tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54250762847086390602024-03-19T05:56:53.092-07:00Welcombe Hills - what I saw todaymikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-4765775253694629692018-04-22T04:06:00.000-07:002018-04-22T04:10:05.006-07:00I saw Orange Tip butterflies in the spring sunshine this morning<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the many delights of spring up the Welcombe Hills, is the annual emergence of the beautiful Orange Tip butterfly. As one of our earliest butterflies (the Brimstone usually beats it by a week or so) look for it at the margins of woods and hedgerows. The distinctive male is white and has the orange-tipped wings; the female, is white with black wing tips. After mating, she will lay her eggs on Hedge Garlic or the preferred Lady's Smock. There the caterpillar will hatch from the egg, eat it and any other eggs and feed on the plant. When ready to pupate it wanders off to find something more substantial to hang on to where it remains until the following spring.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Welcome Hills has plenty of Lady's Smock. It prefers damp areas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning I saw 3-4 males and 2 females. Chasing these butterflies in the hope of seeing them alight is good fun but seldom productive. My technique is simple: find a Lady's Smock in the sunshine, then wait for the butterfly to come to you. They don't rest long though so you have to be ready and quick. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFdbIVPBcGAk8uzHqUKmNSq8qhqodSXT4JLqlFwuCsaTuQDLCCh1Pxr3kkZrWVgPd-zs-t3QsFkvu9X7zJtTYH8nyeoEOlic7hlwLeC8CV2XIW3GWs7jtF0VnvJtXEK2u8iuPzgOrOciR/s1600/fullsizeoutput_9b5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFdbIVPBcGAk8uzHqUKmNSq8qhqodSXT4JLqlFwuCsaTuQDLCCh1Pxr3kkZrWVgPd-zs-t3QsFkvu9X7zJtTYH8nyeoEOlic7hlwLeC8CV2XIW3GWs7jtF0VnvJtXEK2u8iuPzgOrOciR/s320/fullsizeoutput_9b5.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8TpAbx-FpmVZzvbltBD4yqyv-1EZ5PLeVlsN8ouWcIOMbhaCWNjrujVJIOfYGtBgCdc9Bbgt-Yfbl5XbwxT36ti91PoHeQQWmsOXIffo2FllJp0g9tDRVhTt47XWzdcfnfxPuGvGSaKR/s1600/fullsizeoutput_9b7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8TpAbx-FpmVZzvbltBD4yqyv-1EZ5PLeVlsN8ouWcIOMbhaCWNjrujVJIOfYGtBgCdc9Bbgt-Yfbl5XbwxT36ti91PoHeQQWmsOXIffo2FllJp0g9tDRVhTt47XWzdcfnfxPuGvGSaKR/s320/fullsizeoutput_9b7.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are today's pics. I didn't get a pic of the female though. Maybe next time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are pictures of one of the Orange Tip's eggs from a few years ago.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebirBIDdbtU0sF_e7JdwpijC-2eAp35ERrZ08Lm-7KJF5WAbmNLuQkBs96OBr9OK5GL2hv3t2eSOOf2w2XK5iDiexHg44yA1ePmujmXppP84NTSHYqHdQbYHsGlFl8MX3lQqxi0OgcID7/s1600/P1150156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1039" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebirBIDdbtU0sF_e7JdwpijC-2eAp35ERrZ08Lm-7KJF5WAbmNLuQkBs96OBr9OK5GL2hv3t2eSOOf2w2XK5iDiexHg44yA1ePmujmXppP84NTSHYqHdQbYHsGlFl8MX3lQqxi0OgcID7/s320/P1150156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sFxoq38U4Dc_r9NZi1ZTU6upCq8AVFRq5SiCFNP4g1VWIwWhzWM4D8Tu9cw8tCZvxTwn9b7rEcXjestGtPWeJrLvTzHn9HO6fZrpbzoTATPAJC7RwzDST15zS4vjo24UVwOOu73wibws/s1600/P1150170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="992" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sFxoq38U4Dc_r9NZi1ZTU6upCq8AVFRq5SiCFNP4g1VWIwWhzWM4D8Tu9cw8tCZvxTwn9b7rEcXjestGtPWeJrLvTzHn9HO6fZrpbzoTATPAJC7RwzDST15zS4vjo24UVwOOu73wibws/s320/P1150170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The final pic (below) is the underside of the Orange Tip - both male and female have this mottled green marking.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUdBFDaI3_JxS8syRwkOEFpSE9NH52QSObtk2wwZx36enRh5f39BqDcEsPO7adotSrbujTkG5saec9wBll-HgwBHRVrzHR0zYw-6bVlvSel2vPdhZwY7BleggGO2cm542X5M13RTdYl3R/s1600/P1150347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUdBFDaI3_JxS8syRwkOEFpSE9NH52QSObtk2wwZx36enRh5f39BqDcEsPO7adotSrbujTkG5saec9wBll-HgwBHRVrzHR0zYw-6bVlvSel2vPdhZwY7BleggGO2cm542X5M13RTdYl3R/s320/P1150347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-33562265258647293792017-07-12T14:26:00.000-07:002017-07-12T14:38:18.629-07:00I saw a noisy buzzard youngster calling for food, Cinnabar caterpillars and a Burnet Moth....<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's the Burnet Moth I feel sorry for. There you go, minding your own business, trying to enjoy a bit of nectar and all around you are mating insects.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0YCJytbsR7pegssSv2fOOih6LKgKp0Jn-79zo_DQgNy3lHP3dAVT0PlEDD6Gh05iuo8wql5jwtpiXISfhtmjnZxboxn07m9RG_6QmkjVDEnP-GVepoqzRMlUtN7qRLd_ToczYhmnuPFa/s1600/P1210474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0YCJytbsR7pegssSv2fOOih6LKgKp0Jn-79zo_DQgNy3lHP3dAVT0PlEDD6Gh05iuo8wql5jwtpiXISfhtmjnZxboxn07m9RG_6QmkjVDEnP-GVepoqzRMlUtN7qRLd_ToczYhmnuPFa/s320/P1210474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mating clearly has its pleasures but also its consequences. One of them for the Buzzard is a youngster with a feed me call that would try the patience of any parent. This one was in the woods in Clopton Park.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZKzxe3x6e5VY5WU0AR4mL9DMBteHriSuRDVEgQ5QBuCfS_dmc01GWyqtdTsqitfjmhnqnwZEzTJAfc5n1Dw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Cinnabar moth was introduced to control Ragwart. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-41345054280948560962017-07-09T23:35:00.001-07:002017-07-09T23:35:08.535-07:00The one-legged Bullfinch is still about...<span style="letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one-legged Bullfinch seems to have mastered the bird feeder. He can sit in the tray and eat rather than try to flutter and perch which doesn't seem to work too well. It looks as though any benefit from the food is used up expending energy trying to get it. Now he just sits there are munches. Hadn't seen him for a few days. Looks as though he's been off finding a friend. She's happily perching on the bird feeder. Not as colourful as him but a lovely bird.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-84878511026767481272017-07-09T05:29:00.003-07:002017-07-09T05:29:56.044-07:00Talking of butterflies...I saw a Fritillary, Comma and Peacock up the hills today<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the last few years we've had just a couple of Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies in the hills just down from the slope between the reservoir area and the road to the hotel. There is a healthy colony in Snitterfield Bushes which is maintained by the Wildlife Trust in order to nurture them. They lay their eggs of Dog Violet of which we have plenty in the woods. But whether or not our ones are migrants from Snitterfield or are reproducing here I don't know.