tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2952180679298292782024-03-07T16:00:48.262+00:00ShySongbird's Nature News(formerly: ShySongbird's Twitterings)
The Occasional View from my PerchShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-79860886158874071142013-04-11T18:05:00.000+01:002013-04-11T18:24:06.334+01:00Small Signs of Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NV8eHlqMqCAhVXsdYMF4blLYmbr5bN1SHwb_8cHznvv_ji_81qx-LNO-fR1JxDS947q410LR8smM01xYkZ-GumgcyU7ZIpM51QoJzjeUQ-W_jXiEI2yKksIYBgTs-CTeAV1fArjngi8/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NV8eHlqMqCAhVXsdYMF4blLYmbr5bN1SHwb_8cHznvv_ji_81qx-LNO-fR1JxDS947q410LR8smM01xYkZ-GumgcyU7ZIpM51QoJzjeUQ-W_jXiEI2yKksIYBgTs-CTeAV1fArjngi8/s640/IMG_0022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the weather </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">here in the UK</span> has been bad for so long I haven't had many opportunities to get
out with the camera but I thought I would post some of the photos I have
managed in the last few weeks. There haven't been any spectacular
sightings. I tried very hard to find the Crossbills that had been seen
locally but failed on each occasion. On reflection I think I may not
have been looking in quite the right place...'in the Larch trees' could
apply to quite a few Larch trees in the area indicated...oh well, maybe
next year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was good to find those early harbingers of Spring, a very welcome patch of Snowdrops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are a few still hanging on here but these were seen a month ago.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG4KrBbSuL_ZlsHFMJEcQprQTr7dd_CpqOId1zvkk6nJJfBstyQviRJl4RwK5iGDv-pcJ0qfQ2vPsZKQgvjGrFf2poKD1CjBAgOs7qunj1mHqEb7LA-GGDPSkPGy80UbsRFrm7NuREsw/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG4KrBbSuL_ZlsHFMJEcQprQTr7dd_CpqOId1zvkk6nJJfBstyQviRJl4RwK5iGDv-pcJ0qfQ2vPsZKQgvjGrFf2poKD1CjBAgOs7qunj1mHqEb7LA-GGDPSkPGy80UbsRFrm7NuREsw/s640/IMG_0078.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Snowdrops</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most of my recent bird photos have been distant and very 'twiggy' but beggars can't be choosers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uq33qPW1MK5rLTxSweVmMXD80a8pwP9j71kyCUYJydt_wEGU1U9iGhcvNSUVXN676-TMwSuNzg-VU8nLtg2S0-sOn4npN4HaFzbApYIQkAQaXLEPlj-C_YMTvKmW3b1jqVvhQLKNFC0/s1600/IMG_0054a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uq33qPW1MK5rLTxSweVmMXD80a8pwP9j71kyCUYJydt_wEGU1U9iGhcvNSUVXN676-TMwSuNzg-VU8nLtg2S0-sOn4npN4HaFzbApYIQkAQaXLEPlj-C_YMTvKmW3b1jqVvhQLKNFC0/s640/IMG_0054a.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chaffinch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">The winter wind howls back to Northern seas;</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And in his stead comes up the Western breeze</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And budded leaves break freshly on the trees;—</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So, chaffinch, sing: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A happy piping pipe, the world to please; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); font-weight: normal;">For this is Spring.'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); font-weight: normal;">(Thomas Ashe) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A visit to a local reservoir is convenient when short of time but not always the most pleasant experience. Being close to a town it tends to attract rowdy youths walking their often uncontrolled dogs.
The reservoir which in my experience tends not to have anything very exciting also suffers from being surrounded by a very high wire fence to
presumably stop the local, drunken yobs from falling in...no
comment ;-) The fence is always a problem when taking photos and you
will notice the criss cross pattern of the wire in a couple of the
following ones. This small flotilla of Canada Geese were enjoying a
little late afternoon sunshine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZT8uYjvlduwjhPbtMOibTzuywqs_W7TtzNraujhP7JqMTJ9UFnVokadR4yioes8bHwM7ZZbGOhyphenhyphenAoBX7OXXObCXBHQfPaxvjR23SOLXQECUZBCBGa6mkY0VHEYAG7Fh3luBjK7OuS78/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZT8uYjvlduwjhPbtMOibTzuywqs_W7TtzNraujhP7JqMTJ9UFnVokadR4yioes8bHwM7ZZbGOhyphenhyphenAoBX7OXXObCXBHQfPaxvjR23SOLXQECUZBCBGa6mkY0VHEYAG7Fh3luBjK7OuS78/s640/IMG_0831.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Canada Geese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As was this Mallard.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6ss_r1AJk6kLyEvwnQl58kY9vC3MqZPLe0-P27dUpS0UKJ3WPfWehJyOVDpYacfWtRfkK7pjB21YDlp-z9t1nUemos4Npou8gWYB5A94BLzjVPhGBU_O75Jxn1S8K35LmBckJtWRzgY/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6ss_r1AJk6kLyEvwnQl58kY9vC3MqZPLe0-P27dUpS0UKJ3WPfWehJyOVDpYacfWtRfkK7pjB21YDlp-z9t1nUemos4Npou8gWYB5A94BLzjVPhGBU_O75Jxn1S8K35LmBckJtWRzgY/s640/IMG_0830.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mallard Duck</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This Pied Wagtail was busily looking for supper </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFO7gRkNgZE_pURTKvNvJg_zetOsAPfixg9163N2ALAvEupAtIbP9Qk33irg0kh4dgwoKyDMLqkJ-t-GOjWYhr6s1-H5ZdYABFUGEOty2vfdPiRdQ4xbE0JBxCTWyHq8V0dc3umMj0hU/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFO7gRkNgZE_pURTKvNvJg_zetOsAPfixg9163N2ALAvEupAtIbP9Qk33irg0kh4dgwoKyDMLqkJ-t-GOjWYhr6s1-H5ZdYABFUGEOty2vfdPiRdQ4xbE0JBxCTWyHq8V0dc3umMj0hU/s640/IMG_0840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pied Wagtail</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and putting its best foot forward!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIlEil7DTEQEYETmJQhpy3K1giS1vtJQ0tFh33-ZzLYIcqbKVH6mWb0a0n1F1p33wvzfthWjoWaygNbC7RbCxhhxkBjKpv8sQDU_hXjM65P-tyXlUhkqcLnOc-kcyxRqKUgKxpdhU0hI/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIlEil7DTEQEYETmJQhpy3K1giS1vtJQ0tFh33-ZzLYIcqbKVH6mWb0a0n1F1p33wvzfthWjoWaygNbC7RbCxhhxkBjKpv8sQDU_hXjM65P-tyXlUhkqcLnOc-kcyxRqKUgKxpdhU0hI/s640/IMG_0839.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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'The smallest bird that walks am I,</div>
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You know me by my wagging tail,</div>
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And my piercing round black eye;</div>
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Through frost, through snow, through rain or hail'</div>
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I stay here all the winter through,</div>
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And that is more than some birds do.'</div>
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(Thomas Miller)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While this swan seen in an adjoining field looked like it was preparing for an appearance in a certain Tchaikovsky ballet!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cj82P-KEDeNHuwYJ4_e9Bwf0njMu0ndDO1TAyope-ZF0jZDZBmTgxLwpL80uec5JJjGuS2BJTZ66Vz08aPChU9VZfuJsLLTyPKzd1xDEdB5bJpCwTsDvr5F7R01OFCECqwaQHdmzKsU/s1600/IMG_0853.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cj82P-KEDeNHuwYJ4_e9Bwf0njMu0ndDO1TAyope-ZF0jZDZBmTgxLwpL80uec5JJjGuS2BJTZ66Vz08aPChU9VZfuJsLLTyPKzd1xDEdB5bJpCwTsDvr5F7R01OFCECqwaQHdmzKsU/s640/IMG_0853.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mute Swan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It occurred to me to wonder why <i>Mute </i>Swans
are so called given that they do make a range of noises. Apparently, it
is because they have no actual call and emit no sound during flight
other than, of course, the wonderful sound of their wings as they pass over our
heads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the Larch trees, where I mentioned I had been hoping to find the Crossbills, I was pleased to see a small flock of Siskins mixed with Goldfinches and the odd Redpoll. I managed to get a couple of photos (one can be seen at the beginning of this post) of the Siskins but as is usually the case they were very distant, feeding high in the tops of the tall trees. The old word for Siskin is Aberdevine which was particularly used in London back in the unfortunate times when shops sold them and other wild songbirds in cages :-(</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jWAbgTLQA_6V_Ek9aUj0AGV1HZIhFifVMS5d19JoG-7_G9eQoB72n8YlM86njM8otjVLZtq4JvXt8FIv7wHg2g8eaDCvdV8jAS7JE8JTiulSSOW9qdH8x-1XMVGyJKCsWD20rBCiKsM/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jWAbgTLQA_6V_Ek9aUj0AGV1HZIhFifVMS5d19JoG-7_G9eQoB72n8YlM86njM8otjVLZtq4JvXt8FIv7wHg2g8eaDCvdV8jAS7JE8JTiulSSOW9qdH8x-1XMVGyJKCsWD20rBCiKsM/s640/IMG_0020.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Siskin<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">'When naming the aberdevine,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">It's <i>siskin </i>that birders assign,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">I think the word <i>finch</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">Might suffice in a pinch,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">And I've heard even <i>bird </i>would be fine.'</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;">(Tim Alborn [OEDILF])</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although
we haven't had any snow in the last couple of weeks it has been
reluctant to go and just last weekend, less than five miles from home, I
found there were still snowdrifts at the sides of the road.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSthg1iEOYM0AvJrQ3MFkyKrrMN4kLB1nPX-EkSl12DhUgzOFqeYHs5FhDWqtXdN2VE4EcwaelcFKiw7AYJ7wiy1bijGY7292Je3tMk6SD48CyG_TdCZlxswI6uBHdBqYfkQQBKe3gXCU/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSthg1iEOYM0AvJrQ3MFkyKrrMN4kLB1nPX-EkSl12DhUgzOFqeYHs5FhDWqtXdN2VE4EcwaelcFKiw7AYJ7wiy1bijGY7292Je3tMk6SD48CyG_TdCZlxswI6uBHdBqYfkQQBKe3gXCU/s640/IMG_0064.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the woodland, where I hoped to find Violets, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was amazed to find there
was a covering of snow </span>
of around 35 centimetres (12 inches)!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Dz8Pk9t0sTKdyK_tsGHWimIvuaJr2Q-pWUI6zufIUz2G4PuAgGzPY5OexxgZ3290IPrK99aUUIKWHYRcx9aGyBtEZMJMxH6IQkMOOjpefIVd2G0IL9E36kh-kXbvAwko2mUERD-dtE4/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Dz8Pk9t0sTKdyK_tsGHWimIvuaJr2Q-pWUI6zufIUz2G4PuAgGzPY5OexxgZ3290IPrK99aUUIKWHYRcx9aGyBtEZMJMxH6IQkMOOjpefIVd2G0IL9E36kh-kXbvAwko2mUERD-dtE4/s640/IMG_0069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> In the woodland to the right there was a deep covering of snow!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, the day before in the same direction and only two or three miles from home there was very little remaining snow to be seen which allowed for some nice springlike sights. As a child I was always thrilled to find the first Pussy Willow of the year, that thrill has never left me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNHZY8wCxv3ctfy0DWVXUNqUwLQ74ajl1ybVpzafnMShIb19uTVoIDkR-01Bgr2HBDkiRf-_RgjPbUavM94KLyVKCnGfx77MyLUAK4OPjzGyPQ5M_9u3fyN34TcRifUJYp-bTlkac5lE/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNHZY8wCxv3ctfy0DWVXUNqUwLQ74ajl1ybVpzafnMShIb19uTVoIDkR-01Bgr2HBDkiRf-_RgjPbUavM94KLyVKCnGfx77MyLUAK4OPjzGyPQ5M_9u3fyN34TcRifUJYp-bTlkac5lE/s640/IMG_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pussy Willow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Gorse was looking colourful too. Gorse is very attractive to invertebrates which in turn of course benefits birds. Some scarce invertebrates are dependent on it. As it flowers over a long period it is an important source of nectar when there are few other plants in flower.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXHLM4LU0oq45qx72EI_WrYwKYKtMnkr75opKXopLNZUJS-V94U2xmIi_YkBXJ5wrE0Zy0KZ7kU5pSL26NM3aEWyMTtUcFcgFmn1YAeoeAoJ-1rKbQ93wJCoGlFY16OMaLc0FfywMaZg/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXHLM4LU0oq45qx72EI_WrYwKYKtMnkr75opKXopLNZUJS-V94U2xmIi_YkBXJ5wrE0Zy0KZ7kU5pSL26NM3aEWyMTtUcFcgFmn1YAeoeAoJ-1rKbQ93wJCoGlFY16OMaLc0FfywMaZg/s640/IMG_0009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Gorse</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although high in a tree and doing his best to hide behind the twigs this male Bullfinch looked very striking against the blue sky...and yes it really was that blue!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RQ60AdgV8RdgFQfQ87WHCWPKC7OPfo5KQnki2i0d6JYelzMVvimgvdPi1K9Dw_2ZezLUOQKlJGgLGBr7kxI1vRJTGZPNk4gKcB2TFKX_gCEl_twR9xEGNEQjQXKlCrcMbKCOOa3vJaM/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RQ60AdgV8RdgFQfQ87WHCWPKC7OPfo5KQnki2i0d6JYelzMVvimgvdPi1K9Dw_2ZezLUOQKlJGgLGBr7kxI1vRJTGZPNk4gKcB2TFKX_gCEl_twR9xEGNEQjQXKlCrcMbKCOOa3vJaM/s640/IMG_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bullfinch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If it is a thrill to find the first Pussy Willow of the year it is even more of a thrill to find my all time favourite wildflower, the Primrose. I have such fond childhood memories of lengthy walks to the woods with my mother and brother to find them. I also remember getting into all sorts of trouble, when I was only about six or seven years old, for taking my little friend to see them which involved crossing a busy main road!! Of course what I hadn't realised, being so young, was that when we eventually got there the Primroses would have finished flowering weeks before. All that walking and a telling off by my parents for nothing! ;-)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxDXb5nIW2xd427h1JpVvmJf4n1qmqIjWL_fKpRoOF17-gaqJWYLCCtVwLN01wMMuto2hzoqwVgSZukFxR4VKEJVAi3stUxpizlloYgsE0CEuKP2I0RWKGZF0SUGHr_pf09Nzsr7gnzs/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxDXb5nIW2xd427h1JpVvmJf4n1qmqIjWL_fKpRoOF17-gaqJWYLCCtVwLN01wMMuto2hzoqwVgSZukFxR4VKEJVAi3stUxpizlloYgsE0CEuKP2I0RWKGZF0SUGHr_pf09Nzsr7gnzs/s640/IMG_0054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Primroses</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'Now primroses, close shelter'd from the cold,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just here and there some tender flowers unfold'. </span><br />
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(William Cole) </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the way back home, on Saturday, we had to brake suddenly when we spotted a Pheasant and his mate crossing the road, we were very fortunate there were no cars behind us! Of course I had to try and get a photo and managed to snatch a quick one of the male as they were making their getaway across the grounds of a large house.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64P0qFtIXLLhfqjDolFwU0ReCBS_H6fxb3rSewulhRyMLOUxGrJa3Xmnp-UVO__th31CadpuviuCWGnxvsgoSeEUdXBfHYt_N6YpcbPP_x8UQLmfQ2vYA_lfWdutQ8TY9Kb5I6fUNdWk/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64P0qFtIXLLhfqjDolFwU0ReCBS_H6fxb3rSewulhRyMLOUxGrJa3Xmnp-UVO__th31CadpuviuCWGnxvsgoSeEUdXBfHYt_N6YpcbPP_x8UQLmfQ2vYA_lfWdutQ8TY9Kb5I6fUNdWk/s640/IMG_0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I'm sure I have outstayed my welcome so until next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-80656551383619777242013-03-04T17:45:00.000+00:002014-09-06T15:07:39.766+01:00Winter Visitors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3m4Iq10LW4IYdbfllIZ2AqEH_jkAKDqiGUdFocfnZA8jzwS0lJoNW9LlcStSJkYNjaPTjm1MQ9g4_g-ck3mrgSZLc8g8BE6ygtrvEL0QJjyEYFtGUjnRLODjqVJ5R0VmTcVm62bo1WE/s640/IMG_0443.JPG" height="362" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the beautiful, mild and sunny weather we have had today this post feels a little out of date but having already put it together I might as well go ahead regardless. Just a few weeks ago, during the snow, I was pleased to see Fieldfares in the garden which had been attracted by the apples I scattered on the ground and speared onto tree branches. All of the photos were taken through double glazing in the north facing garden in dim conditions so were the best I could manage under the circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoOxiO0FHQrevYaS41f6uB-ea_zzhGCZzWU0LdMpeVeFNG19OJ2fmpuMoMDrEblUX0qspP6lxm9JFmVI_kFHEJKjBNrAnEcU1DnHsJ_qnUml1wH8ZFDeCI15KMqsHG7RE8ZhvA1VSgkQ/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoOxiO0FHQrevYaS41f6uB-ea_zzhGCZzWU0LdMpeVeFNG19OJ2fmpuMoMDrEblUX0qspP6lxm9JFmVI_kFHEJKjBNrAnEcU1DnHsJ_qnUml1wH8ZFDeCI15KMqsHG7RE8ZhvA1VSgkQ/s640/IMG_0586.JPG" height="404" width="640" /> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Fieldfare</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These handsome Winter visitors, members of the thrush family, are always a pleasure to see in the garden and every time we have snow I know they are likely to appear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys4ue8t3XUlIj4K9YaMzUKA0a9rzbpvfk15Cz8iYS7GyugAtpIKUWUtx5B1lBVdvaWrVljBIJ-YWiRL2FKNKfAgDh9H7sW6jnltFPRHuKTrdM3Erfv8ExIffKg77E0oQL-PYAE4y2whE/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys4ue8t3XUlIj4K9YaMzUKA0a9rzbpvfk15Cz8iYS7GyugAtpIKUWUtx5B1lBVdvaWrVljBIJ-YWiRL2FKNKfAgDh9H7sW6jnltFPRHuKTrdM3Erfv8ExIffKg77E0oQL-PYAE4y2whE/s640/IMG_0417.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They can be very defensive of
'their' food and there is usually one which is dominant and sees off all
comers. Other Fieldfares are constantly chased away and other hopeful
feeders, even the usually confident Blackbirds, never stand a chance
when it is on patrol! There is an awful lot of valuable energy and
eating time lost by all involved during this behaviour, such a shame
when there is plenty of food, around the garden, for all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s640/IMG_0657.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'Look into the garden,<br />
Where the grass was green;<br />
Covered by the snowflakes, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not a blade is seen.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Anon)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY2GapxZQzrdtSVfQRwZvsKJKywtKlmlMPeP8p_G2bIzfDZt55Js4d7M9stnIFaktwIfl1pAmX51seklN_95qpPHjIvB1O7nsLqQQjhyj316VtlM_25QsDAPjM4NxrfTWu8GQC90bCdw/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY2GapxZQzrdtSVfQRwZvsKJKywtKlmlMPeP8p_G2bIzfDZt55Js4d7M9stnIFaktwIfl1pAmX51seklN_95qpPHjIvB1O7nsLqQQjhyj316VtlM_25QsDAPjM4NxrfTWu8GQC90bCdw/s640/IMG_0475.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'The fieldfares sit torpid and motionless, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yet peering round suspicious of deceit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At our approach they mount, and, <br />Loudly chattering from on high, <br />Bid the wild woods of human guile beware.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Thomas Gisborne)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOuqJPc5_FCIzcBs8CPbEqHh9_Q9c8qcLOjYhLqF8ine0AwlaPh5An1B-MGb0_Ij24vm8JYaNRO8VT-J8jZzI4luYjJf6Idktp1eorn9KYTgSV40Mgqbm97NiUek-hKoi-N7JczrCfQ/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8lsbXuHgHsQbw0AW5NuDzxczbOT3NUpNs2EDWdadPsfjhuqSvuCQMRPum2orwj7o5dVkbg9adL-2t2236bZUMrUGr39vJL8p9ja-_iJ24-Els3O81yr4_YBZwEYKPrNS6EOTxMVaF5Q/s640/IMG_0252.JPG" height="419" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite their cantankerous behaviour, when defending their food, Fieldfares are gregarious birds which roost in flocks, sometimes on the ground. Gilbert White of 'The Natural History of Selborne' fame said that 'Fieldfares, though they frequently perch during the day, always appear to roost on the ground' However, John Blackwall disproved that assertion, when he noted in 1812, on a visit to Tamworth in Staffordshire, that although 'they regularly assembled in an extensive wood in the neighbourhood, and
roosted on the ground, among the withered grass and fern, under the
trees and bushes' that a relation of his, 'to whom this species is familiarly known,
assures me, that on moon-light nights, he has shot individuals with his
air-gun, as they sat at roosts on the naked branches of lofty trees.' :-( The distasteful mention of shooting was presumably with reference to the fact that Fieldfares were once considered a delicacy at the table :-( While their breeding grounds are mainly in northeast Europe I was interested to read that up to four or five pairs remain here each year and breed in Scotland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuOBwlupPLehSO6Hcf6IhpZiBCcEh3-jL2f8lTpeXPSlETYgTh10rJH6LXLGOhHckSLtn7igWV9zzCbYorNJ_CAfXbH64WbEZNOmx2p1S_DMp-Spz0dCKHaInOE6NETKgjiR2UgnBdFg/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuOBwlupPLehSO6Hcf6IhpZiBCcEh3-jL2f8lTpeXPSlETYgTh10rJH6LXLGOhHckSLtn7igWV9zzCbYorNJ_CAfXbH64WbEZNOmx2p1S_DMp-Spz0dCKHaInOE6NETKgjiR2UgnBdFg/s640/IMG_0409.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'The fieldfare wakes from dreams of love;<br />
Hears the loud north and beating snow,<br />
Regards the drifted brakes below,<br />
Swift to her wing returns her beak.<br />
And shivers as the tempests break.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (John Gisborne [younger brother </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of the above Thomas])</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have also seen male and female Bramblings in the garden recently and both male and female Blackcaps but couldn't get any photos. A solitary Redwing (I assume it was the same one each day) also visited regularly but I didn't see it showing any interest in the apples, spending its time instead on the margins of the garden presumably hunting </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for any worms or insects that might be lurking in the areas of ground which weren't snow covered. I couldn't even get one anywhere near decent photo but </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when they have visited the garden previously they have always stayed in the trees or bushes eating any leftover berries</span> so I have included this poor record shot anyway.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6tfkMQUerxUaCHZXQNIAubbsIRmXlLUuDokSaFV6Q4aVdm6Io1DD9kTm4DYqcG-bjcpTtg_WaSerlPVMscYMG0V_3Jtqw1GmuVWvrXwkdXzLM3aEQu3amF0opfIK4CTZGId085eeHq4/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6tfkMQUerxUaCHZXQNIAubbsIRmXlLUuDokSaFV6Q4aVdm6Io1DD9kTm4DYqcG-bjcpTtg_WaSerlPVMscYMG0V_3Jtqw1GmuVWvrXwkdXzLM3aEQu3amF0opfIK4CTZGId085eeHq4/s640/IMG_0569.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Redwing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another bird which usually visits the garden during severe weather is the dainty Pied Wagtail. It seems to hold its own well against the larger birds even the Blackbirds which, in my experience, seem particularly hostile towards it. This one was particularly enjoying the dried mealworms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Ux5iIZrdRZXH5iKIgHLfN9wHKrnNO72-iUVmzjPfIYH5yL54QK6SYt337kMP8JXXVVQCgpDj-EDJ9z4cisjQE3TmoZwckgISoW75_ju2Rzj5uckX7Ey5PlOoe_nAQC-pxJuqW4jxO8/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Ux5iIZrdRZXH5iKIgHLfN9wHKrnNO72-iUVmzjPfIYH5yL54QK6SYt337kMP8JXXVVQCgpDj-EDJ9z4cisjQE3TmoZwckgISoW75_ju2Rzj5uckX7Ey5PlOoe_nAQC-pxJuqW4jxO8/s640/IMG_0721.JPG" height="340" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pied Wagtail </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a soft spot for the Collared Dove. They are regular, year round visitors to the garden and always seem to display the gentle qualities which the reputation of doves in general suggests. This one looked like it was wishing there was foliage on the tree to shelter it from the falling snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'The trees and the hedges once clothed in bright green,<br />
No traces bear now of what they have been;<br />
All nature in clothing of snow may be seen,<br />
And yet there is beauty to me.'</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Matilda Mumford)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I will finish as I started with a Fieldfare </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-38402064322802460702013-01-30T17:54:00.000+00:002013-02-13T20:07:03.523+00:00A Waxwing At Last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUbRO6Yf1iEFFoRF50XBH-u3gnfJwUJ5oJpOfUN7AECWwhFb0C-deHZbeX-txTTeHZHbEcSVwgNjKjnIGkCyXxtmNwneQg0OhpcX9l_9ZBD7sXTt3waducZlqzOBHPUQ9e1nE2ztywss/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUbRO6Yf1iEFFoRF50XBH-u3gnfJwUJ5oJpOfUN7AECWwhFb0C-deHZbeX-txTTeHZHbEcSVwgNjKjnIGkCyXxtmNwneQg0OhpcX9l_9ZBD7sXTt3waducZlqzOBHPUQ9e1nE2ztywss/s640/IMG_0027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All I wanted for Christmas...was a Waxwing...but I was disappointed! Several times, during December, I spent time locally, following up reports of sightings of small flocks of these much sought after and charismatic birds. The last time there was an irruption of Bohemian Waxwings in the UK in the Winter of 2010/11 many, if not most, of my blogland birding friends were lucky enough to see them but sadly I missed out completely so when it became clear, late last year, that this was to be another 'Waxwing Winter' I was determined to make a concerted effort to try and find them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'But, oh! my spirit burned within, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My heart beat full and fast! <br />
He came not nigh—he went away— </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then my joy was past.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Acton Bell)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Irruptions of birds occur when the food source in their own area is scarce. Waxwings feed primarily on berries and fruit and the crop there this year was poor. Consequently large numbers arrived in the UK (probably not as many as 2010/11) hoping to take advantage of the bounty here. Unfortunately though our own berry crop has also been poor this time and many of the larger flocks (their preferred way to travel around) of Waxwings have broken up and formed much smaller groups, flying further away from the east coast and across the country in search of dwindling supplies of berries. They will take insects on the wing if available but as I said their preference is berries, Rowan, Hawthorn, Pyracantha etc. They will also eat apples and since late Autumn I have been spearing them onto the branches of trees in my garden in the hope of attracting some but with no luck so far.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My quest to find them before Christmas was not to be. I always managed to just miss them. Most of these sightings were only a matter of four or five minutes' drive away so when, a couple of days before the recent snow arrived, I read more reports of a very small group being sighted in the same area, the hunt was on again. I was scanning the sides of the road for any likely trees or hedges but there really were very few berries to be seen. As we passed one tree I did a double take when I spotted a bird high in the branches but decided it was probably a Starling particularly as I was really looking for a small group of birds rather than just one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 'Powerful was the beauty of these birds. <br />
It boomed like a struck bell in the silence deep and hot.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Edna St. Vincent Millay)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Carrying on searching around the area produced nothing at all and as it was getting late and the light was starting to fail I decided to call it a day. Going back the way we had come I again spotted, high in a different tree, a Starling sized bird...with an unmistakeable crest!! I had found my first ever Waxwing :-) which I think probably was the same bird I had seen earlier. It may only have been one but how thrilled I was! I took a silly amount of photos knowing it was a </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">difficult subject with it being late in the day and as usual not really close enough for my 50-250mm lens. After that I just enjoyed watching it for a while through the binoculars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bohemian Waxwings are so called due to their presumed origins from Bohemia and habit of travelling in nomadic flocks. Waxwing refers to the wax like tips on the ends of the secondary feathers which resemble drops of sealing wax. Males which show more red wax are preferred by females. As I have mentioned they normally travel together, usually in flocks of around 50-300 but sometimes in excess of 3,000! When feeding in flocks they will eat in shifts, one group at a time, so that all get their fair share. They really are fascinating birds. When courting, male and female can be seen passing berries back and forth, often for quite prolonged periods. This behaviour has also been observed in social situations where a berry is passed back and forth along a whole row of Waxwings and very unusually they even practise their sharing ritual before fledging! There are no records of them breeding in the UK. Some birds have been observed in this country as late as early May. Their lifespan is around 5 years but there are records of them living until the age of 12.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'Trilling Bohemian waxwings.</span></div>
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Enhancing the winter fragrance of<br />
a crab apple tree of frozen fruit.<br />
Trilling in a most joyous song of</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Happiness.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Jim Smart)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Latin name is Bombycilla Garrulus. Bombyx (silk) </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and cilla (tail) </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">which refers to the bird's soft and silky plumage<span style="color: red;">*</span> </span>and garrulus meaning noisy. Collective names for them are an 'earful' of Waxwings and a 'museum' of Waxwings. Old texts have described it as an 'un satiable' bird and a 'lazy and inert fellow whose only accomplishments are within the art of eating'! Given how far and wide they fly to search for food I don't agree with the view that it is 'lazy and inert'. However, it will eat its weight in food each day. Sometimes, when berries have fermented, this has unfortunate consequences causing them to fly in an unstable manner and making them vulnerable to predation and accident. The artist and naturalist John James Audubon would sometimes pick up drunken Waxwings from the ground to use in his illustrations.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xFSLZVXJ2SzRprhOtEySDMlxyCkfOq-7N-896_ZhE86mdRM3IeHYsZ26J3HVWRaxuBgBxRL_2KQCE3rl9s9mV6fpxPhPqfPQ7hk_a70TCFgAodPKa2M_4swSwDSWGsLXTC1MN2CgtjE/s1600/image.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xFSLZVXJ2SzRprhOtEySDMlxyCkfOq-7N-896_ZhE86mdRM3IeHYsZ26J3HVWRaxuBgBxRL_2KQCE3rl9s9mV6fpxPhPqfPQ7hk_a70TCFgAodPKa2M_4swSwDSWGsLXTC1MN2CgtjE/s640/image.jpeg" width="458" /><span style="color: magenta;">*</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (John James Audubon's 'The Birds of America', 1827-1838.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, although I didn't get a Waxwing for Christmas I did get one for the new year. I would love to have seen more than one, to have been closer, for there not to have been twigs in the way and to have seen it earlier in the day when conditions were better but I did see one and <b><i>that's</i></b> what really matters :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="color: red;">*</span> </span>I am indebted to</span><span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Marianne</span></a> <span style="color: lime;">for the following extra information:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: lime;"> 'The idea that 'cilla' means 'tail' comes from a misunderstanding of the
scientific name of the wagtail genus, Motacilla. This means 'little
mover' (the 'illa' part being a diminuitive), but was taken by some
writers, undertandably enough, to mean 'moving tail'. As a result,
'cilla' has since been used to mean 'tail' in several scientific names,
including Bombycilla, but really Bombycilla would mean 'little silky
thing'.'
