Wednesday, March 3, 2021

03/03/2021 Gosh it is March already........

 Maximum temperature here today 18⁰C, minimum 6⁰C.  Dry but very grey skies.  15km/h South-Easterly winds with gusts up to 30 km/h.  If the forecast is right it turns cold again next week and the birds, bees and butterflies are going to have a shock!

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)...

As above...

As above.

Early tulip.

Snowdrops.

Daffodils.

Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosa Ranunculaceae).

Crocus.

Sweet violet (Viola odorata), this year we seem to have white, this pale colour and dark blue.

Western Honey Bee  (Apis mellifera).

Bumblebee.

Carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea).

Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria).

and the return of the Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)...

As above.

Hoverfly (Eristalis tenax).

Western Honey Bee  (Apis mellifera).

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis).

Take care everybody, keep well and stay safe.

My local list of wildflowers. (90 Species 23/08/2020).

See also my

34 comments:

  1. Wszystkie fotografie są piękne ale jaszczurka jest najpiękniejsza:)

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    1. Thanks very much for your visit and comment. I also love the lizards. Hope all is well Diane

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  2. Yes, Diane, March has arrived, and seeing your pictures of butterflies reminds me to keep an eye open for Mourning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty in Europe). I always see the first one while there are still patches of snow on the ground. Over the next few days we are supposed to have temperatures consistently above freezing so we may also see a few shoots starting to poke their way above ground too. The very first Red-winged Blackbirds have begun to arrive from the south. Happy days!

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    1. David I actually answered this in your last comment that I have never seen a Camberwell Beauty and apparently that they have become quite scarce here and only found in certain places. Next week here is going to be a shock and we could see the return of frosts!! Keep safe Diane

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    2. Oh! Oh! Senility is creeping in. I had forgotten that I had already mentioned it in my last comment! I really must find one now that I have given it double coverage.

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  3. It looks like spring has arrived in your par;t of the world. That's nice and you will feel more like getting out in the sunshine. Have a lovely rest of your week Diane.

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    1. Penny the weather is perfect for gardening but I am nervous about planting as we could see frosts again next week. The bugs are not going to like it!!! Hope you are managing and keeping safe. Diane

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  4. Hi Diane - gosh that's warm 18 deg C ... it is better in the sun - but today we have thick very low cloud - in other words it's down at earth level!

    Gorgeous photos ... love seeing them ... the Tortoiseshell is amazingly hairy ... but they're all delightful to see. Thanks for sharing with us - all the best - Hilary

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    1. The weather is great for gardening but the veggie garden takes a lot of work! We are not getting any younger! Think we could get frosts again next week so planting will have to wait but if the beds are ready it is a start!
      Cheers Diane

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    1. Temporarily I fear, next week we return to winter so it seems!! Hope all is well over there and they have controlled the new lot of COVID. Please keep safe, Diane

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  6. What gorgeous photos! Nothing is stirring here yet except a few green shots popping up here and there. Really enjoy you beautiful photos.

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    1. It has turned chilly again here but there are still a few insects around. Thanks for the visit and the comment Diane

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  7. Totally beautiful. Spring is around the corner here so I am excited about new blooms.

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    1. I love spring blooms I think they really are the prettiest. Keep well Diane

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  8. Beautiful beautiful series of macros Diane, I hope the weather doesn't get too cold next week could be drastic for these delicate creatures. It's so humid here in Perth, it feels a little like being in Singapore 😉

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    1. Heat I do not mind but humidity I hate. I cannot stand aircon either so that does not help. It is colder this week but there are still a few insects around and the odd lizard!! Hope you are doing well Diane

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  9. Wow, Diane - March, and Spring already in your parts it would seem! Wonderful photos, as usual, but I am most knocked out by your Large Tortoiseshells. You probably know that, for a long while, they were considered extinct in UK, but are now being reintroduced - with some success, I believe! I would love to see one.

    You seem to know your bees, so it is my turn to ask you if you can help with an ID - I've just published a blog post with a bee that I have not managed to identify, but is possibly a honey-bee. Can you help, please?

    Take good care and stay safe - - - Richard

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    1. Thanks Richard for the comment, I was delighted when I discovered these Large tortoiseshell, I do not remember seeing them around before!

      Glad you got your bees sorted out and I was right they were honey bees.

      Yes, keep safe, I feel a little more confident now I have had two vaccines, but while we are under lockdown and curfew there is not much I can do anyway! Also Nigel still has not had a vaccine yet.

      Best wishes to you both, Diane

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  10. You take great macro shots of the critters and flowers. These days, I miss seeing beautiful butterflies in my garden.

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    1. I am delighted to see the butterflies back, as well as the bees and the odd lizard. Colder this week but a few are still being brave. Keep safe Diane

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  11. Excellent shots! It's cold & rainy here today so this post brightened my day.

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    1. We have had a colder spell but the odd creature is still around :-) Keep well Diane

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  12. Wow! Looks like full blown spring, seems a little early.

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    1. There are usually a few bugs around in March but these did seem to appear early!! Hope they do not regret the early start! Take care Diane and Nigel.

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  13. Your photos are always so sharp and clear. Beautiful! Hope you are well in your part of the world. I wish you a very happy weekend :)

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    1. A quiet weekend but that is how life has been for the past 13 months. We cannot go anywhere as everywhere is still closed and we have curfew fro 6pm to 6 am. Thanks for the visit, Diane

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  14. Gorgeous photos.. how do you manage to get the butterflies to stick around and be photographed? The snowdrops are spectacular, too!

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    1. Haha the butterflies can be very annoying, I am not a patient person so I am always surprised that I manage to get photos at all! Snow drops are so pretty, I wish they lasted longer. Hope all is well with you, keep safe Diane.

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  15. Nice photos. I really like your snap of the daffodils

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    1. Flowers are so much easier than insects they don't fly away :-) Thanks for the visit and the comment. Diane

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  16. This time i was amazed by the clear and sharp shot .. the physicality of the butterfly was very clear. Impressive !.

    Have a nice day.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind comment. I wish I had a macro lens, maybe I could get them even sharper.
      You also have a good week, Diane

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  17. Your title - we were just saying the same thing and now we're over half way through!

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