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In flight there is a passing similarity to the Comma butterfly. However, the Fritillary glides and soars. It will also fly along pathways at low level in a mating dance.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both are shown here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Comma is so named because of the white mark on its wing which resembles the punctuation mark. It has an interesting lifecycle in that when its wings are closed closed it looks just like a dead leaf. In that state it will attach itself to a twig and pass the winter in hibernation.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comma Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comma showing leaf-like closed wings and white comma mark, Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comma butterfly showing distinctive shape, Welcome Hills, July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silver-washed Fritillary, Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fritillary, Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, I found a beautiful Peacock butterfly. No doubt the culprit responsible for those caterpillars on the nettles...</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note how the underside is black - bottom picture.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peacock butterfly, Welcombe Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peacock butterfly, Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-76137447155275518202017-07-05T01:07:00.000-07:002017-07-05T01:07:56.282-07:00I saw Gatekeeper butterflies in Rowley Fields this morning...<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes indeed, John Worthington, the Gatekeepers are about. Wonderful butterflies with the distinctive double white spot, orange and brown wings with white trim. Called Gatekeepers because often seen at gates (!) to fields where the hedgerows part.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-1666032542854294252017-07-04T23:03:00.000-07:002017-07-04T23:05:18.748-07:00I saw Peacock butterfly caterpillars on nettles ...The other day I wrote about how those pesky brambles and thistles that tear our clothes and prick our skins are really important for butterflies bumble bees and other insects. In my excitement at finding so many butterflies and bees I overlooked that other nuisance plant, the stinging nettle. Well, a nuisance to us intolerant homo-eccentric humans that is (excepting the foragers who will find a meal in almost anything that grows).<br />
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Stingers host 5 different colourful species of butterfly (<a href="https://assets.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/Files/wg5-butterfly-information-sheet.pdf" target="_blank">source</a>) Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Painted Lady (summer visitor). The Welcome Hills and the Rowley Fields have masses of nettles at the margins and yes, they can be a nuisance. However, when you're next out, pause and look closely. If you see fine webs near the nettle tops these could be a sign that there are Small Tortoiseshell or Peacock caterpillars about. The caterpillars produce a fine silk which is spun into a web for protection. Look also for a curled up nettle leaf which could be where the Tortoiseshell caterpillar retreats. It spins a thread at both edges of a leaf which dries and contracts pulling the edges together to form a nest. Small black droppings are also a clue.<br />
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At the moment the Peacock caterpillars are out munching so don't destroy those nettles just yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mvPUZ_DFfeKP0S-JXKFq2pj2xPNX4xFa-G6rahVIYDuyjXKGCA9Tf2pnNimxpBry8p-PGJjDpHwT3QP8IOyR0lQqFH2bLMOkf_p5_ONQSzLoz97XmlP0aaupP6rCf4sC8kNLZZm4Qh7p/s1600/fullsizeoutput_929.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1600" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mvPUZ_DFfeKP0S-JXKFq2pj2xPNX4xFa-G6rahVIYDuyjXKGCA9Tf2pnNimxpBry8p-PGJjDpHwT3QP8IOyR0lQqFH2bLMOkf_p5_ONQSzLoz97XmlP0aaupP6rCf4sC8kNLZZm4Qh7p/s400/fullsizeoutput_929.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peacock caterpillar on nettle - Welcome Hills July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Small Skipper on thistle - Clopton Park July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Marbled White on bramble - Clopton Park July 2017</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Short video clip of Marble White and Ringlet butterflies Welcome Hills July 2017</span><br />
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<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-61482099419745488712017-07-02T12:52:00.000-07:002017-07-02T12:52:46.527-07:00I saw loads of butterflies and bumble bees up the Welcombe this morning...<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other day I posted a link to a Facebook page dedicated to brambles <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/562600050579169/" target="_blank">link</a> on the Friends of Welcome Hills page. Brambles are good for butterflies and their flowering coincides with the bees and butterflies that feed off them. Thistles are also good for the same reason.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course they are both a pain if you're not a butterfly or bee and if they are in your garden. However, look at the following pics to see why we need to preserve wild areas, resist the urge to tidy the countryside up and go out and enjoy what we are lucky to have right on our doorsteps.</span><br />
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Small Skipper on thistle Sunday 2nd July 2017<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Small Skipper on bramble July 2017</span></div>
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Bumble bee on bramble July 2017<br />
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Comma butterfly July 2017</div>
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Ringlet butterfly July 2017<br />
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-21897101288522363012017-06-23T09:34:00.001-07:002017-06-23T09:34:11.256-07:00We've had a one-legged bullfinch feeding in our garden this week<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone else seen this bird? It's left leg appear to be missing from below the joint but otherwise seems to be well enough. I'm glad we've kept the feeder stocked up all year round so he's been able to feed whilst he recovers. Wonder if he'll make it through the winter?</span><div>