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ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-68596616002528462572013-01-13T17:14:00.000+00:002013-01-19T16:22:27.309+00:00Using Up the Leftovers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTx0EhCNkEjugGOnwFb6aqVK1sBeC9x_ysuFg-Z5mNjq-XK-D9gYapQ2K9fB94CKR0q-nlRdZfakwQe0fsPzTIZdrleHba_76RCRhA9kE3odceKT5PjrajqtCh8PbEiLdCQJyQKQb10A/s640/IMG_0098.JPG" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and that you will all have a wonderful 2013! As Christmas has only just gone I'm sure many of us have been using up the leftovers whether it be chocolates, snacks or pieces of cheese growing smellier by the day but in my case, as well as all of those it is also photos which never quite made it to the blog. Once these have been 'eaten' up the cupboard will be bare and I will be hoping for better things than I found on my latest walk which was just about nothing, even the usual Winter Thrushes were nowhere to be seen or heard and the ones I saw on previous walks were too flighty for photos. Hopefully, this year will be a better one in every way and I will be able to get out with the camera more often and let's hope all of us in the UK will have much better weather this year too...it surely couldn't be any worse...could it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will probably be relieved to know that the butterflies in this post are the last I will inflict on you until the Spring ;-) These lovely little Small Coppers were seen during my visit to Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve in August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Small Copper Butterfly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This butterfly,<br />Seems as if loth to stir, <br />so lazily<br />It flutters by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Alfred Billings Street)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeMAnObR4c0uKkCi8i0qr_xKlQMxr0eu_iDMwRIU9BX_Qqj8qhito5A0jrb-7lqcww4XjrjmH0veDVjsFEiqa_4K9bdcQPYeMQe0qVO90VlugZFrpBVsel0TjcX9fQDIn1Dnxywoa2M8/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeMAnObR4c0uKkCi8i0qr_xKlQMxr0eu_iDMwRIU9BX_Qqj8qhito5A0jrb-7lqcww4XjrjmH0veDVjsFEiqa_4K9bdcQPYeMQe0qVO90VlugZFrpBVsel0TjcX9fQDIn1Dnxywoa2M8/s640/IMG_0344.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next three were also seen at Aston Rowant, it is a great place for butterflies and the only place I managed to photograph a Brimstone this year which shows what a bad year it was, unfortunately though it was in the wrong place so I haven't included the photo here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_QKl6Sui3OkJsfRBK9EhFtlXDI9Ssvg0wQgZlDS1sj3-C1A_v69asnN4MfFFCd9J1NT_QP6KeqgdoCMeBN6mdM_WazgjVf1wxk1oTipA-AYR1kNtGE-ie0Mbg8b2eOcrbQErPJb90cQ/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_QKl6Sui3OkJsfRBK9EhFtlXDI9Ssvg0wQgZlDS1sj3-C1A_v69asnN4MfFFCd9J1NT_QP6KeqgdoCMeBN6mdM_WazgjVf1wxk1oTipA-AYR1kNtGE-ie0Mbg8b2eOcrbQErPJb90cQ/s640/IMG_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meadow Brown Butterfly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one was seen more locally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnBzAr0mms5LuIndTp4-n6f9FFgmRydoK4slsqfk6AZV86MF4ZolDERqEnyIjT8uCbSLKTv6BbECV7R_Rf_eSbpN7navRFIZTeeiYVXBPJjNPSJr_lasVjSPmaBOmLDTsGFgvoGsHYE8/s640/IMG_0067.JPG" width="640" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Green-veined White Butterfly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had never seen a wild <i>black </i>rabbit before but spotted this large specimen at another Nature reserve in the late Summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A little rabbit, basking in the sun.<br />Dark night has ended, day has just begun.<br />The blackbird trills his morning song of love, <br />And green leaves cascade down from clouds above.<br />All nature's wide awake – and it seems funny to be a gentle, friendly little bunny!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">((Sir) Patrick Moore...In Memoriam...1923-2012)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this juvenile Coot was spotted looking comical as only Coots can at yet another Nature reserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Juvenile Coot</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I included the next photo just to show that even the humblest fly can look pretty in the right setting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lucilia sp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'This world surely is wide enough </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to hold both thee and me'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Laurence Stern)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next two butterflies were found locally, much later in the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next is my favourite butterfly, I love its bold colours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Red Admiral Butterfly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of the following photos were also taken later in the year, this little Coal Tit was in my garden, they are regular visitors to the feeders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coal Tit</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I saw this Blue Tit on a local walk during the Autumn.<i> </i>I thought it was interested in the blackberries but on closer inspection of the photo it seems to have found a dragonfly for its supper!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHSRkt8ogbrkOghOeLKcuROxO51Zn2Dnva_vnNZotnKpkftP-DkvE4_32m7yw7yFOHRJ5y9mTdToVMkbAlHXheU8H3EJAh_Tmn6SAP7nkWb5B8lRs1abEQx1l01MfBh9j6cXD2ck_E5M/s640/IMG_0709.JPG" width="640" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Green Woodpecker was quite a distance away. Most of my bird photos have to be heavily cropped as the 50-250mm lens really can't get close enough but is the only one light enough for me to hold </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">comfortably</span> for any length of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEkCEwkkfmSKmUUW7fVmZ-KR2lOCrC0FGPBWT0EvHUr6zUuReYsUUBjNJzpMfCHuuYbhYhLfbrAAJh_b7ZXpwCLRZKquHgGyh_9EE9aufxexRg0O2NW-5Hv1U7cJuqQBJVp8MU2ihspY/s640/IMG_0698.JPG" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I saw this Migrant Hawker on the same walk, the only one I saw last year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yCQahm4hUkMDnCVoDtdP8GnGgmCdk5ps5Iv6en34X__GktF8x6IWoR5BZMDeRU4T4bYFohqc0FBEtHcPTwMHt-4_R2clMG9RoFrbGGClWkM_sR23WHizn9-_TCqh9vF0mA1zuUaFTp4/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yCQahm4hUkMDnCVoDtdP8GnGgmCdk5ps5Iv6en34X__GktF8x6IWoR5BZMDeRU4T4bYFohqc0FBEtHcPTwMHt-4_R2clMG9RoFrbGGClWkM_sR23WHizn9-_TCqh9vF0mA1zuUaFTp4/s640/IMG_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Migrant Hawker Dragonfly </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I will finish as I started with this seasonal little Robin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvJED9gF26v2A-L__KvXNmj4cE0fZqrQ3O3t3OSRVAXo666LNCaZkt-3ldAM8Fs-fQzqmWlb-7RPD5NoGNoTCp2Hd7dQTL767bZFkQ4EdMZ7E0AIDRlLjAyAgxtlk8DRZ-fJKy_3TwMs/s1600/IMG_0770.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvJED9gF26v2A-L__KvXNmj4cE0fZqrQ3O3t3OSRVAXo666LNCaZkt-3ldAM8Fs-fQzqmWlb-7RPD5NoGNoTCp2Hd7dQTL767bZFkQ4EdMZ7E0AIDRlLjAyAgxtlk8DRZ-fJKy_3TwMs/s640/IMG_0770.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Robin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well that's it for now, the cupboard is pretty well bare but hopefully, I will be able to get out with the camera in some decent light soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime;">EDIT: Apologies that for a reason I cannot fathom, when clicked on, only six photos show in Blogger Lightbox. I have tried to correct the problem with no success so far, Hopefully, my next post will be back to normal.</span> </span></div>
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ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-46297024513959168772012-11-24T18:47:00.000+00:002012-11-26T15:26:36.673+00:00Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve on a Summer's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHFe7Dg1346kPtlc2KPyhFDXEOjbRfC3m8UqKVtxdmkG4Xpnehysddq9r5ZNI4L1Z9IHKKbMlX7lFsQHQsZRi6fAbkFmB3mo0oaM5v7KNJ1E6lOBzDEMj7-S3MWjuruqIcp5Pj9Ivt10/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHFe7Dg1346kPtlc2KPyhFDXEOjbRfC3m8UqKVtxdmkG4Xpnehysddq9r5ZNI4L1Z9IHKKbMlX7lFsQHQsZRi6fAbkFmB3mo0oaM5v7KNJ1E6lOBzDEMj7-S3MWjuruqIcp5Pj9Ivt10/s640/IMG_0117.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As is often the case with the best laid plans, my 'series of catch up posts' wasn't to be but as the weather here has been so very gloomy for the last few weeks I thought it would be nice to be transported back to one of the very few sunny Summer days we had this year and show you a visit I made to Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve. The reserve is located high on the steep north western escarpment of the Chilterns and part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty (COAB), it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl6OSZl-E1xJcGEKB03-PFJGXhJ_AGAwf697PVuoZ7ciMYN-1pgwvHlHdgrzzLTZqhKnCqJT6ojCiTHvN-ZVfQMnGzuy1eMCcQ3jqQRjxzOWPwt77_ekfg79n91RGkK4x790kjR06NAI/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl6OSZl-E1xJcGEKB03-PFJGXhJ_AGAwf697PVuoZ7ciMYN-1pgwvHlHdgrzzLTZqhKnCqJT6ojCiTHvN-ZVfQMnGzuy1eMCcQ3jqQRjxzOWPwt77_ekfg79n91RGkK4x790kjR06NAI/s640/IMG_0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The beauty of this special place was, for me, marred by the ever present sound of traffic from the motorway, the M40 having been carved straight through the chalk hill, the heart of the reserve, which has resulted in reserve land on both sides of the motorway. For much of the time it is only the constant hum of the traffic which disturbs the tranquillity of this lovely place but there is one part which involves a lengthy walk along a narrow track on the top of the very steep hillside where the motorway is in full view far below. Some would probably not find it intrusive but for me it spoilt the place and it is a mystery to me why the decision would have been made, back in 1974, to cut the Chiltern escarpment through the middle of a supposedly protected National Nature Reserve despite, apparently, fierce and passionate opposition at the time by conservationists. I hasten to add I am not being hypocritical and did not travel on the motorway to get there, even though it would have cut the around an hour and a quarter journey by about twenty minutes or so, preferring to avoid such soulless routes whenever possible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGIkwQitZ9fre88jxaoFSQgokjzyEieFMmJ2rWzKzK9MlM1JiVToabWlfWSA_k6DuFnl5iGMLhrrHO6zpopTL5xhdr9LD8KEtbGwU3Lg9q3_xBI5AA3JZZt07IzFX_ryIWtjNAxlpqvE/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGIkwQitZ9fre88jxaoFSQgokjzyEieFMmJ2rWzKzK9MlM1JiVToabWlfWSA_k6DuFnl5iGMLhrrHO6zpopTL5xhdr9LD8KEtbGwU3Lg9q3_xBI5AA3JZZt07IzFX_ryIWtjNAxlpqvE/s640/IMG_0195.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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My little rant over ;-) and back to the purpose of the visit which was primarily to look for the Chalkhill Blue butterfly. It is fortunate I didn't go for the Red Kites which should have been there in abundance as the only one I saw was on the journey there! Unlike the visit to nearby Watlington Hill in 2009 when they were <i>everywhere. </i>You can read about that visit <span style="color: lime;"><a href="http://shysongbirdstwitterings.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/flying-kites-on-watlington-hill.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">here</span></a></span> and <a href="http://shysongbirdstwitterings.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/more-from-watlington-hill.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">here</span></a>. I should add the visit to Watlington Hill was unsullied by sights or sounds of the motorway but I didn't see any Chalkhill Blues there and had read I was more likely to at Aston Rowant and so it was, although on this occasion not in the large numbers I might have expected.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZzBAB17i5E36MjmZEJcPcuOKZZdARYpL6L8j3qiUK9hkREtx19_6VVWDcgs1eINmZ1mtEt7VaiEyqJ8U4TAA0kxZG16yLY-U_ahel5VfkWKqufuNdx6RffT5Top9yCvV_fZxBlW_Jdc/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZzBAB17i5E36MjmZEJcPcuOKZZdARYpL6L8j3qiUK9hkREtx19_6VVWDcgs1eINmZ1mtEt7VaiEyqJ8U4TAA0kxZG16yLY-U_ahel5VfkWKqufuNdx6RffT5Top9yCvV_fZxBlW_Jdc/s640/IMG_0025.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Chalkhill Blue Butterfly<br />
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As the name suggests, this pretty little butterfly is found on chalk downland and sometimes limestone downland. Their larval foodplant is Horseshoe Vetch and large numbers of males may be seen en masse obtaining moisture and minerals from animal dung in the same way as the <a href="http://shysongbirdstwitterings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-purple-emperor-audience-with-his.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Purple Emperor</span>.</a> The Chalkhill Blue is a butterfly of conservation concern due to weather patterns during the last decade or so.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7iEKGWkfSzkYxIV399PCVXc913xG3xPsXpyxhyT7Aj_cVUCTjnLOOIGiDdH-1A3erhlSxlGsM-ysybuYeMUFizS8AoOaF-FKfUpHWaefH1UnwMZ0EplQd71RCxij60WvftjvwuEqbWc/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7iEKGWkfSzkYxIV399PCVXc913xG3xPsXpyxhyT7Aj_cVUCTjnLOOIGiDdH-1A3erhlSxlGsM-ysybuYeMUFizS8AoOaF-FKfUpHWaefH1UnwMZ0EplQd71RCxij60WvftjvwuEqbWc/s640/IMG_0019.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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'0 could I stand beneath the sky,<br />
With shining grass about my feet,<br />
And catch one bright blue butterfly:<br />
I think that life would be too sweet!'</div>
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(E.A. Hart)<br />
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I interpreted the poem to mean 'catch' with the eye rather than the hands. I think you know I would never approve of that :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Izvg7DEHRIt3sVL4mAFmk9qS5v_mYTJR1oCnQQGGec5SbB8o2YHQAeJOg_AivMS4k0815gY6lKbjaR8k0cyIKJLoaoaEeYAwuE5S-DCsvuj-_xclpCHVv1v9SHeVDcMDnlyfNRFE98s/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Izvg7DEHRIt3sVL4mAFmk9qS5v_mYTJR1oCnQQGGec5SbB8o2YHQAeJOg_AivMS4k0815gY6lKbjaR8k0cyIKJLoaoaEeYAwuE5S-DCsvuj-_xclpCHVv1v9SHeVDcMDnlyfNRFE98s/s640/IMG_0032.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I only found one with open wings, a male.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltOD4-g40YQeTsOgluWOnhIplFyHJ4P7vj5ELIGUvIxy9DeG_GaCfx0tiQaGmDabVamdY7adbZItkDyWJsDwmjXv8COmLxlmt6pmryGs2ciXTtB7rQr8H-z7LvUYjiiod0Lth1YIZFH8/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltOD4-g40YQeTsOgluWOnhIplFyHJ4P7vj5ELIGUvIxy9DeG_GaCfx0tiQaGmDabVamdY7adbZItkDyWJsDwmjXv8COmLxlmt6pmryGs2ciXTtB7rQr8H-z7LvUYjiiod0Lth1YIZFH8/s640/IMG_0083.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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There are a small number of attractive sculptures on the reserve which were created by local artists, mostly from wood found there. Each sculpture has a wind-up listening post where you can hear audio clips of either the artist relating the story behind their piece or children and adults explaining what the reserve means to them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyCBDqhruCtCxg8AOHxKXRfeqPOabd64xNL9zJwxRHO1aFG8p1h3xDrM6ssph4l254Ns0We-wJRDt_gDu-BMSUmIoXD79trbAo3ba7v5Zti0J-56Bb5RGGajYAimZugMia8vxJeRRlCo/s1600/IMG_0078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyCBDqhruCtCxg8AOHxKXRfeqPOabd64xNL9zJwxRHO1aFG8p1h3xDrM6ssph4l254Ns0We-wJRDt_gDu-BMSUmIoXD79trbAo3ba7v5Zti0J-56Bb5RGGajYAimZugMia8vxJeRRlCo/s640/IMG_0078.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Despite this next butterfly being relatively widespread throughout the country I had never knowingly seen it before although I know many of my UK blogland friends have. It is quite inconspicuous and rarely settles more than a metre above ground so I may well have inadvertently overlooked it in the past.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqnF98GzgfrkHQDnf3kHJKbyrEmWbCYHuaO6ewcUZlceJIw4Y253UVVwLjzKCx7BlcoC10mnLL7qul82NjTdNnVmVY0Ob1u3TwLiHGpM5cFe1SkxW7nnv2Po4cg0ETeuJZYPLDrQNjyY/s1600/IMG_0360+%28Custom%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqnF98GzgfrkHQDnf3kHJKbyrEmWbCYHuaO6ewcUZlceJIw4Y253UVVwLjzKCx7BlcoC10mnLL7qul82NjTdNnVmVY0Ob1u3TwLiHGpM5cFe1SkxW7nnv2Po4cg0ETeuJZYPLDrQNjyY/s640/IMG_0360+%28Custom%29.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Small Heath Butterfly</div>
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I spotted this grasshopper on the naturally trodden, narrow track we were following through the chalk grassland, it is slightly out of focus as it was constantly on the move but the photo also shows how chalky the ground is. I'm not completely sure but think it is the Common Green Grasshopper.<br />
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EDIT: Thank you very much to <a href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Greenie</span></a> for confirmation of my ID. As always, I knew I could rely on you Greenie.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs7IVLkPfhLaOI4jF65XPbOHIiFHJLWF_K1qgLl0fZjX7d8Vk3FNK7P0PKPDOAv-mVHmEXDDdrot6qZ80bpoRwftOvT5b_oVtjlXUo-z7RPmGhH9oounePNOD39d_xUY4WYT70G_3b7g/s1600/IMG_0200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs7IVLkPfhLaOI4jF65XPbOHIiFHJLWF_K1qgLl0fZjX7d8Vk3FNK7P0PKPDOAv-mVHmEXDDdrot6qZ80bpoRwftOvT5b_oVtjlXUo-z7RPmGhH9oounePNOD39d_xUY4WYT70G_3b7g/s640/IMG_0200.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Common Green Grasshopper<br />
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<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork">'When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,<br />
And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run<br />
From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;<br />
That is the Grasshopper's--he takes the lead<br />
In summer luxury,--he has never done<br />
With his delights; for when tired out with fun<br />
He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.'</span><br />
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<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork">(John Keats)</span></div>
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<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork">When I visited Watlington Hill I was lucky enough to see a rare butterfly which is restricted to chalk downland in southern England so I was hoping I might also see it at Aston Rowant, I was not disappointed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5fq7kX1aiqHHef6t6cpGUbTBmu4HooZU_l5g4Ga4EL0HS1C4_Nwu-Mcnm9pUpiwvvv1O3GVMFMnIcxVCxMCvHXtLDasTABIXMSdQ3Ev8ZCte_XDZwthe_OBXnFJw62fxEer40IV37cc/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5fq7kX1aiqHHef6t6cpGUbTBmu4HooZU_l5g4Ga4EL0HS1C4_Nwu-Mcnm9pUpiwvvv1O3GVMFMnIcxVCxMCvHXtLDasTABIXMSdQ3Ev8ZCte_XDZwthe_OBXnFJw62fxEer40IV37cc/s640/IMG_0232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Silver-spotted Skipper Butterfly<br />
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This delightful little butterfly is on the wing from late July until early September. They have one brood and the female lays a single egg on Sheep's Fescue (a type of grass), or sometimes on adjacent plants, where they overwinter. In early Spring the larvae hatch and then feed in small silk webs around the food plant. They pupate deep within small tussocks of grass and surrounded by loose silk cocoons. Although the Silver-spotted Skipper is of conservation concern, due to a decline over the last fifty years, its fortunes have improved since the 1980s with the careful management of chalk grassland sites.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSY8Zqqf2aBcq8WTyWJIOso7N12xn-z-c-He5fgWkdL_l4uFF5QJOoVoVF_s7dnwgnjqhZrmFRX8hmSRP2gZRSq3jvwaYHyWN1WPID56g7ncmsypjPwKbTQnlqzfCefHPwstaCGpXMV8/s1600/IMG_0216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSY8Zqqf2aBcq8WTyWJIOso7N12xn-z-c-He5fgWkdL_l4uFF5QJOoVoVF_s7dnwgnjqhZrmFRX8hmSRP2gZRSq3jvwaYHyWN1WPID56g7ncmsypjPwKbTQnlqzfCefHPwstaCGpXMV8/s640/IMG_0216.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Before we set off for the reserve I had made a mental note to look out for another rarity however, when we arrived I was so engrossed in looking for butterflies that I completely forgot but on our way back to the car we passed an information board which mentioned it and decided to double back and make another foray, this time looking not for a butterfly but for a flower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehPwX17Acj5S57xJvLQ8KyJ2wazgYAIn9YjrvUQ1Fa9n5Jx_c4tBmibmbCrBBT9NhTOCOb26urlSFM82_26qZ0rK5TCVyVoUExStXPgdFLMeaSvTiYFJSgaoNFvjwY9XSYDoi7z7qd1c/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehPwX17Acj5S57xJvLQ8KyJ2wazgYAIn9YjrvUQ1Fa9n5Jx_c4tBmibmbCrBBT9NhTOCOb26urlSFM82_26qZ0rK5TCVyVoUExStXPgdFLMeaSvTiYFJSgaoNFvjwY9XSYDoi7z7qd1c/s640/IMG_0389.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Consequently I spent another hour or so going uphill...very, very steep, breath taking and back bothering hills ;-) and down dale but with no success having completely lost track of the instructions of the route to follow which were given on the notice board. In the end I admitted defeat and decided to try again another time....Only to get home and find that just the third photo I had taken, on arrival, of a pretty but unknown flower was what I had subsequently spent so long searching for at the end of my visit! Why it didn't dawn on me when I took the photo I really don't know, if it had I would have spent more time taking a better one than this solitary, quick snap :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg5Xi-5vKcv8HPfb0COGN27Ib2dlXiGqADrUpBNFZteBG1QSAdT6wgIyZmd_1U0VjW-sL_r0TL9K8ROX3vl8Z_VZfHJQkHA_1O7YzqIA1FuOf4TZ0kLkROppH6xO_ggCN8bcUSMiPujg/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg5Xi-5vKcv8HPfb0COGN27Ib2dlXiGqADrUpBNFZteBG1QSAdT6wgIyZmd_1U0VjW-sL_r0TL9K8ROX3vl8Z_VZfHJQkHA_1O7YzqIA1FuOf4TZ0kLkROppH6xO_ggCN8bcUSMiPujg/s640/IMG_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Chiltern Gentian<br />
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As we wended our way back through the woodland to the car park this sculpture looked quite magical with the setting sun's rays falling on it through the tree canopy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNibejcIJ7i8-4a22bn5uGRzAc1UoxmQXrN283Ewc48Szss6T0kd9K3lxso0AvafK0luzuTP_8As-4N7f7NcYeizLHHPKpFE_0lL2JKEvwLBXD_rBD-51Sp_Ca_VguH1-7tN773OIGQ5w/s1600/IMG_0416+%28Custom%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNibejcIJ7i8-4a22bn5uGRzAc1UoxmQXrN283Ewc48Szss6T0kd9K3lxso0AvafK0luzuTP_8As-4N7f7NcYeizLHHPKpFE_0lL2JKEvwLBXD_rBD-51Sp_Ca_VguH1-7tN773OIGQ5w/s640/IMG_0416+%28Custom%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A most enjoyable visit rounded off by a couple of Roe Deer running across the track and into the reserve as we started the journey home.</div>
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I know this has been rather a lengthy post but as my posts have been few and far between this year I hope I will be forgiven. </div>
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Until next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com76tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-1552537776875586342012-10-22T18:06:00.002+01:002012-10-23T17:10:47.539+01:00Still Catching Up!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dgqLRHdqMNj1fwbPFJ4tcJ6_6NYZ8VqmF9LbhHeNB0YToW20qJBPgRhscisUGR4MlrMt37gVP1joUqy8yRaF_TB19c5zSHuil3RkNBt_JaoOcJfH20PrnSEmL6zRhud0lQC22YUny0E/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dgqLRHdqMNj1fwbPFJ4tcJ6_6NYZ8VqmF9LbhHeNB0YToW20qJBPgRhscisUGR4MlrMt37gVP1joUqy8yRaF_TB19c5zSHuil3RkNBt_JaoOcJfH20PrnSEmL6zRhud0lQC22YUny0E/s640/IMG_0195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">'Real life' rearing its troublesome head has left me with
little time or enthusiasm for blogging recently but in an effort to get back to
some sort of more regular posting I am aiming to publish a series of catch up
posts in an attempt to get through a backlog of
photos, some dating back to August, I hope that won't be too boring! This post
and probably the next will still be concentrating mainly on invertebrates
simply because that is what occupied me on outings the most during our (so
called!) Summer but lest anyone should think otherwise, my enthusiasm for birds
has not lessened at all and they will feature more strongly in future posts :-) </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">My love of butterflies has, in recent years, turned from
admiration of their beauty to a deeper interest and desire to actively seek out
ones I have never seen before and despite the mainly awful weather we have had
in the last few months I have been fortunate to see several this year for the
first time. Two of them were shown in earlier posts, the most notable of course
was the fantastic Purple Emperor, an amazing and probable once in a lifetime
encounter. The Purple Hairstreak was also a first. Another butterfly I very
much wanted to find was the Dark Green Fritillary but despite visiting several
places where it should apparently have been, including a number of attempts at
a location very close to home, I was unlucky this year. However, I was more
fortunate in my quest to find the Silver-washed Fritillary but although I saw
several on the wing only one posed briefly for the camera and unfortunately
what had previously been a sunny afternoon suddenly turned dull and spots of
rain were falling as I snatched a very quick photo before it flew off to seek
shelter among the trees. Maybe next year I will manage to get a better photo of this striking butterfly.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMRguY24m_yWP7TWMxvM3ZcKo0GVShAJVzjjRaAOl5YIH94YbBbIfeDJVPy7NsyqC1qbkVJWUITQ1hLLgZAEFEFPDRPu_kBwLRNHMnoyyviWXP1DwXPkf7tc82f9at6zK0Nhw4v7Iu80/s1600/IMG_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMRguY24m_yWP7TWMxvM3ZcKo0GVShAJVzjjRaAOl5YIH94YbBbIfeDJVPy7NsyqC1qbkVJWUITQ1hLLgZAEFEFPDRPu_kBwLRNHMnoyyviWXP1DwXPkf7tc82f9at6zK0Nhw4v7Iu80/s640/IMG_0075.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly</span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Another butterfly I was pleased to find for the first time
this year was the White Admiral, this one, like the Silver-washed Fritillary, looking rather worn at the end of its season.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecgBjbgeP2dTIaUUrWwuTi7EL5gkC6nroprpsydZ-_6SwpPB1JyPek4jwHuz0wncuneTxkwvLFvv0HDUQQEDObeFlVfcKwxJPnu6v9pwG5sdgfwP-D1lsdZq41uHC4lyv_qaNjVRjb8A/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecgBjbgeP2dTIaUUrWwuTi7EL5gkC6nroprpsydZ-_6SwpPB1JyPek4jwHuz0wncuneTxkwvLFvv0HDUQQEDObeFlVfcKwxJPnu6v9pwG5sdgfwP-D1lsdZq41uHC4lyv_qaNjVRjb8A/s640/IMG_0018.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">White Admiral Butterfly</span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite the weather it seems to have been a good year for skipper butterflies, I have certainly seen a lot of Large and Small Skippers (as seen on the previous post) but also some Essex Skippers distinguished from the Small Skipper by the black tip on the <i>underneath </i>of the antennae as shown here.</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKH0qsS-xiaeg68ChG04dUjcNv-Eq3TOKYcfg1_l4ywVMQz3pRaqgvi7-53sFbgY_-K2FWkvPoaEJ3Aa9ehJ8v28Qd5LzcRZpr2P7QBJNHLR2XZC7hog3JZDizwnl2Le4DbsO2C97-1E/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKH0qsS-xiaeg68ChG04dUjcNv-Eq3TOKYcfg1_l4ywVMQz3pRaqgvi7-53sFbgY_-K2FWkvPoaEJ3Aa9ehJ8v28Qd5LzcRZpr2P7QBJNHLR2XZC7hog3JZDizwnl2Le4DbsO2C97-1E/s640/IMG_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Essex Skipper Butterfly<br />
<br />
' "Just living is not enough,”<br />
said the butterfly,<br />
“one must have sunshine,<br />
freedom and a little flower." '<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
(Hans Christian Anderson)</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
When passing Ragwort plants I always look out for Cinnabar Moth caterpillars but this year they didn't seem anywhere near as plentiful as usual. Ragwort is poisonous to livestock particularly horses and there has been a concerted effort in the UK to control this native plant resulting in a dramatic reduction in the number of Cinnabars. The caterpillars are not affected by the toxins in the plant and indeed store the poison in their bodies which still remains when they become moths. If predators are not deterred by their bold colouring they will very quickly be repelled by the obnoxious taste!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3jKfs-mNUURgqhGLt2SWh3LjyFR3g5EgCUvH7i-yZX61Lj8WJ5UNSVcNMAHuu_Eknzyq6fWvepTu0Rw5fMS0eJCLPYJrrFu46vhjHYagRQUl57npTD0rluA1ke9Lbdo2EiJZoQ7UPR0/s1600/IMG_0228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3jKfs-mNUURgqhGLt2SWh3LjyFR3g5EgCUvH7i-yZX61Lj8WJ5UNSVcNMAHuu_Eknzyq6fWvepTu0Rw5fMS0eJCLPYJrrFu46vhjHYagRQUl57npTD0rluA1ke9Lbdo2EiJZoQ7UPR0/s640/IMG_0228.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I used to think that we in the UK have Grasshoppers while our American friends have Crickets before realising that we have them <i>both </i>here and that the latter can be identified by their much longer antennae. In order to show them more closely I have 'cropped' the antennae on both the photos of crickets below.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpu-WiSCJkmSUWVhBYE4yGZtsPL5xvXQQirKKasmu4KfLdEMgcp7dHftKxA1wSDNws4p8Fz7Fiwhgzo55DUyQJUrxUFBM83eq6MJ9WrKk550WTlFrWdqhhjYLQQim_CUh_iQqK7FonYAE/s1600/IMG_0025+%282%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpu-WiSCJkmSUWVhBYE4yGZtsPL5xvXQQirKKasmu4KfLdEMgcp7dHftKxA1wSDNws4p8Fz7Fiwhgzo55DUyQJUrxUFBM83eq6MJ9WrKk550WTlFrWdqhhjYLQQim_CUh_iQqK7FonYAE/s640/IMG_0025+%282%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dark Bush-Cricket<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There was a little sunshine on the day I saw the next one!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GvDHExKirSVF6VWZn20ZPAr9OEQufK8LUxE4AmCQZRDZL28R8JCnNaVqRiIXQiaUNRmJy6eeMftRX7HPs2lhWiYqWHw3uKkJPq2Xuk8zWA-u_QWB2jIR9apiRZ-Mn4OiNnnxsYivprw/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GvDHExKirSVF6VWZn20ZPAr9OEQufK8LUxE4AmCQZRDZL28R8JCnNaVqRiIXQiaUNRmJy6eeMftRX7HPs2lhWiYqWHw3uKkJPq2Xuk8zWA-u_QWB2jIR9apiRZ-Mn4OiNnnxsYivprw/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Roesel's Bush-Cricket</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
'Twas sweet to see the tiny things,<br />
So bright of garb and so small of size,<br />
But howsoever that might be<br />
Each seemed of perfect symmetry.'<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
(Thomas Jeffrey Llewelyn Prichard)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back to butterflies and all of these I have seen many times before.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPoZsl5HUZSDOnotLHxCgQjzJ0GtYKcXxZq1PqA0qJ9rQjA_syQwLdspIY8LJqcgLfn2gFjJYTnYjA96ujOUssgh5DPJ07LnPIW5jL-X2Y8PMho_y38OeEvjX_wk27tk1A6OrDA7XyX4/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPoZsl5HUZSDOnotLHxCgQjzJ0GtYKcXxZq1PqA0qJ9rQjA_syQwLdspIY8LJqcgLfn2gFjJYTnYjA96ujOUssgh5DPJ07LnPIW5jL-X2Y8PMho_y38OeEvjX_wk27tk1A6OrDA7XyX4/s640/IMG_0025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gatekeeper Butterfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO34i7Vj-i4t0hXAHLd_lERmHfA4Bja0vuKNEq_AVTsu1KkuvqmzJ10Wo-6SOCwBU5cjeVHgw_GT5NPtUpYv9JLpNhz6QFbTMFOQ5Ki8beDL6uVogN2S5DVsjnWTdfyVs9y6H-w0MFrs/s1600/IMG_0167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO34i7Vj-i4t0hXAHLd_lERmHfA4Bja0vuKNEq_AVTsu1KkuvqmzJ10Wo-6SOCwBU5cjeVHgw_GT5NPtUpYv9JLpNhz6QFbTMFOQ5Ki8beDL6uVogN2S5DVsjnWTdfyVs9y6H-w0MFrs/s640/IMG_0167.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Meadow brown Butterfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOQC7uyH1Fc9djdM50HQ86RcdfMWQuMKUdW6A6IMkAlo14rnNySGzUM2h5rb1mAdcuElceztkBHKh4cQKJXELAEPKLybe72Mbl1lJenkIkWqUK_4OWO1DNpIQjHkAYd7CO3fB-eOGPkU/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOQC7uyH1Fc9djdM50HQ86RcdfMWQuMKUdW6A6IMkAlo14rnNySGzUM2h5rb1mAdcuElceztkBHKh4cQKJXELAEPKLybe72Mbl1lJenkIkWqUK_4OWO1DNpIQjHkAYd7CO3fB-eOGPkU/s640/IMG_0048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Green-veined White Butterfly</div>
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The final butterfly for this post and one of our loveliest I think. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL-1dENJ7VTRXyjS6-3cw9N3jt8KbDZ1kx4iKUr-FRK0WLe0FrnZHEExuGADIPZZPh3bday2Di0S9RtZtDA4Pq9O5YJktqvHSV-wx_iuMO5ZQZHUrX8krO0p-OCFEwk4eaHV9a9tHWoE/s1600/IMG_0043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL-1dENJ7VTRXyjS6-3cw9N3jt8KbDZ1kx4iKUr-FRK0WLe0FrnZHEExuGADIPZZPh3bday2Di0S9RtZtDA4Pq9O5YJktqvHSV-wx_iuMO5ZQZHUrX8krO0p-OCFEwk4eaHV9a9tHWoE/s640/IMG_0043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Peacock Butterfly</div>
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<br /></div>
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'Her slender form, ethereal light,</div>
Her velvet-textured wings unfold:<br />
With all the rainbow's colours bright,<br />
And dropt with spots of burnished gold.'<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
(William Roscoe)</div>
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I always find it difficult to get a photo of a Brown Hawker as they are usually encountered busily patrolling their territory but I did manage to photograph one which was settled and sunning itself on a tree trunk. Not the best of places to show its wings but beggars can't be choosers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyCsDHo2iKEq_gfpJyaLqYtNnR-X9U5tp3yzgDf5k9UALPw-kk1AZbB5NplfCrJt7ieD7-wqK0YYYKXQmXYkcS7O64jVANor8liSlihmJLFSJwqLYH0L8uKlS_QVJIVtGom1VyS6zVgY/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyCsDHo2iKEq_gfpJyaLqYtNnR-X9U5tp3yzgDf5k9UALPw-kk1AZbB5NplfCrJt7ieD7-wqK0YYYKXQmXYkcS7O64jVANor8liSlihmJLFSJwqLYH0L8uKlS_QVJIVtGom1VyS6zVgY/s640/IMG_0026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brown Hawker Dragonfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This pretty little damselfly is always a pleasure to find.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3G-AleH9mAukezNacS412Fj9J9MCIiD-GcOZHSjBZwR5i1SVcdx0MEXlXaqgjxv_vt3x4WdtdkSQnkjNnXYC8LzlCv-hoPNQ3eM0WnaqKXP8MT2UJLDRl0pW_-bKfeZOO-fekD4Vhiw/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3G-AleH9mAukezNacS412Fj9J9MCIiD-GcOZHSjBZwR5i1SVcdx0MEXlXaqgjxv_vt3x4WdtdkSQnkjNnXYC8LzlCv-hoPNQ3eM0WnaqKXP8MT2UJLDRl0pW_-bKfeZOO-fekD4Vhiw/s640/IMG_0083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Emerald Damselfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, I will finish as I started (and thank you very much for making it to the end!) with this female Ruddy Darter...I don't think it's a Common Darter? which posed nicely for the camera, it is just a pity that the <i>sun </i>wouldn't pose nicely for so many of these photos...Oh, the joys of living in the UK!<br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WxXGxwqp-cejQukt-2icqgMiGIVzQrI7I7Ewjgk_sbMrfonEJ_SUhaw_PsP8ycyvpYq7m-v2sYqc9UJZPPjnCAfo8nYyX01nxyXqnUdQTmCgAvfYHD2yr90S_KMHjtWS0nZZCDv1Lw4/s1600/IMG_0197+-+Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WxXGxwqp-cejQukt-2icqgMiGIVzQrI7I7Ewjgk_sbMrfonEJ_SUhaw_PsP8ycyvpYq7m-v2sYqc9UJZPPjnCAfo8nYyX01nxyXqnUdQTmCgAvfYHD2yr90S_KMHjtWS0nZZCDv1Lw4/s640/IMG_0197+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Ruddy Darter Dragonfly (female)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before I finish, just a quick word to say I have very reluctantly decided to watermark my
photographs, not because I think they are <i>worth</i> stealing, I know there
are far, far better photos out there than mine and I also realise that
once anything is placed on the Internet we, to some extent, surrender
ownership but I do think it is worth trying to protect our work and the considerable
time and trouble we take to produce it. There are some very
unscrupulous people out there and one blogland friend of mine had her
entire blog stolen a couple of years ago and passed off by the thief as
their own! I recently noticed some slightly odd activity in my blog
stats which might be perfectly innocent but I have decided to be safe
rather than sorry. I have placed the mark across the middle of the
photos, as it would be very easy for someone with ill intent to crop it
from the edge but I have tried to make it as unobtrusive as possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Again, thank you so much for sticking with me to the end of this rather lengthy post. Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are. </div>
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ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-58699868984572575302012-08-19T17:30:00.007+01:002012-08-20T16:38:25.619+01:00Catching up with Summer and Another Purple Butterfly!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4qwSXevGHoWmwcVKK5f93UBLDCQaKUQHbxcer0S-0_0-byomEIWJ6BKbr7Q5Ujr88RDr_4pw3gTvEsLyVpQiBd0miS40rj8n7hhxboHByMDLv2UDaNSYWOan90nHmVH8-zsykFHbm4o/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4qwSXevGHoWmwcVKK5f93UBLDCQaKUQHbxcer0S-0_0-byomEIWJ6BKbr7Q5Ujr88RDr_4pw3gTvEsLyVpQiBd0miS40rj8n7hhxboHByMDLv2UDaNSYWOan90nHmVH8-zsykFHbm4o/s640/IMG_0104.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the few sunny days we have been lucky enough to enjoy recently and with the birds being mainly in hiding while enduring their seasonal moult, I have concentrated my thoughts, in the main, on butterflies and other insects. This post is a bit of a catch up of just some of my sightings from the last few weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr83BRQ1eDM5MxAciJ3M0UvYn4_rdaSkXHMCRS5m85mfsLLNl4p31jBGZ_bkYZcELklwjw163fWnPcvUyuYouqX0bio5iODHcyU1dJp-bWAf9nl9P40_BDlTgjCAzr5H_8aDMJftAu9Y/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr83BRQ1eDM5MxAciJ3M0UvYn4_rdaSkXHMCRS5m85mfsLLNl4p31jBGZ_bkYZcELklwjw163fWnPcvUyuYouqX0bio5iODHcyU1dJp-bWAf9nl9P40_BDlTgjCAzr5H_8aDMJftAu9Y/s640/IMG_0026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been heartening to see that, at least in my experience, the Marbled White Butterflies seem to have done well this year despite the constant downpours. I have seen them in at least five separate locations. The ones below were engaged in a bit of a battle for the same flower! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ei8-WFdCPD1-nYGXWbIhqJQyTuTaXKdr2pq2gpIe_UZdDlRVlmACLMa6kLsF1dZJlGSoEl7hYFsgyJ3JhyGY6OOkhBbf-akwWmTbncne0pVWuIA8o7JtI1ImOIt6zxixTS2do0eHgEA/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ei8-WFdCPD1-nYGXWbIhqJQyTuTaXKdr2pq2gpIe_UZdDlRVlmACLMa6kLsF1dZJlGSoEl7hYFsgyJ3JhyGY6OOkhBbf-akwWmTbncne0pVWuIA8o7JtI1ImOIt6zxixTS2do0eHgEA/s640/IMG_0035.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marbled White Butterflies</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9PwFDs4hzWjilz6t7IYG9D8uVLU77SMu1nNR-9IYT3En_gfLXNckcWoY4iXs3mzj6u72iTChImC9X25H_NqciDjkAUh8AeJd1sYBrZrULMl-5mXTViGmDygvLMm3w4LXYBdH2h9VPhI/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9PwFDs4hzWjilz6t7IYG9D8uVLU77SMu1nNR-9IYT3En_gfLXNckcWoY4iXs3mzj6u72iTChImC9X25H_NqciDjkAUh8AeJd1sYBrZrULMl-5mXTViGmDygvLMm3w4LXYBdH2h9VPhI/s640/IMG_0041.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And where the pretty butterflies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Their glancing beauties show;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It always makes me glad to think</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> All things with beauty glow.'</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Lizzy: 1857)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8VyoEtLubA6ooyiFiKT2cTs9txtiLrtJo825ezkfw1JZx-SDPf3PyGPkCVT1I5wl7HQ6LFRHx0i0jj6_97dAP2DZKdXpmHRZzxFOlyjb02680okN9r-BgTGBFLZlFeKOJg3dmz9PZ6s/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8VyoEtLubA6ooyiFiKT2cTs9txtiLrtJo825ezkfw1JZx-SDPf3PyGPkCVT1I5wl7HQ6LFRHx0i0jj6_97dAP2DZKdXpmHRZzxFOlyjb02680okN9r-BgTGBFLZlFeKOJg3dmz9PZ6s/s640/IMG_0045.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
