Spider Nest

I noticed a spider's nest yesterday in some long grass but didn't have the right camera or lens with me. It has rained heavily since then so, when I returned today, I wasn't surprised to find the grass flattened and no sign of the spider's nest.

On my walk home, I knew what I was looking for so kept my eyes open, and was delighted to find another nest. Not easy to focus accurately as it was embedded in the grass of the roadside and tricky to get a lens through cleanly. The female spider was actually inside the woven structure probably protecting her brood and, as it's quite close to my house, I can pop back to see how the babies progress; once they hatch though they won't be there for very long!