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-81851248941024426362016-11-30T13:14:00.000-08:002016-11-30T13:55:57.859-08:00We saw lots of fungi on our forays up the Welcome Hills<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many thanks to everyone who came out with me on the fungi forays organised by the Friends of Rowley Fields. Despite the dry autumn that has kept our boots and dogs mud-free but curtailed the emergence of the fungi, we found a surprising range of fungi. Some were edible, some I could give names to, some were too difficult to ID in the field and all were fascinating in their own ways. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went on two forays. The routes were similar, starting at the reservoir area, then through Nursery Cover woods and out of the top gate into the sloping field facing the cottages next to the Welcome Hotel, up to the gate that joins to the with the Clopton Field and down to the orchard. If you came along then here's a reminder of what to look out for next time. If you didn't make the forays then here's what you missed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fungi aren't plants but a separate kingdom in their own right. Unlike plants, they don't photosynthesise to get the nutrients they need to thrive so, like humans, they have do get these from either living or dead matter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we find a fungus what we see is actually the fruit body. The fungus itself is a complex web known as the mycelium that are usually hidden from view. When parts of the mycelium meet and fuse a new fruit body is produced. The fruit body produces the spores which germinate to start a new fungus. Well, just a few of the millions produced might.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found examples of all of these - note the pics were taken at other times and not on the days.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Jelly Ears or Auricularia auricula grow on dead elder trees. We only found one example which was a shame because in most years these are easy finds. They are edible but usually used to thicken sauces or stews. We all had a taste. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coriolus versicolor- the many-zoned polypore or Turkey Tail fungus - grows on dead wood. Plenty of these in Nursery Cover.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1zFQycANMV6PRrLxxHpt8vuo6322zGZsa2n7yc-Rj0C2kl-w0JaVtDe1Rxk5I-kL0LK6DthUkH8MtWvDG7PbJx1A_pkLYeoTQN0No3n1ma9Yk3-y_Zfk5WMuZ6amoJHQk12oPItFssBy/s1600/DSC05848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1zFQycANMV6PRrLxxHpt8vuo6322zGZsa2n7yc-Rj0C2kl-w0JaVtDe1Rxk5I-kL0LK6DthUkH8MtWvDG7PbJx1A_pkLYeoTQN0No3n1ma9Yk3-y_Zfk5WMuZ6amoJHQk12oPItFssBy/s320/DSC05848.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6M-byRSvlJ502IM0HhClZ7FXpklHOWQfPYO8widIScGQIOt3FLT_9zXAWt9daNrpXG4HwiuS0mn_fJyHu5oGsNO-PuhLQPZObty31uB4qai43CQ-gsCVsXcZJTJJsd8sAhbd0G8yUSF7/s1600/DSC05876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6M-byRSvlJ502IM0HhClZ7FXpklHOWQfPYO8widIScGQIOt3FLT_9zXAWt9daNrpXG4HwiuS0mn_fJyHu5oGsNO-PuhLQPZObty31uB4qai43CQ-gsCVsXcZJTJJsd8sAhbd0G8yUSF7/s200/DSC05876.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a better day we wold have found lots of these in the fields - Agaricus campestris - the wonderful Field Mushroom. At the end of the first foray we found one just about big enough for us all to have a nibble and savour the true taste of mushroom better than any cultivated one. Alas, it has been a dry autumn and these were scarce. Better luck next year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The delicate Pleated Ink Cap (Coprinus plicatilis) was found in the grass. It's very delicate and will almost certainly break if you try to pick it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the second foray I remembered to take a short walk along the donkey path that runs along the top of Clopton Park to search out the gorgeous Rhodotus palmatus. What a treat it was to find this. It has a fragrant smell - I thought of honeysuckle but maybe apricots...? - and has a lovely peachy colour. Pictures don't do it justice. It grows exclusively on dead elm.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White and yellow Spindles</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you know these are in the grass, they are a joy to find. How many of us have walked the dogs and trampled on these without ever knowing? They grow in clumps.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best till last. Did you know the Welcome Hills has a great number of Wax Caps? They thrive on unimproved grassland and we are lucky that both the Clopton side and the Welcome side have the right conditions for these to thrive. Possibly the sloping banks of the hills help excess nutrients to be flushed away. As we discovered, these absolute beauties can easily be overlooked but the reward for careful looking is so much greater. Some are edible but they are all beautiful and we are lucky to have these. I won't label them here. Characteristics of the Wax Caps are, slimy or silky caps, wide open gills and bright colours. Come along with me next year and see the colours, feel the textures and even taste one or two! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-19102293061934695082016-08-07T04:11:00.003-07:002016-08-07T04:11:31.702-07:00I saw a Marsh Tit up the Welcombe Hills today<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On this morning's walk I was enjoying the many white butterflies and the lovely Gatekeepers that also seem to be enjoying a good summer when I spotted a small bird on the fallen horse chestnut tree down from the reservoir. I wasn't sure what it was so was pleased to be able to get a few snaps to look over when I got back home.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorUGmBsDmJJLfREk6XuzmOEJ-rFWuyLVn96VzSvEv8cbvqDiF2yEoNIfo9mYiaUR03yWUDDixtZx7wfpeXGaIyFYJYvOeiJjzJcCIsKwUwLU2yChyphenhyphenZH1nnx715bnLAqp15EOOGykYCgVA/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorUGmBsDmJJLfREk6XuzmOEJ-rFWuyLVn96VzSvEv8cbvqDiF2yEoNIfo9mYiaUR03yWUDDixtZx7wfpeXGaIyFYJYvOeiJjzJcCIsKwUwLU2yChyphenhyphenZH1nnx715bnLAqp15EOOGykYCgVA/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Tit August 2016</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends had often told me of either hearing or seeing the Marsh Tit up the Welcombe. Apparently it's not too bothered about marshy habitats and is more frequently seen in wooded areas. It feeds on insects and seeds. I think the one I saw was after seeds from the thistles.</span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmt6P-FM7IRUKurXAhyphenhyphenzp7Ax6cfLARWAHwY5aNOSN_CX_nkizIIuSTS0L86dc71yU5Oq_Ees3YD8fxcfXEK6ZW_jApEJ-BVk5e4ZIeaqQqgUNmf5q4mmWNkJXueQS2bnag2XU94rLgq0g/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmt6P-FM7IRUKurXAhyphenhyphenzp7Ax6cfLARWAHwY5aNOSN_CX_nkizIIuSTS0L86dc71yU5Oq_Ees3YD8fxcfXEK6ZW_jApEJ-BVk5e4ZIeaqQqgUNmf5q4mmWNkJXueQS2bnag2XU94rLgq0g/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Tit August 2016</td></tr>
