Sunday, 15 July 2012

'Wasteland' comes 'Alive' !

Sunday and Monday - Drenched in Rain again !

'St.John's Wort'

Tuesday 3^rd July - The ‘frightening’ Clouds chased off a huge flock of ‘Birds’ night before ......from ‘Gulls’ to ‘Crows’ “I just wonder if they know something bad is coming”?

Bad weather persists yet again on Wednesday 4^th July.Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18783422 < the whys?

Rained until 2.45p.m then the ‘Sun’ came out and everyone decided to arrive, ‘Tree Bees’ were out on the ‘Brambles’

Link to the different Bees I captured inside my camera: http://bizzibeez.blogspot.co.uk/

Tree Bee ~ Bombus hypnorum

Thursday 5^th July - “No Rain”..........phew!

St.John's Wort ~ found growing on our top field, probably via a Bird's droppings.

12.08p.m ‘Himself’ was filming the ‘young Sparrows’ looking out of their entrance, just above our back door when one of them fell out and onto the concrete path.... running and rolling and being sniffed by our two little dogs (I soon gathered dogs up.) The poor wee thing had rolled into the long grass ‘himself’ eventually found the tiniest little brown fluffkin, and was Soon put back with it’s ‘siblings’ .......by way of our ‘landing’ window (when open) can just about reach their entrance........”all safe now”. No one is hanging out of the entrance , a lesson learned....

6.p.m'ish This was upon the top field,singing a deep buzz....clearly imitates the Red-bummed Bumble Bee . Hoverfly Link: http://www.gardensafari.net/en_picpages/volucella_bombylans.htm

Volucella bombylans 'Hover Fly'

Gorgeous sound and I watched it fold it's wings together,almost like one - it wasn't happy about me following for a pic.

Have the seven spot ladybirds in our woodland, didn't know until read all about where spots were, also count spot behind the head.

Friday 6^th July - And it’s very wet once again.....

These memories never leave us, so if for just a while in the countryside our children could spend, enjoying life how it was meant.

Saturday 7^th July - Last night’s storm had opened up another sky this early morn, with silent breeze and Bird’s of tales to be told through Song, Sun at last !

Man of plenty has arrived home with stocks of food for cupboards and still a jingle inside his pocket ......a way to shop 'cheap'. LINK for RINGLET: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=hyperantus

'Ringlet'

I like to watch the Bees, it makes me feel so calm, until that time of business, 'for me' it's just the same .

To 'most' I'd be a 'bumpkin but to me I'm just myself. "oh" joys of old....a time gone by , wasn't life , just so simple.

After lunch: Upon the 'Wasteland' I did go, where I was greeted by a pair of ‘Buzzards’ flying the warm delightful breeze. Took this picture of 'Small Skipper' Butterfly, I also managed to capture a ‘Ringlet’........two ‘Day time Moths’ and a couple of ‘Brown Meadows’ were playing low down amongst the long grasses and now and then would flutterbye ....Link: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=sylvestris

'Skipper'

Sunday 8^th July - I didnt want a breakfast, I didnt feel the need, wandered in the garden, where birds were calling out. Rabbits on the field, so I didnt miss a thing.

T’was beautiful outside first thing until a blanket of mist arrived and closed us all in from that distant view !

Monday 9^th July - The ‘light’ has dimmed outside with mist, so dense it hides all nature’s treats from sight...we’ll listen with intent and smile. Link: http://www.gardensafari.net/english/hoverflies.htm

'Hoverfly' Eupeodes corollae 'female'

Tuesday 10^th July - A day so grey...it’s grim. ‘Himself’ had left his boots upon the outside step all night, a dew so damp had found it’s way inside.....soggy toes today.

Wednesday 11^th July - The Birds are flocking to escape a sky with brutal gusts from West, this morning’s ‘Song’ has not arrived.....all strengths are used to fly to East.

7.30 a.m Our dogs they do need water, have asked with speaking ‘eyes’........

No ‘Tree Bee’ seen today !

'Hoverfly'

Thursday 12^th July - Arrives with joy in the sky,

most who can, arrive by feathered-flight, 'sadly'.. 9.30 a.m and still no sign of ‘butterflies’ and ‘bees’. By 10.36 a.m a tiny ‘bee’ arrives upon the ‘brambles’ within our back garden........collecting all the necessaries from each flower, as 'Bumblebees' cannot last long without their source of food...like the 'Honeybees'.....who make their own in hives.

