by its swept-back, pointed wings and forked tail.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 5

A big old Rook landed atop the bird feeder, meters from me! For scale, robins are shorter than those metal leaves. Very slick, beady eye, crusty beak that I'm told is covered with feathers for their first year..? #UKbirds #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 339

A close-up of a rook perched against a blurred green background, showing its glossy black feathers and distinct bare, greyish-white skin at the base of its beak.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 4

3/3 - Back on our estate, I've been seeing more cats enjoying the warmth. - Random black cat, for luck. - Our old black puma (who has chronic kidney disease now). - The naught cat who we are trying to avoid encouraging with scraps.

A black and white tuxedo cat lying down comfortably on a paved ground surface. In the background, large dark gray and green wheelie bins are visible.

A sleek black cat walking across a green lawn scattered with tiny white daisy flowers. The cat is captured mid-stride with one front paw lifted, looking ahead to the right.

A fluffy black cat with striking amber eyes walking forward directly toward the camera across a green grass lawn. The cat is wearing a collar with a round, gold-colored ID tag.

A dark tabby cat with a distinctive classic swirled coat pattern standing on a bright green lawn, looking back over its shoulder toward the camera. A tree trunk is on the right, and small white daisy wildflowers dot the grass.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 4

2/3 -Tuxedo with tracking collar bow-tie, exploring by the main new estate pond, on my way back from the ride I posted last weekend. - Another day, another black and white making a dash across my path. - Wider crop of above.

Tuxedo cat with white chest, whiskers, and a collar sitting alert in tall green grass behind a wooden fence slat, gazing to the left with yellow eyes.

Black-and-white cat running across a gravel path beside a strip of green lawn, with a wooden fence and a blurred orange life ring in the background.

White-and-tabby cat sitting alert on a weathered plank amid overgrown grass and wilted yellowing plants, staring directly at the camera against a blurred natural background.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 4

1/3 Saturday #Caturday - this dainty little thing brought me to a halt, as it strolled up and posed like it was part of a fashion shoot, in wild area between farm and country estate. #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 338

A close-up portrait of a white domestic cat with dark tabby patches on its head and back. The cat is sitting uprighton an old table in tall grass and weeds, staring directly into the camera with a calm expression.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 3

2/2 - Skedaddle! - Second visit, so smol! - First spotting, I think this is a juvenile of the same species (difficult when so matted). - Green woodpecker, looking for insects in a rotting tree stump. Bonus bad pic, the only one I got, of two sightings from the kitchen.

Rear view of a soaking wet Goldcrest perched on the rim of a dark bird bath. The tiny bird is shown from behind with its olive-green feathers completely ruffled from bathing, a bright yellow patch visible on its crown, and one small foot raised against a soft green background.

A tiny, damp Goldcrest perched in a mossy stone bird bath next to a dark shallow dish. The bird faces right, showing its wet, streaked feathers and a prominent bright yellow stripe on top of its head, surrounded by lush green garden foliage.

A juvenile Song Thrush sitting comfortably inside a shallow black dish within a stone bird bath. The speckled young bird faces right, framed by blurry purple Camassia flowers and vibrant green leaves in the garden.

A European Green Woodpecker foraging on the ground at the base of a large tree trunk. The bird is facing left with its head down in the grass, showcasing its distinctive bright red crown and olive-green body feathers.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 3

1/2 Two more birds that I was unreasonably excited to spot, for my collection! Only twice each, come just to use our bathing fiscalities: - Gold Crest, such a tiny little soggy thing. - Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos). #UKbirds #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 337

A Song Thrush stands in a garden next to a weathered piece of wood and a patch of grass. The bird is facing left, showcasing its warm brown back and distinctive dark, arrow-shaped spots covering its cream-colored breast.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 2

2/2 Apparently their numbers have declined 65% since the 2000s, badly impacted by disease. I felt pretty blessed it appeared, too; moving towards completing our poster list of (previously) common garden birds. I thought this would be a show-stopper.

Rear view of a European Greenfinch looking over its right shoulder, perched on a dark metal rail. The photo beautifully captures the intricate gray, black, and bright yellow feather patterns across its back, wings, and tail.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 2

1/2 Greenfinch, an even rarer sight than yesterday's bird post! This was the only time I've seen one, for sure. It was sooo nervy carefully raising my big lens up from the garden table, a few meters away... But it didn't startle! #UKbirds #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 336

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 1

2/2 - Very happy I caught it through the kitchen window, by our bird feeder. - Then I ducked out the door, for above, and 1 correctly autofocused shot of 6, flying off. - Previously it hid in our big cherry tree... - And flew off, from up close, before I could focus a proper pic.

A Eurasian jay captured from behind in mid-flight against a stark, solid black background. Its wings are curved downward and its dark tail feathers are fanned out, emphasizing the bright, fluffy white patch on its rump.

A Eurasian jay is perched on a thick tree branch, surrounded by soft-focus green foliage. Viewed from the side and behind, the bird looks upward to the right, prominently displaying its bright blue wing panel.

A Eurasian jay is nestled among dense green leaves and branches, looking forward toward the camera. The shot captures the bird's speckled crown and the brilliant blue patch on its wing peeking through the foliage.

Richard Lewis@z3r0gravitas· Jul 1

1/2 Jay! First of a series of less common birds I've snapped for the first time, recently. They're very shy and wily, with striking eyes (next tweet) and markings that look like a 3 year old applied makeup to them in a hurry. #UKbirds #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 335