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-37088535425454481022016-07-20T03:40:00.003-07:002016-07-20T03:40:40.819-07:00I saw lots of butterflies in the sunshine<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look at all the butterflies you can see at the moment. I snapped all of these yesterday and today.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was great to see the Silver-washed Fritillary up the Welcombe again this year.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2cwl5Dg3447SZ1Ayh8zfSQKtYItvRWSiG832vZPnrgy6F6ZuAITNbhZR2mtzjZYZKPyRfROW-eOMJkWYtdE-Ud2w5wDyIXn0aQgZ1GUmWPQOUZib7Lu7cemNnAD06DN_gR8J5MPTT8TM/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2cwl5Dg3447SZ1Ayh8zfSQKtYItvRWSiG832vZPnrgy6F6ZuAITNbhZR2mtzjZYZKPyRfROW-eOMJkWYtdE-Ud2w5wDyIXn0aQgZ1GUmWPQOUZib7Lu7cemNnAD06DN_gR8J5MPTT8TM/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Gatekeepers are now appearing…. smaller than the Meadow Brown and with two white spots. The Meadow Brown has just one.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdOcBLXVxLagwdprb8e6QSOkdrk9864mf-Ww-mQvoeqmpHy5vH8XMCpINDnDS4AFPLDEZu7mgswSsS5On9wCKhuWkcam5P7NQNunIuuu-BFT38348hj0EFrDr3MTiO7kY4bBzspU8D8gN/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdOcBLXVxLagwdprb8e6QSOkdrk9864mf-Ww-mQvoeqmpHy5vH8XMCpINDnDS4AFPLDEZu7mgswSsS5On9wCKhuWkcam5P7NQNunIuuu-BFT38348hj0EFrDr3MTiO7kY4bBzspU8D8gN/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gatekeeper July 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYzqdt5kiLAhBTFCxKooxkYfPBzpbsfR_vn9NvzHQNv-34mS8RX2Mkd-kVB3r12rqUZLgt7iK9p3u4yDNWBNIhXoKKmPRWcmveFA-dFUS_vqOMAv3a7XESt7iS-V1uYzDwWdexTywbMk6/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYzqdt5kiLAhBTFCxKooxkYfPBzpbsfR_vn9NvzHQNv-34mS8RX2Mkd-kVB3r12rqUZLgt7iK9p3u4yDNWBNIhXoKKmPRWcmveFA-dFUS_vqOMAv3a7XESt7iS-V1uYzDwWdexTywbMk6/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow Brown July 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6d6keprfSEtKRIqksgH5Kv6C8jwDylRhI0nGtsXnAIhDU5aRykZQ58v3EnUADMHi1n_24jigCobzhM9-kNCA8GrVK82Mes9N0nGOZuRrYjo9neZO0Te-0Z0On3gv9USrQ5KK287-8QR3/s1600/P1210052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6d6keprfSEtKRIqksgH5Kv6C8jwDylRhI0nGtsXnAIhDU5aRykZQ58v3EnUADMHi1n_24jigCobzhM9-kNCA8GrVK82Mes9N0nGOZuRrYjo9neZO0Te-0Z0On3gv9USrQ5KK287-8QR3/s200/P1210052.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comma July 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpKLw2ZxXtPgMPxf9hdMuktAJXWZ_6y2x90v56Y6PKsGOIsI5Sx5S7xguIBvHUytlbwv1-EOFS7YcMRdZ9HaAaNwV6QpmQIPPAUefwWgg5Bt4FZrn1xTmnByWL6lYMmvbOyUPtH2BQUBy/s1600/P1210055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpKLw2ZxXtPgMPxf9hdMuktAJXWZ_6y2x90v56Y6PKsGOIsI5Sx5S7xguIBvHUytlbwv1-EOFS7YcMRdZ9HaAaNwV6QpmQIPPAUefwWgg5Bt4FZrn1xTmnByWL6lYMmvbOyUPtH2BQUBy/s200/P1210055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comma July 16</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Comma in flight could be mistaken for the Fritillary but when it settles its cut-out wing shape makes it distinctive.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was watching Water boatmen in one of the cattle watering troughs - how did they get there? - when my eye caught the blue of the lovely Holly Blue and it settled in the mud. Picture at the bottom.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmC3hCq74xcHAVP-UXpBvEl9RJ4wsZmrKdmi8pUKwILVybHs9iPEat3Qwh375MyyfPp8sGFM3PKOu2DVDh9qkJigwWr7we1S110SUga0hYWzbfYeIeLC8Vdp8q6s3Iq94RPdoxYDOduxb/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmC3hCq74xcHAVP-UXpBvEl9RJ4wsZmrKdmi8pUKwILVybHs9iPEat3Qwh375MyyfPp8sGFM3PKOu2DVDh9qkJigwWr7we1S110SUga0hYWzbfYeIeLC8Vdp8q6s3Iq94RPdoxYDOduxb/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Admiral July 16</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saw this beautiful Red Admiral in the tree this morning. Then what I thought was a Large White but turned out to be a Brimstone bleached in the bright sunshine to the eye but captured by the camera in its usual pale green as below. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqlOnRPnT0WDDF5OVKLA44CVH5tjreG7cv4tVUtDuEbMYgp1Yd46S-fVQenKRd_UhsUWiR-YisCAKOT1hdpPjMJGQDOpi_3UzS8ce45T7e9VjtuE4A_j08C_NMAXZlpz-2cpBpv0oUjS3/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqlOnRPnT0WDDF5OVKLA44CVH5tjreG7cv4tVUtDuEbMYgp1Yd46S-fVQenKRd_UhsUWiR-YisCAKOT1hdpPjMJGQDOpi_3UzS8ce45T7e9VjtuE4A_j08C_NMAXZlpz-2cpBpv0oUjS3/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brimstone July 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaPTIHvLL-YJC3ZckcyUOuKiq1yX2-_d9K9UKmQysW3xi6D-wE2DEsU6tm1TM-tYWJxBjDqiMmGjThTfGn71yF9zuKFa_YXLIry3w-aovQkuMlkmV0oJ72yQS1FqU0-Fhm_jo76YCRq2B/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaPTIHvLL-YJC3ZckcyUOuKiq1yX2-_d9K9UKmQysW3xi6D-wE2DEsU6tm1TM-tYWJxBjDqiMmGjThTfGn71yF9zuKFa_YXLIry3w-aovQkuMlkmV0oJ72yQS1FqU0-Fhm_jo76YCRq2B/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Skipper July 16</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Small Skippers are emerging and usually found on the purple flower heads of the Spear Thistle. This one (below) settled on a grass stem.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkbKWC2Gfeix9rOpPmQsFCJ6XxMwSuN5U2G_pTs5meTKBzCld6a-Y8LMW8jtizEr5O5qqc7aOWIAQahCosQgYT9k1fFp20bvbIpFDawEcI6y4GNWsLyz76z_wHRo2CWQyjwTt1L-6X8pA/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkbKWC2Gfeix9rOpPmQsFCJ6XxMwSuN5U2G_pTs5meTKBzCld6a-Y8LMW8jtizEr5O5qqc7aOWIAQahCosQgYT9k1fFp20bvbIpFDawEcI6y4GNWsLyz76z_wHRo2CWQyjwTt1L-6X8pA/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly Blue July 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51HlwmfrsfqG4_k3N0Hoqo7879qXczp_k5fsmnJkDQGsDaP0gnHXAUoBV_oUBL-O2JodToIR1Kc0Ppue-2lmzTYdfm__iBtw7xhBkRQXmKtZQ8h6m_svMVGKTkB5c9HIhLlCKv1dtmDNd/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51HlwmfrsfqG4_k3N0Hoqo7879qXczp_k5fsmnJkDQGsDaP0gnHXAUoBV_oUBL-O2JodToIR1Kc0Ppue-2lmzTYdfm__iBtw7xhBkRQXmKtZQ8h6m_svMVGKTkB5c9HIhLlCKv1dtmDNd/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringlet July 16</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">The Ringlet above was seen this morning. Easy to identify - it has rings on its wings. Look for it in the grass. Plenty of Whites dancing in the sun. I saw this Small White yesterday but look our for the Green Veined White and the Large Whites. Often these are hard high or in the trees.</span></span><div>