11.45 a.m The ‘Rain’ is getting closer as the leaves have turned-over a shade of pale , it’s surely going to rain upon a duvet drying on the line...I could do with a ‘Rain-alarm’.

Friday 13^th July - A little ‘sun’ changing into something grim

Seen three ‘Buff tailed Bees’ and two ‘Honeybees’ around the wildflowers in our back garden, still no ‘Butterflies’ today.

Marsh Thistle: http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/wildflowers/marsh-thistle.htm below

Worker 'Cuckoo Bee' unsure of other?

After lunch: Spent an hour or so up on the ‘Wasteland’ and at first I couldn’t see anyone but ‘stand still’ wait a few moments.....at least five pairs or more of ‘Ringlets’ , two ‘Small Skippers’ skipping through the long grasses and low and behold a ‘Crimson’ shot before my eye’s ‘Six Spot Burnet’ , try all I might to catch a photo .....”No” but someone to look out for on my next visit. I did capture two 'Meadow Browns'

'Bath Time' for Chuckster

Chuckie was all fluffed-up like a fur-ball after being hair-dryed , Now... twice the dog... hey !

I believe this might be 'Southern Marsh Orchid'

Link: http://www.judywoods.dial.pipex.com/plants/orchsouthmarsh.html

Saturday 14th July - Was mostly spent enjoying the 'Wasteland' and Sunday 15th ....which gave us a treat of 'Sunshine' at last!

'Meadow Brown'

Link: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=jurtina

'Meadow Browns' mating

'Silver Y Moth'

Male 'Common Blue'

Link: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=icarus

Female 'Common Blue'

Male 'Common Blue' showing his beautiful colour!

Sir-David-Attenborough-says-cultivate-the-nettles-in-your-garden-to-help-butterflies.html

Another path of 'Wildlife' and hope that everyone can join in too!

Thanking you

xXx

Sunday, 1 July 2012

Garden Full of 'Frogs' & the Most Amazing 'Bee Talk' Ever !

The Life of 'wellies'

I wanted to go into the garden, the wood, the tracks of tripping lane, but the ground was like a qwugmire and the sky felled sheets of rain.

There’s the odd ‘Wellie’ about the garden, stashed under a wobbly table and one of them is wearing a hole just above the heel, of course the other is quite suitable – if another could be found within the shed, perhaps a complete pair.....sadly, not in style.

Saturday 9^th June - ‘vanished’ being busy out in the garden whilst the Sun made the odd appearance.

The Garden where I sit is my other room

Its outside where all the flowers bloom

I sit and watch the sky go past

Ti’s grey and overcast

A lawn we had is over-grown

Too tall to have it mown

The Man who can has chronic pains

And Mower have, too heavy

So Man that can, gives a strim

A chance for it to grow again!

A garden full of ‘outside’ rooms

All full of shrubs like brooms

Arrangements grow so naturally

To give Wildlife a chance!

A breeze of Ocean scents arrive

To send one’s senses wild

It couldn’t be more pleasing

Memories of being a child

Sunday 10^th June - Fluttering going on over in a shrub behind the ‘Bird house’ .....a ‘Siskin’ , didn’t stay long, they never do, only pass through...Link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/siskin/

Brigit Strawbridge inspirational Talk on 'Bees'

Wednesday 13^th June - Covering the importance of (and difference between) Honeybees, Bumblebees and Solitary Bees, their behaviour and life cycles, the problems they face (pesticides and habitat loss) and what We can all do to help them: http://www.beestrawbridge.blogspot.co.uk/ < including other insects.

'Male' Early Bumblebee - Bombus pratorum.

if you look very closely he is wearing a beautiful yellow mustache

'Honeybee'

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/European_honey_bee and a video I took:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i37KBCN8sPY&feature=g-upl

and Pollen Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source

Household Pesticides: http://www.soilassociation.org/wildlife/bees/householdpesticides

Thurs - flew !

Friday 15^th June - I just flopped and folded away last night, I was so tired. But the morning has given us Rain so thankfully no dancing amongst the wet soggy ground. The clouds looked weird all day yesterday, almost like they had evolved into another planet riding alongside ‘Earth’.... most odd!