To the victor the spoils :-) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a visit to a small, local lake, a few weeks ago, I saw this Four-spotted Chaser. I intended to post it last time but the Purple Emperor took precedence.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQmafYWlKU4haP5MU7OBE3VNMqjb3jqig4T45VnEiceJ_8ug3xBLGbkrVP3hHrbWieBiSxuEfUouvx94RbOEkWj35xvyDqzrXGRqD7kxjgqLHi2qFHZrz-VvPLCILJkfdYBF4dJLHYmI/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQmafYWlKU4haP5MU7OBE3VNMqjb3jqig4T45VnEiceJ_8ug3xBLGbkrVP3hHrbWieBiSxuEfUouvx94RbOEkWj35xvyDqzrXGRqD7kxjgqLHi2qFHZrz-VvPLCILJkfdYBF4dJLHYmI/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four Spotted Chaser</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
There were lots of Blue-tailed Damselflies enjoying the warm and sunny day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Ukcj7c1N_cLHJdw2MHhdsrvoIExr2da_9ek6JJkuy3LrCDxuhDi4rdxieb5zikivWndCytDLE2vFFLxxT-aZwkD3atEAkSdRUr_FkGcnVfSH0evEY-nismA6NXMh3TVCnouZJ4Qe-o/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Ukcj7c1N_cLHJdw2MHhdsrvoIExr2da_9ek6JJkuy3LrCDxuhDi4rdxieb5zikivWndCytDLE2vFFLxxT-aZwkD3atEAkSdRUr_FkGcnVfSH0evEY-nismA6NXMh3TVCnouZJ4Qe-o/s640/IMG_0031.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blue-tailed Damselfly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a walk along the canal towpath produced just one Banded Demoiselle. In previous years there have been lots of them and also Beautiful Demoiselles which I haven't seen at all this year although to be honest I have avoided water a little this Summer to protect myself from the infamous and extremely vicious Blandford Flies which I fell victim to last year and the year before!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcAH0ivYNNmPnaSYmPCoOyZ_Sgcm7cXPjASrkWc4p7A1IFaiGvZ8tpFFlG3qyM94LwtPCq93-LuEkscC4nU1zNQpKeJXwZlHxLkMQXuv9prUai2ETPFE45HaWolURhsx4iX_d0OXyiuc/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcAH0ivYNNmPnaSYmPCoOyZ_Sgcm7cXPjASrkWc4p7A1IFaiGvZ8tpFFlG3qyM94LwtPCq93-LuEkscC4nU1zNQpKeJXwZlHxLkMQXuv9prUai2ETPFE45HaWolURhsx4iX_d0OXyiuc/s640/IMG_0112.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banded Demoiselle</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An insect which seems to be everywhere which isn't surprising given their common name and obvious desire to constantly ensure the continuation of the species, is the Hogweed Bonking Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva). Apparently, they are very good at predicting thunder storms, when some hours beforehand they will all retreat to the undersides of leaves!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2BXbjRSTdOhzE5Dpp2tq5LtfJDPB1wEOvEivPH1Eul4zC1mWhHqC73F8utex76QtKBH6RsL0UGaTFsFPSkG-FLB8WpjnCZe1hX8TiFNJMXQFoFqruvRNcnH0cDwRNZwBuezhM5Lp4ig/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2BXbjRSTdOhzE5Dpp2tq5LtfJDPB1wEOvEivPH1Eul4zC1mWhHqC73F8utex76QtKBH6RsL0UGaTFsFPSkG-FLB8WpjnCZe1hX8TiFNJMXQFoFqruvRNcnH0cDwRNZwBuezhM5Lp4ig/s640/IMG_0116.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hogweed Bonking Beetles</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And through the wide meadows a murmurous humming </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of insects too happy to sleep.'</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Abba Goold Woolson)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I have been remiss in not showing any wildflowers recently so rather than devoting a whole post to them or making this post even longer ;-) I have compiled a collage of just some of the ones seen recently before they become hopelessly out of date.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWjRz_YW3VCy8J_RGGYUB_bm6pC3keQt-dBP-iw2fnQMoasm_-prdSCM8-11XRe1JywyAnuPUv2s-zd24RVgsduintsxEo8oht-IxA2aJL0BkSLWw-N185JJMgXeQZ9N-ojUFNLJg9aQ/s1600/2012_07_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWjRz_YW3VCy8J_RGGYUB_bm6pC3keQt-dBP-iw2fnQMoasm_-prdSCM8-11XRe1JywyAnuPUv2s-zd24RVgsduintsxEo8oht-IxA2aJL0BkSLWw-N185JJMgXeQZ9N-ojUFNLJg9aQ/s640/2012_07_28.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clockwise from top left: 1. A mixture including Musk Mallow, St. John's Wort and Self Heal.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Common Centaury. 3. Foxglove. 4. Common Spotted Orchid. 5. Ragged Robin. 6. Hemp Agrimony 7. Wild Marjoram. Middle: Clustered Bellflower.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw this day flying moth, the Six-spot Burnet, in July when they seemed very few and far between but happily, I have seen many more in the last few weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn_ZZC6JELX1jQcmHr9o1yyR_q9z_z8vZlsIRqCnFiVLQZF_2zmg8wzL2r7RvvwSBTwJOEPAa8DPcTA5u1ViTM95sciZncrkMam4VqEL97qVnPOcFw4F8m8T5urdAbAeWz-m6npyC5W8/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn_ZZC6JELX1jQcmHr9o1yyR_q9z_z8vZlsIRqCnFiVLQZF_2zmg8wzL2r7RvvwSBTwJOEPAa8DPcTA5u1ViTM95sciZncrkMam4VqEL97qVnPOcFw4F8m8T5urdAbAeWz-m6npyC5W8/s640/IMG_0154.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six-spot Burnet Moth</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to butterflies and, again despite the abysmal Spring and Summer, the skippers seem to have done well.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUG2EeM5G27412cC-uK0Q_7XogtpUPpRqf_2YOnFFbipRFv6t61XeLEBbb6zCbBAJbGL812wDINb5lr_jWMX8-J_uMa3RxNjuVrdT1QiO77KFgnZobcB-gbik9cuhPYv_ZgMl2rMrYZI/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUG2EeM5G27412cC-uK0Q_7XogtpUPpRqf_2YOnFFbipRFv6t61XeLEBbb6zCbBAJbGL812wDINb5lr_jWMX8-J_uMa3RxNjuVrdT1QiO77KFgnZobcB-gbik9cuhPYv_ZgMl2rMrYZI/s640/IMG_0020.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Large Skipper Butterfly</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'On the gay bosom of some fragrant flower</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They, idly fluttering, live their little hour;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their life all pleasure, and their task all play,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All spring their age, and sunshine all their day.'</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Mrs Barbauld)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYImr1Aco2v8ECs6jyeCTznz34ndz2XM966RP46AZFGRyjwjftTO6-fLl_1FAU04xWtq15pjZyJ3rg6aQlJ80JaytIoKDMhGX8U471dezmoc0JuZQxwJLtk3vyC4P524oOXr6qP7a70Mc/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYImr1Aco2v8ECs6jyeCTznz34ndz2XM966RP46AZFGRyjwjftTO6-fLl_1FAU04xWtq15pjZyJ3rg6aQlJ80JaytIoKDMhGX8U471dezmoc0JuZQxwJLtk3vyC4P524oOXr6qP7a70Mc/s640/IMG_0143.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small Skipper Butterfly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very pleased to discover another butterfly I have never seen before and the one with which I started this post. Like the Purple Emperor (featured on my last post) it spends much of its time in the canopy of Oak trees but <i>unlike</i> its imperial relative it is much easier to find if one only looks. As mentioned in The Magazine of Natural History in 1837 and still true today:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'A person may walk though a wood which abounds with the little brilliant purple hairstreak, and yet not see a single individual, unless his attention is drawn to the right quarter. These insects keep hovering about, and settling upon the summits of oak trees; in which situation they sometimes absolutely swarm. They rarely approach the ground; and even in a cloudy day, if disturbed by your shaking the trees, they settle again in the same place. This insect then, though common and abundant, is not obvious.'</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was fortunate to see it lower down in an Oak but not fortunate enough, on this occasion, to see it with wings open to show the purple which gives it its common name.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQHQVuHqrFBV21i0vHaXw_s0C_wTMMli6TvIweGvs8BwjyRYFkTd2Zu5cxPd761GvP9nUg_aYwI8_awGIp-611pXdJGHdDvzpPlaT2bxRvrbc88TiJTv85bNAB57pCz7zlZSOfol4SP0/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQHQVuHqrFBV21i0vHaXw_s0C_wTMMli6TvIweGvs8BwjyRYFkTd2Zu5cxPd761GvP9nUg_aYwI8_awGIp-611pXdJGHdDvzpPlaT2bxRvrbc88TiJTv85bNAB57pCz7zlZSOfol4SP0/s640/IMG_0113.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purple Hairstreak Butterfly</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A butterfly I have seen many times before but worryingly, only once so far this year, is the Comma. I have seen it featured quite often on other bloggers' posts recently though so maybe I have just been unlucky. I do think it is a beautiful creature.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqW-DTvFcR_rRPR1zit3sGcb8wer8Rh22OTHnkelWlUZT1fjpSmc0w47LprrpgsQYoExP9luIT8lxFPeXDKNDbD00K4CEbJUzHL91Amm6Y2ahnGBB1Fb3AFNL7AKkzqES2YhmlEACrog/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqW-DTvFcR_rRPR1zit3sGcb8wer8Rh22OTHnkelWlUZT1fjpSmc0w47LprrpgsQYoExP9luIT8lxFPeXDKNDbD00K4CEbJUzHL91Amm6Y2ahnGBB1Fb3AFNL7AKkzqES2YhmlEACrog/s640/IMG_0192.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqW-DTvFcR_rRPR1zit3sGcb8wer8Rh22OTHnkelWlUZT1fjpSmc0w47LprrpgsQYoExP9luIT8lxFPeXDKNDbD00K4CEbJUzHL91Amm6Y2ahnGBB1Fb3AFNL7AKkzqES2YhmlEACrog/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span>Comma Butterfly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This magnificent dragonfly was seen quite a distance from water. I am sure it is the Southern Hawker although I was a little confused as to why the head doesn't show any blue but perhaps it was the way the sun was shining on it or was it rather immature? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">EDIT: Thanks very much to </span><a href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: lime;" target="_blank">Greenie</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for confirming that it was indeed immature.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY9R63qSUMvXfEFw3mBeB0lTdfjNg_s-rRRb0agV5ugVUf0GZ0LjynxaOBDlmLzi4Wo2HeTYf5AQfOiRjVa89ovPRudDnFlzb231awNPjx08sE6mvTzBzYKlVMAMYtS9BP2I2MgsFe0g/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY9R63qSUMvXfEFw3mBeB0lTdfjNg_s-rRRb0agV5ugVUf0GZ0LjynxaOBDlmLzi4Wo2HeTYf5AQfOiRjVa89ovPRudDnFlzb231awNPjx08sE6mvTzBzYKlVMAMYtS9BP2I2MgsFe0g/s640/IMG_0013.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southern Hawker Dragonfly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Till the dragon fly, in light gauzy armour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">burnished bright,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Came tilting down the waters in a wild,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bewildered flight.'</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Whitcomb Riley </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will finish with this photo of a Bumblebee on Yellow Flag Iris which should have been posted a few weeks ago. It is so bright and cheerful that it seemed a shame not to share it. I had difficulty in deciding whether it is Bombus Terrestris or Bombus Lucorum but have opted for</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wDZyzx98S23xwqG-usMTwusLwYwGaCq1AnzhqGZ6wu_8hIPGS2AoTq2lB7Fh4g5xszQZsculUDlhrRHyb9ae3jyLX8tv5PVxytSge2j480B0qY9CAuMDIbHMJCghqtpTlf8hWTWF5FY/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wDZyzx98S23xwqG-usMTwusLwYwGaCq1AnzhqGZ6wu_8hIPGS2AoTq2lB7Fh4g5xszQZsculUDlhrRHyb9ae3jyLX8tv5PVxytSge2j480B0qY9CAuMDIbHMJCghqtpTlf8hWTWF5FY/s640/IMG_0123.JPG" width="640" /></a> Bumblebee (Bombus Terrestris) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">EDIT: Thanks again to</span> <a href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">Greenie</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">for confirming my tentative ID.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shall post sooner next time as I'm building up rather a backlog of photos and am in danger of still posting butterflies at Christmas time!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, until then...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-28442392653653431592012-07-30T17:45:00.005+01:002012-08-03T02:06:08.343+01:00THE PURPLE EMPEROR: An Audience with His Imperial Majesty!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcb5KHMGViLhljNXnWDhDvE2BGU0zRw8VFW8TAU6erJe3pBOrePZDVxZWwof9yB9NupqN81f6O1A2-ee49Fb9p13y9B6-3aD_1O78LcbkSOALH9sGIkzP3Y_7mqiUNuPPCa6Xm-UeGbw/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcb5KHMGViLhljNXnWDhDvE2BGU0zRw8VFW8TAU6erJe3pBOrePZDVxZWwof9yB9NupqN81f6O1A2-ee49Fb9p13y9B6-3aD_1O78LcbkSOALH9sGIkzP3Y_7mqiUNuPPCa6Xm-UeGbw/s640/IMG_0268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I received the most wonderful birthday present a few days ago. No, it wasn't the lovely earrings or the pile of Nature books...not more Nature books? Yes, afraid so ;-) No, it was something very, very special, so special that books have been solely devoted to it and pilgrimages are made year after year by its subjects who travel many miles for just a glimpse of its extraordinary beauty. Sumptuous banquets are held for it with white clothed tables bearing many varied and exotic dishes. It is of course the much sought after but very elusive Purple Emperor!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLlkNeONglHUQmzlVU0PFsFTaW-zyJuXh4ktTlRhANN7Ym5JwVKKEQr1up8ZO7an5irykqFPkylyTSJTIfOT-T2G0MhYKDCb7MpujoQ_OOWrOGq5UjG3KqTqVD661rjcl6aGGJu19rJ4/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLlkNeONglHUQmzlVU0PFsFTaW-zyJuXh4ktTlRhANN7Ym5JwVKKEQr1up8ZO7an5irykqFPkylyTSJTIfOT-T2G0MhYKDCb7MpujoQ_OOWrOGq5UjG3KqTqVD661rjcl6aGGJu19rJ4/s640/IMG_0141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)</div>
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When we arrived at our destination which was less than an hour's drive away from home I was well aware that these magnificent, regal creatures held court there but also well aware that to actually see them at close quarters is a rare privilege, so my main quarry was the lovely Silver-washed Fritillary which I had high hopes of seeing. And see them I did...but...every time I spotted one it was a case of 'here's one'. Zoom!...'It went thataway' ;-) So that was the end of that idea. Of course I kept a very close eye out for any sign of His Imperial Majesty but much more in vain hope than any real expectation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEv1k4PU2X7rhA7IQcePTIJmoLcQEy-QtlpDfutNDkcMV4LP2LLPZWWaMKAGgv8M1Obp1WpnfeJxZoLtJFBoPvtYzrmD3He0tBjWoquiZS9Wq0FK44FxN212eK5bjdz_WF2BzODTUWoo/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEv1k4PU2X7rhA7IQcePTIJmoLcQEy-QtlpDfutNDkcMV4LP2LLPZWWaMKAGgv8M1Obp1WpnfeJxZoLtJFBoPvtYzrmD3He0tBjWoquiZS9Wq0FK44FxN212eK5bjdz_WF2BzODTUWoo/s640/IMG_0172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Enter, one half of the Butterfly Brothers! We hadn't been walking for long when we saw someone coming towards us with camera round neck. Now, usually I will smile, say hello and carry on but buoyed up by the sunshine and an eagerness for any help I could get ;-) my usual reticence (shyness!) took a back seat and I asked if he had seen anything interesting. ''Yes, I've seen three or four and got some photos", he said!! 'He must be talking about Silver-washed Fritillaries', I thought. "Of course the best time to see the Emperor is between about 10:00am and midday which is when I saw them", he continued!!! As it was just after 2:30pm I resigned myself to possibly getting a glimpse high in a tree canopy if I was very, very lucky. He told us his brother was further down the track and after wishing me luck we went our separate ways. It wasn't long before Butterfly Brother 2 hove into view, we exchanged smiles and hellos and carried on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVRcTWBMQWMk6QMXQB8l2NpPyXkI1lEGh3K6LaXXSXRaH7xfJGIGbuFz0omBkt0lWl7ZwKv6bew1vnkD_3ctjKH0m5m7LaUK0p7ilgMmeqix7M-0DXf2tqMEhKjEdEys1OwfbYpaNSF4/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVRcTWBMQWMk6QMXQB8l2NpPyXkI1lEGh3K6LaXXSXRaH7xfJGIGbuFz0omBkt0lWl7ZwKv6bew1vnkD_3ctjKH0m5m7LaUK0p7ilgMmeqix7M-0DXf2tqMEhKjEdEys1OwfbYpaNSF4/s640/IMG_0245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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'Above the sovereign oak a sovereign skims,<br />
The purple emperor, strong in wing and limbs.'</div>
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(George Crabbe)</div>
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It was a very hot and sunny day and although I find extreme heat very difficult it was such a joy to be out in the sunshine after the last three to four months of continual rain. Meadow Browns were everywhere, thankfully they at least seem to be doing well. As I mentioned earlier I did see Silver-washed Fritillaries but none were interested in settling, they would dart from the forested area into the sunny glade and back again without settling at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEjm2TQ_-8YX7hBazO8NyEJiuFbshTpEg7b9dd2kne-TUWvG8ph6hydwzJQP8IHRG1sGsV17n4sLXJtNhesjk2aIDxhh-_4uJCapD5I-kR35yXUpG9OUg1QFYO1XqQ751wY4dwgbJ4c4/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEjm2TQ_-8YX7hBazO8NyEJiuFbshTpEg7b9dd2kne-TUWvG8ph6hydwzJQP8IHRG1sGsV17n4sLXJtNhesjk2aIDxhh-_4uJCapD5I-kR35yXUpG9OUg1QFYO1XqQ751wY4dwgbJ4c4/s640/IMG_0207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We were eventually pleased to find a seat to rest on, sip some water and enjoy the surroundings for a few moments and while doing so I suddenly saw a very large butterfly, larger than any other I have seen.. my very first sighting of His Imperial Majesty, The Purple Emperor! Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in a lowly subject like me and regally flew on his way giving me only a fleeting glimpse and not even time to raise my camera in deference!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev6idGvhGNjhPmxRuF3gcBpnIN8t4YRUEzSgBI_IF3BU2x3kAVVye-GjuJHvFDkoVQ-HVxfTwDQ7wPX5T4OA41hE00eyOUkTUO0JdAO-5cfJ-fY7hxJhU2hlM0ZPGjk-y7aCVM2xkBp8/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev6idGvhGNjhPmxRuF3gcBpnIN8t4YRUEzSgBI_IF3BU2x3kAVVye-GjuJHvFDkoVQ-HVxfTwDQ7wPX5T4OA41hE00eyOUkTUO0JdAO-5cfJ-fY7hxJhU2hlM0ZPGjk-y7aCVM2xkBp8/s640/IMG_0202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A pleasant walk produced more Meadow Browns and some Marbled Whites. I have seen and photographed Marbled Whites in five different locations recently, another species which seems not to have suffered too badly this year :-) Eventually we decided to retrace our steps and work our way back to the car park. After a while who should we see coming towards us but Butterfly Brother 2! We had a bit of a chat and he told us that he and his brother travel all over the UK in pursuit of butterflies and had been to Scotland last week to see the Scotch Argus. He also said he does butterfly transects in his own area and voluntary work coppicing etc. in the Winter months. He was clearly very knowledgeable and if I hadn't known better I would have sworn he was a certain blogging friend of mine from Kent ;-)<br />
I asked where his brother was and he said he was lagging behind and as we were talking I spotted Butterfly Brother 1 in the distance. The next moment an enormous bellow rent the air "Purple Emperor! Purple Emperor!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesVQ_rAHl71C3foIGBhQk5GTgFA1s4aUr_kgmf6LKtZC__j9Y7foG5LCTvxPVp6Q4cYoYpiZbKNHxB9yHGUN3T3PTLKHO4aTVD_E7LiWZI9SdnyMA3Lu5ddcHC5epHAXSSKcTwyyiE2E/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesVQ_rAHl71C3foIGBhQk5GTgFA1s4aUr_kgmf6LKtZC__j9Y7foG5LCTvxPVp6Q4cYoYpiZbKNHxB9yHGUN3T3PTLKHO4aTVD_E7LiWZI9SdnyMA3Lu5ddcHC5epHAXSSKcTwyyiE2E/s640/IMG_0213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Needless to say we scurried down that track as fast as we could towards BB1 and there, sure enough, gliding back and forth from one side of the track to the other was His Majesty in all His Imperial Glory! We stood entranced, loyal subjects worshipping at the court of the sovereign! I truly expected him to disappear into the trees never to be seen again, when all of a sudden he dropped to the ground and proceeded to feed, probing between the aggregate with his long and impressive, yellow proboscis in search of salts and minerals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPyaww5offj6CdY6gun06QtixSzRDVph77a3n0nyeutecaIhfBr_HAds-z4UUSiCmYePMCvfvu-7JSNWgnJ-PGcfBWFUQ2184vwdOwZFW7P83T-QRg4gZZTy3SdR_wyode5aSctvEe8c/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPyaww5offj6CdY6gun06QtixSzRDVph77a3n0nyeutecaIhfBr_HAds-z4UUSiCmYePMCvfvu-7JSNWgnJ-PGcfBWFUQ2184vwdOwZFW7P83T-QRg4gZZTy3SdR_wyode5aSctvEe8c/s640/IMG_0269.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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'Stay near me—do not take thy flight!<br />
A little longer stay in sight!'<br />
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(William Wordsworth)<br />
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In keeping with their reputation he was completely unperturbed by us and we humbly gathered around him to pay homage. Moments later there was an anguished cry from one of the Butterfly Brothers, "Oh, no, I don't believe it! Bl...y dogs!" "Keep the dogs back, control the dogs!" they both shouted, and amazingly the owners did. I would never have been brave enough to have done that...I could have kissed the Butterfly Brothers :-) Moments later the same thing happened with more dogs and owners and again the BBs triumphed and we continued our reverence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFW-Lyz6p3Mk0WUWGUQEbmz7OIgsEOMfUycQ2trLMk_5onHZEDyDetIzuDv-No8UsvnwAjvE1Ninw4d1KuR2fpJJTltj7pmSb0CGucz8mwysG7QKUrZ2-PL_DzP8Etg1SESAyjRi0Bcc/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFW-Lyz6p3Mk0WUWGUQEbmz7OIgsEOMfUycQ2trLMk_5onHZEDyDetIzuDv-No8UsvnwAjvE1Ninw4d1KuR2fpJJTltj7pmSb0CGucz8mwysG7QKUrZ2-PL_DzP8Etg1SESAyjRi0Bcc/s640/IMG_0219.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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For all its regal airs this beautiful creature has the<i> most</i> revolting dietary preferences and likes nothing better than a good old helping of dog pooh or fox scat! All of which brings me back to the tables laden with white cloths (His Majesty has been proven to have a preference for white!) each adorned with a fat candle and groaning with delectable dishes bearing such delicacies as king prawns, rotten bananas, horse manure, shrimp curry, crushed grapes, pickled mudfish, honey water and a particular brand of shrimp paste so rancid it had been pronounced unfit for human consumption in the UK! 'The Purple Emperor's Breakfast,' held in the glade of an ancient royal hunting forest, was a contemporary art event arranged by an art gallery as part of an experiment to find out which bait the butterfly was most attracted to. More information can be found <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/05/purple-emperor-butterfly-patrick-barkham" target="_blank">here</a><wbr></wbr><wbr></wbr><wbr></wbr>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6om-amrCPHyEYpR-XPBIV8DCyxmZ44l61y3Yag-8_AgmWsjCqiJVJSZzSJoZ9ibywvQ3aR8yb93V9IJjURVlSx8wfC38FyrcMvR1iJgXrgwH6bxvk_zBWu5olkICYhXjPrSbQAdzNmY/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6om-amrCPHyEYpR-XPBIV8DCyxmZ44l61y3Yag-8_AgmWsjCqiJVJSZzSJoZ9ibywvQ3aR8yb93V9IJjURVlSx8wfC38FyrcMvR1iJgXrgwH6bxvk_zBWu5olkICYhXjPrSbQAdzNmY/s640/IMG_0222.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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We must have worshipped at The Court of his Majesty for getting on for an hour, carefully moving around him and marvelling at the iridescent sheen on his magnificent wings, the hue varying from several shades of blue through to purple as the light struck them from different angles. The even more elusive female is deep brown with the white markings but lacks the purple sheen which the male's dark brown wings show as a result of light refraction.<br />
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'O butterfly on whose light wings,<br />
The golden summer sunshine clings.'<br />
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(Richard Watson Gilder)</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just as we were wondering whether it would be impolite to leave His Majesty before he had finished dining he rose, replete from his meal and left us without a backward glance. What an encounter it was and one I will never, ever forget. Some people spend a lifetime hunting for this incredible butterfly without success. I feel very, very privileged to have had such a close encounter with His Imperial Majesty.</div>
</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9yc6IgMVCOE2WUJERSuizzkJ2zTXtHxj5Ua9q4JyRTUcnM_C63GZarRjC2t8E-S_3cnoMur83f0jYK76QbD90F8ssMj-CiGbzExjJb4WGWkmGszKY40o8-1kvzhIm3Elw3qsbgJdqoA/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9yc6IgMVCOE2WUJERSuizzkJ2zTXtHxj5Ua9q4JyRTUcnM_C63GZarRjC2t8E-S_3cnoMur83f0jYK76QbD90F8ssMj-CiGbzExjJb4WGWkmGszKY40o8-1kvzhIm3Elw3qsbgJdqoA/s640/IMG_0211.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<br />
I hope this hasn't been too long and tedious but I felt The Purple Emperor deserved a post all to himself, there is so much more I could have included! Thank you for indulging me and staying until the end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74brTYS6b8P1z88KEqj82TQ2oTiDLJ0x4RtItfre0C31ngvSImi9bdFraEjpRcmwfzRY9hZYHlhh4Q6jNrMmCu2j_QKPEtFZhqU69MkQ5gpkqJSNqvURjAl2vZq-VETSwJTfruJTy6k4/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74brTYS6b8P1z88KEqj82TQ2oTiDLJ0x4RtItfre0C31ngvSImi9bdFraEjpRcmwfzRY9hZYHlhh4Q6jNrMmCu2j_QKPEtFZhqU69MkQ5gpkqJSNqvURjAl2vZq-VETSwJTfruJTy6k4/s640/IMG_0264.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<br />
N.B. There was a debate as to whether we dared remove the grass which was throwing unwanted shadows on to the butterfly but it was decided it wasn't worth the risk of disturbance. Consequently, and oddly, in some of the photos the butterfly's white markings appear to be on the blade of grass! I assume it is something to do with reflections on the lens.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJejVT3bwfJ5tODpIkbcnc0wiVVEOASN6ZnDwblB_1Q4A7d4UOHFfiZHUIKsZS4vwRGwrmgSET7DsNx5cVSoMIslcZCeaAuHjNqSwv9ECarKOg_t4ulagoDR-nDxrLuGNWqfHnfIKv7U/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJejVT3bwfJ5tODpIkbcnc0wiVVEOASN6ZnDwblB_1Q4A7d4UOHFfiZHUIKsZS4vwRGwrmgSET7DsNx5cVSoMIslcZCeaAuHjNqSwv9ECarKOg_t4ulagoDR-nDxrLuGNWqfHnfIKv7U/s640/IMG_0255.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<br />
Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div>
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<br /></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-50358483683426238802012-07-12T17:12:00.000+01:002012-07-12T17:12:40.732+01:00Snatching Some Light for the Marbled White!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEFSVw_J4NIMcIHKfAFjHbmi6OjBcW7GG8tlRFDaAH60X-C-BHGqEgqLRZWMCl7hrX_SgE0txJNU6Tn6rnqGnebbdEQ4qpwYgk8zkbCnTo8My7a4ImpBhUD9nCvUDXhclTFDyGWFKk8o/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEFSVw_J4NIMcIHKfAFjHbmi6OjBcW7GG8tlRFDaAH60X-C-BHGqEgqLRZWMCl7hrX_SgE0txJNU6Tn6rnqGnebbdEQ4qpwYgk8zkbCnTo8My7a4ImpBhUD9nCvUDXhclTFDyGWFKk8o/s640/IMG_0042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Often, during a 'typical' British Summer, we are hard put to snatch the occasional warm and sunny week, sometimes it is just the odd day here and there but this year it has been difficult to find even an hour or two of nice weather! It is immensely disappointing for those of us who like to get out in the countryside with our cameras. But if it has been disappointing for us it has been devastating for our wildlife with ground nests washed away, nests in holes in river banks flooded out and much needed grubs and insects washed from foliage resulting in many dead nestlings. Unfortunately, many people too have had their homes flooded out, some more than once...truly devastating! And while we in the UK suffer the effects of extreme weather, many abroad are also experiencing devastation with baking temperatures and dreadful, damaging fires. Whether these extremes are anything to do with global warming will no doubt be the subject of much discussion and, I suspect, little conclusion.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I have managed to get out with the camera from time to time but have been dismayed by the small number of butterflies and Odonata seen in comparison to other years. This Common Blue was photographed in the rain so not the best of photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMYV0jf914bkxflBrHBiSOiS_ypST6Wm8oNxdpxkBXg9shLUGsw6I2yMEi8v0VClLsyDRE7P8Kw8tXxyIKycILOW-GDn40oICdnzzoprhUq7UUdookRj6dk5y3b7w4RyhKTLxjj21GA0/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMYV0jf914bkxflBrHBiSOiS_ypST6Wm8oNxdpxkBXg9shLUGsw6I2yMEi8v0VClLsyDRE7P8Kw8tXxyIKycILOW-GDn40oICdnzzoprhUq7UUdookRj6dk5y3b7w4RyhKTLxjj21GA0/s640/IMG_0075.JPG" width="640" /></a> Common Blue Butterfly </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> This one was taken in much better conditions! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixky6clE9kD0PMDfYCuKUy2JEMO4tBhpEvMOnVwdkk33ox9KuTaF-dzY5CVZgOdNusts58NymBoHZWMYE9x8CW-AUiOVdzwvna6CMKxqW-hWFkIPB3uBZH_ywNZ0HCRiQFm8IQxJXWwvk/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixky6clE9kD0PMDfYCuKUy2JEMO4tBhpEvMOnVwdkk33ox9KuTaF-dzY5CVZgOdNusts58NymBoHZWMYE9x8CW-AUiOVdzwvna6CMKxqW-hWFkIPB3uBZH_ywNZ0HCRiQFm8IQxJXWwvk/s640/IMG_0016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> '[Butterflies] That flash like meteors through the shady bowers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And rest like broken rainbows on the flowers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Themselves more rich and beautiful of hue</div><div style="text-align: center;">Than any flower that's nourish'd by the dew.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Unknown)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Song Thrush, with its predilection for snails, will be one bird which has seen some benefit from all the rain! This one was seen in fading light so the photo has been lightened a little.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NsKX3SeVFAxTaxMsgCNkxsscxFgBIhAYeDE_BanWkdO2I3kOWLXUxItiParjqgCL6uig2GUsW6Xk09aTtobIy48kwpx6PU6fo1vI3-SD0LV2UHhDcDf0JFtPCy5ZC0Xkog-e7wvLIv0/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NsKX3SeVFAxTaxMsgCNkxsscxFgBIhAYeDE_BanWkdO2I3kOWLXUxItiParjqgCL6uig2GUsW6Xk09aTtobIy48kwpx6PU6fo1vI3-SD0LV2UHhDcDf0JFtPCy5ZC0Xkog-e7wvLIv0/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Song Thrush</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was coming to the end of a walk, again in not very favourable conditions, I spotted what I thought was a fledgling among the grass but quickly realised it was this handsome fellow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bdRDz60HYuSTm7vx5FEr5e1LNzfBoKtUCO7Zs8DZ1gH3VmHdCIP72cZamn7wrNiECtTG20Wb4Gjhod2QC88UsC5-3F-hhD-IlwTfYO0RU_ghN7NQf3bOWKwTgiVZSMDnjnLu4CROn14/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bdRDz60HYuSTm7vx5FEr5e1LNzfBoKtUCO7Zs8DZ1gH3VmHdCIP72cZamn7wrNiECtTG20Wb4Gjhod2QC88UsC5-3F-hhD-IlwTfYO0RU_ghN7NQf3bOWKwTgiVZSMDnjnLu4CROn14/s640/IMG_0049.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Common Toad</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The world has held great Heroes,<br />
As history-books have showed;<br />
But never a name to go down to fame<br />
Compared with that of Toad!<br />
<br />
The clever men at Oxford</div><div style="text-align: center;">Know all that there is to be knowed.<br />
But they none of them know one half as much<br />
As intelligent Mr Toad!'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Kenneth Grahame) </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdhsFLWyI0jDrz5CuGLHs73CmUpf6nJbqLU8ZiFIfWGJaPFd6b64SCtdzHR6x5wsj4NSLpDyk_RAT1vVz4IV2BdwNtmC5V_LG2mqEqqUpVYGwS8bkHUZxqkxwi2kkaB77oUb7O_KwzNs/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdhsFLWyI0jDrz5CuGLHs73CmUpf6nJbqLU8ZiFIfWGJaPFd6b64SCtdzHR6x5wsj4NSLpDyk_RAT1vVz4IV2BdwNtmC5V_LG2mqEqqUpVYGwS8bkHUZxqkxwi2kkaB77oUb7O_KwzNs/s640/IMG_0047.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Something which, by any stretch of the imagination, couldn't be called handsome but is nevertheless impressive, is this fearsome looking Yellow Dung Fly. Had I found it in the place which its name suggests it wouldn't have found its way on to my post but luckily it was on a flower. They do feed on pollen but it was most likely to have been hunting for smaller insects to prey upon.</div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbdBFfbVehEfCYdTLUZLY-h5_ijj7Fr7piT8VdWQN6TJNfE0m22ODTjzUtdP2o-PMVmeQMS4HGaqbnob8YBtEwnl7IR94gO0BDvmL2CDXqdzv6NduHKn77oxWMQTFBeQV8inzrYOF-q0/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbdBFfbVehEfCYdTLUZLY-h5_ijj7Fr7piT8VdWQN6TJNfE0m22ODTjzUtdP2o-PMVmeQMS4HGaqbnob8YBtEwnl7IR94gO0BDvmL2CDXqdzv6NduHKn77oxWMQTFBeQV8inzrYOF-q0/s640/IMG_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Dung Fly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Not quite as fearsome from this angle!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATMd18oS7PKBLq3MUjWpVjBCAHVOLETzq5BZjP9qKri1BnuBCN4tLLn__WogsYGF8z5jV8IQuV1iBIYLDY2TrBefa2cAIoEydi2He8cvgjo5HVVRzlnlG0fmYHdUAV2ksQkBpTE2Azqg/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATMd18oS7PKBLq3MUjWpVjBCAHVOLETzq5BZjP9qKri1BnuBCN4tLLn__WogsYGF8z5jV8IQuV1iBIYLDY2TrBefa2cAIoEydi2He8cvgjo5HVVRzlnlG0fmYHdUAV2ksQkBpTE2Azqg/s640/IMG_0047.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
This Grey Squirrel was intrigued enough by me to pose for a photo.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSA53fWWXF5f_Fv3_bdVEbxmbZFUhEJATHHYA4YMRGF52maJvNhIDwHW7_PdXoNgi2vrXmlLzZw7mufcLyG198LdLcNwffjhzh9H7u7-p1RpgN1gdHSHn3NM9Wkf7vhq3VeU8GoZnW3M/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSA53fWWXF5f_Fv3_bdVEbxmbZFUhEJATHHYA4YMRGF52maJvNhIDwHW7_PdXoNgi2vrXmlLzZw7mufcLyG198LdLcNwffjhzh9H7u7-p1RpgN1gdHSHn3NM9Wkf7vhq3VeU8GoZnW3M/s640/IMG_0057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grey Squirrel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>A walk along this stretch of a local canal a few weeks ago should have produced a wealth of Odonata. The vegetation is usually teeming but on this occasion absolutely nothing at all was seen!<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRaS106Vcp4bgweLNXAy_lD6_06_i1FUZn6hU8nzXKHsqba1aSDpymmGfxivFAe-x5vOOGTAAVH7YUlUjz9xly13_zX_74BA0gV-hdiTG_U-CAJR6l1VvJzgyB-PvoWuY5wp_WdknOqk/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRaS106Vcp4bgweLNXAy_lD6_06_i1FUZn6hU8nzXKHsqba1aSDpymmGfxivFAe-x5vOOGTAAVH7YUlUjz9xly13_zX_74BA0gV-hdiTG_U-CAJR6l1VvJzgyB-PvoWuY5wp_WdknOqk/s640/IMG_0076.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