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-18749648882585264222016-05-23T13:56:00.006-07:002016-05-23T13:56:47.475-07:00Greater Spotted Woodpeckers<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About this time last year I posted a video up of woodpeckers feeding their young in a hole in a tall ash tree near the reservoir.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been hoping to find another nest this year but despite hearing the adults call to the young and the young birds responding and standing for ages beneath the tree where the sounds came from I've not caught sight of them. Until this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make it easy, the young bird (or possibly birds) kept sticking its head out of the hole in anticipation of being fed. It has a bright red head and I suspect won't be staying in the hole for much longer. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pictures aren't great because the hole was quite high up and difficult to see between the branches and leaves, but you get the idea. I'll see if I can get some better ones tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-67674436529167374582016-05-19T00:58:00.000-07:002016-05-19T00:58:07.197-07:00Knife carving and carving spoons<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkqJVb8RdPeMM3Z1kByVaPlJ37vtgUgCenwbkJ456-N0KhMqAQckXhDYmRI94DGmVPpXmg3MFXWIHvM3mWG4fQxA18_cGvJOHQe76PT3Lt9W6eijCIaIkRKfOp5gJFctV-bZy-f2hRIJz/s1600/P1190719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkqJVb8RdPeMM3Z1kByVaPlJ37vtgUgCenwbkJ456-N0KhMqAQckXhDYmRI94DGmVPpXmg3MFXWIHvM3mWG4fQxA18_cGvJOHQe76PT3Lt9W6eijCIaIkRKfOp5gJFctV-bZy-f2hRIJz/s320/P1190719.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Queen's birthday celebration event on Rowley Fields on the 12th June I will scrub up as best I can, wear something practical but clean and give a practical demonstration of simple wood carving. I'll try to show, using just three hand tools - an axe, a knife and a spoon knife - how to turn a piece of wood into something else. Like, a spoon, an owl head, a dala horse, a whistle, a fox log, a mushroom or a mouse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll also be offering all my modest carvings for sale with all proceeds going to Butterfly Conservation. For those who would like to get some hands on experience there will be the chance to pay a little more and enter a draw for a free spoon carving lesson with me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsLktp5YYy3_NuIF-5POIVofsSjpbYMgxfc7BZsY5frC4C47zxqVnW1_Lwd4QXYf8lS4xWN8ltkw3jvtFj78kdSsilOKJQcPoOTgEalY8AgzNRmtteyl_5BkulJMDtjjD6KBMaei2KZeB/s1600/P1150984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsLktp5YYy3_NuIF-5POIVofsSjpbYMgxfc7BZsY5frC4C47zxqVnW1_Lwd4QXYf8lS4xWN8ltkw3jvtFj78kdSsilOKJQcPoOTgEalY8AgzNRmtteyl_5BkulJMDtjjD6KBMaei2KZeB/s320/P1150984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each spoon on display will be unique: it's size and shape dictated by the type of wood, its characteristics and how I felt at the time I carved it. In many of the spoons I've retained some of the character of the original piece of wood with knots, blemishes, cracks, a bit of bark, a twist in the grain, all kept. With 80 of these spoons for sale, there should be something for everyone. All are hand carved, sealed with olive oil and may even come with a story about the type of wood, how I came by it, how it turned out the way it did and when it was created.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other items are just things I've enjoyed making. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come along and don't forget to bring some money. Everything must go so don't expect craft fair prices. A couple of pounds will secure a unique spoon and a few pennies a whistle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-17028283216726376082016-05-09T12:43:00.001-07:002016-05-09T13:02:09.893-07:00Time to start looking for butterflies up the Welcombe<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the sun keeps shining this weekend it will be a good time to go out onto the Welcombe Hills and look for butterflies. Over the last few days I've seen the magnificent Peacock, the yellow Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and the beautiful Orange Tip.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've also been out today looking for Orange Tip butterfly eggs. Here a pic taken this afternoon. As you can see the egg is minute. In close-up you can see that it's a beautiful conical shaped object with fluted sides. With luck this egg will become a caterpillar, then it will pupate, drop into the ground below and with even more luck, emerge next spring as another Orange Tip butterfly for the cycle to start all over again. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Tip egg Welcombe Hills May 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up Orange Tip egg Welcombe Hills May 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Orange Tips are busy butterflies and seldom seem to stay still. They are searching for mates and for their favoured plant to lay eggs on, the Lady's Smock. Look out for the Orange Tips flitting along the edges of fields and hedges just a foot or so above the ground. The male has the orange tips and the female black tips to the wings. Both have the distinctive green mottled pattern on the underside of the wings. If you find Lady's Smock (clue: it prefers damp places so the bottom of the slope from the reservoir towards the hotel is good), gently examine the flower heads and you may be able to see the orange coloured egg. Only one egg is laid per plant and if more than one is laid by different females, only one caterpillar will survive to pupate. That's because they eat competitors - though this may be for moisture rather than simple competition.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Tortoiseshell and the Peacock like to bathe in the sun. Often they will find a patch of bare ground where presumably they benefit from the warmth of the ground below and from the sun above.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Brimstone is a truly beautiful butterfly and a distinctive yellow (brimstone being the ancient name for sulphur which is yellow of course). It also has a distinctive shape rather more exotic than most of our native butterflies.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Common Blue will be emerging around this time. Last night sitting on the benches at the top of Rowley Fields I'm sure I glimpsed one but it flew off behind me into the wood and I lost sight of it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brimstone butterfly (MA 2015) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock (MA 2015)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Tip (MA 2015)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Tortoiseshell (MA 2015)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-24361966325399853802016-04-23T01:56:00.002-07:002016-04-23T01:56:49.786-07:00Some further thoughts about Nuthatches and bird sounds<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I posted about Nuthatches the other day having come across some in Clopton Park and being lucky enough to take some snaps. Idling away at the computer this morning I thought some might like to know of some resources that could be useful to find out more about our birdlife and can help locate them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A good website is the <a href="http://www.bto.org/about-birds/birdfacts" target="_blank">British Trust for Ornithology</a>. There are many sites providing information about birds but the BTO has 'unbiased information about birds' and undertakes research. For example, the tracking of Cuckoo Stanley has attracted nationwide interest after it was found where cuckoos go for the winter. Stanley returned to the uk in early April from the Ivory Coast.