31/01/2022 Just made it before the end of the month :-)

The maximum temperature here today is 10⁰C, minimum 3⁰C. Rain this morning but it has cleared a bit now with quite a lot of clouds. Wind 21km/h North-Westerly winds with gusts up to 44 km/h.   We have had a very cold past week,  temps went down to -5⁰C and maximums were only at 3⁰C.  Far too cold for me!!

The bud from the Red Robin shrub. (Photinia x fraseri)

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) hanging on the shutter and looking in the window.

Our neighbour's lambs...

as above...

Mum watching me carefully...

and her babies.

Around the garden, if I look hard!

Top - Bergenia cordifolia and Bellis perennis.

Bottom - Viburnum tinus and Viola riviniana.

The seed pods from the hibiscus.

The lambs, 4 days older than above....

as above...

As above.

The only water birds I see around here are my two wooden Mallards.

There has not been a lot to take photos of, but I have some great shots of some of the birds seen in the last fortnight.  They are all on my bird blog.

My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).

See also my

 Bird blog

Joining up with My Corner of the World.

01/12/2020 Out walking last week.

  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.

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

See also my

 Bird blog

Joining up with My Corner of the World.

Photo competition running until 31 December - colourful photos.

B u n t

Let us all join in great fun.

 

27/04/2020 Day 41 of Lock down.....

Maximum temperature here today 19⁰C, minimum 10⁰C.  Some rain not measured yet.  12km/h South-Westerly wind with gusts up to 37 km/h. 

Saturday we had a big hail storm and 32mm of rain in less than 30 mins.
With the strong winds, the water came under the door in the kitchen so we had a big mopping up operation!

Walking my small loop within the 1 km radius allowed is not all flat - looking up..

Looking behind from the same spot...

and if I am running out of my one hour time allowed, I can cut through on this track but the grass is now getting a bit long there!  I do not want to pick up ticks!!

Cattle enjoying the shade.

The lambs are quite big now.

Thirsty bees...

As above.

Bee on the apple blossom.

Chafer Beetle (Cetonia cuprea).

Spot the spider on the left in hiding (under the petal of the calendula) and the little fly in the centre...

Chomp, little fly for lunch.

I have never seen the Red Robin shrub so full of flower in the garden. 

Hoverfly (Eristalis arbustorum) on the apple blossom.

CommonWall Lizard (Podarcis muralis).

Common Swallowtail or Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

As above.

See also my

 Bird blog

06/04/2020 Went for a walk yesterday within our new restricted 1 km radius.

Maximum temperature here today 15C, minimum 9C. Rain but not measured as yet.  23km/h South-easterly fairly cold wind with gusts up to 56 km/h. 

6kms walked just slightly outside the allowed 1 hour!!

Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria)...

As above...

As above.

Sheild Bug (Coreus marginatus).

Wasp, possibly a Social wasp.

Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis).

Black-veined white butterfly, (Aporia crataegi),..

As above...

As above.

Bee.

Farm land ready for planting.

Winter Wheat.

Our house is at the back of these trees.

The lambs are growing.

Calves taking a nap.

The neighbours chicken.

A rare sight these days, the sky used to be full of vapour trails!

 My favourite photos of the day, a two-prong Roe deer not taking much notice of me...

Guess that the lack of people and cars around is bringing the wildlife back to our community. 😊

See also my

 Bird blog