Maximum temperature here today 6⁰C, minimum 2⁰C. A light shower of rain not measured as yet. Rain forecast every day for the next week! 13km/h North-easterly winds with gusts up to 27 km/h.
I have been walking every day, but this weather does not look good for getting out. Only 4C yesterday, but blue skies, sun and no wind and I walked an easy 8.2 kms.
Sunset.
Number 105 taking a rest.
Probably not a good route at this time of the year, hi-vis- vest necessary as the hunters are back out!
Spindle tree berries (Euonymus europaeus),
Calendula and bee...
As above.
Oak leaves in their autumn colours.
Just saying hello.
Wow, this has to be twins!!
Gorse, oddly flowering in late November.
Mushroom of some sort.
Think this might be a couple of Marmalade Hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus).
Still quite a lot of green around in some places.
Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea). There are several very similar so this could be wrong!
A slightly bedraggled Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).
Last day of November and the cranes are still flying South. Common crane (Grus grus).
I don't generally do not show photos like this, but this is sadly the third one now I have found that has been run over. This is a farm track where I see almost no vehicles at all. The Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) generally only comes out at night, though if raining will appear during the day. They like to lie on the roads for warmth and they are very slow-moving creatures. I have yet to see one alive! They have very long life spans so it seems, but these are having a very hard time. I find it very upsetting.
See also my
Joining up with My Corner of the World.
Photo competition running until 31 December - colourful photos.
Let us all join in great fun.
It is really distressing to see the salamander carnage and it would upset me too. The number of creatures killed by vehicles is staggering. I am amazed to see that you still have butterflies in November. They are a distant memory here, and yesterday we had our first major snowfall of the season. Your walks in general seem very pleasant, Diane, and if we lived close by I would love to walk with you. I know that Nigel is unable to accompany you and a friend to chat to might be quite welcome, I would imagine.
ReplyDeleteDavid how I would welcome your company to walk with especially someone with you knowledge, even if mainly in another country.
DeleteWe have had a couple of frosts and the temperatures have dropped. But today at only 4C again, with no wind, I was happy out walking and covered 9.18 km. I would have happy gone further but Nigel starts to worry after a couple of hours.
The Salamander story is very sad, and other people are telling me the same thing down in the Dordogne where I follow a wildlife page. 😥
Take care and keep safe, Diane
I so enjoy your blog, Diane. Every photo is a study! The oak leaves are a gorgeous capture and the faces of the animals! As usual, the insects are incredible.
ReplyDeleteMarie I think after a couple of frosts, and the now the drop in temperature the insects will be absent for a while.
DeleteI hope all is well with you, take care Diane
That's a really impressive walking length, Diane, and some very fine photos too! Your comment about the danger from hunters in the woods doesn't really echo here, but the biggest problem is that the leaves on the ground tend to conceal what irresponsible dog owners have left lying around. It can often be most unpleasant!
ReplyDeleteSo sad to see that dead salamander. The only salamander I have ever seen in the wild was a pair mating on a path in Switzerland when I took a group up a hillside to photograph trains in the valley below. On the way back, I was horrified to see both had been squashed - made worse by the fact that I'm confident that my group were the only people to have trodden that path during that period.
We've had the news today that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been approved and will start rolling out on Monday. I hope that it will be available to you both soon. In the meantime, take great care - - - Richard
Hi Richard not many people walk their dogs around here. I could count the number of dog walkers I have seen probably on one hand. Rare I ever see anyone at all. Your Salamander story sounds very sad but you will never know the truth.
DeleteToday I added another km and came home with 9.18 km showing up as having been walked. I have now reached a stage I feel once I pass the 5km I can just keep going, some how the beginning is the hardest!!!! It was always the same cycling the first 10km was hard then suddenly everything became easy! Not so far to fall though walking!
Macron say the vaccines will not be available here to the public until April. We have taken care for so long now what is another 5 months!!
Stay safe and take great care over Christmas. I am worried that these get togethers are going to kick it all off again. Thinking of you and the family, Diane
I love all the photo's. But above all the cow and the sheep.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Ralph (and me)
Thanks Aritha for the comment. Wishing you, Ralph and the rest of the family a great December. Diane
DeleteI'm excited that you still see flowers and bummed you can't currently walk that tree lined trail. Also unhappy about road kill.
ReplyDeleteI will not walk on some of the dirt public roads either at present, you never know when a bullet might come though the woods! Sad about the Salamander but it seems to happen very often as they are very slow moving 😥
DeleteKeep safe, Diane
Lovely photos! Picking the sunset as my favorite.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
It is good that everyone picks different favourites or it would become boring 😊
DeleteStay safe Diane
I would love to join you for the walk and take pictures of the lovely things you get to see on your walks. Wow! the sheep is so rounded and she must be feeling so heavy.
ReplyDeleteI am just wondering how soon the first lambs will arrive, very soon I suspect. It would be great if you could join me. Take care Diane
DeleteYour walks are always a reminder to really see the wonders of the everyday ! Beauty and sadness both. My kind of walk ... appreciating it all as we go.
ReplyDeleteI agree beauty and sadness so often go together but we need to see nature as it really is. Take care and have a good weekend Diane
DeleteLove those cow faces!
ReplyDeleteI am very fond of cattle and some of the youngsters have the most beautiful faces.
DeleteStay safe, hopefully next year will be better. Diane
8.2 is a lovely walk Diane, just right, especially on the kind ofcday you described here. You certainly find many wonderful subjects to snap. It is always upsetting to see creatures hit or run over by cars on the road, it's the only thing I don't enjoy about trips to the country. Would be so nice if you could have a trip to Perth, at the moment our borders are closed to everyone, even the rest of Australia ✨
ReplyDeleteHi Grace, walking anywhere here is lovely but we have just had a lot of rain again so I am back on the tar roads as the farm roads are too muddy. My SIL and BIL are both still in the UK caring for FIL, not sure when they will ever return back home to Sydney. They were there for last Christmas when FIL went into a home for a month, but this year of course the whole world is upside down. Take care you sound like you are in a safe place. Best wishes Diane
DeleteOh I don't now how you can brave such cold temperatures and go for a walk. Well done. Your photos are lovely as always. It's sad about the salamander.
ReplyDeleteDiane so long as the wind is not blowing I can put enough clothes on to get out, but if there is a wind I have no chance. Take care t'other Diane
DeletePoor babe that got ran over. Cute little cow but even as a babe they still look mad at the world. HAHA....cute.
ReplyDeleteThe Salamander was sad, luckily there is lots to make me smile when out walking as well. Keep safe Diane
Deletewhat a sheep. She will really have twins inside.
ReplyDeleteBest regards
Bernhard
I hope I get to see the result, but they generally end up in a field at the back where I cannot get photos. Stay safe Diane
DeleteWell that sure is a stunning sky.
ReplyDeleteThanks red skies in winter become rare!! Take care, cheers Diane
Delete