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went to the information about the Nuthatch and followed a <a href="http://www.xeno-canto.org/explore?species_nr=&query=Sitta+europaea" target="_blank">link</a> to recordings of its songs, calls, male calls, alarm calls and so on.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was really useful to me . I hadn't really understood the range of sounds each bird makes and when I go for the walk this morning I'll be much more confident of locating the Nuthatches from their sounds.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm keen to get a decent picture of a <a href="http://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob14860.htm" target="_blank">Treecreeper</a>. It's a small bird, moves quickly but has a distinctive <a href="http://www.xeno-canto.org/explore?species_nr=&query=Certhia+familiaris" target="_blank">song</a> so I'm more confident now of finding one. That doesn't mean I will actually see one of course. Here's some not so good pictures of one I took a while ago.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-46816119168933104842016-04-16T06:34:00.000-07:002016-04-16T06:34:47.468-07:00I saw a Nuthatch<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXZdyueNm581Q2JgMewWNyHBu8UsekGv7g4H1LTGaVamRdvf1vkitF78PaUkwGuuKTh7d7VhSKLK7duaF4_6I0PFdLFDZ8RxcyfFvGJLYtc9LsFBACZCXxI_OGM9SEaLrg68obYELis2p/s1600/P1190866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXZdyueNm581Q2JgMewWNyHBu8UsekGv7g4H1LTGaVamRdvf1vkitF78PaUkwGuuKTh7d7VhSKLK7duaF4_6I0PFdLFDZ8RxcyfFvGJLYtc9LsFBACZCXxI_OGM9SEaLrg68obYELis2p/s320/P1190866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nuthatch - Clopton Park April16</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iZNwZ_uJwqojjGizV91e5-M4DJMrnIlNna2Wvvj8tdAb1FUXiMUTGG3Wm2ZBkhBA34ceZNY8Xl05o1aDw27UuiKRme1-DmoPUu6VTzWnhL49ksMLd6Zymhe3RQknpGvo82DbRqul4qfc/s1600/P1190861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iZNwZ_uJwqojjGizV91e5-M4DJMrnIlNna2Wvvj8tdAb1FUXiMUTGG3Wm2ZBkhBA34ceZNY8Xl05o1aDw27UuiKRme1-DmoPUu6VTzWnhL49ksMLd6Zymhe3RQknpGvo82DbRqul4qfc/s320/P1190861.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nuthatch - Clopton Park April16</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nuthatch - Clopton Park April16</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the places I'm often drawn to when walking up the Welcombe is in Clopton Park where the two old oak trees stand down and to the seasonal pond, the magnificent hornbeams and the ash trees that seem to be all decaying.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those ash trees in various stages of degeneration provide a great habitat for green and spotted woodpeckers, jackdaws and crows. These birds nest in the many holes the ash provides and the spotted woodpeckers can be heard tapping the branches for grubs.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anticipating a change in the weather we decided to take our walk as usual and found our way to the swimming pool where the run off from the hills was too much for the pool and had overflowed forming mini lakes and a healthy stream across and down towards Margaret's Well, joining the ditch there.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nuthatch - Clopton Park April16</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We followed the water flow up towards the hornbeams and stopped to enjoy the lace-like veil of catkins covering them. Looking up I saw this Nuthatch on the trunk of an old ash tree. The Tree Creeper is a quite common bird here but this is the first time I've seen the Nuthatch. The Tree Creeper is smaller, brown and white and favours moving up the trunk to search for food. It is unable to go down head first so hops backwards to achieve that. In contrast the Nuthatch has a beautiful orange-red breast, is larger and moves both up and down the trunk head first.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good spot you'll agree and the bird kindly paused long enough for me to fumble around getting my camera out and snapping a few pics.</span><br />
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<br />mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-24939116273904606372016-04-16T02:19:00.000-07:002016-04-16T14:27:37.198-07:00I saw early flowering grass - the Field Wood-rush<h1 style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.2em 0px;">
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As this morning's sleet/snow gives way to more rain I'm reminded that of all the months, April can be relied on for the most varied and unpredictable for weather. Looking back, I've pictures from 6th April 2008 when we had proper snow. That brought out the </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">toboggans, skis, plastic sheets and even bathtubs (really!) as Stratford's young raided their parents' garages for something to slide on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our garden the blackbirds have been feeding young in their nests for quite a while now. So, even though snowfall decorates the landscape and brings great enjoyment, I can't help but feel for the birds who will have yet another problem to deal with in rearing their young.</span></div>
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Spring is well underway and the start of many a life cycle, not just for the birds but for our plants too. One of the first grasses to flower is the Field wood-rush. It's a common enough plant but easily overlooked due to its small size. The delicate flowers are in clusters and pale yellow. My picture shows it amongst the Cowslips I wrote about last week. Like some other small plants their beauty is not easily accessible but once you 'get your eye in' as they say these can enhance the pleasures of walking in the Welcombe Hills. </span></div>