Saturday 16^th June - Gave us a huge amount of rain again......also Sunday morning - And a call from our other Son saying they’ll be arriving later today.....Whoa thats cool......!

Sunday 17^th June - Fabulous day had by All.... down on Poppit Sands!

Link: http://www.uksafari.com/fatlegbeetles.htm

'Male' Fat-legged Beetle

Monday 18^th June - Weather wasn’t bad so we trudged down to the Woods and just above the empty ‘Nuthatch nesting box’ a young Nuthatch was desperately asking it’s ‘parent’ for more food by using a ‘high pitch’ sound., I just wonder if they were from this nesting box.....?

Tuesday 19^th June - A 'mob' of Wood Peckers grazing the top field again today but sadly no film footage, they sense I'm around even though wearing green ......”I shall have to stop looking like a ‘predator’”

Warm this morning but it’s brought out the ‘Horseflies’ who bit me twice on my hand (wasn’t wearing my ‘homemade’ solution.)

Wednesday 20^th June - I found myself a 'hide' under a stunted Oak tree growing on top of the bank, where I can look down and check who’s calling.....

Spider Crab

‘Solstice’ today.. http://news.discovery.com/earth/summer-solstice-120620.html#mkcpgn=emnws1

Thursday 21^st June - And there upon the ‘top field’ dashing away from me was a ‘flash’ of white....a tail...bobbing off into the distance (a rabbit.)

I was swinging from an Ash tree getting a good view to take Woodies but then as I leaned upon the tree with cam. a thud of vibrations ran-up it’s trunk and many more..... ‘Badgers’?

It was raining and surrounded by many prickly 'brambles' .....ouch ! I had a lump in my throat and daren’t clear it for fear of missing this early morning moment, no pictures or videos but my senses were extremely alert to all around me.....A Woodpecker tapping a tree only a few feet from where I stood and the jaw-type chattering, slobbering was even closer - just beneath me.....’Badger’ maybe. ”A friend had told us she was so close to a ‘Set’ during an early morn (during winter,) that she could see their breath escaping from the entrance.

Link: http://www.newquay-westwales.co.uk/spider.htm

Friday 22^nd June - The day started all wet then cleared up after lunch with some ‘sunshine’.

Field Mouse - found under corrugated iron sheet with Toads

Saturday 23^rd June - Gusts blowing in from the gulf with some added sunshine, here and there.

7.28 p.m As I wash-up the dishes I glanced out of the window surprised to see a ‘Red-Kite’ approach and lower itself into our garden, it looked bedraggled due to ‘moulting’, the strong wind was no deterrent for it’s stealthy flight......t’ was hovering and soon moved on.

Sunday 24^th June - Flew......

Monday 25^th June - Did catch a chorus of frogs lined up alongside the garden pond, they were jumping all over my feet ~ wonderful !

Link: http://wildlifebritain.com/fieldmouse.php

A couple of 'Toads'

Link: http://www.uksafari.com/toads.htm

Arrived in Woodland - A young ‘Wren’ was asking it’s mother for food upon a branch where the ‘Nuthatch’ nesting box is attached......seems to be a favourite tree...... as moments later a ‘Robin’ arrived on the box ......obviously a ‘good view point’ and seemed to be checking all around from every corner of the box.

The ‘Pheasants’ have been nibbling on ‘Doc leaves’ and ‘Bracken’ has been seen eating ‘Sticky-Joe’:

http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/galium_aparine_cleavers.htm

‘Put a Pond in your Garden’ > http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/09/wildlife.conservation < And How to Make your Garden 'Frog-friendly'

You may be lucky enough that when your Pond is in, they get wind of it and jump in, they have a circuit of ponds they visit, incase one or more dry out !

Also a Video I took from around our Garden Pond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_csHJ34bJCY&feature=g-upl

Wednesday 27^th June - A Wet Cloud is approaching from over the mountains, this means the wettest rain ever.... Biodiversity and Climate Change: http://vimeo.com/7965089#

Thurs & Friday had sheets of Rain...!

Saturday....last day of June - every ten minutes a dark cloud descends and releases it's water all at once....as though a ‘Cloud had Burst’ !

Naturally grown upon our top field and nothing finer !

Many thanks for reading

xXx