A fantastic start to the year and a visit to the RSPB’s nature reserve at Leighton Moss. With plenty of rain over the festive season I was relieved to find a pair of wellies in the boot of the car. Not great for walking – Read More …
Category: Birds
A little bit of bread and no cheese ……..
A fine start to the day with the unmistakeable song of a Yellowhammer singing close to Dancing Ledge quickly followed by a family of Stonechats. In the haymeadow surprising to see several stems of Common Broomrape. Normally as a parasite it’s fairly clear which is Read More …
Sparrowhawk
A few photo’s of a juvenile Sparrowhawk that’s been visiting our garden on and off throughout the winter. Nothing quite like a stare from a Sparrowhawk. For several other garden visitors probably the last thing they ever see. On its most recent visit surprising to Read More …
Humphrey Head
And here’s Humphrey …….. well actually a male Slow-worm on the campsite just before we left for Humphrey Head. Really impressed with Humphrey Head, although a relatively small area of limestone jutting out into the Kent Estuary on an incoming tide there was plenty of Read More …
The Hazy Days of Summer
Peregrine on the cliffs at Durlston Country Park. A myriad of Greater Knapweed, Wild Carrots, Yarrow, Rough Hawkbit amongst the meadows. Distinctive flowers and seedheads of the Wild Carrot amongst a sea of Greater Knapweed. No shortage of Bees at Durlston. The sheer number of Read More …
Higher Hyde Heath
Meadow Grasshoppers at Higher Hyde Heath. Can’t recall seeing a bright pink grasshopper before. Apparently the vivid pink is due to a genetic mutation known as erythrism. Perhaps unsurprisingly few pink grasshoppers survive to become adults. Female Sand Lizard Basking on one of the discarded Read More …
Mersey Valley
Early Marsh Orchid, Barlow Tip – the most widespread and variable marsh orchid. Southern Marsh Orchid at Kenworthy Wood. Closely related to the Early Marsh Orchid with hybrids being relatively common. In general the hybrids tend to be stronger growing than the species and can Read More …
Birds and St Bees
A few highlights from a visit to the RSPB St Bee’s Nature Reserve. Surprisingly despite it being in north-west England this was a first visit – a long drive from Manchester. Thankfully we had a few days at Wasdale Head to break the journey up. Read More …
In summers that have been…
I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair. J.R.R. Tolkein Lord of The Rings Read More …