More recently on a different stretch of the canal I have seen a few damselflies but nowhere near as many as other years. These were in the classic 'wheel' (copulation) position.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y9DhmnjeUxcMIMWD2HztlnnNow1JLfToiRtphltF2qPBhehuDpPt3UvDI8m-rGkzHitJMlMq1ifn2kUb3RWe-uKWPJiL7qcuxY-e7ACasa8xeTamv08FUIg_VQKxZAnWQrk-st1l9jQ/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y9DhmnjeUxcMIMWD2HztlnnNow1JLfToiRtphltF2qPBhehuDpPt3UvDI8m-rGkzHitJMlMq1ifn2kUb3RWe-uKWPJiL7qcuxY-e7ACasa8xeTamv08FUIg_VQKxZAnWQrk-st1l9jQ/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">White-legged Damselflies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One rare, fine afternoon recently (the sun only lasted for about an hour!) I decided to look for the butterfly with which I started this post, in a location within easy walking distance of home. I have seen them there in the past and was pleasantly surprised to find them straight away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_sYxen3Zk_pMkERQjUV2PLGFhMrcvG926DjoAIi-S1AvRdBxZGV4la1-FwW_g1R0aevLA5PUk7yREjZ00yl-ZxOZcH7Fx_jDm06sr_CIa5dk0Kj-vN7_liw7tzPQIA984wGqdS_vYcg/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_sYxen3Zk_pMkERQjUV2PLGFhMrcvG926DjoAIi-S1AvRdBxZGV4la1-FwW_g1R0aevLA5PUk7yREjZ00yl-ZxOZcH7Fx_jDm06sr_CIa5dk0Kj-vN7_liw7tzPQIA984wGqdS_vYcg/s640/IMG_0036.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marbled White Butterfly (female)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'A rustle of corn-leaves;</div><div style="text-align: center;">a tinkle Of bells on the hills;</div><div style="text-align: center;">a twinkle Of sheep in the lowlands;</div><div style="text-align: center;">a bevy Of bees where the clover is heavy;</div><div style="text-align: center;">A butterfly blundering by, —</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that is July!'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(James Newton Matthews)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I wasn't able to get one with wings fully open. I do think they are very attractive butterflies!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqdvkGQqG66a_dVNMG_JrMTx0YS_YyDjfzJ74ITMVCCkX_5QOc9en_c3CM0hKHTL03fK6Kc-uOUdrFDYxlckUmtgTDmMyCDxWZlVhBTOYbxAQIwjnP7xCy9SI7qflEoJsLLlU-Vanb58/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqdvkGQqG66a_dVNMG_JrMTx0YS_YyDjfzJ74ITMVCCkX_5QOc9en_c3CM0hKHTL03fK6Kc-uOUdrFDYxlckUmtgTDmMyCDxWZlVhBTOYbxAQIwjnP7xCy9SI7qflEoJsLLlU-Vanb58/s640/IMG_0040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have no idea why but the next little insect is one I always enjoy finding each year and I nearly always see one on the same clump of Ox-eye Daisies. It's my old friend the Fat-legged Beetle (Oedemera nobilis).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bzUnRnQZZnN0iJf2JPCoaXDJvxFaakrotB_KpOKaYfw5spAeP4qSh-wd7nMWs9BPHLrYfFy4qxkhg2kmYnk6TX7_HgyVv4k7EPxgAzYmEfYtcpn3L9KofwS4mcfxnqHfJp1pFgPyR2Y/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bzUnRnQZZnN0iJf2JPCoaXDJvxFaakrotB_KpOKaYfw5spAeP4qSh-wd7nMWs9BPHLrYfFy4qxkhg2kmYnk6TX7_HgyVv4k7EPxgAzYmEfYtcpn3L9KofwS4mcfxnqHfJp1pFgPyR2Y/s640/IMG_0143.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fat-legged Beetle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Finally, they say this is the weather for ducks so I thought I would finish with Mrs Mallard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp-xWU5HkY1CVReh1HZtxplKG07j3hGT24qZLeBwF2pcf6BUh8vQMEW59TD6DX7iGHLc7iHKJAeN0s23Ro_Xz_vdA-o1GFiSvAa-7tZjEDGGq0KGe-x3Dds9mGfC0QDN93Kxj8L-GsU8/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp-xWU5HkY1CVReh1HZtxplKG07j3hGT24qZLeBwF2pcf6BUh8vQMEW59TD6DX7iGHLc7iHKJAeN0s23Ro_Xz_vdA-o1GFiSvAa-7tZjEDGGq0KGe-x3Dds9mGfC0QDN93Kxj8L-GsU8/s640/IMG_0160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mallard Duck </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">and baby mallard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDMveAikdq2VzKD00ugterdnClTpcVYO5V8SjHN1T0i_y1hxqud6ydNLA4lm4oBrq6H6TMOB94b0feqVyvjfXNl2YXl162tPjymBSyeCUbNmj4-YLJ3idR-89AnImpyCADUDZw8LcEwk/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDMveAikdq2VzKD00ugterdnClTpcVYO5V8SjHN1T0i_y1hxqud6ydNLA4lm4oBrq6H6TMOB94b0feqVyvjfXNl2YXl162tPjymBSyeCUbNmj4-YLJ3idR-89AnImpyCADUDZw8LcEwk/s640/IMG_0115.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mallard Duckling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqdvkGQqG66a_dVNMG_JrMTx0YS_YyDjfzJ74ITMVCCkX_5QOc9en_c3CM0hKHTL03fK6Kc-uOUdrFDYxlckUmtgTDmMyCDxWZlVhBTOYbxAQIwjnP7xCy9SI7qflEoJsLLlU-Vanb58/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-83501739026323033682012-06-09T17:25:00.003+01:002012-06-11T18:01:28.044+01:00Yellow Wagtails and Green-winged Orchids!<div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5aHzN2_HQSclPpe5mw-S3ckocguj_GL86yPq1hC0EODSOmXVb2w5jR-ayuzcc1uPzSyLSQx_n8g6x0nOBs4UwhCKBD2U3Z59v_-nbRU6Xbq2_tyaymgre8nG3L7rRSnz2CEMwJLFy7A/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5aHzN2_HQSclPpe5mw-S3ckocguj_GL86yPq1hC0EODSOmXVb2w5jR-ayuzcc1uPzSyLSQx_n8g6x0nOBs4UwhCKBD2U3Z59v_-nbRU6Xbq2_tyaymgre8nG3L7rRSnz2CEMwJLFy7A/s640/IMG_0268.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">A couple of weeks ago we visited a local wildflower meadow in the hope of seeing some orchids but found we were slightly too early for the ones which grow there. About the only thing found of interest was this Sloe Shield Bug also known as Hairy Shield Bug due to the fine hairs covering its abdomen.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz_xAiNMC4nJg74w71tnU85gS6U2h3mdX65Xw_cHu3xK1kIsUGIeY4j1a1Q12ABus4OOaX9Cu5Ls-cU9AqtttjBqKnpQALS1Ha3ODohPl7zG_QlJh5OS3KcTV0SiX7iIQUGoeRedXnPM/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz_xAiNMC4nJg74w71tnU85gS6U2h3mdX65Xw_cHu3xK1kIsUGIeY4j1a1Q12ABus4OOaX9Cu5Ls-cU9AqtttjBqKnpQALS1Ha3ODohPl7zG_QlJh5OS3KcTV0SiX7iIQUGoeRedXnPM/s640/IMG_0241.JPG" width="640" /></a>Sloe Bug</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">However, while we were there we met a couple who asked us if we had heard of Draycote Meadows as they had been the week before to see the Green-winged Orchids and that it was well worth a visit. We said we knew Draycote Water well but that although we had heard of the meadows we had never been sure where they were. They gave us directions but cautioned us that they were not easy to find. As we realised we were cutting things fine in terms of seeing the orchids at the peak of their flowering period we decided to go the next day. To say it was a difficult place to find was an understatement! A journey which should have taken around thirty minutes took twice that time, it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">extremely </i>difficult to find and we made many wrong turns and if I hadn't eventually spotted just one other car in the gateway we would have sailed straight past!</div></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, having finally tracked down this SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) we had no trouble finding the flowers and what a lovely sight they were! Incidentally, isn't it sad that what fifty or so years ago would have been considered just a typical flower filled meadow is now seen as quite unusual and in need of special management and protection? </div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhNonO2aYzrT6N_HfkBpC8224znwe5lVlH6WTVs0emABkMHrTuq665u9zPZCce7mrn9X5_lvqPSmG-5AqnnY28UrsN5K1rsp5c4zcA6rOysj2xlVPzPlEchpSKdVsZaKuar-VpNxGVI0/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhNonO2aYzrT6N_HfkBpC8224znwe5lVlH6WTVs0emABkMHrTuq665u9zPZCce7mrn9X5_lvqPSmG-5AqnnY28UrsN5K1rsp5c4zcA6rOysj2xlVPzPlEchpSKdVsZaKuar-VpNxGVI0/s640/IMG_0081.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">'And 'tis good to go forth among scenes like these, <br />
Amid music and sunshine, and flowers and trees,<br />
If 'twere only to waken the deep love that springs <br />
At the sight of all lovely and innocent things.'</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;">(Anonymous)<br />
<br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Although the orchids would have looked a little better a week before, they were still very pretty. As is so often my luck though the minute we stepped into the meadow the sun disappeared so I took some photos but decided to do a little exploring and follow the bridleway for a while. Thankfully, it wasn't long before the sun returned :-)</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg646RX-eyDUcrGHDUPygaJyAStpWoyZN4vIVQlvRJfVGbtMdVzeqc-2RUqs_xqMBXDE0J9Jb06h7G6vIZ9EDPormJVFGj0kvnC0mB_ZXDOSLvRJbBb8u4_vlgHlf-9pqgp7iTIhgQv8TI/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg646RX-eyDUcrGHDUPygaJyAStpWoyZN4vIVQlvRJfVGbtMdVzeqc-2RUqs_xqMBXDE0J9Jb06h7G6vIZ9EDPormJVFGj0kvnC0mB_ZXDOSLvRJbBb8u4_vlgHlf-9pqgp7iTIhgQv8TI/s640/IMG_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">So we retraced our steps and returned to the meadow to try and get some sunnier photos. On the way we saw this little fellow.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mOFKTW_LAJq97JdYforHNMakqGKpDNEOuODxeMEsgobL5FcAZvHeLlyv4K_bBwQ0OguDCbI_QISIe7paRT_-cn0r31HBP9jtazgVi9LAqntXWx6mzfZ7faniIpYUPpvGz96Rzh12Jhg/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mOFKTW_LAJq97JdYforHNMakqGKpDNEOuODxeMEsgobL5FcAZvHeLlyv4K_bBwQ0OguDCbI_QISIe7paRT_-cn0r31HBP9jtazgVi9LAqntXWx6mzfZ7faniIpYUPpvGz96Rzh12Jhg/s640/IMG_0048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"> Rabbit </div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">'Some rabbits have bright shiny noses<br />
I'm telling you now as a friend<br />
The reason their noses are shiny--<br />
Their powder puff's on the wrong end'</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;">(Unknown)</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Once widespread, there has been a steady decline of the Green-winged Orchid since the 1950s due to agricultural 'improvement' of its grassland habitat. It is sadly, very scarce in some areas of the UK such as the south-west, and in Scotland can only be found in one small area on the west coast of Ayrshire.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IMQ-MBzBwIqljOD5pUrye8rRDVrTpZ94ZxUOOBBL15Izh9-1sVHGwC5m4y78fMmec6jDUrD7YWVwxMpe1Ov4wnPIVWYlX0bhvY3M29TDU1hsIyd_JOmb1ahpbT2UUW_nBai-8s2L_Gs/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IMQ-MBzBwIqljOD5pUrye8rRDVrTpZ94ZxUOOBBL15Izh9-1sVHGwC5m4y78fMmec6jDUrD7YWVwxMpe1Ov4wnPIVWYlX0bhvY3M29TDU1hsIyd_JOmb1ahpbT2UUW_nBai-8s2L_Gs/s640/IMG_0092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">Green-winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio)</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">The green 'wings' of this lovely flower are not always obvious but at least a hint of green can usually be seen in a few plants. The flowers can vary from a paler pinkish mauve to deeper purple and sometimes even white. Here's a closer view.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Gh-HM9TXWMWzezJsxZcs_FMjXg84_Aklmt6pWjVmx5FLMGhYtofzr1X4CrB4exPH-yEUgHxy3RcPmB_bgBIHOz8tLb5oKTsRaG9OwD8GESRJAs3EyGxqu2jhZ4uagF09Z5aNk5mk2Y/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Gh-HM9TXWMWzezJsxZcs_FMjXg84_Aklmt6pWjVmx5FLMGhYtofzr1X4CrB4exPH-yEUgHxy3RcPmB_bgBIHOz8tLb5oKTsRaG9OwD8GESRJAs3EyGxqu2jhZ4uagF09Z5aNk5mk2Y/s640/IMG_0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMczGUozepfSBzRvCVHDmosrAf1PbvNEuwEEcYknk58k2uFW7r_McTM-qD335y8kPgpDXADHNfSM8FD9Qz5l_i-E66XD-5Yohp4HIMnJdAaHAj3zQIsiYilaL_9fRE9QRALob78obUHI/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMczGUozepfSBzRvCVHDmosrAf1PbvNEuwEEcYknk58k2uFW7r_McTM-qD335y8kPgpDXADHNfSM8FD9Qz5l_i-E66XD-5Yohp4HIMnJdAaHAj3zQIsiYilaL_9fRE9QRALob78obUHI/s640/IMG_0079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Orchids are dependent on a fungus which allows them to germinate and obtain nutrients and to compete with other plants. Therefore they are extremely vulnerable to fungicides, fertilisers, lime and ploughing. The Green-winged Orchid depends on infertile or nutrient poor grassland.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2TttII28mRtRFMqYaSATYUbvEpzgux9WeYZ5NPTtKCdXqq6_bpYPT8UcTcEq4gxIBoFXq8NhPTjZbZuARnQonzXiONF4rQ70qyjp3TpMlh5WfUCVxGL2Lgi12AxD4xlxL9Sq4EwUK_4/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2TttII28mRtRFMqYaSATYUbvEpzgux9WeYZ5NPTtKCdXqq6_bpYPT8UcTcEq4gxIBoFXq8NhPTjZbZuARnQonzXiONF4rQ70qyjp3TpMlh5WfUCVxGL2Lgi12AxD4xlxL9Sq4EwUK_4/s640/IMG_0088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"> 'Flowers, lovely flowers! ye are to me<br />
Most dear and precious things;<br />
Nature's soft pencil over ye<br />
Its brightest colouring flings.<br />
Ye seem to me, though blooming here<br />
Bright beings of another sphere.'</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;">(Mary Ann Gray)</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">After we had taken our fill of these lovely flowers we decided that as we were so close we would round off our trip with a visit to Draycote Water. It was a Sunday and a nice day so I knew it would be very busy there and I wasn't surprised that there wasn't much to be seen in the way of bird life. There are, however, always plenty of Pied Wagtails flitting around hunting for insects.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpua9VjzG_t_4FK0fKfdOBUXe2HvX8fAy3zczbpzjW2D3JhCFwYzB03S04DHM2SzKlmytc5xglRvNWVCbzSA4m2gnijzamidEE3OaGa5trp-KdY5DxMgc9p8_9cyDzL49DKYkCniI2TU/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpua9VjzG_t_4FK0fKfdOBUXe2HvX8fAy3zczbpzjW2D3JhCFwYzB03S04DHM2SzKlmytc5xglRvNWVCbzSA4m2gnijzamidEE3OaGa5trp-KdY5DxMgc9p8_9cyDzL49DKYkCniI2TU/s640/IMG_0147.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail<br />
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</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">These Canada Geese allowed me to try an in flight shot which I usually tend to avoid.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyL1JW2uCjKHUXInuGZHGlqaogfjSklvaWqKo8WNkDZSabEhRYO8Xr3TgHg9DTA43KPmJwm9MJwTk71vJbC8gla8TjOLeQppvSVzX5GisI5y1vf-CJopRJdzJUSerFHScTOK-9D4BUwY/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyL1JW2uCjKHUXInuGZHGlqaogfjSklvaWqKo8WNkDZSabEhRYO8Xr3TgHg9DTA43KPmJwm9MJwTk71vJbC8gla8TjOLeQppvSVzX5GisI5y1vf-CJopRJdzJUSerFHScTOK-9D4BUwY/s640/IMG_0155.JPG" width="640" /></a> Canada Geese</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">I am not overly knowledgeable when it comes to gull ID especially with all the various stages of plumage they go through but I think this is a first Winter Common Gull which, by the way, in my experience is nowhere near as 'common' as the far more often seen Black-headed Gull. Mind you, whoever named the different gulls could have done a lot better I think especially when they named a gull with a brown head the Black-headed Gull ;-) But I digress! If my identification is correct I am slightly confused as to why it would still be at the 'first Winter' stage at the end of May! Could it be due to the poor Spring weather this year?<br />
<br />
EDIT: Thank you very much to <a href="http://pittswoodpatch.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: lime;" target="_blank">Warren</a><span style="color: lime;"> </span>and<a href="http://hedgelandtales.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: lime;" target="_blank"> John</a> for establishing it is a Common Gull in 1st Summer plumage. And no John, your info wasn't at all boring, I found it very helpful. Both of your contributions were much appreciated!</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL66yS1szBe5f7GSzS-7ic5J9ALvKQPZSsp0wFUHtjHtqWBev1VOcnQe_c_JI9bKQJwYFVsv8yDrBLwNNS7CyoMVaCffDbGY1jKbGOHM883a1mtQzSV89X6_EZZIs_yV_fFpZcITVokkc/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL66yS1szBe5f7GSzS-7ic5J9ALvKQPZSsp0wFUHtjHtqWBev1VOcnQe_c_JI9bKQJwYFVsv8yDrBLwNNS7CyoMVaCffDbGY1jKbGOHM883a1mtQzSV89X6_EZZIs_yV_fFpZcITVokkc/s640/IMG_0197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">Common Gull (Ist Summer plumage)</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">There is always an abundance of small flies at Draycote sometimes to the extent that it makes a visit very unpleasant, however, they are very attractive to many of the birds particularly the wagtail family and consequently the lovely Yellow Wagtail can often be seen there and this time was no exception.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws1CojPK4Tr6CRZYgfhHffDH5P9KnBgf7Jvs_o6OAvzNFRe_HEELio-99OnvpQfIq3kfwrDEDScjrCcXgvKHuFDgALdSXplrTU4hF0nAtrP8nuXu7fqhFQwG3_NZ3MJRHJAQeQ1M2myk/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws1CojPK4Tr6CRZYgfhHffDH5P9KnBgf7Jvs_o6OAvzNFRe_HEELio-99OnvpQfIq3kfwrDEDScjrCcXgvKHuFDgALdSXplrTU4hF0nAtrP8nuXu7fqhFQwG3_NZ3MJRHJAQeQ1M2myk/s640/IMG_0265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeO7yqCG5yWTB11dyIL9RvUEMhPOkXkNMo_EPP48QDC2uTBSaEIto5Exy297VNNTqdpJ02UhvXmVtPz34S-XUfmXnjw_zHuju5WnRKZTtalDpyUJ6iUfZTdtyBtUvigFRlCaHPc9Q2Mg/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeO7yqCG5yWTB11dyIL9RvUEMhPOkXkNMo_EPP48QDC2uTBSaEIto5Exy297VNNTqdpJ02UhvXmVtPz34S-XUfmXnjw_zHuju5WnRKZTtalDpyUJ6iUfZTdtyBtUvigFRlCaHPc9Q2Mg/s640/IMG_0287.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1VKpIRbFbhtVONZ1FnSA0xw4QiilIvhgdiH6W26uwDN4yHm4i3OBXMAGWR1qaaVhRo6rPTsKp-sbWKHiRaiJG_Lsq3l7nbNCj2ttb2iSUTGkZvTRKIh0u2mJSk4sosNI_Q-mXqzLTFI/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1VKpIRbFbhtVONZ1FnSA0xw4QiilIvhgdiH6W26uwDN4yHm4i3OBXMAGWR1qaaVhRo6rPTsKp-sbWKHiRaiJG_Lsq3l7nbNCj2ttb2iSUTGkZvTRKIh0u2mJSk4sosNI_Q-mXqzLTFI/s640/IMG_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;">'Oft, in the sunny mornings, have I seen<br />
Bright-yellow birds, of a rich lemon hue,<br />
Meeting in crowds upon branches green,<br />
And sweetly singing all morning through.'</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;"> (Denis Florence MacCarthy)<br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: right;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Finally, another look at the lovely wildflower meadow.</div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhNonO2aYzrT6N_HfkBpC8224znwe5lVlH6WTVs0emABkMHrTuq665u9zPZCce7mrn9X5_lvqPSmG-5AqnnY28UrsN5K1rsp5c4zcA6rOysj2xlVPzPlEchpSKdVsZaKuar-VpNxGVI0/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R9PP6spjtNMBexg8odmGyKTNrudch20BeTz4MwRPlJEPNNc0MPeCK_D4AUehIBSRMG56LB_qJXQ7Jiv4mrEmBvoXAIvhTAlW3FVX_5ge4rKgPtrMM7pfGZE3vmXs4M7KH3zJGW5KInI/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R9PP6spjtNMBexg8odmGyKTNrudch20BeTz4MwRPlJEPNNc0MPeCK_D4AUehIBSRMG56LB_qJXQ7Jiv4mrEmBvoXAIvhTAlW3FVX_5ge4rKgPtrMM7pfGZE3vmXs4M7KH3zJGW5KInI/s640/IMG_0083.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: justify;">Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.<br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body1" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1VKpIRbFbhtVONZ1FnSA0xw4QiilIvhgdiH6W26uwDN4yHm4i3OBXMAGWR1qaaVhRo6rPTsKp-sbWKHiRaiJG_Lsq3l7nbNCj2ttb2iSUTGkZvTRKIh0u2mJSk4sosNI_Q-mXqzLTFI/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span lang="en-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-28223596949464745442012-06-01T18:51:00.003+01:002012-06-01T20:26:39.603+01:00Butterflies, Birds and the Beautiful British Countryside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7nLEETS8vjTEoDpCi9GvnZ8hG8m67o7XvqXKVQvDVEziIJC5ivzc9Ylfp966cchu7d4bC-Nz6AqqE96_Sd4ZufNI6MOJy0exD5moQJgg6NhYxhXMqm-n1Pa6uNNwTRd9HjamghMPNow/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7nLEETS8vjTEoDpCi9GvnZ8hG8m67o7XvqXKVQvDVEziIJC5ivzc9Ylfp966cchu7d4bC-Nz6AqqE96_Sd4ZufNI6MOJy0exD5moQJgg6NhYxhXMqm-n1Pa6uNNwTRd9HjamghMPNow/s640/IMG_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After the rather gruesome tone of my last post this one returns to my gentler style. It has been so nice to be able to get out and enjoy the warmth and sunshine in the last couple of weeks but sad that we seem, in the last few days, to have returned to dull and rainy weather once again, such are the delights of living in the UK!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following photo is one which was left over from a walk on one of the few decent days we had in April. I wasn't the only one who was enjoying a brief spell of sunshine.<br />
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</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUCCgpxiIrBQ3IYXi1qaLu3WrR_vZnlQbpEgZ14GjhijrjANAaWAijEXlFPHe1yCtHXplVTybPs24ar-mhPx3zSoHk55uBXHE5pEfU6VdZUhsQiIfyH8y238hFhBKwgbHs3jBMnX70aY/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUCCgpxiIrBQ3IYXi1qaLu3WrR_vZnlQbpEgZ14GjhijrjANAaWAijEXlFPHe1yCtHXplVTybPs24ar-mhPx3zSoHk55uBXHE5pEfU6VdZUhsQiIfyH8y238hFhBKwgbHs3jBMnX70aY/s640/IMG_0018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Great Tit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bluebells are well past their best now but were still looking lovely here just a couple of weeks ago when I photographed some lining each side of an old bridleway.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9ZJAx3n84XWjQAti4EHNkKKxeqtknidFLmU9t_9QjDKmwyorJCJ-MxDbSfAnzyb3lVyx0u07CU-h_o78xWgNV1Ya1kfE2ozeHGrCeQP9vO7cxiyNyslfjZrtUu9esJLIEMRjRzMgxkA/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9ZJAx3n84XWjQAti4EHNkKKxeqtknidFLmU9t_9QjDKmwyorJCJ-MxDbSfAnzyb3lVyx0u07CU-h_o78xWgNV1Ya1kfE2ozeHGrCeQP9vO7cxiyNyslfjZrtUu9esJLIEMRjRzMgxkA/s640/IMG_0056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bluebells</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoi2Ao9KU6vkCICvrhyphenhyphene6NJv-wqHO-cx9OtvIEmq6tjHJb1CChBgue54B-Gc_6k7I3QrXwWgkn1Nf3gZaetR1wFi49k_ZsYpr58kX-5T7JYLhwv6ldkmvr84SBDqGA2IOuaVBqiK-9KY/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoi2Ao9KU6vkCICvrhyphenhyphene6NJv-wqHO-cx9OtvIEmq6tjHJb1CChBgue54B-Gc_6k7I3QrXwWgkn1Nf3gZaetR1wFi49k_ZsYpr58kX-5T7JYLhwv6ldkmvr84SBDqGA2IOuaVBqiK-9KY/s640/IMG_0218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'There is a silent eloquence<br />
In every wild bluebell<br />
That fills my softened heart with bliss<br />
That words could never tell.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Anne Bronte)<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">As regular readers will know, I love butterflies and with the spell of very early good weather in March my hopes were high that this year would be much better for them than last. However, with the dreadful weather throughout April and much of May those hopes were soon dashed. The sunshine and warmth of the last couple of weeks though has seen a rise in fortune for these little jewels of the air and, although I have not seen as many in my area as I would have liked, I have seen a few such as the lovely Orange Tip, one of the first butterflies to be seen in the Spring which hasn't overwintered as an adult. One of its main food sources is the Bluebell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ldznyaxZSRCFMUkGhneRq9FiXGLxk-sWSglD7pChCjmtOIYQwFnc66Hz0YA1QbfbHbxHt7zdF5DYase3_i3kBcW_kSwEVkJwh4KugR8Q_OqVQmpuFuYpUG6xcfvSVy8fhY-4NkwpajQ/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ldznyaxZSRCFMUkGhneRq9FiXGLxk-sWSglD7pChCjmtOIYQwFnc66Hz0YA1QbfbHbxHt7zdF5DYase3_i3kBcW_kSwEVkJwh4KugR8Q_OqVQmpuFuYpUG6xcfvSVy8fhY-4NkwpajQ/s640/IMG_0033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Orange-tip Butterfly (male)<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">And this lovely creature is the female, isn't she pretty?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqV5vla6VU79VHSBDtaA_K4ww0H8PCykSlK274P46TRbgRsIjkzOSP8vsORbJWTu-gZFfJa8Py8Fnt2rFu87qJYuOL15OkGpB_aI1Cwg5QDC1MjE_b-wAq5q2uBXnbxa5l3zcLBD_Z-U/s1600/IMG_0078a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqV5vla6VU79VHSBDtaA_K4ww0H8PCykSlK274P46TRbgRsIjkzOSP8vsORbJWTu-gZFfJa8Py8Fnt2rFu87qJYuOL15OkGpB_aI1Cwg5QDC1MjE_b-wAq5q2uBXnbxa5l3zcLBD_Z-U/s640/IMG_0078a.JPG" width="640" /></a> Orange-tip Butterfly (female)<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The countryside is looking beautiful after all the rain. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSZsKZhmFKSYL2eHMJ5NPZXU4hepxNrTstVmuQ-w2TY4PvVHwMq24y3DxOXEGlc7UsK-sTpRnDnFLvKtSWviAko7PGZRSDkjnVjqKU0nt6s5eIoZTHq_hYOqbiYOZVecmzX9u9bsiIOA/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSZsKZhmFKSYL2eHMJ5NPZXU4hepxNrTstVmuQ-w2TY4PvVHwMq24y3DxOXEGlc7UsK-sTpRnDnFLvKtSWviAko7PGZRSDkjnVjqKU0nt6s5eIoZTHq_hYOqbiYOZVecmzX9u9bsiIOA/s640/IMG_0115.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another photo left over from the end of April is this one of a Blue Tit with a caterpillar in its beak, I just managed the one quick snap before it flew off to feed it to its nestlings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e7c5NtolSs4qZnzLvFJ0X6sN_1WbIsvueeI6afD1c_oRFoWEsQywpwftsexDQFnsmWW3X9mqGnA0toTTkxAYPVk6ZC76X7va8dEWGIvrhc2tu0dyXK1CKoSoBHYzWJ1bu412pin_j38/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e7c5NtolSs4qZnzLvFJ0X6sN_1WbIsvueeI6afD1c_oRFoWEsQywpwftsexDQFnsmWW3X9mqGnA0toTTkxAYPVk6ZC76X7va8dEWGIvrhc2tu0dyXK1CKoSoBHYzWJ1bu412pin_j38/s640/IMG_0078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blue Tit<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">'The little Titmouse! the little Titmouse!<br />
What a comical fellow is he!<br />
With his head awry, and his half-closed eye,<br />
As much as to say "I see—<br />
I see the maggot within the green bud;<br />
You cannot, although your sight may he good.<br />
I'm sharper than you, for I'm searching for food,<br />
And I'm hungry very—chee! chee!"'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Unknown)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everywhere I go at the moment I seem to flush Pheasants, sometimes I don't know who is the most startled! Just occasionally though I see them before they see me. It was nice to see this pair together but unfortunately they were at a distance and in poor light.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xn0VrDpCPe2bZRZFUKQhmeWQfFUOHqppfcA_czD8UCjb_crajuxYnwRnL0t1Yb41WKP5oLZXGhc1sLRMebXVPyKJeH7fxZ8pJaC8ae1TDFuQLQqk2IBo50ID9ltOilreh3m-KJ5Yia8/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xn0VrDpCPe2bZRZFUKQhmeWQfFUOHqppfcA_czD8UCjb_crajuxYnwRnL0t1Yb41WKP5oLZXGhc1sLRMebXVPyKJeH7fxZ8pJaC8ae1TDFuQLQqk2IBo50ID9ltOilreh3m-KJ5Yia8/s640/IMG_0176.JPG" width="640" /></a> Pheasants (male and female)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This male was a bit closer. What a handsome fellow he is!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiaiIXOVMlERSc5xibc7cfaItH19WjnjHGv1T2TQGdoQRgxYsTPndtQVOs66iJf8gcRboY-05GanDbyeBFDMaXFN-R716-NJqYtbaF88U2UqbSdNAy1vs0rUG4wnVTaEQhBnX4A2wOPE/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiaiIXOVMlERSc5xibc7cfaItH19WjnjHGv1T2TQGdoQRgxYsTPndtQVOs66iJf8gcRboY-05GanDbyeBFDMaXFN-R716-NJqYtbaF88U2UqbSdNAy1vs0rUG4wnVTaEQhBnX4A2wOPE/s640/IMG_0196.JPG" width="640" /></a>Pheasant (male)<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A bird I don't see very often and which is on the red list of 'birds of conservation concern' is the Grey Partridge. I saw this one at the very end of a walk, I flushed it and its mate and they flew to the end of the field where I managed to get this quick photo just before it disappeared after its mate under a hedge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSM_UPPXLWre1ca3ZRT8x0OlRwekok20A_qB5oL1lFkYUYj9rBdXVZNRFelbM5CVl9aMJDRHBo-9MOzeCqKQZXdYd8e5-kIcNqfS9gPWRTPDjiLwToOUCl7PP-zadvaUrl-bSpjE04NU/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSM_UPPXLWre1ca3ZRT8x0OlRwekok20A_qB5oL1lFkYUYj9rBdXVZNRFelbM5CVl9aMJDRHBo-9MOzeCqKQZXdYd8e5-kIcNqfS9gPWRTPDjiLwToOUCl7PP-zadvaUrl-bSpjE04NU/s640/IMG_0248.JPG" width="640" /></a> Grey Partridge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Buttercups may be a common sight in the British countryside but no one can deny they are a cheerful sight especially on a sunny day with their golden heads nodding in the breeze.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcIAFbZrLGebKZHKf8RQPHTR9oM6Iv-W-IZYNMruIGWb0sQmHWigek1wwrHouZtCxByNAGpEnvXO1kZHU9EqZ_WT8lHyjlfJ2A8tnA4RZwLRRzmdBFM1nr2wH9b4JwyFVJ5Xn_Re58t8/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcIAFbZrLGebKZHKf8RQPHTR9oM6Iv-W-IZYNMruIGWb0sQmHWigek1wwrHouZtCxByNAGpEnvXO1kZHU9EqZ_WT8lHyjlfJ2A8tnA4RZwLRRzmdBFM1nr2wH9b4JwyFVJ5Xn_Re58t8/s640/IMG_0028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buttercups</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'The buttercups with shining face</div><div style="text-align: center;">Smile upward as I pass.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They seem to lighten all the place</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like sunshine in the grass.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">(Sarah J. Day) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Speckled Wood is unique among British butterflies, it can overwinter in two stages as both a larva and pupa. This means there is a mixed emergence with adult butterflies on the wing from April to September, with a few adults being seen as early as March or as late as October, especially in the south. I saw this one appropriately, given its name, in woodland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER8VV2nWBcS94m7YeztJl0VHNJFmg81x5ijTrxlkefeRITIXz-O70TKHEjzAe6XR8c_gQdo2zBfqhvRIXTHtJAZmM-kTAXxMIyjajoKYrzzHida4Piu1Effhc_N3y5sHjUQyL2O3Xwio/s1600/IMG_0176a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER8VV2nWBcS94m7YeztJl0VHNJFmg81x5ijTrxlkefeRITIXz-O70TKHEjzAe6XR8c_gQdo2zBfqhvRIXTHtJAZmM-kTAXxMIyjajoKYrzzHida4Piu1Effhc_N3y5sHjUQyL2O3Xwio/s640/IMG_0176a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speckled Wood Butterfly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was hoping to get some photographs of the Brimstone Butterfly but although I saw several I couldn't persuade them to stop and have their photos taken. I did see this pretty little Green-veined White though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6c5a6XjXIxSarXTV85hHfuWu2Fq7okxEn39ETpNNFxfDaYvm4Jno2GvC2LknsNcKRysa4JN9s4SVmKJz-hG7iyVBO-oTxrKHpOqSaL2Hqd8YtJtOG5BSi7u1ccbsdYaPlPzDnCGnT8bA/s640/IMG_0073.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Green-veined White Butterfly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'But lo! a white and spangled thing<br />
Was sporting there on tiny wing;<br />
In haste from flower to flower it flew,<br />
And sucked from each the honied dew.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Louisa Segrave) </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div>Finally another butterfly and this time one I had never seen before, the Dingy Skipper and in my opinion looking not at all dingy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjKhB-6PfOREUuGagosy9x7-KXqrw5Izs1et_GuJ3yEgD2GUjGLVrBGfXGPpki9Fdwmq-KfLk0e6l0gVff1ojLoL0tnoil3Khsx3sakaY2FLqwWZs9A6-utNHis6atZnQBm4CiMqnbck/s1600/IMG_0078b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjKhB-6PfOREUuGagosy9x7-KXqrw5Izs1et_GuJ3yEgD2GUjGLVrBGfXGPpki9Fdwmq-KfLk0e6l0gVff1ojLoL0tnoil3Khsx3sakaY2FLqwWZs9A6-utNHis6atZnQBm4CiMqnbck/s640/IMG_0078b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dingy Skipper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well that's all for now except to say that on the 23rd of May I heard my first Cuckoo of the year, they are so much less common than they used to be here so it was a real thrill to hear and get a brief glimpse of it in a tree just yards from me.<br />
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Until the next time...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-28538047672564969402012-05-15T17:07:00.000+01:002012-05-15T17:07:36.305+01:00Sparrowhawk!...'Red in Tooth and Claw'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX4udeqtmJ9xx5GC2R3iX9lTkj9njHf3UPqYRFsgfl4h1I0KJVpuUqnA1PC-yzCV5xU2UuahFmKlftV3Nl3NVNiG3TUHfq-MZGZmG8XJuu3u7EssdLrMFW68_a5vr58vgGWBegJVDYRU/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX4udeqtmJ9xx5GC2R3iX9lTkj9njHf3UPqYRFsgfl4h1I0KJVpuUqnA1PC-yzCV5xU2UuahFmKlftV3Nl3NVNiG3TUHfq-MZGZmG8XJuu3u7EssdLrMFW68_a5vr58vgGWBegJVDYRU/s640/IMG_0190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">First of all I should mention the slight change of name. When I started this blog three years ago and named it ShySongbird's Twitterings I had never heard of the social network site 'Twitter' and have never used it myself but since Twitter has become so popular I have been concerned about the possible implied connection. It has also troubled me that with the exception of 'Songbird' there is nothing in the title to indicate what my blog is actually <i>about</i>. Therefore, after much deliberation I have come up with what I feel is a more appropriate title...I hope you think so too. It would be great if those of you who have so kindly added me to your sidebars could find a moment to change the name. I know it's a nuisance but if you could just go into your 'My Blog List' you will see there is a rename button which you can click and then amend the name remembering to save the changes. There is no need to delete and reinstall.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> ~~~ </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">WARNING! GORY PHOTOS AHEAD!</div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After my last post, showing the Fox carrying its supper, this post has, I'm afraid, even more gory photos! There was a time when I wouldn't have taken the photographs let alone put them on my blog but it has to be acknowledged that Nature is indeed 'red in tooth and claw'. How else would that Fox feed itself and it's family? How would our beloved garden birds feed their chicks if they didn't catch grubs, insects, caterpillars etc? And the distinction must be drawn between a creature which acts on instinct and purely from a sense of survival, and man's inhumanity to man and his fellow creatures, for no reason other than ignorance or pure evil. It is of course extremely distressing to witness one creature killing another and when it happens in one's own garden, it is particularly so. So it was with the Sparrowhawk which caught and consumed a Blackbird in my garden recently. I'm glad I wasn't in the back of the house as my husband was when he was alerted to the noise in the garden. By the time he reached the window the poor creature had already lost the battle. I didn't look out for about forty minutes by which time the hawk had almost finished its meal. I was surprised to see it was right outside the French door, just five or six feet away from me. Considering it was dull, pouring with rain and the (not very clean) glass was covered with raindrops I was surprised that the photos came out as well as they did. Please excuse the long grass, there hadn't been a chance to cut it due to all the heavy downpours!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi44SciymjA6Wk7SbNicHAJtQeM_D_XAE35ZzrhB1kcsAa6n3n6OfKIIULz33XqVNus7X7XtvM2-vGJ5hTNSNQ4Q_pC7QGLaqg_OpQoo_k7uhWlOeyV7oOBoMNOQJAIgwY3bIPdy_Xx4/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi44SciymjA6Wk7SbNicHAJtQeM_D_XAE35ZzrhB1kcsAa6n3n6OfKIIULz33XqVNus7X7XtvM2-vGJ5hTNSNQ4Q_pC7QGLaqg_OpQoo_k7uhWlOeyV7oOBoMNOQJAIgwY3bIPdy_Xx4/s640/IMG_0209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sparrowhawk</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Who trusted God was love indeed<br />
And love Creation's final law<br />
Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw<br />
With ravine, shriek'd against his creed.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Alfred Lord Tennyson) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzml5tQu0KIYj-p89sJoPTfT8wKdXp48FXK1OYHXO6hOm9uCdIOI6cdMH6zkLxCYM2MxMeLOvB9AUTJGym1DdMw46N5WqOKjrHQW9LAn4msbddYF5PXo-I7sEreXTqWwyX9c9_4nWTymM/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzml5tQu0KIYj-p89sJoPTfT8wKdXp48FXK1OYHXO6hOm9uCdIOI6cdMH6zkLxCYM2MxMeLOvB9AUTJGym1DdMw46N5WqOKjrHQW9LAn4msbddYF5PXo-I7sEreXTqWwyX9c9_4nWTymM/s640/IMG_0210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Nature is no sentimentalist.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Ralph Waldo Emmerson) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRJkjvytthYVmffMJ_0T2vClgcTW5uFor2AgKglalJ1U-eFfnpTTm1siOjCk66N_iMKwsw_pUrL9bB_X8UeN8aYH2zPD8-sObsRNWkAeW2EB7YcWoKyxKYdTolksHenkE8ZmEgNgzHyw/s1600/IMG_0224+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRJkjvytthYVmffMJ_0T2vClgcTW5uFor2AgKglalJ1U-eFfnpTTm1siOjCk66N_iMKwsw_pUrL9bB_X8UeN8aYH2zPD8-sObsRNWkAeW2EB7YcWoKyxKYdTolksHenkE8ZmEgNgzHyw/s640/IMG_0224+%282%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'[Nature] is all things. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She rewards herself and punishes herself;</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and in herself rejoices and is distressed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is rough and gentle, loving and terrible,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> powerless and almighty. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In her everything is always present.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Past or Future she knows not. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The Present is her Eternity.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe)</div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2InWnU9Rmr6OTvpm27i6Up2_QBWY-1VZ6L12G8gpGCDtREU0W2nULEpA0DPkbI4TVBCb-qHH-3-ilBzZKE_jdnvKNGaF_bZCuT3Fge5m5z8PpD6CiLsV3zq8hL77BkfsagaW3pw6fZ_c/s1600/IMG_0237+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2InWnU9Rmr6OTvpm27i6Up2_QBWY-1VZ6L12G8gpGCDtREU0W2nULEpA0DPkbI4TVBCb-qHH-3-ilBzZKE_jdnvKNGaF_bZCuT3Fge5m5z8PpD6CiLsV3zq8hL77BkfsagaW3pw6fZ_c/s640/IMG_0237+%282%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'A man who lives with nature is used to violence and is companionable with death. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There is more violence in an English hedgerow than in the meanest streets of a great city.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(P.D. James)</div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSJwWnxzPM4HW3hBUzy5zQ9WyS8pQLSB3ku9YeLLtIQwyO591ZwVpzbk7O7v4k0hg8CzkclWrbOzWMkmu_9dcRkwI-nuCmN49h0Aos1dmgVcfEa75OIh0QPrl3Xjl25fa7c6jtXxaLRM/s1600/IMG_0243+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSJwWnxzPM4HW3hBUzy5zQ9WyS8pQLSB3ku9YeLLtIQwyO591ZwVpzbk7O7v4k0hg8CzkclWrbOzWMkmu_9dcRkwI-nuCmN49h0Aos1dmgVcfEa75OIh0QPrl3Xjl25fa7c6jtXxaLRM/s640/IMG_0243+%282%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Aristotle)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQI355d7IhgudVWVISvgFiZQwYENwEOJN_E0vlaak0ehdU8HLUVZsSQW060ybBquDC48OHU37vy4-6qIjpNViSO5IQzk4jBUpSFrQSYis0Ykm_QAdCEnykWJaBHInjlxagFrHn3cgFS8/s640/IMG_0246+%282%29.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> but time is still turning they soon will be dry;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> All those who see me, and all who believe in me, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">share in the freedom I feel when I fly.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">(John Denver) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOzLZI6oXseRIzggoXjlL7K_y3ZGp3ak0eJPyFzlXVqOqpq3mc6VUFJidGYYWK1zKqT9gZHp9dkjZzoOyzqdmpth6y0wT1XN3GX2F_gyy2qgsVl3sMG85JEbt4S8c02oLGmX9fH5LGso/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOzLZI6oXseRIzggoXjlL7K_y3ZGp3ak0eJPyFzlXVqOqpq3mc6VUFJidGYYWK1zKqT9gZHp9dkjZzoOyzqdmpth6y0wT1XN3GX2F_gyy2qgsVl3sMG85JEbt4S8c02oLGmX9fH5LGso/s640/IMG_0224.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Let us permit nature to have her way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> She understands her business better than we do.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">( Michel de Montaigne)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Uncomfortable viewing I know but nevertheless part of Nature. I hope no one is offended.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My next post will be easier on the eye. Until then...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are. </div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-43940598246084290242012-04-27T17:25:00.003+01:002012-04-27T17:36:38.975+01:00A History Lesson and a Bit of a Lark!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviU8lPwQvhNO-bpNb7yIIl2rEH8EHHrlel0sGApuw_EzdH3Dr37FrnW4C_lv8mSsbE7bqNAOG-9BRyib5psj02YGWxQsvGajf_nCAthLpjfuZ-D9RyLUkifp6GnzpDZUdfyHimEdvqKU/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviU8lPwQvhNO-bpNb7yIIl2rEH8EHHrlel0sGApuw_EzdH3Dr37FrnW4C_lv8mSsbE7bqNAOG-9BRyib5psj02YGWxQsvGajf_nCAthLpjfuZ-D9RyLUkifp6GnzpDZUdfyHimEdvqKU/s640/IMG_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I know, I know! I said my next post wouldn't be long but time flies by and one week just seems to roll into another, maybe I'm just not very good at this blogging game. Slapped wrist! Must try harder, write it out one hundred times...must try harder, must try harder...no, maybe not, that would be incredibly boring ;-) I had to do it once at school you know! 'I must not blow grass during my history lesson' one hundred times! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I was sat by the open window on a hot, sunny day and would much rather have been out there enjoying Nature instead of sitting in a classroom <strike> not</strike> listening to a dull and boring lesson about things so far in the past that they seemed completely unreal to my young and disinterested ears. The long grasses inches away were just too tempting! I plucked one, put it between my thumbs, raised it to my lips and blew. The loud whistling noise rang out...my classmates laughed uproariously...the teacher didn't :-( ...I didn't expect it to work quite <i> that</i> well!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enough of this waffle! Back to business and despite the inhospitable weather which has befallen most of us here in the UK I have managed to dodge some of the heavy showers and get out a few times with the camera. I also have some photos left from a few weeks ago including the next one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This Great Spotted Woodpecker was a very long way away and I nearly missed it when I was scanning around with my binoculars. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsPVl0WMRp7fHnBlDdm2kaHCz_ua07BlZC_b7L8CXdQ2jqnK3_jWx-rBc2Zx-JMtr4zwysHZqWBuwU5CkpuTYEqj6Ide-j0Aet-msuf3MUooq1WU-vOlWMzyP7C7UhnOO5ESCK8bWQps/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsPVl0WMRp7fHnBlDdm2kaHCz_ua07BlZC_b7L8CXdQ2jqnK3_jWx-rBc2Zx-JMtr4zwysHZqWBuwU5CkpuTYEqj6Ide-j0Aet-msuf3MUooq1WU-vOlWMzyP7C7UhnOO5ESCK8bWQps/s640/IMG_0007.JPG" width="640" /></a> Great Spotted Woodpecker</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was so pleased to see these Snake's Head Fritillaries at a very small Nature reserve near me. Although a popular garden flower they are rare in the wild due to so many of the ancient meadows which provided their habitat being ploughed up and used for the production of food crops during World War II. The ones I saw were there last year too and as last year they were carefully protected from Rabbits etc. by a wire surround which as you can see made photographing them difficult. Hopefully in years to come they will gradually spread.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJQpD1qSF-VOHkVRdyx_mnCS_5tSOmRhDTCe3wDGonQK9iVwgC3pr54z7wEfipz5Z2fBQrJ9ntxVQ40fWLag57VPx2-UW2sygGdTsjYW9kkdkDfMw87Jjvv8_Yp5c6C99GhdoH29iId0/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJQpD1qSF-VOHkVRdyx_mnCS_5tSOmRhDTCe3wDGonQK9iVwgC3pr54z7wEfipz5Z2fBQrJ9ntxVQ40fWLag57VPx2-UW2sygGdTsjYW9kkdkDfMw87Jjvv8_Yp5c6C99GhdoH29iId0/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snake's Head Fritillaries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
