Blog

28 September 2023

Covid again

Hi all, not been about for a while hence nothing on the Blog. Yet again down with Covid, probably because the type of job I do with Social Care, iam better now and hopefully out with the camera soon.

Take care out there!

23 September 2023

Chasing Butterflies in 2023

This Year for me has been the worst for chasing Butterflies, this has been a combination of having my free time when the weather has been bad, for example I have not been able to organise my holidays get to Cumbria when the weather has been good enough to see Butterflies, same for East Anglia and the midlands to see the Black Hairstreak.

I managed 47 Species this year which is poor for me and they are

- Speckled Wood, Wall, Peacock, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Wood White, Marbled White, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Duke of Burgundy, Dark Green Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Silver Washed Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White Letter Hairstreak, Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Common Blue, Small Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Holly Blue, Large Blue, Meadow Brown, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Large Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Small Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Comma, Gatekeeper, Grayling, Painted Lady, Ringlet and Small Tortishell.

I still managed to go to some stunning places and meet some great people as you seem to do around Butterflies, let's hope for a better year next year!

19 September 2023

More Autumn Fare

Out and about in the woods and parks this last week or two apart from Autumn Fruits, nuts and seeds are in plentifull supply as has been mentioned before, looks like its going to be a bumper year, well all the places I have visited look that way.

Normally there is an old wives tale that its going to be a tough winter because of all the natural food about? The way things are going at the moment who knows!

13 September 2023

Autumn Fruits

I have spent several days around woods and hedges looking for things other than Birds, the autumn fruits and nuts are in good supply.

Some like Rowan trees on Dartmoor are full of fruit which will be good for the Winter Thrushes when they arrive, although interestingly haven't found any Rowan in fruit close to the coast?

Some other fruits are starting to go over or have been harvested/eaten by wildlife or humans for example Blackberries and Sloes which is the fruit of the Blackthorn, which had been taken from the lower branches.

Guelder Rose, Elder and Hawthorn seem to be ripe with Crab Apple also ripe and some already falling off.

Various nuts such as Horse and Sweet Chestnut are close to being shed, Acorns look a little way off, Hazel Nuts also Alder, Silver Birch and Beech. Holly berries where mostly Green but did find some starting to turn Red.

Enjoyable time!

09 September 2023

Topsham

Spent a few hours at Bowling Green Marsh before trip to the Dentist.

Had a realy good time with good company of Dave S and some visiting Birders.

It wasnt a very high tide so wasnt expecting lots but was pleased to see, Godwit, Knot, Greenshank, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Herring, Black-headed, Lesser and Great-black Backed Gulls, Moorhen, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Widgeon and my first Pintail of the winter.

01 September 2023

Dartmoor

Spent a few hours on Dartmoor, certanly a feel for Autumn with Rowan and other winter berries out, bracken and some trees starting to turn colour, some hedges trimed, still the odd flower but winter seems to be getting closer.

Still large numbers of Swallows, several Wheatear and a single Willow Warbler seen but all other migrants drew a blank.

Several flocks of Chaffinch, all the usual crows, couple of Buzzards, Blackbird, Robin, Great and Blue Tit and that was that!

Still a few humans about but you can tell the summer holidays are over!

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