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-9915536881892195382016-04-10T03:01:00.002-07:002016-04-10T03:12:24.507-07:00Cowslips, celandines, violets as the sun sometimes shines<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's an area of the Welcombe Hills at the bottom of the opening leading down from the reservoir area toward the Welcombe Hotel. On one side is a sloping wooded area of predominantly hawthorn but with lime and two old beech trees. On the other side is Nursery Cover and between the two lies a fallen horse chestnut tree.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the spring and summer the morning sun warms this area. Many of my butterfly and bee pictures are taken here <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://whatisawupthehills.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/what-we-could-have-seen-yesterday-if.html" target="_blank">for example here</a>) </span>on the Woolly Thistles, blackberry bushes and the margins of the woods where the Lady's Smock thrive in the damp clay.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZTr-kGzefGAl8t-rMT2MbA5vroW1c52sleycXZ8w-IltxbMOL6n5Stua-uZw0uPf_RlJb5ZSs11SVtwYhglJnXf0XeZoOtShbSC3-VM9iiUTPmSx6J90-w16a6STQDqzJ0qzbjxJNZ7y/s1600/P1190804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZTr-kGzefGAl8t-rMT2MbA5vroW1c52sleycXZ8w-IltxbMOL6n5Stua-uZw0uPf_RlJb5ZSs11SVtwYhglJnXf0XeZoOtShbSC3-VM9iiUTPmSx6J90-w16a6STQDqzJ0qzbjxJNZ7y/s200/P1190804.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Violet in Nursery Cover April16</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IilPa4SY-2B6HTtlJWaC-3rZ_NVcZqz_w7P50UHhrG9xQSdevE3JGBX_bd-ckyDl9JautwSExS5zwwpTxMRiK_ybhtXdjriYSO5c9olcwexYi3UlWivR_CnDxCs7oEe1srjjvGeJHuXR/s1600/P1190802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IilPa4SY-2B6HTtlJWaC-3rZ_NVcZqz_w7P50UHhrG9xQSdevE3JGBX_bd-ckyDl9JautwSExS5zwwpTxMRiK_ybhtXdjriYSO5c9olcwexYi3UlWivR_CnDxCs7oEe1srjjvGeJHuXR/s200/P1190802.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nursery cover gently slopes down here. In the spring the leafless spindly Ash, crab apple and the few hawthorn allow the sunlight to penetrate to the ground layer and if anyone cares to walk this way you will find amongst the damp moss a wonderful display of bright yellow lesser celandine and violets of all shades from deep blue to white. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celandine, Nursery Cover April16</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems wrong to walk over these but they do survive so I suggest a closer look. Stand still and you may hear a bumble bee queen looking for a nesting place in the ground. Follow the sound and you may see her on her quest. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look more carefully and you may treated by finding the fungus I pictured below that grows here. It's not a true morel (Morchella) so don't get too excited. It won't harm you but is tasteless.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mitrophora semilibera, April 16</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elsewhere the first Cowslips are flowering! These were catching that morning sun on a bank behind the seats at the top of Nursery Cover that look out over towards the Monument and Edge Hill beyond.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Cowslips of the year, Welcombe Hills April 2016</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cowsliips, April 16</span></td></tr>
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mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-83138975976495391992016-03-19T02:12:00.001-07:002016-03-19T02:15:26.146-07:00I saw some deer prints and thought about fun things to do this Easter up the Welcombe<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've had a few conversations recently whilst walking up the Welcombe Hills. Usually they start with the weather: 'isn't it cold?', 'isn't it lovely?', 'what's the forecast for tomorrow?' Sometimes it's topical subjects that start with, 'when will the cattle arrive?'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of us have been discussing the absence of rabbits up the Welcombe. This time of year usually sees the little bunnies out and the older ones venturing further from cover to get to the best new growth. At first light and at dusk there are usually dozens of rabbits grazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not this year it seems. Elsewhere the rabbit population seems to be good so we are wondering what has caused the fall in this one area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There do seem to be lots of deer about though. One friend saw fallow deer around the badger sets in the woods a couple of weeks ago and I've see the solitary muntjac breaking cover several times. Further proof is the hoof prints left by the deer. These are easy to spot, even amongst the many dog paw prints.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a fun thing to do if you are up the Welcombe over the coming weeks. Try out your tracking skills. This is easy and good fun for children. Firstly help them to find deer prints so they know what they look like and then follow them and see how far they can be tracked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Places to look are in the woods down from the reservoir area and along paths. The pictures below that I took the other day should be enough to get you started.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGh_iVzU6bGIw_XN-e0cXZFno76tJd97BofxTNP8GHNxnIcxUjfDU3hStFyGyRdCGzDricgN0_TVM-d6Y74u8PpTMacM5pQa1lWAAuUsrcOMm8vO8LMrL0cD_FXI-chnIqRs_6J8hqfc3/s1600/P1190729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGh_iVzU6bGIw_XN-e0cXZFno76tJd97BofxTNP8GHNxnIcxUjfDU3hStFyGyRdCGzDricgN0_TVM-d6Y74u8PpTMacM5pQa1lWAAuUsrcOMm8vO8LMrL0cD_FXI-chnIqRs_6J8hqfc3/s320/P1190729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you can see the deer leaves a distinctive print from its hooves. The smallest ones are likely to be muntjac and the larger ones probably fallow deer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children should find this fun especially a the prints often go around in circles and get lost on harder ground and more difficult to trace in the grass.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT48jaCxeFrj85yGXApZA97KBOxJcLyjjuB1fOBSyUf5Gwlj3C8sFa8HJ0h94KokfmHO7vGt6riaetCckHIic9JIzrkKDmH80idzHXjqEo636QmK-px7b7E6myho30Zsxbu5DC37yH0LH8/s1600/P1190730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT48jaCxeFrj85yGXApZA97KBOxJcLyjjuB1fOBSyUf5Gwlj3C8sFa8HJ0h94KokfmHO7vGt6riaetCckHIic9JIzrkKDmH80idzHXjqEo636QmK-px7b7E6myho30Zsxbu5DC37yH0LH8/s320/P1190730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a lot of dog paw prints which you can see in the picture to the right. Note the 4 pads and marks left by the nails.