'The snake’s head fritillary is one of the most exquisite jewels</div><div style="text-align: center;"> in the treasure house of British wild flowers.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its linear grey-green leaves are followed in spring</div><div style="text-align: center;"> by nodding heads sometimes of pure white,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> or more frequently marked with a delicate</div><div style="text-align: center;"> chequerboard pattern in shades of purple.' </div><div style="text-align: right;">(The Royal Horticultural Society)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I only saw this bird briefly and in a rather dim spot so was pleased to find when I looked at the photos afterwards that it wasn't the Coal Tit I had thought but a Marsh Tit. I did wonder about a Willow Tit but there is no discernible white panel on the wings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibha4cuHPXZNa-LTPq9LmWASeG6PyLTrBlzgAxTIyaIjv_tsQoO0i3rwGQb696w3jE9-vs6j7DAF9ujf5w5uXssyu7ZJ6InYQEeXcBisMEczYxy4OI9SuA9rfCPkxVrt_xFlf9o0OKBF8/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibha4cuHPXZNa-LTPq9LmWASeG6PyLTrBlzgAxTIyaIjv_tsQoO0i3rwGQb696w3jE9-vs6j7DAF9ujf5w5uXssyu7ZJ6InYQEeXcBisMEczYxy4OI9SuA9rfCPkxVrt_xFlf9o0OKBF8/s640/IMG_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Marsh Tit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I mentioned in my last post that while at Draycote Water I photographed some Great Crested Grebes. They are always at Draycote in good numbers and at the end of the visit as the sun was starting to set I saw the following pair engaging in the beginnings of the 'weed dance'.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6osh2Wa1uLWv2-TDODbbVXCOXENmRRI1gKnatkdSGep0OaRNI5e4epAg4ibPsFeFNKdArYipOGdm_Nik1ci9orKCVq531ZgiK0Z9WfaTgXIsmftHN0_VgfLTZubuwVR9pg_JgBIyUis/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6osh2Wa1uLWv2-TDODbbVXCOXENmRRI1gKnatkdSGep0OaRNI5e4epAg4ibPsFeFNKdArYipOGdm_Nik1ci9orKCVq531ZgiK0Z9WfaTgXIsmftHN0_VgfLTZubuwVR9pg_JgBIyUis/s640/IMG_0239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Great Crested Grebes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8JV4UPhvmfa5vvQ5goo7UejMKHqPT2TOU_pAhyNeqjiK_vqlsH4wv2Jz6dwuKtMJpwtPgnO3phHX-MOB3EimZzwoNQyECYN0Q7cNF2CjOkiOVOWHqKDAEgCqdkk4Br1escV94x283cE/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8JV4UPhvmfa5vvQ5goo7UejMKHqPT2TOU_pAhyNeqjiK_vqlsH4wv2Jz6dwuKtMJpwtPgnO3phHX-MOB3EimZzwoNQyECYN0Q7cNF2CjOkiOVOWHqKDAEgCqdkk4Br1escV94x283cE/s640/IMG_0249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately after the next photo, as often happens, it fizzled out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiZPKnAiGdgJZvTG8mhqk6uCnyFvDxqO0bMSTDRS-qlcTxH1lkqDXknxf_1XO-ChMSDnLHDz3OpIEo30As11hyphenhyphenYrnnooIRTVJQsUywUnSWLR7PwyjoNusoQF4FFrfvkhyphenhyphenT8tBd8KCmbM/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiZPKnAiGdgJZvTG8mhqk6uCnyFvDxqO0bMSTDRS-qlcTxH1lkqDXknxf_1XO-ChMSDnLHDz3OpIEo30As11hyphenhyphenYrnnooIRTVJQsUywUnSWLR7PwyjoNusoQF4FFrfvkhyphenhyphenT8tBd8KCmbM/s640/IMG_0250.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also right at the end of the walk and in dim conditions I saw lots of pipits foraging on the grassy bank. I think this one is a Meadow Pipit although I know there were also Rock Pipits there that day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjki-_yHseTAiC0AZWkmivD2OQb8cnRq3xGkV1hd3OY_B3wn2Bh9Oqq9Ch4mSQec5TRQL5XqC5gly34a-AAYG4dWDkHTZNjFoAp1FXFxM6Jy2aN0BBTzGlbRorHmxF8J-Tt6N3xa00OZxI/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjki-_yHseTAiC0AZWkmivD2OQb8cnRq3xGkV1hd3OY_B3wn2Bh9Oqq9Ch4mSQec5TRQL5XqC5gly34a-AAYG4dWDkHTZNjFoAp1FXFxM6Jy2aN0BBTzGlbRorHmxF8J-Tt6N3xa00OZxI/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> ~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Chaffinch is a bird I see often, both in my garden and on my walks. This one was seen during a local walk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCpE7mLD4YagSHerCm8tldm6rLcGS67nDXDwZ6Vje-c1aCi87AHPwvMCUCtwt7gqLe1rPnFxks3C5W35yQjE7XXj2uzymM5xbW8F0EjcEXvk0rkSPcPUl83Q-wAfq0k8qLuAdH0EVVS8/s1600/IMG_0003+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCpE7mLD4YagSHerCm8tldm6rLcGS67nDXDwZ6Vje-c1aCi87AHPwvMCUCtwt7gqLe1rPnFxks3C5W35yQjE7XXj2uzymM5xbW8F0EjcEXvk0rkSPcPUl83Q-wAfq0k8qLuAdH0EVVS8/s640/IMG_0003+%282%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I thought these pretty little Celandines, seen just two days ago, made a lovely splash of colour on a rather dull and showery day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVi81nTOy_nsobkxvbgjK3EMyas0IygRMCQWN47skQjeEj6iFwD1cimeZo-U_WTJ9hb2wsnOmSmdfFuGtK5ZcvdZ7kwJFILZINOxpCVe5GFjdV3NN_UgJupnI7jHcBPvDrFxNqxfIsfKY/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVi81nTOy_nsobkxvbgjK3EMyas0IygRMCQWN47skQjeEj6iFwD1cimeZo-U_WTJ9hb2wsnOmSmdfFuGtK5ZcvdZ7kwJFILZINOxpCVe5GFjdV3NN_UgJupnI7jHcBPvDrFxNqxfIsfKY/s640/IMG_0050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lesser Celandine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'There is a Flower, the Lesser Celandine,<br />
That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;<br />
And, at the first moment that the sun may shine,<br />
Bright as the sun itself, 'tis out again!'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(William Wordsworth) </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I said earlier, I have some photos left over from just before my previous post which is why there is not much new growth on the hedge where I saw the House Sparrows at the beginning of my post and in the following photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VZUqLKb9Ey3sZhk8RfTLC20casZU6ahwDcaXtTRBwP8tdDXmg6l6WsgjXRwsuwyEpb72rci3teIu5m0PlGB-QzTsJW0rsqQ0vLc0FwyqHv3kf7RYueZXdElbZOd79klfw_X6xdkHRgE/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VZUqLKb9Ey3sZhk8RfTLC20casZU6ahwDcaXtTRBwP8tdDXmg6l6WsgjXRwsuwyEpb72rci3teIu5m0PlGB-QzTsJW0rsqQ0vLc0FwyqHv3kf7RYueZXdElbZOd79klfw_X6xdkHRgE/s640/IMG_0018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">House Sparrows</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unlike the Tree Sparrow which I showed in an earlier post the House Sparrow is still a fairly common bird in the UK although it's numbers have declined dramatically in recent years. I do see them in my garden but nowhere near as regularly as I used to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo5PEvcwT7DPfHN_ojZ_fXQkJ6SZSntwrHJvykfrNdEmAnzjiEZGd8FN9goJAG9JBzlBaLriDl76rgBd5LQIZ4g1prc4gIX45I2rdg-WEr32is9A_nhr6vF6CGKtxmjuHRRVXUGhqxhI/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo5PEvcwT7DPfHN_ojZ_fXQkJ6SZSntwrHJvykfrNdEmAnzjiEZGd8FN9goJAG9JBzlBaLriDl76rgBd5LQIZ4g1prc4gIX45I2rdg-WEr32is9A_nhr6vF6CGKtxmjuHRRVXUGhqxhI/s640/IMG_0015.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love Chiffchaffs. The moment you hear the first one of the year you know that Spring has finally arrived. There seem to be lots on my patch this year :-) The poet, John Clare called it by its local dialect name, the Pettichap.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSj7O3CFfcynbMW_3kdGElq8j_d545HdvAbSxCZVXK6SE0SFTxvowWz1vd-uHxFSlecnvs-lFeWqWBPSCE_b_9pvJKXKL1SVqfeXZjQlgoWE0CTFkaB1UOr0rIeIGs6Ry89cK5VR_tlE/s1600/Chiffchaff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSj7O3CFfcynbMW_3kdGElq8j_d545HdvAbSxCZVXK6SE0SFTxvowWz1vd-uHxFSlecnvs-lFeWqWBPSCE_b_9pvJKXKL1SVqfeXZjQlgoWE0CTFkaB1UOr0rIeIGs6Ry89cK5VR_tlE/s640/Chiffchaff.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chiffchaff</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Stop! here's the bird—that woodman at the gap<br />
Frightened him from the hedge:—'tis olive-green.<br />
Well! I declare it is the Pettichap!<br />
Not bigger than the wren, and seldom seen.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(John Clare)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wish I had reacted more quickly and got the camera to my eye a few moments sooner when this Fox crossed my path carrying supper home. I had assumed it was one of the many Rabbits which inhabit that location but I'm pretty sure it was a Grey Squirrel. I was slightly disconcerted when I looked at the photo on the computer and saw the eyes of its prey! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq3m__CfdbF3G6W44R9ENI4pQSmzSBbWUOcZzrUk595gW8w_hamMK0Qkvtw1u5y5N6u6S_nDdIQW2imi7PdEXgFZ2bqHTz7cX3DraTntOlXOaKjPI46V-3FQLYna0pKXOyrsA6EeW2po/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq3m__CfdbF3G6W44R9ENI4pQSmzSBbWUOcZzrUk595gW8w_hamMK0Qkvtw1u5y5N6u6S_nDdIQW2imi7PdEXgFZ2bqHTz7cX3DraTntOlXOaKjPI46V-3FQLYna0pKXOyrsA6EeW2po/s640/IMG_0022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fox (with prey)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While following a public footpath through the middle of a field of newly growing corn there were Skylarks singing everywhere and every few steps one would fly from the crops just inches from me. Somehow, I managed to capture a brief glimpse...hence 'a bit of a lark' ;-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mHDL3CWA9kf5pBNrdsz_erUPGkhHAzfcgVhxF6AWAvAQpEONApm0qZVEorLEWzKjCc3vA9pJMi9jFzHNp5VkclVHhyphenhyphenV9y-4qirgPL1KrmJCPyyvE9VElaPiw3XJDak_5ek830TRt5dE/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mHDL3CWA9kf5pBNrdsz_erUPGkhHAzfcgVhxF6AWAvAQpEONApm0qZVEorLEWzKjCc3vA9pJMi9jFzHNp5VkclVHhyphenhyphenV9y-4qirgPL1KrmJCPyyvE9VElaPiw3XJDak_5ek830TRt5dE/s640/IMG_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Skylark</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The earth was green, the sky was blue:<br />
I saw and heard one sunny morn,<br />
A skylark hang between the two,<br />
A singing speck above the corn;</div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The cornfield stretched a tender green<br />
To right and left beside my walks;<br />
I knew he had a nest unseen<br />
Somewhere among the million stalks... '</div><div style="text-align: right;">(Christina Georgina Rossetti)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I think I may be starting to outstay my welcome so to brighten up another wet, English day I'll leave you with these beautiful Daffodils found growing in the middle of nowhere a few weeks ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZNjoelJAjHIB8En8uG_ZZru2FlN0Zr22SLDzyiQeE2ShbGIdJXjFS2K7vRl7Fkg-EI3D3WHHloHSIA7ED-yW2xcLB4OgUIub5owckkEVdAVyYetZV0eF8kxN1hgB_XX1X_AgGrb2G-s/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZNjoelJAjHIB8En8uG_ZZru2FlN0Zr22SLDzyiQeE2ShbGIdJXjFS2K7vRl7Fkg-EI3D3WHHloHSIA7ED-yW2xcLB4OgUIub5owckkEVdAVyYetZV0eF8kxN1hgB_XX1X_AgGrb2G-s/s640/IMG_0137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Daffodils</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, will I post any sooner next time, have I learnt my (history) lesson?...only time will tell :-) Until then...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-11258594713772980032012-04-06T16:18:00.009+01:002012-04-09T12:47:08.129+01:00Springtime Strolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKNUZWHXkCrcQ9eyzyCBXTMN8efRdY03Ku8F94P73HPkIaRlzULpYJUWSrqEILyzlCjDMErRiM4pf4WaR96aV3ZXrkROUKNMmwp-1W-s5CSB7GKIMzJD5EoKjjCocDgN1zdB4HXXC5c0/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKNUZWHXkCrcQ9eyzyCBXTMN8efRdY03Ku8F94P73HPkIaRlzULpYJUWSrqEILyzlCjDMErRiM4pf4WaR96aV3ZXrkROUKNMmwp-1W-s5CSB7GKIMzJD5EoKjjCocDgN1zdB4HXXC5c0/s640/IMG_0039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What a wonderful taste of Spring we have had in the last couple of weeks or to be more precise I should probably say taste of Summer! It really has been glorious here but this week it's back down to earth with a bump, well a crash really :-) Many parts of the UK have plunged from temperatures in the low 20sC/70sF to sub zero and snow!! It hasn't been quite that bad where I live but we have had some much needed rain and it has turned very cold but of course the Blackthorn is in flower which often coincides with a cold spell, hence the old country term 'Blackthorn Winter'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxsRhgDM60zY6hnqmWplRfhyphenhyphencdbrsAY_Yi71Jkhi5kmp9pomIUNJyzIYff5BZmNCPlzofvk-jdFbgkXAs5sDsOAQ-nP0b-DIVy-ftX4HJcBFT2LxqnZAEAkG6_nlQBEdAC3-YAWwluNE/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxsRhgDM60zY6hnqmWplRfhyphenhyphencdbrsAY_Yi71Jkhi5kmp9pomIUNJyzIYff5BZmNCPlzofvk-jdFbgkXAs5sDsOAQ-nP0b-DIVy-ftX4HJcBFT2LxqnZAEAkG6_nlQBEdAC3-YAWwluNE/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackthorn (In the Autumn it will bear Sloes)</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The lovely weather has brought the butterflies out but I am rather worried that this cold snap will have an adverse effect on them. After a good start here last year they were disappointingly sparse during the Summer so I was hoping they would fare better this year. So far I have only managed to photograph Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, none of which posed on anything pretty unfortunately. The lovely pattern on the wings of the Peacock butterfly has always reminded me of the 'faces' of Pansy flowers. This one was on a house wall.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruaAy1BrCSfPLdNWNUcROcofvKZI9M2HAD7TWXRmY_dv1AuqyPcOaF9ahMJrteQt719Ny20mPuOYh7Crued60MqfWhxEqF7s8qoyHsEY6ltu1cdvVhOnWKxTDw7sX6sgPlPTrQ0185h0/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruaAy1BrCSfPLdNWNUcROcofvKZI9M2HAD7TWXRmY_dv1AuqyPcOaF9ahMJrteQt719Ny20mPuOYh7Crued60MqfWhxEqF7s8qoyHsEY6ltu1cdvVhOnWKxTDw7sX6sgPlPTrQ0185h0/s640/IMG_0150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Peacock Butterfly</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
'A velvet-winged butterfly flew,<br />
And the pansies themselves were not brighter<br />
Than the beautiful creature in hue.'<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(Eben E. Rexford)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And this one showing the underside.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzaEGxm8uds9fpdIhMOOn4PQj9bZ9dZPnpUvGLg54wQ1YaJ2K0VVzTWU1t1hC9MfyNHwhfUyEnL3aLqu9V2_ixqhjJTNrZ6MGhNwXlYxmrlWLnBb4tW3Y9WscI_o8Q-l7ZCwSzSd-9LA/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzaEGxm8uds9fpdIhMOOn4PQj9bZ9dZPnpUvGLg54wQ1YaJ2K0VVzTWU1t1hC9MfyNHwhfUyEnL3aLqu9V2_ixqhjJTNrZ6MGhNwXlYxmrlWLnBb4tW3Y9WscI_o8Q-l7ZCwSzSd-9LA/s640/IMG_0046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
All my recent walks have been within a couple of miles of home but on one occasion we went further afield to Draycote Reservoir which as some readers will remember is a favourite place of mine to see birds, particularly water birds, which living in such a landlocked area I wouldn't usually see at all. Due to illness for much of last year, I hadn't been there for over twelve months and I was shocked to see how extremely low the water was and really it was disappointing as everything was very distant making photos with my 50-250mm lens very difficult. This drake Teal was about the only bird I managed on the water apart from some Great Crested Grebes which I will put on my next post.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC9AlkdjFtd1JGFduSTm208qwtQTVZpLp_NhmCOKAvc0MKjwl8lbO_rNhtBN0eVQj-8_AkIxBzLhNgFlxCIp1tiQ-RDGOiW4mT3pw59ubMRJgYQv6UfKbySokod7b8OndMSMY47H45OQ/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC9AlkdjFtd1JGFduSTm208qwtQTVZpLp_NhmCOKAvc0MKjwl8lbO_rNhtBN0eVQj-8_AkIxBzLhNgFlxCIp1tiQ-RDGOiW4mT3pw59ubMRJgYQv6UfKbySokod7b8OndMSMY47H45OQ/s640/IMG_0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Teal (drake)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At the end of a pleasant but not very productive walk I saw this Woodpecker foraging for ants. The sun was setting which made the colours slightly odd.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGsssPt5N6zlW6ufzbHw8hi7ryId4_hsI-k0SNuIExLkpSS_5wUUdVAC63zdpNZ8OGzFnlylbksV9kGHWwxsEFPWtTLdhgkZrm4nVg-ivLhegqzyWYtH-ucquYPDZaHDgyPY-jrUN6-g/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGsssPt5N6zlW6ufzbHw8hi7ryId4_hsI-k0SNuIExLkpSS_5wUUdVAC63zdpNZ8OGzFnlylbksV9kGHWwxsEFPWtTLdhgkZrm4nVg-ivLhegqzyWYtH-ucquYPDZaHDgyPY-jrUN6-g/s640/IMG_0154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Green Woodpecker</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Back to local walks and I was pleased to see a Redpoll, it was distant but nice to see as they usually escape me, I think it is the Lesser rather than the Mealy but stand to be corrected.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPVx5dUX1aLelhVyk2RVZQtw4qan1CHcx7b0xrWFSwmjLIxTIVJ7phdw12k9hBP463X1HnALHFjj_GISAXkLp1JQeWD5j6rwf92WjrAJGUO2E9-_gLexqj-gTholKiXdu-PAct8f9AxE/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPVx5dUX1aLelhVyk2RVZQtw4qan1CHcx7b0xrWFSwmjLIxTIVJ7phdw12k9hBP463X1HnALHFjj_GISAXkLp1JQeWD5j6rwf92WjrAJGUO2E9-_gLexqj-gTholKiXdu-PAct8f9AxE/s640/IMG_0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Lesser Redpoll<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">During these very local walks in the last few weeks I have seen and heard House Sparrows, Greenfinches, Magpies, Starlings, Song Thrushes, Yellowhammers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Common Buzzards, Kestrels, Skylarks, Linnets, Coal Tits, Pheasants, Canada Geese, Coots, Moorhens, Mallards and the single Lesser Redpoll. Also a huge amount of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Carrion Crows and Rooks. Oddly, I haven't seen Bullfinches for some weeks. On March 23rd I was pleased to hear my first Chiffchaff of the year and just two days later they seemed to be calling their names to me everywhere I went, such a welcome sound in the early Spring :-) </div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wnN06NLsGu93tSVkYeTqNYu43QtvahGmeQ9LIGamZbkSikXVi5o3FbQKAgtlzY_ocTEMQVcuWYxvlz34dGZ9Lv-9D_uiqdggkwqNLCwXpXJCH2fm8i3kIbxi4g326dky-IY8eIP_g3A/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wnN06NLsGu93tSVkYeTqNYu43QtvahGmeQ9LIGamZbkSikXVi5o3FbQKAgtlzY_ocTEMQVcuWYxvlz34dGZ9Lv-9D_uiqdggkwqNLCwXpXJCH2fm8i3kIbxi4g326dky-IY8eIP_g3A/s640/IMG_0177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">'Live in each season as it passes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> breathe the air, drink the drink, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">taste the fruit and resign yourself</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> to the influences of each' </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;">(Henry David Thoreau)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This Dunnock didn't seem at all bothered by my presence, I began to wonder if it was super-glued to the branch ;-) Frustratingly, and despite the lovely weather I mentioned, most of the birds in this post were photographed in moments when the sun had either disappeared or was very hazy :-(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTilMi6dNsaKWTeVBnhk7BEUC26w5vqViDBtInd4gOGGvpPNlxyr2VsgUFCY-YLg0dw7zOlT-Wl6yrVW3ApOi4hDDXPPdj3HLG8fdokyFEO5ZdSYhHnLBpyUJ8fFYgUt5NEnkBlj0c4kk/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="551" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTilMi6dNsaKWTeVBnhk7BEUC26w5vqViDBtInd4gOGGvpPNlxyr2VsgUFCY-YLg0dw7zOlT-Wl6yrVW3ApOi4hDDXPPdj3HLG8fdokyFEO5ZdSYhHnLBpyUJ8fFYgUt5NEnkBlj0c4kk/s640/IMG_0161.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTQynvXkIGe55EgtNw_KXghn1Tjc8rStqJBBHHdGjyBkBnxlZ-IOzX11W6xx94A8PkRAMD-EHwWAnEEY8YZnXgJtJGP7rxKVgDpqbWGawNs7zC4GfaSPgzDrM9I_I4COp_bolP7c252s/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> Dunnock </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">For me, one of the loveliest things about this time of year is the emergence of Spring wildflowers, as a child it was always a thrill to find the first Violets of the year...and it still is.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6vT3SabTNIcxiMwvtFOXbOvNntiICZmSRdgGVi6iu2moukxVJbuH_oJjrESMiLNdJlxUW6tVdHLlo9R069lmrWFR5xu0-5VY-qA5BinjQm2jSDDRA501gxKihrXzDjmu-XHsBXdGzfE/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6vT3SabTNIcxiMwvtFOXbOvNntiICZmSRdgGVi6iu2moukxVJbuH_oJjrESMiLNdJlxUW6tVdHLlo9R069lmrWFR5xu0-5VY-qA5BinjQm2jSDDRA501gxKihrXzDjmu-XHsBXdGzfE/s640/IMG_0280.JPG" width="640" /></a> Violets</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Although I love them all, my favourite wildflower has always been the Primrose. I remember, as children, each year Mum would take my brother and me on what seemed quite a long trek to see them in a particular wood where they grew in great abundance, they looked an absolute picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH16uJKONZBCg_JXgu9st4CWPGR2XY7nIN56xUPHyQUaXQfPCUpbJ-htCRQ7o-D_683-Km6T57sWKybdck90YlQNmNUXuFtvRENdlyKknpiJuSoCX9zGm3wYqnUOBxaIy7P7_ht2rryI/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH16uJKONZBCg_JXgu9st4CWPGR2XY7nIN56xUPHyQUaXQfPCUpbJ-htCRQ7o-D_683-Km6T57sWKybdck90YlQNmNUXuFtvRENdlyKknpiJuSoCX9zGm3wYqnUOBxaIy7P7_ht2rryI/s640/IMG_0302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Common Primrose</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">'I dream of uplands, where the primrose shines </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And waves her yellow lamps above the lea; </div><div style="text-align: center;">Of tangled copses, swung with trailing vines; </div><div style="text-align: center;">Of open vistas, skirted with tall pines,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where green fields wait for me.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;">(George Arnold)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75xf6tYiLj0HlWI_UfVa6lgdBsXagE2jMoGvlZZLrIx2N6C4cdJeVllhxl5GwaMfTP1MRFbj6URaqx8nukXqQ-cgL33eFuHgtQQM5HMSWcg6SEq_USiUU0JDpq61Nf2AQxmoYldKSPBM/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75xf6tYiLj0HlWI_UfVa6lgdBsXagE2jMoGvlZZLrIx2N6C4cdJeVllhxl5GwaMfTP1MRFbj6URaqx8nukXqQ-cgL33eFuHgtQQM5HMSWcg6SEq_USiUU0JDpq61Nf2AQxmoYldKSPBM/s640/IMG_0134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I know I quite often show photos of Yellowhammers but I keep finding them on different local walks :-) They are actually on the red list of UK birds of conservation concern so I am always pleased to see them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIMNjdT26LuSBCq64cdgqrWFafIywftuKKgjMH08Cg7aUg2_r-pBIlJACOP_MRKcY74ozUNNXIhRT6EetPbw5m9es__ujLv_c-EaG-2stY_JnRElF7tQJnVBf3KovpUx2WmMdN__IEsg/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIMNjdT26LuSBCq64cdgqrWFafIywftuKKgjMH08Cg7aUg2_r-pBIlJACOP_MRKcY74ozUNNXIhRT6EetPbw5m9es__ujLv_c-EaG-2stY_JnRElF7tQJnVBf3KovpUx2WmMdN__IEsg/s640/IMG_0042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Yellowhammer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly suffered a worrying decline a few years ago but thankfully seems to have done much better in the last two or three years.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGWHByaI5Njc-Uy6SONlNMsKMiqibsS-Vn92JotQ9HCdGaUMqaO9kz6MMdTg106eT7kK1HA1qx-CVty9kK85sQhmZ64cPtCeakYBJSQhBYJqFAgJb6C6vnWYXVYckea_xOkP3DQLs8EQ/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGWHByaI5Njc-Uy6SONlNMsKMiqibsS-Vn92JotQ9HCdGaUMqaO9kz6MMdTg106eT7kK1HA1qx-CVty9kK85sQhmZ64cPtCeakYBJSQhBYJqFAgJb6C6vnWYXVYckea_xOkP3DQLs8EQ/s640/IMG_0081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;">Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79KrVFJgpTSVoV3IoRi2cKJ2UFxYWLdLdTVo1xEQsMVB4A_IOvNm5xYiu7mBBmWuhPUMQQ4mvSUJQXzT1XQTNOqsS_uaG2CgzPeUxh0EtO7_h6IVzTOy-nRLPH754mTI02VG1xJCoMOo/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79KrVFJgpTSVoV3IoRi2cKJ2UFxYWLdLdTVo1xEQsMVB4A_IOvNm5xYiu7mBBmWuhPUMQQ4mvSUJQXzT1XQTNOqsS_uaG2CgzPeUxh0EtO7_h6IVzTOy-nRLPH754mTI02VG1xJCoMOo/s640/IMG_0290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">7-spot Ladybird</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally this Buzzard was one of many I have enjoyed watching soaring high in the skies in the last couple of weeks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPVx5dUX1aLelhVyk2RVZQtw4qan1CHcx7b0xrWFSwmjLIxTIVJ7phdw12k9hBP463X1HnALHFjj_GISAXkLp1JQeWD5j6rwf92WjrAJGUO2E9-_gLexqj-gTholKiXdu-PAct8f9AxE/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTQynvXkIGe55EgtNw_KXghn1Tjc8rStqJBBHHdGjyBkBnxlZ-IOzX11W6xx94A8PkRAMD-EHwWAnEEY8YZnXgJtJGP7rxKVgDpqbWGawNs7zC4GfaSPgzDrM9I_I4COp_bolP7c252s/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTQynvXkIGe55EgtNw_KXghn1Tjc8rStqJBBHHdGjyBkBnxlZ-IOzX11W6xx94A8PkRAMD-EHwWAnEEY8YZnXgJtJGP7rxKVgDpqbWGawNs7zC4GfaSPgzDrM9I_I4COp_bolP7c252s/s640/IMG_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Common Buzzard</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I hope everyone (who celebrates it) has a Happy Easter. I intend to post sooner next time. Until then...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-58022889691460100452012-03-14T17:24:00.003+00:002012-04-05T03:51:38.526+01:00Stirrings of Spring...the Simple Pleasures<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW8_3m1nWzjNtIgK0RNho5wCbouZHsH_IKRu_VFS-hqZmUhMQZfM3-3dNUKnDF2lDIqijl4cMrpzNvO5sze4z6I_YCiy3JS9Owg7EB6zy3XY0o7eFrpRfRc3hU3In1_zWyg7GtnP93Gc/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW8_3m1nWzjNtIgK0RNho5wCbouZHsH_IKRu_VFS-hqZmUhMQZfM3-3dNUKnDF2lDIqijl4cMrpzNvO5sze4z6I_YCiy3JS9Owg7EB6zy3XY0o7eFrpRfRc3hU3In1_zWyg7GtnP93Gc/s640/IMG_0021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">'It is the first mild day of March</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each minute sweeter than before</div><div style="text-align: center;">The redbreast sings from the tall larch</div><div style="text-align: center;">That stands beside our door'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(William Shakespeare)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What a difference a few weeks make! After the sub zero temperatures of last month we now have clear signs of Spring all around us and what a treat it is, a long wait but well worth it. As a child my favourite season was Autumn, I loved the changing colours, the 'mellow fruitfulness' and the promise of Christmas just around the corner. But now... give me Spring any time... the tentative fresh green growth, warm sunshine, creatures all around preparing to bring new life into the world... so much promise! What could be better?</span></div></div><br />
So, in just a few weeks we have gone from these Mallards on a frozen lake, wondering where the water went,</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="411" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719194319579057106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTqpQDWWfa3hLkjWt8nYQtSXE1e1x4_6MmpZ4Ub_0bFrhrKip_se9r09lPxsgaxeLWqB08yVw_TA-hf3LUccc_XCHs2GOLPsR8TE9-rh-fVNjjcRx6RnYNOuiiogOWCQ6gsqY706nkgs/s640/IMG_0020.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" />Mallards<br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">to this. Just look at the deep ruts in the ground, no wonder an official drought has been declared here!!</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInTIdrSelnJ18D19KP6M3ivBmKA077c72OXcOljgpZmRTKGgJr4nvj6hlxfaCbj4LbypW48E6yIYZHZb4JunvJl14xJu6Hk7JUngoE9yyoHf9hyphenhyphen4axSDXrs9JzWu74mGAVD-7aMb3d8/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInTIdrSelnJ18D19KP6M3ivBmKA077c72OXcOljgpZmRTKGgJr4nvj6hlxfaCbj4LbypW48E6yIYZHZb4JunvJl14xJu6Hk7JUngoE9yyoHf9hyphenhyphen4axSDXrs9JzWu74mGAVD-7aMb3d8/s640/IMG_0118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> 'See her bright robes the Butterfly unfold, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> Broke from her wintry tomb in prime of day, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> What youthful bride can equal her array?'</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">(James Thomson) </span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">What a treat, my first butterfly of the year! A real thrill and so eagerly awaited through the dull, drab days of Winter. When it took flight two more joined it from the undergrowth and it was such a pleasure to watch them dancing together in the sunlight. They would, of course, have only recently emerged from hibernation encouraged by the particularly warm, early Spring sunshine. What a shame it is that so many people are completely unaware of such simple pleasures as watching butterflies and of the wealth of natural beauty which surrounds them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyPddwke1TId2OBLBdJ_DJ0zc410GeKC9FdyKVefifh9t8B1n0pNf5IqPKRFbtpDclCh4AlQPbZadHkKYGe9SJLyD_GxFqvKOoHiyO8e3NZnH-Y-vqSbLB11DCTxDmbf0n9anqovj5zU/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="364" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719196025830112786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyPddwke1TId2OBLBdJ_DJ0zc410GeKC9FdyKVefifh9t8B1n0pNf5IqPKRFbtpDclCh4AlQPbZadHkKYGe9SJLyD_GxFqvKOoHiyO8e3NZnH-Y-vqSbLB11DCTxDmbf0n9anqovj5zU/s640/IMG_0158.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I was pleased to see a male Blackcap in the garden recently. They usually visit in the Winter and early Spring but I was beginning to think they were giving me a miss this year. Unfortunately I only managed one unusable photo.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I did manage to snatch a quick and not very sharp photo of a couple of Long-tailed-Tits in the garden, through glass. It has been a while since I got any sort of photo of one of these despite having seen plenty flitting from tree to tree in various places.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmSXnU3UZsb4aUzIuCCpeFSPigYRElri3SXpjk_W_b31nLHC7XlR2Gv5JkEe2MrDpHOf7NaSaj9Ezx4dwXT9vl9pC2jycxDImnxAeZM54PGLBvXc57ZwxWet-hoSFQ67WRJpWR0wnYeg/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719450156607806226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmSXnU3UZsb4aUzIuCCpeFSPigYRElri3SXpjk_W_b31nLHC7XlR2Gv5JkEe2MrDpHOf7NaSaj9Ezx4dwXT9vl9pC2jycxDImnxAeZM54PGLBvXc57ZwxWet-hoSFQ67WRJpWR0wnYeg/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Long-tailed Tits</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">It is always a joy to find Snowdrops growing wild.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDgKzH6WD65FH3VzhpQCOalkxMdrzjb0IUPLyzTAW5rSEIeO0aLkhm9e9D72ANwNlBn8YNZltJdywTH6j3Ne4qTjQeLmRiFqudnlbcSAnLWPAR8P22l560CGBw_p2-I6PuWmKVBy5-z4/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719196027431676274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDgKzH6WD65FH3VzhpQCOalkxMdrzjb0IUPLyzTAW5rSEIeO0aLkhm9e9D72ANwNlBn8YNZltJdywTH6j3Ne4qTjQeLmRiFqudnlbcSAnLWPAR8P22l560CGBw_p2-I6PuWmKVBy5-z4/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Snowdrops</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">'Hail, gentle Snowdrop, Spring's first flower, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">No more we dread drear Winter's power: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">We hail thy coming with delight, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Thy presence makes all nature bright. '</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">(William Count)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I thought I was destined not to get any photos of Siskins this time so I was very pleased to see some. They were high in a tree and quite distant and I mistakenly found the 'wrong one' through the camera's viewfinder. I realised when I looked at the photos on the computer that there was one on the end of a branch, lower in the tree. Oh well, at least I got something ;-)</span><br />
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<div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoDpUcDQbBRjlHZElPV37lL5rdV63nOgpz3rgFEvgCLZtqbUfMOG3wkV4QCjNSHWcb3GtFzDhTQKPXs2cewP7PSOSvfOIJ7rV4Q-F8EKmr97rmJx7xrZWJbgpbkOgWTfILe1d99KoFSU/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="451" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719196012013424754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoDpUcDQbBRjlHZElPV37lL5rdV63nOgpz3rgFEvgCLZtqbUfMOG3wkV4QCjNSHWcb3GtFzDhTQKPXs2cewP7PSOSvfOIJ7rV4Q-F8EKmr97rmJx7xrZWJbgpbkOgWTfILe1d99KoFSU/s640/IMG_0096.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Siskin<br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I have always thought it would be nice to have a wildlife pond in the garden especially at this time of year when the frogs are so busy but I do think it is much more special to look for frogs and their spawn in the wild and for me it is another Springtime thrill. I found this quite by chance when I noticed water glistening through a hedge.</span><br />
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<div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LvBnv0cEg5YTDMou91aGOS_AHQrKcQFRezjVZk6Dz1UTB7-V2WzG0NZZDxd7N5RM1yeCdaOxsZNf4E4QFROanP3jiuXaClW_IK7Ev8-Ufe0q7UTjUoaf3GoRt-Az-OF7ILeVB4CjmEY/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="334" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719196019161559490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LvBnv0cEg5YTDMou91aGOS_AHQrKcQFRezjVZk6Dz1UTB7-V2WzG0NZZDxd7N5RM1yeCdaOxsZNf4E4QFROanP3jiuXaClW_IK7Ev8-Ufe0q7UTjUoaf3GoRt-Az-OF7ILeVB4CjmEY/s640/IMG_0129.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Common Frog</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">'What a wonderful bird the frog are--</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">When he sit, he stand almost.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">When he hop, he fly almost.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">He ain't got no sense hardly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">He ain't got no tail hardly either.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">When he sit, he sit on what he ain't got--almost.'</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">(Virginia Hamilton)</span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">It looked like there will be plenty of Tadpoles before too long which is good news as although called the 'Common Frog' it is unfortunately becoming much less common in the wild in the UK due to the diminishing number of ponds and use of insecticides.</span><br />
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4kT3aBcEBogWMoCS0tipWple5k-gFXa1NqM8IdxyjCY5sObGF2JLS33S0XQ42W1ng42kFKCpsg6gP7Skhev3GQe08jLLvevaIqhVr3etKmZUCpF3bIvI5-J1JNxbgIaQ10fWcaIM4do/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="415" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719194326699499282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4kT3aBcEBogWMoCS0tipWple5k-gFXa1NqM8IdxyjCY5sObGF2JLS33S0XQ42W1ng42kFKCpsg6gP7Skhev3GQe08jLLvevaIqhVr3etKmZUCpF3bIvI5-J1JNxbgIaQ10fWcaIM4do/s640/IMG_0066.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Frogspawn<br />
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</div>Another species which has declined alarmingly in the UK is the delightful little Tree Sparrow. Over the last forty years there has been a dramatic drop in their numbers, as much as fifty percent in many areas! I hadn't seen one for years until just recently at the end of a short afternoon walk, as the light was failing and as I was about to get into the car, I spotted a small group in a hedge and managed to catch one on camera, I was thrilled and returned a few days later in better light but needless to say they were nowhere to be seen and it is a little awkward lurking in a country lane, outside a farmhouse and pointing a camera in the direction of the windows!<br />
<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjFoSxoZOnLYab9f75mBS0yrM86oXSCyUFwDW5kVGbAZN3RejgOfjqgJN_NI3KULAoy0WYhOSjf-sP8WkYX1YSXd0jPoAbkzfkHmqagnz7zEocTkr3HCP9EH7rn56BiMUsmjrnTZmoJk/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjFoSxoZOnLYab9f75mBS0yrM86oXSCyUFwDW5kVGbAZN3RejgOfjqgJN_NI3KULAoy0WYhOSjf-sP8WkYX1YSXd0jPoAbkzfkHmqagnz7zEocTkr3HCP9EH7rn56BiMUsmjrnTZmoJk/s640/IMG_0225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;">TreeSparrow<br />
<br />
</div>Finally, this cheeky little chap and I had great fun playing hide and seek with each other, he tried his best to avoid the camera but curiosity got the better of him :-)<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_jI0cjq3SOCkvKHdW7PRnA_FqasAD3zNBiHj5zEULeLP7ZSotswmcHH9gMLzbV_unoWhPP0_bA5YxdOUnVZ0wjcQ4tpAH4XFg0XIN17D5Xpzlzid4Bqq84wEvjA20wMczFqC5fGgP1s/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719194331782140306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_jI0cjq3SOCkvKHdW7PRnA_FqasAD3zNBiHj5zEULeLP7ZSotswmcHH9gMLzbV_unoWhPP0_bA5YxdOUnVZ0wjcQ4tpAH4XFg0XIN17D5Xpzlzid4Bqq84wEvjA20wMczFqC5fGgP1s/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Grey Squirrel<br />
<br />
</div>Until the next time... enjoy the beauty of nature, wherever you are.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-57165756083422717092012-02-16T18:25:00.047+00:002012-04-05T01:34:27.864+01:00Fieldfares in the Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx5vBn0rFlbJtDjx2NeRcZ0s4q60ckgtP-NJbHno_SeBfKzfh6pxCus47S9It0D-BuF_UQwLK2lOwI24lYTxx7kjuaGmpemCSMzs6LnFA0mjid7tDwwlpYQTmgC1shgtqRNAlCV4yWyE/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="235" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709783931390579986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx5vBn0rFlbJtDjx2NeRcZ0s4q60ckgtP-NJbHno_SeBfKzfh6pxCus47S9It0D-BuF_UQwLK2lOwI24lYTxx7kjuaGmpemCSMzs6LnFA0mjid7tDwwlpYQTmgC1shgtqRNAlCV4yWyE/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the very mild weather we have experienced in much of the UK for most of the Winter I suspect the recent severe frosts, ice and snow were quite a shock to the system for many of us. The bonus though, since the snowfall, has been that the Winter Thrushes have been dropping into many of our gardens in search of sustenance. Apparently, compared with the week which ended with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on the 28th and 29th of January, there have been over twice as many Redwings and over<span style="font-style: italic;"> five</span> times as many Fieldfares seen in gardens! Luckily, my garden has been one of them :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="243" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709448362514864130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEAl2RUdM-SFUsd077p1b0OY2z3tg_0zzBoIeUaImUJC_qHpRHH1ldMqw9Z6gFi2R58LJUXOKaONJDWKoTrxaVZxtYc6LHTy9ao7tEA2hg7BqbqoMbHr78aCB6e-nCUdtzHpwf1_hq6I/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /><span style="font-family: arial;">Fieldfare</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even though the cold snap had not yet descended on us, I recorded a Redwing in the garden on bird count day which was very pleasing on what was otherwise a very poor day, bird wise, with many of my regular daily visitors deciding to play truant and keep their names off the list this year. My (disappointing) tally of the most birds seen at one time during one designated hour was as follows:</span></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Greenfinch 9; Collared Dove 6; Wood Pigeon 4; Chaffinch 3; Goldfinch 2; House Sparrow 2; Feral Pigeon 1; Blue Tit 1; Robin 1; Blackbird 1; Jackdaw 1; Redwing 1.</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Last year on bird count day, in colder weather, I recorded Blackcap, Redwing and Brambling in addition to the regulars. I was surprised not to record any Great Tits or Coal Tits on this year's list, they are usually regular, daily visitors and of course the Long-tailed Tits only showed up a few days after the count!</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway, back to the Winter Thrushes in my garden, and although I have seen Redwings feeding on Cotoneaster berries several times I unfortunately failed to get photos. It has been Fieldfares who have been boldest and unable to resist the apple halves I have been putting out since the Wintry weather tightened its grip. I should add that all of the photos in this post were taken from indoors, through glass and some of them (they were taken over two days) were in poor light.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="255" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708714835018308594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajFoAyAWqRQ2WycpDARK0cDFtaIHMP5AnyDBdKvxqVQ7eYQLb9mekVm-uCOxDpdM5TwV9-ruxqpddJOLUI3TIrhSULlDRmB8rI6sCe9BA8954FwQMnfFp9KVqx3_R0vJny3bDryfrT3o/s400/IMG_0254.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">One Fieldfare in particular was fiercely defensive of the apples and every time another one approached any of the halves, it would see it off very aggressively! The Blackbirds especially suffered its aggression and couldn't get even a morsel.</span> There was quite a lot of fruit eaten in a short time!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="233" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793529834506930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxoQeWAzSS8flqezkBs8hj47RnCamewkTS_4NEav_Np31UbRy_WJt40rvWG6K3gCMtj3zdjy1ljnC0qy5w_eqSfca00AbX5bNQsquwxg75ZlhTZvia0x63Pm8EmqNRO-k-J_X-cELPqE/s400/IMG_0167.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" />Look at that tongue!</div><div><br />
</div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It is a sad fact that after their overnight flight from Scandinavia some of these lovely migrants are hijacked, just as they are approaching our shores, by Great Black-backed Gulls seeking an easy meal. The gulls pounce on the tired birds and force them into the water where exhaustion sadly overcomes them. However, for many the journey is successful and they will spend the Winter here enjoying the fruits of our countryside and gardens.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709433666347268738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p69sHq4PEwn4dyIH_6GFnrYM_wdvWNlW7nzyKtQhgqCoGeSxac7i4e5dDxBPAV7Es13dUNX9bE7-eCCIWEzl3P2T5G-j3-vZZlgHxUiZ0GV-qbN7him2Y9jueDKwaIbC-CwitHGIhAQ/s400/IMG_0329.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /><br />
'He sits in winter's sleet, and the snow is round his feet,<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">But he cares not for the cold;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">For his little cheerful heart thinks the snow as fair a part</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">As the summer's green and gold.'</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(From a collection, <span class="Apple-style-span">edited by<br />
James Manning Sherwood)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Towards dusk Fieldfares will flock together and settle for the night, often in a tall hedge all facing the same direction... for some reason, to me, that conjures up visions of lots of bottles stacked in a wine rack! I do have a weird and wonderful imagination sometimes, well maybe more weird than wonderful ;-)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><img alt="" border="0" height="323" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793535037662786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89HfiQopDTfgC0YA621H5Et089LqVsFvOk5bOjcE77GkTuYUL3aw-17NNsFO778Pc2bP9YYFpIPJOvGOiFRyHVBlzHJ4avRjQNxHqRS_n6yKeawkXQm4zNovH-QYYfaAooTfUKY894SI/s400/IMG_0289.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></span></div></div></div>Just as it defended its food in my garden, the Fieldfare will fiercely defend it's nest in the breeding season in its summer quarters, often by bombarding egg seeking marauders with faeces! ;-)</div><div><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="246" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793564069521634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUYbb-73nSkmSHrlzB3HCwXdqrcdPko2kDfXiTxbnQXDcxyvM3-8JEzrMgXlLLCl14oYw-Jege78d3N8JzoJfIFbWJUflmBtkm5aW4vBs-2kRhZBL5P19OP7zatJPUmh4amKec1jRoO0/s400/IMG_0401.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /> </div><div><div><img alt="" border="0" height="282" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793550245266850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca-AAPmP6qMBuKD7IF4p8m0QQvPUy-35d1vVmPynpBZ3YkyukS69gDVgKDOwZv0SQapQGYmlCColBPGaLJ-I61iTr7UT_OIZ8lBWCosv5Pt6jaB-u7j8QYIqGRRBjSHRbnamacLqXcUo/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">'We've taken quarters here till spring- </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">'Till then we'll stay;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">But, soon as birds begin to sing,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We'll fly away!'</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span">(Thomas Fisher)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div></div><img alt="" border="0" height="278" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793561451862786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialBedUPhOFS7F9T83WSS7Z3qnHMgjABHjsxQT-DrhFZBth90OUrYczjOuFqtQrUYfwYj2yvWZKvwhB-vVYMetXsccaw9K7nm1w_JjfqBTDE9OHrqBhYUpbXga_W1ekIkKJ9HPjxlWncw/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /><br />
The snow has all gone here now and today has been much milder but it was lovely, during the recent harsh weather, to get a closer look at the Winter Thrushes in my garden.<br />
<br />
Until next time... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-33406704322784278182012-02-06T17:30:00.019+00:002012-02-06T18:33:47.250+00:00A Walk with Winter Thrushes<a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWhikq9CShSxQ2hu08vwbPFqpR7ZtVQOiHu6y-TrKjP9sa_jxMy2CwoYcCDCvvDndftQWmwThDRcYPR0ln_aKGMm9oIJ-QXMTldo-hCY37ezLL3rrHqN7ChY35dwv1Exg5GzaJfHjoE4/s1600/IMG_0005+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWhikq9CShSxQ2hu08vwbPFqpR7ZtVQOiHu6y-TrKjP9sa_jxMy2CwoYcCDCvvDndftQWmwThDRcYPR0ln_aKGMm9oIJ-QXMTldo-hCY37ezLL3rrHqN7ChY35dwv1Exg5GzaJfHjoE4/s400/IMG_0005+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705337395986255042" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">When I said my next post would be soon, I certainly didn't mean more than two weeks later! I was hoping to get some better photos but at this time of year and with the ever present problem of a fairly short lens it really isn't possible. As I have mentioned before I do have a longer lens but it is just too heavy to take out and about and would necessitate a tripod but I prefer the versatility of hand held photography. Anyway, I should remind myself that this was never intended to be a photography blog but a Nature blog. For me, Nature and all the wonders she has to offer comes first. So with that in mind here are a few photos taken recently on a very cold walk on 'my patch'.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">It really was bitingly cold and one could be forgiven for thinking that the following two photos show a sprinkling of snow but it is actually a very heavy frost which had lasted all day.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNra1QM0Z2js8qQlJpvTME8eBBl5vtG5-qP10WZS8vBvOH_95Hj9TAtF3xcPSm-_EqWR0yHh9oJ4yiZsYcI9QNqSdFIgpp-7z-SPlxqMfmg5cyJZOgsXylfJSYG_CtM7oARkL_RTlpMY/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNra1QM0Z2js8qQlJpvTME8eBBl5vtG5-qP10WZS8vBvOH_95Hj9TAtF3xcPSm-_EqWR0yHh9oJ4yiZsYcI9QNqSdFIgpp-7z-SPlxqMfmg5cyJZOgsXylfJSYG_CtM7oARkL_RTlpMY/s400/IMG_0156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338593106586722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWqYS-r6oUXak4ZwKgUbVk2YHy-tTug4hV5FlgJkVySQ33GechAuL1NeX_QmIR8c17yY-PbGfEbpBy1JAaVh1b6_q3AakWaIa9eUKKY3a9EgQVOenayaXI7iqi4IpKtP_ogVOrhpP-lM/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWqYS-r6oUXak4ZwKgUbVk2YHy-tTug4hV5FlgJkVySQ33GechAuL1NeX_QmIR8c17yY-PbGfEbpBy1JAaVh1b6_q3AakWaIa9eUKKY3a9EgQVOenayaXI7iqi4IpKtP_ogVOrhpP-lM/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705351708345425666" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: right; font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">'Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing'.</span></div>(Camille Pissarro)<br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>There were lots of birds busily stocking up with food to help sustain them through what was to be another very cold night and I was entertained for a while by the acrobatics of a small flock of Long-tailed Tits flitting from branch to branch and tree to tree but on this occasion I was unable to get a decent photograph of their antics.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">It can, perhaps, be difficult to think of much to be joyful about in the Winter in this country but one of the undoubted joys for a Nature lover is the arrival of the Winter Thrushes. Appropriately, given their name, the field adjacent to where I was walking was alive with Fieldfares foraging amongst the grass. It was a very large flock but too far away to get a photo which would do them any justice. However, there were also plenty searching the trees for berries.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><div><br /><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3y_3BwJeBbGQcvw_sEHIVpV6HPRtW0A00LBcQkCmI7UFXGp4KNH3KuST4gvsYamZHXS7_ydNnjZMKQvMIy4QBSYtmoe0Urdw6PDDJqVruTn3PLN539bDJDfpupk_xtWiniJJKv9Qgyg/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3y_3BwJeBbGQcvw_sEHIVpV6HPRtW0A00LBcQkCmI7UFXGp4KNH3KuST4gvsYamZHXS7_ydNnjZMKQvMIy4QBSYtmoe0Urdw6PDDJqVruTn3PLN539bDJDfpupk_xtWiniJJKv9Qgyg/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705337381114365010" border="0" /></a></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; "> Fieldfare<br /></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7htfXII76sUoXQxLhIUaniHTcM4SEwrM0_KPahgwBfrA7d4LOz1JTo1Z_wVDI0OU9Xm-RMEwBuGcWjsI1f9FvDhJjdZY4xPB-OjCRCMaIeeRymnyDwax_T2_fxjRqLL7ekYnEaUeplo/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7htfXII76sUoXQxLhIUaniHTcM4SEwrM0_KPahgwBfrA7d4LOz1JTo1Z_wVDI0OU9Xm-RMEwBuGcWjsI1f9FvDhJjdZY4xPB-OjCRCMaIeeRymnyDwax_T2_fxjRqLL7ekYnEaUeplo/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705337375204394306" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; ">'Flocking fieldfares, speckled like the thrush<br />Picking the red haw from the sweeping bush<br />That come and go on winter's chilling wing,<br />And seem to share no sympathy with Spring.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(John Clare)<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhte4Q4Q2cY9K6M9J_jHDeixrLP9tAzHwCCe0C5ZGUow1qzDG86i-G52SQQzlDOAhLlkFKnN1b8EWkN5pEoLL33EGe_yFXXgD4HbbiyM4v8rAzh5GmQa27ER98UHFH_5080wqmU4q2wyvk/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" style="font-family: arial; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhte4Q4Q2cY9K6M9J_jHDeixrLP9tAzHwCCe0C5ZGUow1qzDG86i-G52SQQzlDOAhLlkFKnN1b8EWkN5pEoLL33EGe_yFXXgD4HbbiyM4v8rAzh5GmQa27ER98UHFH_5080wqmU4q2wyvk/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705337406020671202" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Although not in such large numbers as the Fieldfares there were also some Redwings in the trees.</div><div><br /><br /><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77vV9V4xyo1zjhw8_v-kTvQi20Gtj1ISono0_Zs1wlaDxHqxxu8BpbAal_tcv8RXZHkUUPHjkyR3K-r4LIrTo-wEuMv-yCytvR_vITIbW2BMWqBPXEV01TCSa9vY-RxhwC0gzl2NMoGY/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77vV9V4xyo1zjhw8_v-kTvQi20Gtj1ISono0_Zs1wlaDxHqxxu8BpbAal_tcv8RXZHkUUPHjkyR3K-r4LIrTo-wEuMv-yCytvR_vITIbW2BMWqBPXEV01TCSa9vY-RxhwC0gzl2NMoGY/s400/IMG_0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705337411037923874" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; ">Redwing</div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left;">They are principally migrants to the UK but it has been known, since the first nest was found there in 1932, that Redwings have bred in varying numbers in the highlands of Scotland. <span style="font-family:arial;">Being night time migrants, we may hear their 'tseep' overhead on a dark, still night as they migrate in the Autumn or early Winter. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style=" text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPu8beX-Gl4O3RwTrof190gIl-LgrroGlP4jRqO54AmmAzG-bycYIotqpSZqRP2-RMLMVFXJBdyN2sF1oIrS2Tu-3TuIMgtHU8Xz6fX6ybTpRP41pcu3tzVSzFwm0vdwt_NhuuP6dUWCs/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPu8beX-Gl4O3RwTrof190gIl-LgrroGlP4jRqO54AmmAzG-bycYIotqpSZqRP2-RMLMVFXJBdyN2sF1oIrS2Tu-3TuIMgtHU8Xz6fX6ybTpRP41pcu3tzVSzFwm0vdwt_NhuuP6dUWCs/s400/IMG_0024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338532224984754" border="0" /></a></div><div style=" text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div style=" text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">The Bullfinches were also very much in evidence on my walk but oddly, I didn't see any males, only the less vibrantly coloured females.</span></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; "><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFOEWMuJk281nwxit6Kke-vvoOXRZkj5OWn3JrseYEZkCbotmPQ4Rzrbp-BkvpXoRmML3e5tJA7AKwjH-lOvyxzDcJRVKPpUoC0_FaK6zjYRJp6V0Yu9A3WhdiqURl6KVvYs7FvMYud4/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFOEWMuJk281nwxit6Kke-vvoOXRZkj5OWn3JrseYEZkCbotmPQ4Rzrbp-BkvpXoRmML3e5tJA7AKwjH-lOvyxzDcJRVKPpUoC0_FaK6zjYRJp6V0Yu9A3WhdiqURl6KVvYs7FvMYud4/s400/IMG_0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338588102509586" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bullfinch<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHOkWAqGp0-e8Jeun0DCsGaKRKtTEduQbR7cKIkXKI3hHVFvuBcPn9wptere_gKmBL-kQ6xQmZRUL42tR6NfQnbSPmx_Oq5LqKRZj8rk3JVS-omEBwc9QXjE1D9uNaM6gz2BRVXG-1gM/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHOkWAqGp0-e8Jeun0DCsGaKRKtTEduQbR7cKIkXKI3hHVFvuBcPn9wptere_gKmBL-kQ6xQmZRUL42tR6NfQnbSPmx_Oq5LqKRZj8rk3JVS-omEBwc9QXjE1D9uNaM6gz2BRVXG-1gM/s400/IMG_0072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338534443112258" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The British ornithologist Robert Mudie (1777–1842) said of this delightful little bird,<br /><br />'In shape it is the most compact and neat, and expressive of energy and strength of all our little birds. The outline of its head and bill is as fine as that of the most handsome of the hawks; but the bright black eye has a good deal of the prying expression of that of the magpie. The bill is, with the exception of that of the eagles and hawks, made stronger in proportion than the bill of any other British bird. The attitudes and motions of the bird, while picking buds or berries, are also very elegant'<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6A9_BMCnBVAXbjBwaWo81_oVrkUjh7IMCtCwbrlj1Xbn0ZVR7UPNgfvBeum8ncAiV5Du86bBeh0_EFXDRzQggYoADdLMn89uZSuuzOkjoM7IOXuBBV-4PEPXv306no6ch_Us_HMKbxs/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6A9_BMCnBVAXbjBwaWo81_oVrkUjh7IMCtCwbrlj1Xbn0ZVR7UPNgfvBeum8ncAiV5Du86bBeh0_EFXDRzQggYoADdLMn89uZSuuzOkjoM7IOXuBBV-4PEPXv306no6ch_Us_HMKbxs/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338588631701266" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; ">As some readers may remember I often see Yellowhammers in this location and this time was no exception.</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGSBB39Ba66cDQthsOVoyZx2zEtAwrrEw6z8_M2gzBfiwvbzfSN1gLuuzLCSzJSPDNuF5EH-a6fnwTJBvlrjMXAflD2A9apf2FLh67JPtHS3eocjlwoakP44cGcazTPeIjvUKAvQ0i9o/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGSBB39Ba66cDQthsOVoyZx2zEtAwrrEw6z8_M2gzBfiwvbzfSN1gLuuzLCSzJSPDNuF5EH-a6fnwTJBvlrjMXAflD2A9apf2FLh67JPtHS3eocjlwoakP44cGcazTPeIjvUKAvQ0i9o/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705338832612685586" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Yellowhammer</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">'Y was a young Yellowhammer,<br />Who raised a ridiculous clamor;<br />And he chattered until<br />An owl said, "Keep still!<br />I'm trying to study my grammar.'<br /><div style="text-align: right; ">(Caroline Wells)<br /><br /><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; "><br /></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; ">This little Robin's red breast was the only touch of colour in its rather sepia looking surroundings! You can see what I mean much better if you click on the photo.</div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; "><br /></div><div face="arial" style=" text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWtRiLzPkGJh6utmoj9wEcebqwLFzBVHzgaphat2RTG3_UarTjNqe7LNRfVgSeqN5sQIlw0JdGEX-5RF73uOuu7cewF1cIzoZyWREp_dnsy-zs6R_KAWDGVcNloU6GlTquxGusRtqHoY/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWtRiLzPkGJh6utmoj9wEcebqwLFzBVHzgaphat2RTG3_UarTjNqe7LNRfVgSeqN5sQIlw0JdGEX-5RF73uOuu7cewF1cIzoZyWREp_dnsy-zs6R_KAWDGVcNloU6GlTquxGusRtqHoY/s400/IMG_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706031843866040930" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; ">Robin </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Finally, a big thank you to everyone for the very warm welcome back you gave me on my previous post after my lengthy absence from blogland. It was so kind of you and much appreciated.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Until the next time... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;font-family: arial; "><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-88488328722177857242012-01-19T17:40:00.003+00:002012-01-23T02:18:34.607+00:00Back At Last!<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPamH2PTeX0Cmo8KDdNq5qHWSw1TJIjkV41m_c3aDKP8_fVEtgfWL7vwX1qL4oG98WyUqhosR81TOPX_pgf7PYBCInMwabwvmaue6kaLur0me1Y9aE1ZBxBMrkKiJ7Cvvr2NmPBNqC5Y/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPamH2PTeX0Cmo8KDdNq5qHWSw1TJIjkV41m_c3aDKP8_fVEtgfWL7vwX1qL4oG98WyUqhosR81TOPX_pgf7PYBCInMwabwvmaue6kaLur0me1Y9aE1ZBxBMrkKiJ7Cvvr2NmPBNqC5Y/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699073780180977634" border="0" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />No, you're not imagining it! I am back... at last :-) I have been away from here for so long that the more time passes the more difficult it seems to re-integrate and I think if I don't post something now, I never will! Thank you so much for all your kind and caring comments on my last post, they were very moving and meant a great deal to me. Thank you too to those of you who sent concerned emails, it really is <i>much</i> appreciated. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I am glad to report that I have had no more of the frightening incidents mentioned in my last post and all of the tests had good results but I do have to take a small dose of aspirin each day to keep my blood thin. I also have to follow a low cholesterol diet even though my levels were well within the normal range. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and wish you all a very happy and healthy 2012. Last year was particularly bad for me, chest and allergy wise, so what with that, the no show Summer :-( and the many recent, dull days with barely any light, I haven't had many opportunities to get out with the camera. Perhaps this year will be a better one! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway</span>,<span style="font-family:arial;"> I thought I would show some of the few photos I <i>did</i> take in the last few months. I hope looking at out of season photos won't be too boring...it does bring a bit of colour to our dull Winter days though.</span><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:arial;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:arial;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Sadly, butterflies were few and far between in 2011 in my area. Even in places where I can usually be guaranteed to at least see the more common species, they were absent. In 2009 the UK was visited by hordes of Painted Ladies but 2010 saw a return to normal and I, for one, didn't see any at all! However, back in August last year I saw this one. They really are beautiful!</span><br /><br /></div><div><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aqa5dO_z485zKAE01MqgBXNkOblB4_IGjTIBGldvOavbjtSI45y1ZxzL-bfSPIsG_mlO90HSBNEuyHiwkXh89CV0cmYI0ABG0Nf8dPzBsGbVUXM4JyCPpnoj0DQxQGMDn8eMh8zB5pg/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695422956858802258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aqa5dO_z485zKAE01MqgBXNkOblB4_IGjTIBGldvOavbjtSI45y1ZxzL-bfSPIsG_mlO90HSBNEuyHiwkXh89CV0cmYI0ABG0Nf8dPzBsGbVUXM4JyCPpnoj0DQxQGMDn8eMh8zB5pg/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 241px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Painted Lady</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />'I like to see the butterfly extend her painted wing.'</div><div style="text-align: right;">(A Stoddart)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the butterflies that thankfully did do well here, in the late Summer, was the Red Admiral. With its bold and striking colours I think it is probably my favourite although I love them all. Butterflies are such ethereal and magical creatures and the absolute essence of a sunny Summer's day. How I miss them in the Winter and look forward to their return. I hope they will be much more plentiful this year.</span><br /></div></div><br /></div></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd6fX9OdRgP60WbDSUMGi5ouBQLQnYZo37CpEfHJ0uNsVClSk3v1rot0vFlRizFQWABXvClb6DFXAYpxaf82wH3zvmHwsaSP3cU1RfYpxwG9IbmBIzm1UwQo2lTNtPGT8D5a1vrDas3k/s1600/IMG_0073+%2528Small%2529.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695425320795809154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkd6fX9OdRgP60WbDSUMGi5ouBQLQnYZo37CpEfHJ0uNsVClSk3v1rot0vFlRizFQWABXvClb6DFXAYpxaf82wH3zvmHwsaSP3cU1RfYpxwG9IbmBIzm1UwQo2lTNtPGT8D5a1vrDas3k/s400/IMG_0073+%2528Small%2529.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 341px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Red Admiral</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Moving forward to the Autumn, there was an abundance of berries and the birds took full advantage of them. This Robin looked like the Hawthorn berry it was eating was much too big for such a small bird!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div face="arial" style=" text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQECbaP5hW1CRKz7nlHnp0JuT5T1OAhyphenhyphenbQv8lD39M7jsQqetTDeIAtQBtlwygJPHd2EJxYeQZn4NzwYJ7nQubXPaf4EzZAO0I_dVSEF_MR19HulcF8Qhdols7SEnaeJg9xPQZ5ZaAuleM/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQECbaP5hW1CRKz7nlHnp0JuT5T1OAhyphenhyphenbQv8lD39M7jsQqetTDeIAtQBtlwygJPHd2EJxYeQZn4NzwYJ7nQubXPaf4EzZAO0I_dVSEF_MR19HulcF8Qhdols7SEnaeJg9xPQZ5ZaAuleM/s400/IMG_0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697572852239678802" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Robin<br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIVNnqgqkXYfExQpIACaZrQV0UJIMtUJdeSOBI_oY9Mw72AzBkdmSkF13HcX7pkZHg3Kb90US9t2yTiSfO45mqVL7kSkWPZtHpauKRBMIcxQ0C0vI69E4VXE0jUaVb__5RDPGUxIkI7Y/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" style="font-family: arial; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIVNnqgqkXYfExQpIACaZrQV0UJIMtUJdeSOBI_oY9Mw72AzBkdmSkF13HcX7pkZHg3Kb90US9t2yTiSfO45mqVL7kSkWPZtHpauKRBMIcxQ0C0vI69E4VXE0jUaVb__5RDPGUxIkI7Y/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697572855932370642" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The Squirrel in the following photo was a long way away and I don't know what it was doing with the piece of wood, possibly sharpening its teeth.<br /><br /></span><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuoiY-dzTbVEoz6eZVHp9bmLM_Mv87WQ_LCXmJKJQcwNmgkbTdoZf-8svY5hBGwJalm4IbJ3xFtTLzChxse_yToGHNvzBoMCsdxCrAIXG1MVrKgKBIzQ2Lb73zgtNzUBVB9e8EWAijNI/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuoiY-dzTbVEoz6eZVHp9bmLM_Mv87WQ_LCXmJKJQcwNmgkbTdoZf-8svY5hBGwJalm4IbJ3xFtTLzChxse_yToGHNvzBoMCsdxCrAIXG1MVrKgKBIzQ2Lb73zgtNzUBVB9e8EWAijNI/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699039602061404690" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Grey Squirrel</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It looked to me like it was eating a giant sweetcorn :-)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbdyfSTtdXbvhyphenhyphenvjcsHy1VrJoNW0D4mzRbYQBrNWDVl-p9KZG_GDCJoDQntDF9QShtY5D1c0h8u7PXgoFNJsK-QcDYQG1FunD5TVn1iBtUQzExLJuvtDLceIqp3nylb3wB7UDsS9TceI/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" style="font-family: arial; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbdyfSTtdXbvhyphenhyphenvjcsHy1VrJoNW0D4mzRbYQBrNWDVl-p9KZG_GDCJoDQntDF9QShtY5D1c0h8u7PXgoFNJsK-QcDYQG1FunD5TVn1iBtUQzExLJuvtDLceIqp3nylb3wB7UDsS9TceI/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699039606678867986" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This male Bullfinch looked very handsome amongst the Blackberries.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJRKiP40UE-CQi6bP5HFJfKERAt0glBnG23RxHcNC6Kk9zgcdKpt0bdZa3AqyufVuYp84YbEnEc_puKtMt70wjtMiupSTrvhAWgEdo8tMmD0H7HMXu9YoWJLydt1bzpSBY55qsneo37k/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJRKiP40UE-CQi6bP5HFJfKERAt0glBnG23RxHcNC6Kk9zgcdKpt0bdZa3AqyufVuYp84YbEnEc_puKtMt70wjtMiupSTrvhAWgEdo8tMmD0H7HMXu9YoWJLydt1bzpSBY55qsneo37k/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699045227465386562" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Bullfinch</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">'The bull-finch whistles soft his flute-like notes'</span><br /><div style="text-align: right; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(Richard Savage)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I was taken by surprise by this Goldcrest and just managed to get a hurried snap before it flew away.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJ0YH7XYsD6HqEm6P-PyeMecflfTe0k3qxW8fW0T_U46q0-UkOBgul9q6jYwgRqGG_4CAQqzTaTOsmzEzttCsk_YN3BikEoAQZKvBQ7UdROgxGQXDhxlH49lVZrQern51vnvnVLbvZpo/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJ0YH7XYsD6HqEm6P-PyeMecflfTe0k3qxW8fW0T_U46q0-UkOBgul9q6jYwgRqGG_4CAQqzTaTOsmzEzttCsk_YN3BikEoAQZKvBQ7UdROgxGQXDhxlH49lVZrQern51vnvnVLbvZpo/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699061555615396354" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Goldcrest</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm not sure what this fungus is but think it might be one of the Russula family but can't be any more specific than that.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJiPI8Fyf-h1ZBmv89O9vgP8szKQHiVKhB2tjeTxdw1nz90CA6k_B278BTsGGOSyNkRlMH1eWLcJ_QmLr9D1ZCIBhhNbTRpMd8nBeohVSXnM4sQGL-8PyZ-BdY-L5WJ-1RdSCU_Cr_o4/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJiPI8Fyf-h1ZBmv89O9vgP8szKQHiVKhB2tjeTxdw1nz90CA6k_B278BTsGGOSyNkRlMH1eWLcJ_QmLr9D1ZCIBhhNbTRpMd8nBeohVSXnM4sQGL-8PyZ-BdY-L5WJ-1RdSCU_Cr_o4/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699068858111091634" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Russula species?</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I always think the collective name of 'charm' for Goldfinches is very apt and those at the top of this post certainly did look charming against the blue October sky as did this one which I photographed at the end of November.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRbTiBzKD7asX7sjkA6C3mZ9XAcFRjhiLOj_9srF4lpXuqMIuudVCPTXxj6VR4rN8jnjOwPeKGWMnpXSSBU48_Ps_t15bEkjxrzHVsBh6-CyFBMzt4XMK025J2CJPGgF_0NPaWGBHSK8/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRbTiBzKD7asX7sjkA6C3mZ9XAcFRjhiLOj_9srF4lpXuqMIuudVCPTXxj6VR4rN8jnjOwPeKGWMnpXSSBU48_Ps_t15bEkjxrzHVsBh6-CyFBMzt4XMK025J2CJPGgF_0NPaWGBHSK8/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699083458646384706" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; ">Goldfinch<br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><br />'A gaudy Goldfinch, pert and gay,<br />Hopping blithe from spray to spray,<br />Full of frolick, full of spring,<br />With head well plumed and burnished wing.'</div><div style="text-align: right;font-family: arial; ">(Dr. John Aikin)</div><div style="text-align: right;font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;font-family: arial; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Moving forward and into the Winter, in the place where I walk most which I suppose I should call my 'patch' and where all the previous photos were taken (with the exception of the butterflies), I saw this Fieldfare. The light was starting to fade and as is usually my luck there were lots of twigs in the way :-(</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKIe0l2TqP__02drEGrhFh-h15dJ7XFtqJLykqD0lCLyzD2pw8VK7_H9Uz2Dtg2jud8HzFjyXxsemKDFlP10BDsfrdyif_MMDko0hZVu0lG_T7gzq54m1BcZSkYYCX9G2wgbCBbDFSdc/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKIe0l2TqP__02drEGrhFh-h15dJ7XFtqJLykqD0lCLyzD2pw8VK7_H9Uz2Dtg2jud8HzFjyXxsemKDFlP10BDsfrdyif_MMDko0hZVu0lG_T7gzq54m1BcZSkYYCX9G2wgbCBbDFSdc/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699111261142328114" border="0" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; ">Fieldfare<br /></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well, that's it for now. I will try to catch up with visiting everyone and commenting in the next few days. I did manage to get out with the camera at the weekend so I will post again soon. Until then... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-16307924746251477482011-07-17T18:55:00.001+01:002011-07-21T14:28:46.775+01:00An Unexpected Blogging Break!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qh83BMnarCWAVUp6iGUeq1DzshdhkaAGLur1AhYGvoXLncNg5M5QV4s7P67l9OuEVx_MFQSTGFCO0KNnV_rqoyJBWqdaGRTygaAwbXpoQH_kkj2pQ0KHj38G96LsO56vru6t2FphULc/s1600/IMG_0878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qh83BMnarCWAVUp6iGUeq1DzshdhkaAGLur1AhYGvoXLncNg5M5QV4s7P67l9OuEVx_MFQSTGFCO0KNnV_rqoyJBWqdaGRTygaAwbXpoQH_kkj2pQ0KHj38G96LsO56vru6t2FphULc/s400/IMG_0878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630377898640413554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Most of my blogland friends will know that last year I had to take a blogging break after eye surgery due to the side effects of long term treatment for respiratory problems. Unexpectedly, on Tuesday of last week, probably for the same reason, I suffered a mini stroke (that makes me sound like I'm a hundred and five and I'm not!!), it was very sudden and very brief but extremely frightening as I temporarily lost the right side of my vision. I don't mean I lost the sight in one eye but that it looked like everything had been sliced cleanly down the middle with a knife!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >None of my other senses were affected and after extensive tests and being given aspirin to take daily to guard against any recurrence (which is only of low risk), apart from feeling exhausted, I am OK, although I do have to have another test eventually. I also have a chest infection (nothing new there!) due to the hay fever season so have reluctantly decided it might be best to take another blogging break. I hope to rejoin you soon and will take a peek at your lovely blogs from time to time but please excuse my not commenting for a while. See you soon.... I will miss you!</span>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-35206693102789047082011-06-23T18:00:00.013+01:002012-01-08T15:18:37.448+00:00Summer Selection<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhMgt7NU3Xk8v-NR_KGjPjUMvV2CNWO2as1qUo_bwD9x4u-LyFiANYNeVCyr42waWK3ywIxc61jGSLWxh8VxPQ34ow2JJAFj6MXleuVJekGdkPZjHuZmf2yG_2FgmGN5Z8wzHL-MBYg4/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhMgt7NU3Xk8v-NR_KGjPjUMvV2CNWO2as1qUo_bwD9x4u-LyFiANYNeVCyr42waWK3ywIxc61jGSLWxh8VxPQ34ow2JJAFj6MXleuVJekGdkPZjHuZmf2yG_2FgmGN5Z8wzHL-MBYg4/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419699865841890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">For various reasons, I haven't had many Nature outings in the last week or so, the weather certainly hasn't helped. When I said, on my last post, that we desperately needed rain I was rewarded the very next day <span style="font-style: italic;">but</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;">it doesn't know when enough is enough and I don't think we have had one day without it since. April finally arrived... in June! April of course, having masqueraded as June! I still can't believe how quickly the year is progressing, one minute it was the beginning of Spring and on June 24th it is midsummer's day!... It goes too fast...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'The days are clear,</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Day after day,<br />When April's here,<br />That leads to May,<br />And June<br />Must follow soon:<br />Stay, June, stay! -<br />If only we could stop the moon<br />And June!'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Christina Georgina Rossetti)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't seen the Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden since I last mentioned it (I may just have missed it of course) but I was pleased to see this one while on a local walk.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Wco03qb16eD1FJC72s5ec1teHU0ee-1gt2hw_NRdFTAvefHBSPHcfrc_f2UQ__guHY4DL8bPDQC-GXy03RWYFTYlMNjLWKZLiG9NtV28oSUeQCtTFWJpGBGOUpLNUkUN9L5V-jCUPc4/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Wco03qb16eD1FJC72s5ec1teHU0ee-1gt2hw_NRdFTAvefHBSPHcfrc_f2UQ__guHY4DL8bPDQC-GXy03RWYFTYlMNjLWKZLiG9NtV28oSUeQCtTFWJpGBGOUpLNUkUN9L5V-jCUPc4/s400/IMG_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419703215972690" border="0" /></a>Great Spotted Woodpecker<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here, helpfully displaying the red on the back of his neck to show me he is male.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WOAi0LavNioj0UliWSqO6JZgLjAOLjDGdy2bUJBh3gJkTDaMat25JeHugKY2m5W-8AHRD-jt4FP6_M9SmCdq_SNs32LHEdr2NPi_ObqAzU5Ycb7VxhGD3EH5UPm4E-EfuCFWfHMxm4I/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WOAi0LavNioj0UliWSqO6JZgLjAOLjDGdy2bUJBh3gJkTDaMat25JeHugKY2m5W-8AHRD-jt4FP6_M9SmCdq_SNs32LHEdr2NPi_ObqAzU5Ycb7VxhGD3EH5UPm4E-EfuCFWfHMxm4I/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419708544753218" border="0" /></a><br />I also saw this Bullfinch. Unfortunately the light was bad but I have included it as it is not often I manage to get a photo of one. I have seen Bullfinches several times in that location so hopefully, I may get a better photo eventually.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5wZAOp1UJ9YJFZ1lrFsSqiW4726pO91TBXNI1LP9XxuRDXaHWTK391QYQFcb6nhPtMgiC-D8deihwVKxofqIPHIGzSAlki8BOuPtOgFogkzW3dnRd610ffENoN71m3h8hhAUPVWMv0w/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5wZAOp1UJ9YJFZ1lrFsSqiW4726pO91TBXNI1LP9XxuRDXaHWTK391QYQFcb6nhPtMgiC-D8deihwVKxofqIPHIGzSAlki8BOuPtOgFogkzW3dnRd610ffENoN71m3h8hhAUPVWMv0w/s400/IMG_0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420008834276482" border="0" /></a>Bullfinch (male)<br /><br /></div><br />Not a very sharp photo of this member of the Crane-fly family but I had to put it in, just look at those eyes!!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoNqLMyDqksea6KT1UVTomQFk3sENJV5k_mKOdLUdOjziKHy5vCG8my8hvyYkzUVa04jiK96dkSbEdVgGLrH-C_YGGynA4nGseRF-0f0tsubkLdd_1F7wey6ahPASLfzE63aMMc3_QsE/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoNqLMyDqksea6KT1UVTomQFk3sENJV5k_mKOdLUdOjziKHy5vCG8my8hvyYkzUVa04jiK96dkSbEdVgGLrH-C_YGGynA4nGseRF-0f0tsubkLdd_1F7wey6ahPASLfzE63aMMc3_QsE/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419696400384834" border="0" /></a>Tipula vernalis<br /><br /></div>Butterflies are in worryingly short supply in my area at the moment but thankfully the same can't be said of bees. I think both this one and the one at the beginning of my post are Bombus hortorum but from memory the collar and 2nd abdominal segment were quite a deep colour so wonder if they could be Bombus terrestris.<br />Edit: Thank you very much to <a style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.com/">Greenie</a> for pointing out that the bee at the start of this post is probably not Bombus hortorum but a member of the Cuckoo Bee family possibly Psithyrus vestalis.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uY8VCEMSE3c5GXP6NeRNDkacW6m6Tl-kb9cOaUVKoDsYHOkAa3WRN4GZj7IrywChNKLKhZLN1-fGT_RNXyGE7WSFZlwRk_F5EvGzFvqZBYf0S4uDfRyqr-sgb2waOF407joi7e0B7cE/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uY8VCEMSE3c5GXP6NeRNDkacW6m6Tl-kb9cOaUVKoDsYHOkAa3WRN4GZj7IrywChNKLKhZLN1-fGT_RNXyGE7WSFZlwRk_F5EvGzFvqZBYf0S4uDfRyqr-sgb2waOF407joi7e0B7cE/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420004159517490" border="0" /></a>Bumble-bee (Bombus hortorum?)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Across the open common land<br />shines glowing purple floral blooms<br />The bumble bee can hardly stand,<br />as flowers' scent is rising fumes'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Stephen Patrick)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />The Chiffchaff was in its usual place again :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3IONMpZ1Fohi9g4j0HOrhQgA7G1spMy0khJiP8eEK1zwxf1fdGwcY4uB66vsJ8q-8FxgnIsipFliNeheoHP8qaVIUpHMq7OxCJOPhDRPii-f_qUb5Q_s6d08CtUcuD-Gb3xYs9MyMuI/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3IONMpZ1Fohi9g4j0HOrhQgA7G1spMy0khJiP8eEK1zwxf1fdGwcY4uB66vsJ8q-8FxgnIsipFliNeheoHP8qaVIUpHMq7OxCJOPhDRPii-f_qUb5Q_s6d08CtUcuD-Gb3xYs9MyMuI/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420587257954386" border="0" /></a>Chiffchaff<br /><br /></div><br />I'm not sure what this cheeky looking Squirrel was eating but it was certainly enjoying it.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpPU5Lq-yx4z5VuoZ0Y7NcgNoMTMdmgapoERV2ZnXQwMD2dE3kHJ0EQHyE-J1taokJIVOiHa0wk7ZvrDZQ8rYJPX2QgnFCf49_dUEOh4h7rY39Tx-9tj0I6wGs2nPQja7Xm5Ns0Ug3mM/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpPU5Lq-yx4z5VuoZ0Y7NcgNoMTMdmgapoERV2ZnXQwMD2dE3kHJ0EQHyE-J1taokJIVOiHa0wk7ZvrDZQ8rYJPX2QgnFCf49_dUEOh4h7rY39Tx-9tj0I6wGs2nPQja7Xm5Ns0Ug3mM/s400/IMG_0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420568178655362" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grey Squirrel<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">'Intelligent his mien ;<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With feathery tail and ears alert,<br />And little paws as hands expert,<br />And eyes so black and keen.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Catherine Ann Turner Dorset (?))<br /></div></div><br /><br />Chaffinches always seem to be pretty accommodating when it comes to having their photo taken.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSqNuv8f6lqMHly-z7ABStUs812EIhdjqTMdgqPH_jWPAAfEyZUp-2Qm_Qyxy1-OU_KzluQLE-NhsrcXIfpIFKyxYGmOY-EtoI7q79T11tPMD1GplYOQekaV1HQzgHxFxpJAGqfti-RM/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSqNuv8f6lqMHly-z7ABStUs812EIhdjqTMdgqPH_jWPAAfEyZUp-2Qm_Qyxy1-OU_KzluQLE-NhsrcXIfpIFKyxYGmOY-EtoI7q79T11tPMD1GplYOQekaV1HQzgHxFxpJAGqfti-RM/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419711880232946" border="0" /></a>Chaffinch<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'The little bird sits at his door in the sun,<br />Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,<br />And lets his illumined body being o'errun<br />With the deluge of summer it receives'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(James Russell Lowell)<br /></div></div><br /><br />I had to heavily crop this very distant shot of a Common Buzzard so it is not the best but I have included it as I usually only see them in the air.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdKG76lCDA8YqLejgdEcxofDp7CXBeEavqwN5Y1HQoUP6BkIFFxP8dClnwxVS0v7vfSJvHSuUoNegXQQb9bmrROGLmiOOlx3ntScZpn39YiDJ0CMR6FDpIbN-D79HeqFBE8ukOCU5kwY/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdKG76lCDA8YqLejgdEcxofDp7CXBeEavqwN5Y1HQoUP6BkIFFxP8dClnwxVS0v7vfSJvHSuUoNegXQQb9bmrROGLmiOOlx3ntScZpn39YiDJ0CMR6FDpIbN-D79HeqFBE8ukOCU5kwY/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419990474152370" border="0" /></a>Common Buzzard<br /><br />~~~<br /><br /></div>I took the next three photos some weeks ago but didn't get round to posting them.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGY7gBjIv8LjOntv7c-uEvsTXOfK0SvoJz4Ci0QmsvYdKuSfdtLthvsgO1GQTmj1sWsGn64mjdk86ifA3FvOOVwBFHh5eupbCAyXFAq3tEFJUXWMH5rIQ6dHPZl9lZM5cMcdlrfsUKxw/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGY7gBjIv8LjOntv7c-uEvsTXOfK0SvoJz4Ci0QmsvYdKuSfdtLthvsgO1GQTmj1sWsGn64mjdk86ifA3FvOOVwBFHh5eupbCAyXFAq3tEFJUXWMH5rIQ6dHPZl9lZM5cMcdlrfsUKxw/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420577028714866" border="0" /></a>Mute Swan<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirePELNnXf8Ghx19airQL8O4idibO4s_CS5G9uOQ-HyCxR3gB8-zldHopE3wBH5mWQlVOGHGKSeWKtvMmv9qMzDLQEjOR7Os4s9bCm5UtpFpFJtIdIEy0I-D8_E3m0quFE3u_A4gtn97M/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirePELNnXf8Ghx19airQL8O4idibO4s_CS5G9uOQ-HyCxR3gB8-zldHopE3wBH5mWQlVOGHGKSeWKtvMmv9qMzDLQEjOR7Os4s9bCm5UtpFpFJtIdIEy0I-D8_E3m0quFE3u_A4gtn97M/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420555113500482" border="0" /></a> Greylag Goose (hybrid)<br /><br />Edit: Thanks to <a style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.com/">Greenie</a> for pointing out the above is of mixed parentage. I should have noticed!!<br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfiVt37hFzmciOn_rLO-DD79eUvUx2WyQ0nc_XOjIJHthc75xiH2qF63pe9uwgQZu1y9792oEItUZBZ6ifLBNhbP3DqbpelwYGrDQL7aljEPesD4JpZqfStvStfeHb4HGLO5odX3D77k/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfiVt37hFzmciOn_rLO-DD79eUvUx2WyQ0nc_XOjIJHthc75xiH2qF63pe9uwgQZu1y9792oEItUZBZ6ifLBNhbP3DqbpelwYGrDQL7aljEPesD4JpZqfStvStfeHb4HGLO5odX3D77k/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419999959897602" border="0" /></a>Coots<br /><br />~~~<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The following two photos were taken in the garden. I hadn't seen a Jackdaw visit for some time until this year, when I have seen several. In my opinion the Jackdaw is a very smart bird in both senses of the word. Not only does it look handsome but like the rest of the much maligned and highly intelligent Corvid family it is a very interesting bird. Jackdaws usually nest in colonies with monogamous pairs collaborating to locate a nest site which they then defend from other pairs and from predators for most of the year. They nest in the cavities of trees, cliffs or ruined, and sometimes inhabited, buildings, often in chimneys (sometimes with fatal consequences when a fire is in the grate below!), and even in dense conifers.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FpzajqgQ4ROtX4Ne6_qKWH4GXuJf7CNMVasMpsrTjXj4qqTRcAq6yRWj3i-9u_zk7vWqPpsUzQwjRS1I0XhPR8trLHm64Jn6UAwW5TGKICB9weS2YyS0BGh-R04j1GPM6RXqf-O02fo/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img q="" 0px="" auto="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FpzajqgQ4ROtX4Ne6_qKWH4GXuJf7CNMVasMpsrTjXj4qqTRcAq6yRWj3i-9u_zk7vWqPpsUzQwjRS1I0XhPR8trLHm64Jn6UAwW5TGKICB9weS2YyS0BGh-R04j1GPM6RXqf-O02fo/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621419991213909154" border="0" /></a><br />Jackdaw<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'There is a bird, who by his coat,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And by the hoarseness of his note,<br />Might be supposed a crow;<br />A great frequenter of the church,<br />Where, bishop-like, he finds a perch,<br />And dormitory too.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(William Cowper)<br /></div><br /></div><br />The above poem refers to the fact that Jackdaws are famous for using church steeples for nesting. They have a linear hierarchical group structure with higher ranked birds dominating lower ranked birds. They mate for life, pairing before sexual maturity. Young males establish individual status before pairing with females. Once paired, the female assumes the same social position as her partner. Un-mated females are the lowest members in the pecking order, and are the last to have access to food and shelter. Hmm, I think they need a bit of women's liberation in their community :)<br /><br />It is known that Jackdaws share food and objects. The active giving of food in birds is found mainly in the context of parental care and during courtship rituals but Jackdaws show much higher levels of active giving than that documented for primates such as Chimpanzees. This behaviour is not fully understood but there is a theory that it is associated with mutualism, reciprocity and harassment avoidance. It is also known that occasionally the flock will make 'mercy killings' during which a sick or injured bird is mobbed until it is killed, a harsh but effective way of putting a suffering bird out of its misery...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />~~~<br /></div><br />This Robin started to build a nest in the Ivy at the side of the dining room window but for some reason I think it abandoned it before it was finished. There was one in there complete with baby birds a few years ago which was destroyed by a cat which unfortunately still visits the garden so in some ways I was pleased the Robin had second thoughts this year. I think it did nest in a different part of the garden though.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OK8RR6HVAggSNBl5sLlGUjYYSaGZAfpqBMHGZZlu0u8lS5mojGxuTQ0mqcynnPBeB7b2HpEep3p4OGI-H0PKZkZWE_jS7DJHopsaApUyxljXo_uwRNtQ5asqEwY7ulldq3VQdi6kLqQ/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OK8RR6HVAggSNBl5sLlGUjYYSaGZAfpqBMHGZZlu0u8lS5mojGxuTQ0mqcynnPBeB7b2HpEep3p4OGI-H0PKZkZWE_jS7DJHopsaApUyxljXo_uwRNtQ5asqEwY7ulldq3VQdi6kLqQ/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621420576788476482" border="0" /></a>Robin<br /><br /><br /></div>Until next time... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-35295356402734437912011-06-11T19:15:00.004+01:002011-07-19T19:41:19.852+01:00Just June<a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqPn01GIvMPQQxBQlQ5F5w8zMjH0l_NU2QYHx_037n7NL00pD2An1wVYDF8cnX3hsCv7jGfh5qZwi8KrZPTUj8rYlNJ7qBF91pg1cO_jQmDCqqG5NPP6YlMy3PErLP0PwVdzsyqJt6ng/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqPn01GIvMPQQxBQlQ5F5w8zMjH0l_NU2QYHx_037n7NL00pD2An1wVYDF8cnX3hsCv7jGfh5qZwi8KrZPTUj8rYlNJ7qBF91pg1cO_jQmDCqqG5NPP6YlMy3PErLP0PwVdzsyqJt6ng/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618206788268722" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-family:arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So here we are in June already, how quickly the year is going and how strange the weather has been so far. We have had some very dull days here but barely any rain still, we desperately need it and if it is going to be dull it </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:arial;" >may</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> as well rain! However we have had some sunshine and there is still time for it to turn into 'flaming June'. Rain at night and sun in the day, that's what we need :)</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">'Sweetest daughter of the year,<br />Smiling June, I hail thee here.<br />Hail thee with thy skies of blue,<br />Days of sunshine, nights of dew.<br />Hail thee with thy songs and flowers,<br />Balmy air, and leafy bowers,<br />Bright and fragrant, fresh and clear,<br />Smiling June, I hail thee here. ' </div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Henry Francis Lyte)</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last year on one of our regular local walks I noticed a Blue Tit flying in and out of a hole in a tree obviously feeding its young and recently I saw one at the same tree. I couldn't quite work out if it was feeding young again as it didn't appear to have anything in its beak. I wonder if its young might have just fledged and if perhaps it was checking the nest to make sure there were no more chicks left in it. It kept peering inside for some time before flying away and although I waited for a while it didn't return while I was there.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXzJl1SvJAGLWJEow6COWVov8i9erZ7wfzkIqctt4MlgwoLWUvCN1Ckr16y_-P1yPdYa7Dpt7P-p3K8C6jKtUGX0A9EKXH9rx856cLPUB8J5wqgIom_isa92mRgaKVGhX9ZfGiQK3JBA/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXzJl1SvJAGLWJEow6COWVov8i9erZ7wfzkIqctt4MlgwoLWUvCN1Ckr16y_-P1yPdYa7Dpt7P-p3K8C6jKtUGX0A9EKXH9rx856cLPUB8J5wqgIom_isa92mRgaKVGhX9ZfGiQK3JBA/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616617913198609154" border="0" /></a>Blue Tit<br /><br /></div></div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJn-0_In5Oy7yUlEzIHgPwOo_TkzpIemCgJ6LVkL7XAjkEuQOHHP4CIN2xWfOsLnY44Vf0ipVT6unOyyvMb8ba047W4COD6ytU4FFUEdUaubwlHgc6-hNemSwJFV99TfxF_XCrgAcEg/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJn-0_In5Oy7yUlEzIHgPwOo_TkzpIemCgJ6LVkL7XAjkEuQOHHP4CIN2xWfOsLnY44Vf0ipVT6unOyyvMb8ba047W4COD6ytU4FFUEdUaubwlHgc6-hNemSwJFV99TfxF_XCrgAcEg/s400/IMG_0117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618193295771538" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPjmLZgx5RuPcKRfPXY56MUWmTieY-lvjbQ4wACJRg14RHeC4dceVleQC7IWOvUvAfA1rHqgJCeAGXCUFlZpyuS1IwtAboIeGXnRahHXzRhSFmvI5lkfB7IzgKQIles7OMMnDoMXHgvA/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPjmLZgx5RuPcKRfPXY56MUWmTieY-lvjbQ4wACJRg14RHeC4dceVleQC7IWOvUvAfA1rHqgJCeAGXCUFlZpyuS1IwtAboIeGXnRahHXzRhSFmvI5lkfB7IzgKQIles7OMMnDoMXHgvA/s400/IMG_0115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616617922244734034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eR2lFCyzl5XuUsq1o9JRz0FbaoB4RpzfVJo4TwHr7q8YAHBA9Xh22FXLYoH__uh5QZ94slMwv1JeRsqVEvdLCtlJV2fHUtGOW9_rvG1kB9Wme_g0vJH-dr8_xaPg4Ei9fNVXskY65o0/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eR2lFCyzl5XuUsq1o9JRz0FbaoB4RpzfVJo4TwHr7q8YAHBA9Xh22FXLYoH__uh5QZ94slMwv1JeRsqVEvdLCtlJV2fHUtGOW9_rvG1kB9Wme_g0vJH-dr8_xaPg4Ei9fNVXskY65o0/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618191852008290" border="0" /></a><br />This beetle was sunning itself on an Ox-eye Daisy. It is our old friend the Fat-legged Beetle but as this is the female she doesn't have the fatter legs of the male.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4GF2jEgnAS1231kde18lffQJhEcDgWOSchmjv1QEp254khvu0sQOvNDsXBaox4RCtOqAX_iZZMAjyvHJu9IGNx3MASQFzXeEV8ZMvRI9XZ5KPJxRiALtkbs6j8FL71K-yPBPwGMDiAo/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4GF2jEgnAS1231kde18lffQJhEcDgWOSchmjv1QEp254khvu0sQOvNDsXBaox4RCtOqAX_iZZMAjyvHJu9IGNx3MASQFzXeEV8ZMvRI9XZ5KPJxRiALtkbs6j8FL71K-yPBPwGMDiAo/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618507603783586" border="0" /></a>Fat-legged Beetle (Oedemera Nobilis)<br /><br /><br /></div>It is always a welcome sight to see the hedgerows laced with the pretty flowers of the Dog Rose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kgX3NdsoW3luosa8SqPAptiGOPnWGRH2ebJUbi9P4vXu5BmkjQrxiK8WnzBjjgs0ZQmFSCb-GPKkqRoO6nog42VjRidpdB70e4fpVMQPWWbkN7uVBdD3F3rJJLfXuZNmGMof096b6Os/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kgX3NdsoW3luosa8SqPAptiGOPnWGRH2ebJUbi9P4vXu5BmkjQrxiK8WnzBjjgs0ZQmFSCb-GPKkqRoO6nog42VjRidpdB70e4fpVMQPWWbkN7uVBdD3F3rJJLfXuZNmGMof096b6Os/s400/IMG_0182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618531721569250" border="0" /></a>Dog Rose<br /><br />'I am the queen whom everybody knows:<br />I am the English Rose; ...<br />As joyous as a Robin Redbreast's tune,<br />I scent the air of June;<br />My buds are rosy as a baby's cheek;<br />I have one word to speak,<br />One word which is my secret and my song,<br />'Tis "England, England, England" all day long.'<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">(Cicely Mary Barker)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I was struck by the beautiful depth of colour of this flower which I at first thought was the Hedge Cranesbill but now think is the Meadow Cranesbill.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgj91rCg7uSgmiZwO55rmvssdUQiV41HoaPrKngRVVkju74ZJDdS9aVtw3Q3sq_EFR0wBNc6kKQHPmUY7q5Ifjcdgv1lHrb5_eRXbozUznQ0CwWeWgU86NeW6rPPJOdj9YqHCdv7lia0/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgj91rCg7uSgmiZwO55rmvssdUQiV41HoaPrKngRVVkju74ZJDdS9aVtw3Q3sq_EFR0wBNc6kKQHPmUY7q5Ifjcdgv1lHrb5_eRXbozUznQ0CwWeWgU86NeW6rPPJOdj9YqHCdv7lia0/s400/IMG_0168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618504299685842" border="0" /></a>Meadow? Cranesbill<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last year whenever we visited this spot there was always a Chiffchaff shouting its name from these wires and this year I am pretty sure it is the same bird back there again.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCrCPvgBjhxSSy1gmau_sAPXvOili3YInSx_fkgzhJPXJAK55i5O8eSzbIEKwVYNK6r9BIGHdxKE6v5Uxl31ZtS28dUKoKeafnc3_gc20UoSUI1wKxdkmJKTFAcLGp30B1ynHGdcKRLA/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCrCPvgBjhxSSy1gmau_sAPXvOili3YInSx_fkgzhJPXJAK55i5O8eSzbIEKwVYNK6r9BIGHdxKE6v5Uxl31ZtS28dUKoKeafnc3_gc20UoSUI1wKxdkmJKTFAcLGp30B1ynHGdcKRLA/s400/IMG_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618199729622242" border="0" /></a>Chiffchaff (above and below)<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQFT9jErJJLLJdnzgwqqSh2tTkuWEKfAnLTn1UAJGqeen73nHq2dxyXUhZgjvmKMH8xCBDrOsMozpPM0ButeKGokh_ZqfCkD01qvZn6Lw0sVEkVgBekCM70Q-tkDkWfnFOvMc2FZBreI/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQFT9jErJJLLJdnzgwqqSh2tTkuWEKfAnLTn1UAJGqeen73nHq2dxyXUhZgjvmKMH8xCBDrOsMozpPM0ButeKGokh_ZqfCkD01qvZn6Lw0sVEkVgBekCM70Q-tkDkWfnFOvMc2FZBreI/s400/IMG_0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618213685062946" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />With it being persistently windy here for so long butterflies have unfortunately been few and far between but I did see this Common Blue<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw0StxnfL9bCGqrvaj3z6ASonQR7aygYL8hnxkQsRpvlR-pYVfE_Qrz42D7v2Hsad5GJNcm_Mdbe_1uR2wF5SQw55YXbqReJ_AN42rgTpd1vweIwvSL2JOBTettAVxOhB9gNINCW3-p0/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw0StxnfL9bCGqrvaj3z6ASonQR7aygYL8hnxkQsRpvlR-pYVfE_Qrz42D7v2Hsad5GJNcm_Mdbe_1uR2wF5SQw55YXbqReJ_AN42rgTpd1vweIwvSL2JOBTettAVxOhB9gNINCW3-p0/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616617900664939714" border="0" /></a>Common Blue Butterfly<br /><br />'Airy, lovely, heavenly thing!<br />Butterfly with quivering wing!<br />Hovering in thy transient hour<br />Over every bush and flower,<br />Feasting upon flowers and dew,<br />Thyself a brilliant blossom too.' <div style="text-align: right;">(Translation from Herder)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />and this very smart looking Speckled Wood.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBGg7G7hMZTp7Gm5skDvHUJNWtdvlP4DQs_tQq9g1F_4KbDSpaIu0QwtGDRxcwsBgwMjwRWkRueU7SUGuuz26QboT9qf1av2VG3_LrSLQCWgm8uJuaXwCQ3s77zUJjhlhtK6AU2DXRjI/s1600/IMG_0184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBGg7G7hMZTp7Gm5skDvHUJNWtdvlP4DQs_tQq9g1F_4KbDSpaIu0QwtGDRxcwsBgwMjwRWkRueU7SUGuuz26QboT9qf1av2VG3_LrSLQCWgm8uJuaXwCQ3s77zUJjhlhtK6AU2DXRjI/s400/IMG_0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616618533138157458" border="0" /></a>Speckled Wood Butterfly<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />A lot of the Rabbits I see lately seem sadly to be suffering from Myxomatosis so it was pleasing to see these two young ones looking healthy and bright eyed.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs2hDeoo84Ba3ws8W5CFkWyS9G5kps5sKBbeR7phOVxK4MC7Qy-vyxr3PK3IZb5SW1lzvF0m-sCracFN1z6-7cbI6JBN-Nm3xCNuZ0lvUUqpNxbmdgafbM1jaNnAWebjF3trrmhlMitQ/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs2hDeoo84Ba3ws8W5CFkWyS9G5kps5sKBbeR7phOVxK4MC7Qy-vyxr3PK3IZb5SW1lzvF0m-sCracFN1z6-7cbI6JBN-Nm3xCNuZ0lvUUqpNxbmdgafbM1jaNnAWebjF3trrmhlMitQ/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616617893138748706" border="0" /></a>Rabbits<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As this bee had an orange-red tail (although it can't be seen in the photo) I think I have identified it correctly.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_9X51EOVYZkF5jLg6dZ74dTlEuSjpHb2UmK6zYu9nXGnEY24UfA_IKbE-1Ed5miDCCgDAGkZwHPeZHgbjbLxe1jiJoxVc5iPS-9T-SJlg-2U5xebCv_XCkoK2XpaNz5jnDG0ip4T31A/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_9X51EOVYZkF5jLg6dZ74dTlEuSjpHb2UmK6zYu9nXGnEY24UfA_IKbE-1Ed5miDCCgDAGkZwHPeZHgbjbLxe1jiJoxVc5iPS-9T-SJlg-2U5xebCv_XCkoK2XpaNz5jnDG0ip4T31A/s400/IMG_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616990111090019202" border="0" /></a>Bumble-Bee (Bombus pratorum)<br /><br /><br />'Burly, dozing humble-bee, ...<br />Where thou art is clime for me,<br />Insect lover of the sun,<br />Joy of thy dominion!<br />Sailor of the atmosphere;<br />Swimmer through the waves of air;<br />Voyager of light and noon;<br />Epicurean of June.' <div style="text-align: right;">(Ralph Waldo Emmerson)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4GF2jEgnAS1231kde18lffQJhEcDgWOSchmjv1QEp254khvu0sQOvNDsXBaox4RCtOqAX_iZZMAjyvHJu9IGNx3MASQFzXeEV8ZMvRI9XZ5KPJxRiALtkbs6j8FL71K-yPBPwGMDiAo/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG"><br /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />I have tried but failed to identify the flower in the next photo so have posted it in the hope someone may be able to help.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8SmN8b3mW8WOmaq2wDP1dbhobEY4t3izzddHELHnq1c6iqMOAOAshJ26l2vvShLSXnOquE2STam9jkZ9mvtFLY7MyjgOXox9qAHiiXOyaAnPPef0irjJ33IqzwNfnhq9hckNWOCVLw/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8SmN8b3mW8WOmaq2wDP1dbhobEY4t3izzddHELHnq1c6iqMOAOAshJ26l2vvShLSXnOquE2STam9jkZ9mvtFLY7MyjgOXox9qAHiiXOyaAnPPef0irjJ33IqzwNfnhq9hckNWOCVLw/s400/IMG_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617010499851103282" border="0" /></a>Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)<br /><br />Edit: Thanks very much to<a href="http://greenieinthewild.blogspot.com/"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Greenie</span></a> for identifying the above flower and yes, I should definitely have recognised it! ;) Thanks also to <a style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" href="http://cheryl-taketimetosmelltheflowers.blogspot.com/">Cheryl </a>and <a style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" href="http://hedgelandtales.blogspot.com/">John</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I could hear this Yellowhammer but for some time couldn't locate it but then it stopped singing for a few moments and started again in a different place where I spotted it quite easily.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaQtZi2vYyxune2ioqwDEHO3qfeTkFBLiS2jGt5GLohAvqmUiZaOv-7lb4EjEdr4_lsStw6Cpvutn9NNCsx3JJDbsuqoyOZNkNhwUw-chrgAwHGOhey8N1FL-ZEsO2eK2Vlta9_b_NY/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaQtZi2vYyxune2ioqwDEHO3qfeTkFBLiS2jGt5GLohAvqmUiZaOv-7lb4EjEdr4_lsStw6Cpvutn9NNCsx3JJDbsuqoyOZNkNhwUw-chrgAwHGOhey8N1FL-ZEsO2eK2Vlta9_b_NY/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616617906196008386" border="0" /></a>Yellowhammer<br /><br /><br />'But this sweet day, an hour ago,<br />A yellowhammer, clear and low,<br />In love and tender pity<br />Thrilled out his dainty ditty.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(David Gray)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The poor Yellowhammer was once a much maligned little bird surrounded by fear and fable. Cobham Brewer, in his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) said;<br /><br />'The eggs of this bird are spotted with red. The tradition is that the bird fluttered about the Cross, and got stained with the blood in its plumage, and by way of punishment its eggs were doomed ever after to bear marks of blood. ’Tis a very lame story, but helps to show how in former times every possible thing was made to bear some allusion to the Redeemer. Because the bird was “cursed,” boys who abstain from plundering the eggs of small birds, were taught that it is as right and proper to destroy the eggs of the bunting as to persecute a Jew.'!<br /><br />On a happier note, some of both Beethoven and Messiaen's compositions were inspired by the song of the Yellowhammer.<br /><br />Well, that's all until next time... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-66691770592725584072011-05-28T17:10:00.001+01:002011-06-04T16:13:12.967+01:00Another May Mixture... in Memory of Linda<span style="font-family:arial;">With great sadness, this post is dedicated to the memory of a dear blogging friend, Linda/Rain Gardener of Gardening by Trial and Error. I and many others whose lives she touched will miss her very much...<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"> 'Such love of life cannot so quickly fade<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">Or vanish like a vapor in the wind.<br />For it was of a lasting pleasure made.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Nicholas Gordon)<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe2nYR_4pjCSO0OSZFHvem5NM6sBk8yao_blHdgI3ThOJdEjaJ5hwQ_XLQGMsBxcqP7HaLoIgfhxFvvHBrGdHRjxPeZ0jfavdLBFq5x3JeDQdB4U2IAbeckyQj0PEut9OslcQGE4bCN0/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe2nYR_4pjCSO0OSZFHvem5NM6sBk8yao_blHdgI3ThOJdEjaJ5hwQ_XLQGMsBxcqP7HaLoIgfhxFvvHBrGdHRjxPeZ0jfavdLBFq5x3JeDQdB4U2IAbeckyQj0PEut9OslcQGE4bCN0/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611449892111429538" border="0" /></a><br />~~~<br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Linda was always struck by how very different our Robin is compared with the American Robin. She thought ours was 'adorable'.<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM9JyMGdg5Zf-moh10A3bfvLeXzqzdIURZB5aB4GeIV0LBGv51h25Sae9Xdbd2J2Bx3uQ07GwSl_XdsqKDr8GpzDjvFSKrI4b3W2c1Ptr2p1zhdzJ6o2Aq4dKjQyvhZc5rseLHD4TX7Y/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM9JyMGdg5Zf-moh10A3bfvLeXzqzdIURZB5aB4GeIV0LBGv51h25Sae9Xdbd2J2Bx3uQ07GwSl_XdsqKDr8GpzDjvFSKrI4b3W2c1Ptr2p1zhdzJ6o2Aq4dKjQyvhZc5rseLHD4TX7Y/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918372875910946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Robin</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'There's a friendly tone in thy minstrelsy,</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And a merry heart beats 'neath thy crimson vest; </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />There's a pleasant light in thy glistening eye. </span> <div style="text-align: right; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">And of all our songsters we love thee best'<br /></div>(E. and A.M. Forrester)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />~~~<br /></div><br /></div><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, what a strange Spring we have had this year! The ground here has been as dry as it would be in the middle of a very hot Summer. The last week or two although relentlessly dry hasn't been particularly pleasant with high winds and barely any sunshine making photography difficult. I intended to post this sequence of photos earlier in the Spring but didn't quite get around to it so as things are fairly quiet bird wise at the moment I thought I would put them on now.<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD9FyQcgvBcxg4rsQCj1xT47GsrjkcoHlffMSMzacJ7ZPV01TTOdyVNaK8z-phSnaFdIVlH_Uvx5naybVeK28bCmdaPQCNiCYDkejLoTk9z_2aNBMHX3y2XBed85_wypX4APBrtaB2VM/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD9FyQcgvBcxg4rsQCj1xT47GsrjkcoHlffMSMzacJ7ZPV01TTOdyVNaK8z-phSnaFdIVlH_Uvx5naybVeK28bCmdaPQCNiCYDkejLoTk9z_2aNBMHX3y2XBed85_wypX4APBrtaB2VM/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918379556017042" border="0" /></a>Shall we dance?<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumsQYQcJPynqVW7zj3DaZgYfCbFZH5IWBxPucSvFi_kl43TOjNOjK3OiH4FonWPTxaBWcgodxibAoNQXSR3QfT_iP724V8-eXr0VDqmjJXZh6f2Nr_GrlUY9zGW2k0VK6ww2jFdyCqck/s1600/IMG_0070a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumsQYQcJPynqVW7zj3DaZgYfCbFZH5IWBxPucSvFi_kl43TOjNOjK3OiH4FonWPTxaBWcgodxibAoNQXSR3QfT_iP724V8-eXr0VDqmjJXZh6f2Nr_GrlUY9zGW2k0VK6ww2jFdyCqck/s400/IMG_0070a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918672912840018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, let's<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaqMGc-tIcz0pt0DDfiw3Pnaj2CnZJlajWq5dA_Kd1LDvB_fq-LLjR6dy6c1D73IXm1nEhydbQjQKV5jbXMAIv9XkMaJamIFl4YuNT4TrhsalqoIlf5WenaI2a08WX48msRvEMwJbn74/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaqMGc-tIcz0pt0DDfiw3Pnaj2CnZJlajWq5dA_Kd1LDvB_fq-LLjR6dy6c1D73IXm1nEhydbQjQKV5jbXMAIv9XkMaJamIFl4YuNT4TrhsalqoIlf5WenaI2a08WX48msRvEMwJbn74/s400/IMG_0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918652785517090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Shall we be serious and do the weed dance?<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibn6uFU6fE8ExNvFLbDxyhGLChqZGua86v5P8Ksb11D_3Jce6bsURQS034tSzb8dx43Lpc1iI2f6UJvJZsIMAWRdRVGTiFeQCdMVJn4hVoUwJgOt1oNl9fYjCQRZ6pz6q_CCm8IsGkigc/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibn6uFU6fE8ExNvFLbDxyhGLChqZGua86v5P8Ksb11D_3Jce6bsURQS034tSzb8dx43Lpc1iI2f6UJvJZsIMAWRdRVGTiFeQCdMVJn4hVoUwJgOt1oNl9fYjCQRZ6pz6q_CCm8IsGkigc/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918654642736082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh no, it's much too soon for that!<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn19yZLWTiVUFxffslKz7x4OTMwwAo8dqd-a5ODoMNk-4VPsspH8KbrYetiaj-EuZOluIpgjJgHtm3-HI3xVk-_uactIPPkTYXfU0ZH95eP_i1zfreKU5YEzrocPdbD79zABDvsAtGpc/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn19yZLWTiVUFxffslKz7x4OTMwwAo8dqd-a5ODoMNk-4VPsspH8KbrYetiaj-EuZOluIpgjJgHtm3-HI3xVk-_uactIPPkTYXfU0ZH95eP_i1zfreKU5YEzrocPdbD79zABDvsAtGpc/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918670678350258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Please?<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_Ow9raw7_IBlRsJnPznUV4R-H45aakaLg28w-QsrrDB2g6qzVjkKQs-3Xqf2Y8lDRZuFR8VuhzmAykbaOjd70PBtbribUSZMo8m652ExaiJ1FEMjsGpDDcaG5SUkZy5SDHtPIRgTKoo/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_Ow9raw7_IBlRsJnPznUV4R-H45aakaLg28w-QsrrDB2g6qzVjkKQs-3Xqf2Y8lDRZuFR8VuhzmAykbaOjd70PBtbribUSZMo8m652ExaiJ1FEMjsGpDDcaG5SUkZy5SDHtPIRgTKoo/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918669200538018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Tomorrow... maybe?<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As I have said in the past, I am fascinated by the way in which Nature uses camouflage and this following photo is a definite case in point!<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrskXGHMNBpwGGPThwncTKN_02KHwVGbMYziu29jgdrME4IesuK8otEN5CMcZjOOrq76oL6dtR0JdrNXi92AlgDKZBSPHdooCzZHLPB5uLUC3x2OOJr5GSMpo0XKsIKFWgmsBGKBo01M/s1600/IMG_0351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrskXGHMNBpwGGPThwncTKN_02KHwVGbMYziu29jgdrME4IesuK8otEN5CMcZjOOrq76oL6dtR0JdrNXi92AlgDKZBSPHdooCzZHLPB5uLUC3x2OOJr5GSMpo0XKsIKFWgmsBGKBo01M/s400/IMG_0351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919158043190162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Orange Tip Butterfly<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Despite the very dry weather I have seen some lovely wild flowers on recent walks.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WZzlIwokQ5oshX8S2-8aQAsb7dG0isXcGCEYXE4VUQSW15MmsOBTNTUKp9ve9ICNDh9JAuz5s6RAW9ZCVuClpOqwX4rTkxhsGfQvGR77JcLG8wGlioyud4WRNQHzr0ZugFzM9u87Iy4/s1600/Collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WZzlIwokQ5oshX8S2-8aQAsb7dG0isXcGCEYXE4VUQSW15MmsOBTNTUKp9ve9ICNDh9JAuz5s6RAW9ZCVuClpOqwX4rTkxhsGfQvGR77JcLG8wGlioyud4WRNQHzr0ZugFzM9u87Iy4/s400/Collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918361342121234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Clockwise from top left:<br />Red Campions, Dog Rose, Silverweed,<br />Ox-eye Daisies, Ox-eye Daisy.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />As I mentioned before, things are pretty quiet on the bird front at the moment but I managed to get a quick photo of this Blue Tit which had just captured a juicy caterpillar to feed to its young. You'll need to look closely to spot the caterpillar!<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDhsYpZ-BJyJXia4NyQ7FCKQqmMwfv1ROtZ-MkpoWGiXS1JKfXunDqd9NeqQiQuDVuI9UFsUTBtmXx9weTD6Z4bpPocGWlu8aB55T_STbVPDdP1MZZvFmXv7jvOMV-NzQCUksogXgpmQ/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDhsYpZ-BJyJXia4NyQ7FCKQqmMwfv1ROtZ-MkpoWGiXS1JKfXunDqd9NeqQiQuDVuI9UFsUTBtmXx9weTD6Z4bpPocGWlu8aB55T_STbVPDdP1MZZvFmXv7jvOMV-NzQCUksogXgpmQ/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918365018876370" border="0" /></a>Blue Tit<br /><br />'A flutter of wings and a flash of blue,<br />And there my brave little friend are you!' <div style="text-align: right;">(G.F. Bradby)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Every year, until I see it again, I forget just how small the following butterfly is. Of course I should remember, after all the clue is in the name :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW3vIce16vTEzkByIWDHEq-7xayqntnp1-vm_4EhbRs0y_nKitoMRSHBrtbl20OT6LbrCFCpT-wR5E_u29P-wdw0FpE2F4YQ6b0skbIovrtJF06x_QpQCkKzACfacWpc1NZLeFwDiQUo/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW3vIce16vTEzkByIWDHEq-7xayqntnp1-vm_4EhbRs0y_nKitoMRSHBrtbl20OT6LbrCFCpT-wR5E_u29P-wdw0FpE2F4YQ6b0skbIovrtJF06x_QpQCkKzACfacWpc1NZLeFwDiQUo/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918993378914146" border="0" /></a>Small Copper Butterfly (above and below)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXWBHadQbflVGATzrWFpwLH1DzLa9dg1n1oPAtYQipbRUdnVz8oMzKOEuBboXeEqbOVzidEzKQs4r8uCuzvvGQKRMOvbQ3m5RicURjpJhfZWvm74VLYHY9kJucyF_gFnI6afDNWFmVy0/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXWBHadQbflVGATzrWFpwLH1DzLa9dg1n1oPAtYQipbRUdnVz8oMzKOEuBboXeEqbOVzidEzKQs4r8uCuzvvGQKRMOvbQ3m5RicURjpJhfZWvm74VLYHY9kJucyF_gFnI6afDNWFmVy0/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919014677650450" border="0" /></a><br />'The butterflies, by eager hopes undone,<br />Glad as a child, come out to greet the sun.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;"> (John Clare)</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I always think how very delicate Lacewings are, it amazes me that they manage to survive the elements.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTdlYGqVIToWArzKJmOdEZHlcJpOBhG13Kwd4V436vH2t4_77iPmTDMlZN0py0G2TzaAZ0JYVL_aLgV3lk79CNuNbSOhkhzo-59f8mA8q62w8RMY0hc9mUcs_aL9IQnJmNYYQVLdJ5h8/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTdlYGqVIToWArzKJmOdEZHlcJpOBhG13Kwd4V436vH2t4_77iPmTDMlZN0py0G2TzaAZ0JYVL_aLgV3lk79CNuNbSOhkhzo-59f8mA8q62w8RMY0hc9mUcs_aL9IQnJmNYYQVLdJ5h8/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919022163727618" border="0" /></a>Lacewing (Chrysopa perla)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I think this caterpillar must be a Garden Tiger but I thought they were bigger than this one and it wasn't found anywhere near a garden although I know that is probably irrelevant. Does anyone know if there is anything similar but smaller and more slender?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgWj69XL0H1wRqX_0B7o8KnYOybQ3Pw9WAODbLg77y76eTJ8SJY9XalBagxLjYxHSxhm5oJ_fKv0p864QNjpNbT17GUetO-TwxQnqR8ae2R0RlsUciBU5Y7NyaMp1OFgL5GtPQTOH0e8/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgWj69XL0H1wRqX_0B7o8KnYOybQ3Pw9WAODbLg77y76eTJ8SJY9XalBagxLjYxHSxhm5oJ_fKv0p864QNjpNbT17GUetO-TwxQnqR8ae2R0RlsUciBU5Y7NyaMp1OFgL5GtPQTOH0e8/s400/IMG_0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609919016474544818" border="0" /></a>Caterpillar of the Garden Tiger Moth?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;">'The caterpillar there without<br />Has never known a mother's care;<br />Alone to seek its daily fare,<br />On grass and leaves it crawls about.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Unknown)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The following photo is another from earlier in the Spring, taken at Draycote Water but not posted before. There was a bit of an altercation going on!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqlFRXMhu832aVwOelEoaIlCnQiaxAt0MQNgYTs2PmXxRLmI6DXLvLak_yRBo9W0mTrild1bo9oQ8Ko4SqWxP1mxC5C6qoncY3eKtXNzdwce7GyLj40Ghs2tvwlpRFZdeH_z8k9rWs3s/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqlFRXMhu832aVwOelEoaIlCnQiaxAt0MQNgYTs2PmXxRLmI6DXLvLak_yRBo9W0mTrild1bo9oQ8Ko4SqWxP1mxC5C6qoncY3eKtXNzdwce7GyLj40Ghs2tvwlpRFZdeH_z8k9rWs3s/s400/IMG_0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918990896616850" border="0" /></a>Cormorants<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Finally, I will leave you with this pretty little Common Blue Butterfly which was determined it wasn't going to open its wings for me.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qU0YZfIhynST4Frgai4RVlChlwWVCwj4Lgdu4lApGcN_7bl0lGTyzfRzvMzp_5wpCNJJ4X3khvCU3N9qBbDvN6YfV29EgqJbi46RiQSErfsrvJdk7N_1g7g60wykNhGy1i_kV3079og/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qU0YZfIhynST4Frgai4RVlChlwWVCwj4Lgdu4lApGcN_7bl0lGTyzfRzvMzp_5wpCNJJ4X3khvCU3N9qBbDvN6YfV29EgqJbi46RiQSErfsrvJdk7N_1g7g60wykNhGy1i_kV3079og/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609918377019148354" border="0" /></a>Common Blue Butterfly<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well that's all for now... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-20218370503561714342011-05-06T18:35:00.004+01:002011-05-06T21:25:47.117+01:00Maytime Mixture<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M5wGD89DxZMdFkH_Mf2g9liR0yuslwHM7OzWKFHfRzxDPkxUk2DOXNl-rmeHIgHOvL5Qo67-3rtBOC2a4__4SyiWluoB4XtH3KPU0eQZQjakRwVVtAGFDev_tg_I42je1p-33DVZbrs/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M5wGD89DxZMdFkH_Mf2g9liR0yuslwHM7OzWKFHfRzxDPkxUk2DOXNl-rmeHIgHOvL5Qo67-3rtBOC2a4__4SyiWluoB4XtH3KPU0eQZQjakRwVVtAGFDev_tg_I42je1p-33DVZbrs/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603591910963138754" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxqdnqI2c66QRMgrKSEmItIqcUSIqzyYXOBQPrzZJzBZNkj9ZsUUDlmwzS6QdjnVzuSbuUksrLtfhsNH80jXR3JxJ1vCiTQTOo3XMDdJ8DunwSd16Bsjnwq5fD0szk537O7LXDR2_vM4/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><br /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />May already! This year is going much too fast for my liking but what a beautiful Spring we have enjoyed this time. The only downside being that the countryside and gardens are getting far too dry. I can't remember the last time it rained here although if the weather forecasters have it right that will be rectified this weekend with showers predicted.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'Welcome, welcome, lovely May!<br /></span> <span style="font-family:arial;">With breath so sweet and smiles so gay;</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With sun, and dew, and gentle showers,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Welcome, welcome, month of flowers!'</span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(From Juvenile Miscellany</span>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUB7b0Kncy_5xu7jIMoKS2XqcQjYclEI6zTe7jX3AHfQsxkHuaMwBjHY9352-hgJhqlBjNTaJxZGkbvlrNTb635wZYH4Kk7K2Xb1j0ijly01HSyAYa8E8etlcxGbqqzrL_gn41Af9XZY/s1600/2011_05_03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUB7b0Kncy_5xu7jIMoKS2XqcQjYclEI6zTe7jX3AHfQsxkHuaMwBjHY9352-hgJhqlBjNTaJxZGkbvlrNTb635wZYH4Kk7K2Xb1j0ijly01HSyAYa8E8etlcxGbqqzrL_gn41Af9XZY/s400/2011_05_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603591900764577394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Just a sample of the beautiful views on my doorstep</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This post will contain photos from various walks in my local area and a couple from a little further afield at Draycote Water but I will start with a couple of photos from the garden. As some readers will know, I have always been envious of those of you who have the Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting your garden feeders so I have been thrilled recently to see one in mine. The first time was a very fleeting glimpse as it fed at the peanut feeder at the bottom of the garden. Some weeks later I saw one again, a female, on the Sunflower feeder nearer the house and the next day posed beautifully on the bird bath. Needless to say I didn't manage a photo on the bird bath but I did get a not very good one of it on the Sunflower feeder.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKwPr3GobOzXnltyG9UZHQMKK943rthAq_nukAitO5u0Es9eccl3Or4gZiaz8BtohNALrDfkohuUOe7BTX0JS_Njfdk_R31afQpLuwHTE8G4uGLtx3OF9iMQazz2cwUufU9EVl2Lx9Vc/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKwPr3GobOzXnltyG9UZHQMKK943rthAq_nukAitO5u0Es9eccl3Or4gZiaz8BtohNALrDfkohuUOe7BTX0JS_Njfdk_R31afQpLuwHTE8G4uGLtx3OF9iMQazz2cwUufU9EVl2Lx9Vc/s400/IMG_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592739531594594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Great Spotted Woodpecker</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I photographed this Speckled Wood Butterfly on Forget-me-not flowers on a lovely sunny morning.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BHO1q1xklbKkckMrWkeRNo5ROYu9XOs_MrZO3znnKuQ6g6QNxe2kaM7OFmPVcH9R_whh226KX2ezvOFFKEzf9zKYPhRbE3LGWDsqlXN4-qcIjDvKbRc4Q6FvunNbkC0atbzLJSlcE1Y/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BHO1q1xklbKkckMrWkeRNo5ROYu9XOs_MrZO3znnKuQ6g6QNxe2kaM7OFmPVcH9R_whh226KX2ezvOFFKEzf9zKYPhRbE3LGWDsqlXN4-qcIjDvKbRc4Q6FvunNbkC0atbzLJSlcE1Y/s400/IMG_0185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592752586000482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Speckled Wood Butterfly</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This next butterfly isn't posed in the prettiest of places but the photo clearly shows how exceptionally dry the ground is here. It was taken during a local walk on April 17th and we still haven't had a drop of rain since!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUf3kz5YvmfOaobkZtjYLjj5wMUE7hR_s1VyUN2aoxY8mmeH2jS5SehfRwvrIV25HtpHYT3papUyCPsnI1c05esNIHph3kwIDEJo5-A8Z6E4hxMWWxKkwwL9lU6F4yUF01_h9IpEHrnA/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUf3kz5YvmfOaobkZtjYLjj5wMUE7hR_s1VyUN2aoxY8mmeH2jS5SehfRwvrIV25HtpHYT3papUyCPsnI1c05esNIHph3kwIDEJo5-A8Z6E4hxMWWxKkwwL9lU6F4yUF01_h9IpEHrnA/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603591918625279250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Peacock Butterfly</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Something else which wasn't posing in the prettiest of places, such is my luck ;) was this Yellowhammer. Luckily I have found somewhere else to see them without having to return to the scene of the Larsen Trap encounter!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffKewYp-VUc7j8fIW7v84W5R94OK2reyD1gDeBguWdaWboo5Ec4TqiRx-6lYteyaAseKglOMsYOQBR0Yfo4upDWkJ7liXGV-sFkGqQRorHrBtkLcslSuu8WsAg5u3RTcju680N6PHitQ/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffKewYp-VUc7j8fIW7v84W5R94OK2reyD1gDeBguWdaWboo5Ec4TqiRx-6lYteyaAseKglOMsYOQBR0Yfo4upDWkJ7liXGV-sFkGqQRorHrBtkLcslSuu8WsAg5u3RTcju680N6PHitQ/s400/IMG_0335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603593012360823938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Yellowhammer</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This one was slightly more cooperative.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9ySnGPBIVNkwSRpuOfqbwPwEknx822xvNEthlHMbhcyQw2ZmrmxqMmHFTPh5uKI4tQ1sniz_X5wvLSyEEjUdHda3QgHewQY8fz2qlC36cckiHJKAX1hAxlfO9Ju0RVjz_G9XFbhu8Qk/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9ySnGPBIVNkwSRpuOfqbwPwEknx822xvNEthlHMbhcyQw2ZmrmxqMmHFTPh5uKI4tQ1sniz_X5wvLSyEEjUdHda3QgHewQY8fz2qlC36cckiHJKAX1hAxlfO9Ju0RVjz_G9XFbhu8Qk/s400/IMG_0434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603593017146319458" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />One of the wild flowers which always reminds me of my childhood is the Lady's Smock also known as Cuckoo Flower and Milkmaids. As a child I used to love hunting for the first ones of the year. In folklore it was said to be sacred to the fairies so was unlucky if brought indoors. For the same reason it was never included in May day garlands.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkmBQ-5nJFabnZ3BzD4bG4QmTgsA8I5fA0SkvLaChx-HO4XdfUXFCOIljRzvI7utIFo3HOfXrNAMZgl47hpuABSHOupgrP5PjtsPgKko4BoR50p4nm5XJRZVWjQulNClqO0FdwfjGTGU/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkmBQ-5nJFabnZ3BzD4bG4QmTgsA8I5fA0SkvLaChx-HO4XdfUXFCOIljRzvI7utIFo3HOfXrNAMZgl47hpuABSHOupgrP5PjtsPgKko4BoR50p4nm5XJRZVWjQulNClqO0FdwfjGTGU/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592234649982034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Lady's Smock</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'Dainty as a fairy's frock,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">White or mauve, of elfin sewing,</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />'Tis the meadow-maiden growing-</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Lady's-smock.'</span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Cicely Mary Barker)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />It is also one of the food plants of the Orange Tip butterfly</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYlCPZw5nP_FJOtVjq3tNWTOI6N39qZPHANagjHTZdal0hchnoVITorONEai952Xns2XMN0_9SZVHJ4C8pdhSbz_wa89-8XSiHFzGuRtrtT6Ih-G_nzVmHsXjZ28ZIG_FCptXqsM0p8Q/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYlCPZw5nP_FJOtVjq3tNWTOI6N39qZPHANagjHTZdal0hchnoVITorONEai952Xns2XMN0_9SZVHJ4C8pdhSbz_wa89-8XSiHFzGuRtrtT6Ih-G_nzVmHsXjZ28ZIG_FCptXqsM0p8Q/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592239766139170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Orange Tip Butterfly</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Another favourite wild flower, I have a lot of favourites :) is the Cowslip which seems to me to have done particularly well this year. Actually, thinking about it although I love all wild flowers it is the Spring flowers which are dearest to my heart.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGUjvU8qYNZudstmF93g1SKC5ilTzLUQtnCni7_Q96zWHsd3eUPMW4jAVmX3dglKCKWDHfsPjoZWxkGzG8l8GLdLvLtRFq-yqh-ZQZd9Lpw8uTfbLkTY0QnrR945I4fFKwyT_qdTSxSk/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGUjvU8qYNZudstmF93g1SKC5ilTzLUQtnCni7_Q96zWHsd3eUPMW4jAVmX3dglKCKWDHfsPjoZWxkGzG8l8GLdLvLtRFq-yqh-ZQZd9Lpw8uTfbLkTY0QnrR945I4fFKwyT_qdTSxSk/s400/IMG_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592749965931458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Cowslip</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Another butterfly seen on a local walk.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7WU1P_3DoMCwfzrEcEKFjB8T_FyQZvGXP_E7YuV-cXLsyvOEWrk95vDfiaq17Yc2CD27ofHzKnZt8ByAGKQBJ1VmR9PqBFHUDKYkf0FpnV0Hl9eX7s8MEsS5cq1Al0jCprIoAm3jdoI/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7WU1P_3DoMCwfzrEcEKFjB8T_FyQZvGXP_E7YuV-cXLsyvOEWrk95vDfiaq17Yc2CD27ofHzKnZt8ByAGKQBJ1VmR9PqBFHUDKYkf0FpnV0Hl9eX7s8MEsS5cq1Al0jCprIoAm3jdoI/s400/IMG_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592223150387538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Green-veined White</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'But lo! a white and spangled thing</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Was sporting there on tiny wing;</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />In haste from flower to flower it flew,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And sucked from each the honied dew.'</span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Louisa Segrave)<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />All of the following photos were taken at Draycote. This Canada Goose looked like it was feeling the heat</span>!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dfDVsTPUE32GO7OUkL1JvfjvaogaekaPU28XXWqf3qpEWQ-bo-pNGHO-ba0E_m4qGntJSSdcjNYEjbf8lQ5g9dWKMLDSvkXRfNBKl3QzuNVYtwdN981yq5IcXE9qFJi4vCWa82vG65E/s1600/IMG_0153a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dfDVsTPUE32GO7OUkL1JvfjvaogaekaPU28XXWqf3qpEWQ-bo-pNGHO-ba0E_m4qGntJSSdcjNYEjbf8lQ5g9dWKMLDSvkXRfNBKl3QzuNVYtwdN981yq5IcXE9qFJi4vCWa82vG65E/s400/IMG_0153a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592744015036002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Canada Goose</span><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">These Great Crested Grebes were looking resplendent in their breeding plumage</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgf1a4a6GEpwDxfgUb4YSR-baQcjZzyzG0LYs9g4WsnFJjbTKXrFJt3XB3E0NamZflbN-ujG4DjdnIe0ZC9Pw_EvwcQi6OIQopGyqFMkVMGr2H1CvDchkwGu9_uCT-n8ZZ3H0-xdvWr8/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgf1a4a6GEpwDxfgUb4YSR-baQcjZzyzG0LYs9g4WsnFJjbTKXrFJt3XB3E0NamZflbN-ujG4DjdnIe0ZC9Pw_EvwcQi6OIQopGyqFMkVMGr2H1CvDchkwGu9_uCT-n8ZZ3H0-xdvWr8/s400/IMG_0141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592738336448914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Great Crested Grebe</span><br /><br /></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />and Mrs Mallard was proudly showing off her ducklings.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dV061Fj4JyULkAnOkrX-dVGV_zVEM2Jirg_ObKL5j-0xj6N2ZsDjtYgXBQKCnsmIHJVAMokm1e4tkhd1galzPbWWvvga9k0yq6RGS5s76e9CBnl88JvLAMd7pv0RDanY6kMeOUVJ4no/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dV061Fj4JyULkAnOkrX-dVGV_zVEM2Jirg_ObKL5j-0xj6N2ZsDjtYgXBQKCnsmIHJVAMokm1e4tkhd1galzPbWWvvga9k0yq6RGS5s76e9CBnl88JvLAMd7pv0RDanY6kMeOUVJ4no/s400/IMG_0198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603593012139740626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Mallards</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Although it is easy to hear and identify Chiffchaffs I find it is not always so easy to see them but this time I was lucky.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTxleWaI9ZE1juY1FO6ub8FA5RB5T26X2UyeRKlxR9cwRKQF70ICGS5K2vXQro8TBj87eYqPGaUxI33p9on3KySMiqCYMtTsuwFEDWQdujbpsIEZwgBoxhAwjFt-6oo9hwOu93CQTzmE/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTxleWaI9ZE1juY1FO6ub8FA5RB5T26X2UyeRKlxR9cwRKQF70ICGS5K2vXQro8TBj87eYqPGaUxI33p9on3KySMiqCYMtTsuwFEDWQdujbpsIEZwgBoxhAwjFt-6oo9hwOu93CQTzmE/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592233229754866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Chiffchaff</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">And here, it was happily singing its name over and over.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DW80VR8bdRWxo0rtHytgqMlhKAuypatNesalq8gi_o0P-nLFWi2WYVc39JEXuor88Nvat52NwTynx3XeGQM6yMfmxp4fVy5-ZdH555k8aDHCYJr_PYroQXIlbwe-FUJulHNP92DHGfs/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DW80VR8bdRWxo0rtHytgqMlhKAuypatNesalq8gi_o0P-nLFWi2WYVc39JEXuor88Nvat52NwTynx3XeGQM6yMfmxp4fVy5-ZdH555k8aDHCYJr_PYroQXIlbwe-FUJulHNP92DHGfs/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603592228820378402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, it is always nice to see the delightful Yellow Wagtails at Draycote. This one is female</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxqdnqI2c66QRMgrKSEmItIqcUSIqzyYXOBQPrzZJzBZNkj9ZsUUDlmwzS6QdjnVzuSbuUksrLtfhsNH80jXR3JxJ1vCiTQTOo3XMDdJ8DunwSd16Bsjnwq5fD0szk537O7LXDR2_vM4/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxqdnqI2c66QRMgrKSEmItIqcUSIqzyYXOBQPrzZJzBZNkj9ZsUUDlmwzS6QdjnVzuSbuUksrLtfhsNH80jXR3JxJ1vCiTQTOo3XMDdJ8DunwSd16Bsjnwq5fD0szk537O7LXDR2_vM4/s400/IMG_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603591906116176866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Yellow Wagtail<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family:arial;">and I will finish this post as I started it, with the male</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0BOw_pSYu1KcRY__4soLFqzOtZyuHw2LLX-Q1jZUkwe544l_gcNxkUJvTt4bppG-_ydwV9Pol9VtSl_0SgYEVDmK45CjcTmFS14Q7MfLP6mw4qkw6guBMw7AWlROZtEsklOBdcySrvw/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0BOw_pSYu1KcRY__4soLFqzOtZyuHw2LLX-Q1jZUkwe544l_gcNxkUJvTt4bppG-_ydwV9Pol9VtSl_0SgYEVDmK45CjcTmFS14Q7MfLP6mw4qkw6guBMw7AWlROZtEsklOBdcySrvw/s400/IMG_0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603591911679219234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Have a lovely weekend... and enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-43679858401976441742011-04-14T18:00:00.005+01:002011-04-16T14:16:34.014+01:00I Creep for a Woodpecker and a Tree Creeper Creeps for Me!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5AOuMFy5zViqESUXqLN1D3gVScLm9DMULdPUq0Oi738tLxnqZyM5IQ-H2FR3TgCqHYuGLaHJMnpvKIb4tUdQRcwWnp8YMXP2m86vj5ehT_Ni1quST60_zcGQaeQqAOXSDOu6ynREvGY/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5AOuMFy5zViqESUXqLN1D3gVScLm9DMULdPUq0Oi738tLxnqZyM5IQ-H2FR3TgCqHYuGLaHJMnpvKIb4tUdQRcwWnp8YMXP2m86vj5ehT_Ni1quST60_zcGQaeQqAOXSDOu6ynREvGY/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144873023555698" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5NfRaN7HZBRwlf6Jk113_GGjhyesABXiAuh5qaJGH55yP-8D8nqWZnKHtIRFAbyyzYxppsrAsWpqnlrhjeiYQiymRiXS7PgdDTCBVxb8eiPvM83uP6O9jROqBJ2ysYGyykWBir0RCNs/s1600/Green+Woodpecker.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">What lovely weather most of us in the UK have experienced in the last week or so. We had temperatures of well over 20C (68F) for several days and it was a pleasure to get out and enjoy all that Nature has to offer at this loveliest time of the year.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rC2faLkOju3fb-PmmGRsbW9LVe89Kk98o98IAhg_W9a-Pad3UD9NS5b74b9Zu33c0ptez9NyAlDUGxWQTjl5eQEU3XQcsXe_wfx20AphvFJJ96jNE2umFW-JdtLVL0JN0UG4Cqqrmws/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rC2faLkOju3fb-PmmGRsbW9LVe89Kk98o98IAhg_W9a-Pad3UD9NS5b74b9Zu33c0ptez9NyAlDUGxWQTjl5eQEU3XQcsXe_wfx20AphvFJJ96jNE2umFW-JdtLVL0JN0UG4Cqqrmws/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144869303408978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(Common Primrose)</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'Now beauteous spring bursts forth to view,</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">And decks the earth with flow'rs,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the songsters sing on dewy wing,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Rejoicing in the bow'rs.'</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Thomas Eagles)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As is so often the case in this country though the temperature has dipped again in the last day or so and is now less than half what it was!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Walking very near to home last weekend I kept hearing the laugh or yaffle of a Green Woodpecker. So often they are heard but not seen but on this occasion I had the last laugh :) as I saw it fly across in front of me and land in a tree in a hedgerow and was able to gradually creep closer to it with the camera.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVyhLOShCiGiDltc8cMVer6-eEcrIImXogcmuu8fEziWox_RpwfbAXrY4bgT7KslN1ojEGhhWPiguEoJSRscsBOBjN0NbTDm_d6oio7dn7MLnZv3tXzdTKV_kfFhoP0iMHcme2y373eE/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVyhLOShCiGiDltc8cMVer6-eEcrIImXogcmuu8fEziWox_RpwfbAXrY4bgT7KslN1ojEGhhWPiguEoJSRscsBOBjN0NbTDm_d6oio7dn7MLnZv3tXzdTKV_kfFhoP0iMHcme2y373eE/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145141184014610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Green Woodpecker</span><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">When I got home and processed the photos I was surprised to see that lower down in the tree, (as seen in the photo at the beginning of this post) there was also another woodpecker which I had been completely unaware of at the time</span>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5NfRaN7HZBRwlf6Jk113_GGjhyesABXiAuh5qaJGH55yP-8D8nqWZnKHtIRFAbyyzYxppsrAsWpqnlrhjeiYQiymRiXS7PgdDTCBVxb8eiPvM83uP6O9jROqBJ2ysYGyykWBir0RCNs/s1600/Green+Woodpecker.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5NfRaN7HZBRwlf6Jk113_GGjhyesABXiAuh5qaJGH55yP-8D8nqWZnKHtIRFAbyyzYxppsrAsWpqnlrhjeiYQiymRiXS7PgdDTCBVxb8eiPvM83uP6O9jROqBJ2ysYGyykWBir0RCNs/s400/Green+Woodpecker.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144485569355490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">'The green woodpecker flying up and down</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With wings of mellow green and speckled crown.'</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(John Clare)</span><br /><br /><br /></div></div><span style="font-family:arial;">During the same walk I was keeping an eye out in case I saw the Roe Deer which I had seen there (and posted about <a style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);" href="http://shysongbirdstwitterings.blogspot.com/2010/11/oh-deer.html">here</a>) last year. This time I wasn't lucky enough to see them but I was thrilled instead to see this lovely little Muntjac Deer.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtHRNp83aqTvj4LIIe5CvrrljM7YR4fEj17I873aDQ2uSziBx1Tx-ub2ofgag6V94xNLgryM_yovxzOuE6sDW7FfK5Oh7u-M9uDTb5BU3ClfNyDstMqR6BBs8_wmWvewcunZAMcccgoA/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtHRNp83aqTvj4LIIe5CvrrljM7YR4fEj17I873aDQ2uSziBx1Tx-ub2ofgag6V94xNLgryM_yovxzOuE6sDW7FfK5Oh7u-M9uDTb5BU3ClfNyDstMqR6BBs8_wmWvewcunZAMcccgoA/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145291914177858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Muntjac Deer</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The warm weather has brought all the Spring flowers out and I found this Green Alkarnet</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHPqkfuoBH5VZ2DdScEJwXmE3HWhoyClnNz0_QMCWwI8yXD9Y8qlasLsFbz56U1isYu2Lkoor9QFTQYWkNJmw7PahdVGupqmZg1BymZdFVmsM1t_1WPnONlS7ejXCWGKt3t7UvK1N70w/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHPqkfuoBH5VZ2DdScEJwXmE3HWhoyClnNz0_QMCWwI8yXD9Y8qlasLsFbz56U1isYu2Lkoor9QFTQYWkNJmw7PahdVGupqmZg1BymZdFVmsM1t_1WPnONlS7ejXCWGKt3t7UvK1N70w/s400/IMG_0080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144891630289890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Green Alkarnet<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />and these Coltsfoot with Violets in the background</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVJycsWCOeHSerdYXgKKIKdPjslYqHSgDhSnGSjeOMPoloa_4ikRZKSO9ANHWfcZuLqAW2iAR7-PuWmeZjGDJAs9GlrrNelgT0OjcdEUMzB-vWkDI_CII90Pv0pGM0bST4UgsbBasODs/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVJycsWCOeHSerdYXgKKIKdPjslYqHSgDhSnGSjeOMPoloa_4ikRZKSO9ANHWfcZuLqAW2iAR7-PuWmeZjGDJAs9GlrrNelgT0OjcdEUMzB-vWkDI_CII90Pv0pGM0bST4UgsbBasODs/s400/IMG_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145153873840818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Coltsfoot and Violets<br /><br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">These Marsh Marigolds, as their name suggests, were growing in their favoured habitat by water<br /><br /></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIuyVzV21lJSRU-UtxgOE87y_7pMuSOiHPlH61VyXA77XoKvS2AUj08Jj1XfQa1dS01aT7t79I7qkfnciPQ9UcH1m4bYktASBQ59vFCf1fhPiWR1nAa8QU-P67zGqI0LKeicyJA7Ukng/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIuyVzV21lJSRU-UtxgOE87y_7pMuSOiHPlH61VyXA77XoKvS2AUj08Jj1XfQa1dS01aT7t79I7qkfnciPQ9UcH1m4bYktASBQ59vFCf1fhPiWR1nAa8QU-P67zGqI0LKeicyJA7Ukng/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144882387867698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Marsh Marigolds</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial;">and a flower which every year at this time, is just starting to spread its beautiful blue carpet over much of the woodland in the UK.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBxTmL_IR7Sx3YbdQ-0hkB-Dc_E_LkJ6_BongVb1OKdk0dpr-pMiRDc1RTwxU3pwaxdTg6-1rfNnkEsabLr367sUk7WRkngKawN_Cw8nSApSG4X4DEtJ0sBJOG6VzfZ2qPk0bXPoe-04/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBxTmL_IR7Sx3YbdQ-0hkB-Dc_E_LkJ6_BongVb1OKdk0dpr-pMiRDc1RTwxU3pwaxdTg6-1rfNnkEsabLr367sUk7WRkngKawN_Cw8nSApSG4X4DEtJ0sBJOG6VzfZ2qPk0bXPoe-04/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144484791112242" border="0" /></a>Bluebells<br /><br />'The Bluebell is the sweetest flower<br />That waves in summer air:<br />Its blossoms have the mightiest power<br />To soothe my spirit's care.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Emily Bronte)<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">During a visit to Draycote Water it was lovely to see lots of delightful and vividly coloured Yellow Wagtails. I have seen them there each year I have been, either flitting around on the rocks or, as this time, on the grassy bank feeding on the many flies which so often plague the walkers, joggers and cyclists.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuD8_0ha8UQO4dOq_rUoYrHOISEDq0iKroZcIRFMz4kkUGo-Ph-cCykmb4D4hy7h15zydQ96xy8wAcxz51fKe5K-NV55lY6pO8qPa_K1jb7SBo1J80uwAEzwudssdsaLiPNJ9pbMF-ps/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuD8_0ha8UQO4dOq_rUoYrHOISEDq0iKroZcIRFMz4kkUGo-Ph-cCykmb4D4hy7h15zydQ96xy8wAcxz51fKe5K-NV55lY6pO8qPa_K1jb7SBo1J80uwAEzwudssdsaLiPNJ9pbMF-ps/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145133941362450" border="0" /></a>Yellow Wagtail<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You can see the following one was actually sizing up its quarry!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaBfvdsa0pmj4KPBzpq_pJSI4Yo0-MIzPkgQObmstLZQnwjqd0pxapO6yt75rEpn_xUZVjZKtN9Tau8yB7RtskRpYbysI2R1PfWRCPPoCgKm_w00ds-uGctB_yd_6alXhUnvgViUWua0/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaBfvdsa0pmj4KPBzpq_pJSI4Yo0-MIzPkgQObmstLZQnwjqd0pxapO6yt75rEpn_xUZVjZKtN9Tau8yB7RtskRpYbysI2R1PfWRCPPoCgKm_w00ds-uGctB_yd_6alXhUnvgViUWua0/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144887062205554" border="0" /></a><br />The warm weather has of course also seen the welcome return of butterflies and after seeing many Orange Tips frustratingly whizz past me with no chance of a photo I was eventually rewarded with a nice open winged pose.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire4Ou77EvwfSigNz45kGF-khvZ42fDHoZFHo1VHBkF0zaXk8YvX0NBVVybGzVlXReTrzzRkLRkT2rbgemAXOgfDmKnxo4KP2ahyJmoOZZtQLM-9BZSdoizTE9aeHhv_yhm8ckEpV98pk/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire4Ou77EvwfSigNz45kGF-khvZ42fDHoZFHo1VHBkF0zaXk8YvX0NBVVybGzVlXReTrzzRkLRkT2rbgemAXOgfDmKnxo4KP2ahyJmoOZZtQLM-9BZSdoizTE9aeHhv_yhm8ckEpV98pk/s400/IMG_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144499245175170" border="0" /></a>Orange Tip Butterfly (male)<br /><br />'Child of the sun! pursue thy rapturous flight,<br />Mingling with her thou lov'st in fields of light;<br />And where the flowers of paradise unfold,<br />Quaff fragrant nectar from their cups of gold.'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Charles Burton)<br /></div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This Speckled Wood was the first I had seen this year and posed well for me. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7_uIc61WJ3pY9RqQSQePNyedUSpH2RQwPfOeWosS1vtNjNPnCwKqpQWTfAVYWWyNN5spmJBTg1BTA2MDIySLGRDOqpmT8aJeeRXfM8deKddkTP2WSMt92gutWgrTpzgxTjJsdGaZMnQ/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7_uIc61WJ3pY9RqQSQePNyedUSpH2RQwPfOeWosS1vtNjNPnCwKqpQWTfAVYWWyNN5spmJBTg1BTA2MDIySLGRDOqpmT8aJeeRXfM8deKddkTP2WSMt92gutWgrTpzgxTjJsdGaZMnQ/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145149951269266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Speckled Wood Butterfly<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I should also have been able to post some nice photos of a Peacock butterfly but unfortunately I found that all of the ones I had taken of it as well as some of a Mallard with her tiny ducklings had mistakenly been taken with the white balance setting on my camera set to tungsten light instead of sunlight which meant all the photos had a horrible turquoise hue...I am still kicking myself!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">An unexpected find during the Draycote visit was a distant view of this Stoat which was no doubt preying on the numerous Rabbits which can always be seen there. It seems incredible that a creature so relatively small can catch and kill another much larger one. It pounces on the Rabbit, killing it with a bite to the back of its neck. If it is able to obtain more food than it can eat the Stoat will often store extra food for later. It is capable of speeds of 20mph when hunting and can cover a distance of around 4 miles in a single hunt! The collective name for Stoats is a 'caravan'. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdFF8suFmB90l2AHhb756aO9yS_8e4uVdI_N8-WfpZwd9AvLgxSyRRVyNCddB69nnpWWvxijcaaGLhVGrYA2o0R9626Wj122mylDcUxmFVWQikkb1wSLtzp07xPk9PBYL9yamWUvoHH8/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdFF8suFmB90l2AHhb756aO9yS_8e4uVdI_N8-WfpZwd9AvLgxSyRRVyNCddB69nnpWWvxijcaaGLhVGrYA2o0R9626Wj122mylDcUxmFVWQikkb1wSLtzp07xPk9PBYL9yamWUvoHH8/s400/IMG_0159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145286950576674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Stoat</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Another walk closer to home produced another unexpected sight. I think they are Red-legged Partridges but they could possibly be Chukar Partridges, again they were very distant.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb2xxP2WLhtTuC4BujDBb4tACXtmYMY0zpQXMdOIwjqNgt6D5rEL_2sTVYzXwfVpZdAv5d_u_PBBuReRUS9LoR_V4oKyrkWF1mDjpQIa_DpjNcP0zDoTEL2elaZ1x0__rgomW_C5pZHA/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb2xxP2WLhtTuC4BujDBb4tACXtmYMY0zpQXMdOIwjqNgt6D5rEL_2sTVYzXwfVpZdAv5d_u_PBBuReRUS9LoR_V4oKyrkWF1mDjpQIa_DpjNcP0zDoTEL2elaZ1x0__rgomW_C5pZHA/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595145138552568626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Red-legged </span><span style="font-family:arial;"> (or possibly Chukar) </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Partridges</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'The partridge makes no nest but on the ground</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lays many eggs and I have often found</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sixteen or eighteen in a beaten seat</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When tracing oer the fields or weeding wheat.'</span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(John Clare)</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, a couple of days ago, I was pleased to get some fairly decent photos of a Treecreeper</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">at last. Usually I only manage one either disappearing round the back of a tree or completely out of focus.<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5wsYQ5Q-wriNEw3IwibpKgGusla6tWrMv6psx5sRJjVs115sSeN_2J4eBqLfB6ylwIoovTkiGEpeGRjsagZFmZgpU78qv-R9NWITOgfUo9lUBg3P2M-Kq65heM-cyoGWOib8l5R7eMw/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5wsYQ5Q-wriNEw3IwibpKgGusla6tWrMv6psx5sRJjVs115sSeN_2J4eBqLfB6ylwIoovTkiGEpeGRjsagZFmZgpU78qv-R9NWITOgfUo9lUBg3P2M-Kq65heM-cyoGWOib8l5R7eMw/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144492048437154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Treecreeper</span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P7cLbiUZWYo1qvYdWP-eQ3bzWGaDQnRESrJjEozf8hdpgRhVlYc6NCusd4eGh23kdQ5p3G3ThQZXV04otqA3CSkpbHVPhCkA-wG9xsXdBXGlOVMgXj3GkVkCA16Tq25_GwHLTmPnTjs/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P7cLbiUZWYo1qvYdWP-eQ3bzWGaDQnRESrJjEozf8hdpgRhVlYc6NCusd4eGh23kdQ5p3G3ThQZXV04otqA3CSkpbHVPhCkA-wG9xsXdBXGlOVMgXj3GkVkCA16Tq25_GwHLTmPnTjs/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595144491150137810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5AOuMFy5zViqESUXqLN1D3gVScLm9DMULdPUq0Oi738tLxnqZyM5IQ-H2FR3TgCqHYuGLaHJMnpvKIb4tUdQRcwWnp8YMXP2m86vj5ehT_Ni1quST60_zcGQaeQqAOXSDOu6ynREvGY/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><br /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Have a good weekend and ... enjoy the beauty of Nature wherever you are.</span><br /></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295218067929829278.post-60143891684576743082011-04-06T20:08:00.007+01:002011-04-09T23:02:38.290+01:00Now That April's Here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisba_vSuat-9BR3yJzidScZrffUTgfChkYDaKjB8nr3xTn0Mx0pj1iBliOr0EoTyT6EvxvLjCqkBX3jpr9cTdj5_vcuiQdRY-27gQDn-Epn3iNPQxQUDf9t869kSUip2AOLnyFIwZDw0Y/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisba_vSuat-9BR3yJzidScZrffUTgfChkYDaKjB8nr3xTn0Mx0pj1iBliOr0EoTyT6EvxvLjCqkBX3jpr9cTdj5_vcuiQdRY-27gQDn-Epn3iNPQxQUDf9t869kSUip2AOLnyFIwZDw0Y/s400/IMG_0267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592530885326253346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Thank you to everyone who left supportive comments on my last post concerning the Larsen Trap encounter and thank you most particularly to all those who signed the petition against them. If you haven't signed it yet please do consider it, every signature helps, wherever you live in the world!<br /><br />Well what a beautiful April day it has been here today, we had a temperature this afternoon of 21c (69.8F). While visiting a small local lake it was a joy to see all the Spring flowers and hear Chiffchaffs calling their name over and over. I also heard a rustling in the dead leaves and caught a glimpse of a snake but it was so quick I couldn't identify it, my goodness they move fast! Looking back at my records I noticed that on this day in 2008 we had heavy overnight snow. Hopefully that won't happen tonight!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'When April comes with softly shining eyes,</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">And daffodils bound in her wind-blown hair,<br />Oh, she will coax all clouds from out the skies,<br />And every day will bring some sweet surprise,--<br />The swallows will come swinging through the air<br />When April comes!'<br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Virna Sheard)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthsIAMiRPVs15AntcKaqSt7Zg9KJSoj-lAWQEYhRTDb67xj11hDJ0jokcdelTzE7ec82azSUkEsP7u1URQNMih5ppX6IOO0rNdllPDUkyGtHE4060xyNI1Iu7P34wfcPlN90uMQffQR8/s1600/Collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthsIAMiRPVs15AntcKaqSt7Zg9KJSoj-lAWQEYhRTDb67xj11hDJ0jokcdelTzE7ec82azSUkEsP7u1URQNMih5ppX6IOO0rNdllPDUkyGtHE4060xyNI1Iu7P34wfcPlN90uMQffQR8/s400/Collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592257953133670738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Clockwise from top left:<br />Ground Ivy, Cowslips, Bluebells,<br />Violets, Lesser Celandines and Primroses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'Spring flowers, spring flowers,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fairest, sweetest gems of earth,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Won from Eden's happy bowers,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Angels smiled upon your birth.' </span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Louisa Shaw)<br /><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I hadn't seen Bramblings in the garden since 2008 when according to my records they visited from March 7th until April 22nd</span>.<span style="font-family:arial;"> At that time I didn't have a camera capable of taking bird photographs and have been disappointed not to have seen them since. However, since just before last Christmas I have seen one in the garden again and for the last few days a small flock have been visiting regularly and at last I have managed to get some photos. They really are lovely little birds.</span><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMP_fqstF2k_XKTeQ20iR55mOv0wV1kYExJyOmyfzLJtYBH39QdUoq6752aKbFbmmxG8Mo4ve7S4e3sfSpbNPBL6H8bX9gg6KNpwSoDouWNktUgcsj7Bu0LxUO0dfSeAKuR4JVzH-CEg/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMP_fqstF2k_XKTeQ20iR55mOv0wV1kYExJyOmyfzLJtYBH39QdUoq6752aKbFbmmxG8Mo4ve7S4e3sfSpbNPBL6H8bX9gg6KNpwSoDouWNktUgcsj7Bu0LxUO0dfSeAKuR4JVzH-CEg/s400/IMG_0210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592249483807138498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Bramblings</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ5BqJTEo5bhoIxV4DeqZEf2tztmqyZhMzPs147sWFfeQ7jMJAM15tI228VAIHOg-b6wH4sspYuogKp6Q9ZpRpCa2TwBkEsQAB-spZUh6L5la9jFIeJUWZysBM05DKlYC6mEfHSRYeyo/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ5BqJTEo5bhoIxV4DeqZEf2tztmqyZhMzPs147sWFfeQ7jMJAM15tI228VAIHOg-b6wH4sspYuogKp6Q9ZpRpCa2TwBkEsQAB-spZUh6L5la9jFIeJUWZysBM05DKlYC6mEfHSRYeyo/s400/IMG_0198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248851943083234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Brambling (male)</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZw1likpo7z1k2hqoZNyb4DTMaWr4f6ENk_qUgqLF22l-p8ELBaT2d9PVWN-zuJJux-5V0Xc-iVjnKHN8jCKSXOoA9DmgZ-YXzzufQ083MmgfM4euDJUmq_crJ6dLLfoqiL_PohI3MFo/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZw1likpo7z1k2hqoZNyb4DTMaWr4f6ENk_qUgqLF22l-p8ELBaT2d9PVWN-zuJJux-5V0Xc-iVjnKHN8jCKSXOoA9DmgZ-YXzzufQ083MmgfM4euDJUmq_crJ6dLLfoqiL_PohI3MFo/s400/IMG_0166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248839342704610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Brambling (female)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I still haven't managed to photograph any butterflies but have seen, Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells on some of the milder days we have had recently. It has been nice to see bees again too</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vjPXM1LQxWJdrXmujrzcBeYsxeeCejzh6adq6QW0KqA_8BYVtM8xyzzhzQ2_xqUPsKLKy0TD9nk3KFxmds_blUu7p6cEIvMQD2oxqG10mGB_xka0RcPJMqtCJHiJfW3LT3qqzv9Cd9w/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vjPXM1LQxWJdrXmujrzcBeYsxeeCejzh6adq6QW0KqA_8BYVtM8xyzzhzQ2_xqUPsKLKy0TD9nk3KFxmds_blUu7p6cEIvMQD2oxqG10mGB_xka0RcPJMqtCJHiJfW3LT3qqzv9Cd9w/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248553452669282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Tawny Mining Bee?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Edit: Thank you very much to </span><a href="http://deansdailydiary.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Dean</span></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">for identifying the above as a...</span><br /><br />Buff-tailed Bumble Bee<br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />On a visit to a very small Nature reserve close to home I found these Fritillaries. They were surrounded by wire to protect them, hopefully next year they will have multiplied. We opened the wire a little to enable me to take the photos but made sure we secured it again afterwards.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3AbTPnRN6bH_Mes-uUyMHQkpthd0X3hPd2Qy9KYJ15rNbW3Ul15Ch-K2kJ-3BdBb3bTKc3aYTBV2EAdv1JYe1IpCwl5fym3XfSUkfwEqDSfb9dZMEndZLZcSx6TPQFZviUlsxsf7lLY/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 386px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3AbTPnRN6bH_Mes-uUyMHQkpthd0X3hPd2Qy9KYJ15rNbW3Ul15Ch-K2kJ-3BdBb3bTKc3aYTBV2EAdv1JYe1IpCwl5fym3XfSUkfwEqDSfb9dZMEndZLZcSx6TPQFZviUlsxsf7lLY/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248541125552338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Fritillary</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj0oagqOq86_gMhXYa3ouD6OuVv-qy0TecuUW6npjwlDP8CNKuD4uxzwHetRaHQDSuOQN3wF88j21D_Gz1pNYGhW6guIf8C1qNHlBLtM9rE52qYlMSa4pIpSvgrc9TnTsa4RaGQK7mBU/s1600/IMG_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj0oagqOq86_gMhXYa3ouD6OuVv-qy0TecuUW6npjwlDP8CNKuD4uxzwHetRaHQDSuOQN3wF88j21D_Gz1pNYGhW6guIf8C1qNHlBLtM9rE52qYlMSa4pIpSvgrc9TnTsa4RaGQK7mBU/s400/IMG_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248544755519746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">On another recent walk I saw these Mute Swans who looked rather romantic with their heart shaped pose!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK1ieShfYbsZ1jA0YALnPjhI5a5TrV4cD0aGO7LpJcfGE6gJhHUGUQ2tylDyc5lCZ8eFawNz4ACqoWHZK6iX7uYI7p7SwixezpKacka_LXAo59R0GZATPrRZMD46x921HGqIWz0f5Qrk/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK1ieShfYbsZ1jA0YALnPjhI5a5TrV4cD0aGO7LpJcfGE6gJhHUGUQ2tylDyc5lCZ8eFawNz4ACqoWHZK6iX7uYI7p7SwixezpKacka_LXAo59R0GZATPrRZMD46x921HGqIWz0f5Qrk/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248551169033714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Mute Swans</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'They paddle in the cold</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Companionable streams or climb the air;</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Their hearts have not grown old.'</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(William Butler Yeats)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I had a face to face encounter with this Squirrel during a visit to Draycote Water</span>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLaYF1w9JnXyS-v70vDpqThE5WxxqyguMhCo1EjkBErrP-xP_YNkYEfacIyQJ0PE_D-0GLR9QddaZrHujYYdDXPRdKvmdLZxcMcGv77bqjapO1wBVwkskQZPg79u7mlsm2i16C_bkIf0/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLaYF1w9JnXyS-v70vDpqThE5WxxqyguMhCo1EjkBErrP-xP_YNkYEfacIyQJ0PE_D-0GLR9QddaZrHujYYdDXPRdKvmdLZxcMcGv77bqjapO1wBVwkskQZPg79u7mlsm2i16C_bkIf0/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248536514956594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Grey Squirrel</span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The visit to Draycote was unfortunately made on a very dull day which eventually turned to rain and as I have mentioned in the past my camera doesn't perform at all well in low light but I tried my best and was pleased to see Grey Wagtails on the rocks</span>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMKeyzytTS91sebozPMcFvBp_SbhO5sK1ymZDLfuLB-upTHh6geKW5uqdF49CpnWumQ9SMzlAqfvK1IPZNkFHS9VFhoR_3qp-Ghn73dSn-xm5pglJz0QBhBmvZed8jKiT5zypZxXlRCs/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMKeyzytTS91sebozPMcFvBp_SbhO5sK1ymZDLfuLB-upTHh6geKW5uqdF49CpnWumQ9SMzlAqfvK1IPZNkFHS9VFhoR_3qp-Ghn73dSn-xm5pglJz0QBhBmvZed8jKiT5zypZxXlRCs/s400/IMG_0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248838575718898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Grey Wagtail</span><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4b8sqm2NfpWrdlUU2RLe2_4zELsvmbTMXh1Wp16qRe7crIxoZt_t-icg2ArmEGC2KaJfUpllwW3bCQMow_YqIRrSnsucKBigGKnSVwuKxI0IpphGoH_RYNvxlfbEwWKcZIUzw90ov-4/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4b8sqm2NfpWrdlUU2RLe2_4zELsvmbTMXh1Wp16qRe7crIxoZt_t-icg2ArmEGC2KaJfUpllwW3bCQMow_YqIRrSnsucKBigGKnSVwuKxI0IpphGoH_RYNvxlfbEwWKcZIUzw90ov-4/s400/IMG_0126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248833926644370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And this Reed Bunting looking very smart in a hedgerow.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT9qiFICIWU0aLFupRNO8kCOENmgDwKkqVBhfvlEpM9fGPl_4Q9P6e5E3w3DR73W0QhfrizE4SlSOffHgzYILD7zMPrn2B_J-r7a2VhTOKeXr4uVdkfWNtS8n8sa8jt5kpHTTltreOgA/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT9qiFICIWU0aLFupRNO8kCOENmgDwKkqVBhfvlEpM9fGPl_4Q9P6e5E3w3DR73W0QhfrizE4SlSOffHgzYILD7zMPrn2B_J-r7a2VhTOKeXr4uVdkfWNtS8n8sa8jt5kpHTTltreOgA/s400/IMG_0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592544131190519522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Reed Bunting</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />A bird which according to all the books is widespread across this country is the Linnet but I never see it on any of my walks close to home so was pleased but not surprised to see it at Draycote which does seem to attract many birds which I would never otherwise see!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBddIQBqkGwyB1FvAqOPpZeRgqKF54zHEguNaaD_Pf8bq8eyyjWPiAYcgtdI2wSqRrnZPgpFriBTkQb_rIeLdWsQdEPrmr3h_f_GYKyMFO1kvgg3ZVboKxXxipDlJvmt-4xaF1Lk58JE/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBddIQBqkGwyB1FvAqOPpZeRgqKF54zHEguNaaD_Pf8bq8eyyjWPiAYcgtdI2wSqRrnZPgpFriBTkQb_rIeLdWsQdEPrmr3h_f_GYKyMFO1kvgg3ZVboKxXxipDlJvmt-4xaF1Lk58JE/s400/IMG_0180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592248845041837106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Linnet</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">'There are gayer birds, 'tis true,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">On the mossy branches glittering</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Gold or scarlet, green or blue,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Let them flit the woodlands through,</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />But their song to thine is twittering. '</span> <div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Ann Taylor)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Every now and again during our visit we heard a Green Woodpecker 'yaffling' in the distance. At the end of our visit, quite late in the evening and after a downpour which had sent most people home, I saw it </span><span style="font-family:arial;">in a place which is normally very busy.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">It was so good to be there at that time which emphasised what an absolute haven it is for wildlife when no one is around, I can completely see why some birders go there at daybreak before all the joggers, cyclists etc. appear.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Incidentally if anyone with any influence reads this it would be great if they could put a word in to persuade the powers that be to clean and fill the seed feeders at the side of the hide, they seem to have been abandoned for a long time now, almost as long as the visitors centre!! If I could get to the feeders I would fill them myself</span>!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakU58e9KDTwj39Tz-BwwGcEO2A5uUkfHzOSX1p8Ajw5nj_fT97Slt_t_QPb6tkSIFfLJmz-9rN4sEPNMjZsk6jDJEd9-v6KYoAgmrRnYRKdLTs5ryiW5xKs_EshddL3KS6SliIY1Zp4U/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakU58e9KDTwj39Tz-BwwGcEO2A5uUkfHzOSX1p8Ajw5nj_fT97Slt_t_QPb6tkSIFfLJmz-9rN4sEPNMjZsk6jDJEd9-v6KYoAgmrRnYRKdLTs5ryiW5xKs_EshddL3KS6SliIY1Zp4U/s400/IMG_0297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592249485252781202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Green Wodpecker</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, that's all for now... enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ShySongbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08148381873578585910noreply@blogger.com38