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more advanced trackers why not look out for badger prints? They are there to be found in the woods. One good place to look is in Clopton Field side by the two large oak trees. There is a track going down from the badger set past the oaks and down to the pond. Look carefully and you might get lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Badger prints are distinguished by 5 pads of the toes and claw marks. Here's one I took the other day. More information is easy to get from the internet i.e. <a href="http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/explore-wildlife/tracks-and-signs/tracks-and-signs/badger-tracks" target="_blank">here</a>. My pic seems to show just 4 toes but there is another (pinky?) lost in the slushy mud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-53354223925091732912016-03-15T00:21:00.001-07:002016-03-15T00:21:30.919-07:00I saw a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in Clopton Field<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather pendulum tends to swing widely back and forth between extremes at this time of year. When it's overcast, wet or the northerly wind snaps at your ears and nose it's head down on the walks up the Welcombe Hills for some spoon carving, looking up only to check for obstacles. It seemed as if these days would never end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday the pendulum swung the other way and in the shelter of the Clopton Park side of the hills the heat from the sun encouraged many a walker to unzip top and remove hat. As I ambled along the very top of the field parallel to the bridle path I looked up from my whittling to enjoy the bright, warm light. That very same light and warmth brought a beautiful Small Tortoiseshell butterfly to life and it lay on the bare soil, wings extended absorbing the heat. This butterfly would have been from the second brood of last year. These are the first to reappear having hibernated all winter. You may have found these in your shed or greenhouse. It may be this one had found a sheltered place in a hollow tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I prepared to go out yesterday I toyed with the idea of bringing the camera with me in anticipation of what the seasonal change might bring. Below is a picture of a Small Tortoiseshell from last year and I will be with camera from now on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-35113252211575845742016-01-09T01:00:00.003-08:002016-01-09T01:00:57.072-08:00I found bee orchids in Clopton Field<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A number of us regularly look out for bee orchids up the Welcombe Hills. Usually, we look out for the flowers to appear. This is because once the spring growth gets going the leaves can be difficult to spot in amongst the grass. They have also tended to appear singly and not always in the same place making discovery that much more of a challenge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was walking up the Hills marvelling at the lushness of the grass which the weather hasn't told to take a winter rest. Here and there plants were starting to show and then, eyes glued to the ground, I came across a patch of bee orchid plants. They are quite distinctive with pointed finger-like leaves growing out laterally from a tight rosette in the centre. I counted 7 of these in one small area. I find that when you 'get your eye in' it becomes easier to spot things and judging by the number of other bee orchid plants I subsequently came across this year could be a good one for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many will actually flower is another matter. Those with 2 and 4 feet will no doubt play their part in deciding which plants make it to flower. Bee orchids are common in England but not so common up the Welcombe. This adds to the pleasure of finding them in flower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came across a blog <a href="http://bedsorchidgroup.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/january-bee-orchids.html" target="_blank">link</a> from a group mapping the orchids in their area. It might be fun to create a map of where these bee orchids are coming through up the Welcombe and then we can see just how many make it to flower. </span><a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/bee_orchid/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Here</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is some more information abut the bee orchid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as the bee orchids which flower in June/July, look out for cowslips all over the hills and especially on the slopes that catch the sun and near bushes. The last few years have been good for them. </span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-41897759418790211552016-01-05T11:51:00.000-08:002016-01-05T11:52:31.724-08:00I heard woodpeckers drumming and saw some cup fungi this morning up the Welcombe<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning we decided the Rowley Fields were just too muddy and headed straight for Clopton Park. It was mild and the sun even broke through. The grass was lush. The Blue Legs (Lepista Saeva - Field Blewit) have gone to mush but surprisingly there are still some Wax Caps about and even some fresh Meadow Wax Caps protruding through the grass. In the distance the sound of woodpeckers drumming in the tree tops made me think it was spring. If I'd seen a swallow I wouldn't have been surprised.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made our way up the slope towards the Cedar that sits half way up. We go that way often to look for signs that the Tawny Owl has been there - the spattering of white down the tree trunk and the tell-tale pellets on the ground. We were here a few days ago with a friend and I wanted to show her a particular fungus that grows under cedars - Sepultaria sumneriana. I hadn't looked for this cup fungus for a few years and assumed it would still be there but when we looked there was no sign of it. Today I wasn't really looking for it but the cream of the interior of the fungus stood out amongst the green grass and there were several fine specimens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes people send me pictures of fungi wanting to know its name. Knowing where the fungus was found and what it was growing on or near are crucial things to know. In the case of this fungus, knowing that it grew under cedar narrows it down to a single species. My field guide says 'season winter to late spring'. So the picture, the habitat and the time of year just about nails it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Dgof95YjlVTlwd2O6u7OKH_8wOgfO98AaI5drpeKK0Z56ZWYUZ7eQb34ENm1rcuI9O2Pa6aqnah_U1jLNbcJYj8fZx904ycoyaT5w70cLlLSqKdu_Oz_v5HPhlCgHtByOZZO52VLb4P4/s1600/P1190674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Dgof95YjlVTlwd2O6u7OKH_8wOgfO98AaI5drpeKK0Z56ZWYUZ7eQb34ENm1rcuI9O2Pa6aqnah_U1jLNbcJYj8fZx904ycoyaT5w70cLlLSqKdu_Oz_v5HPhlCgHtByOZZO52VLb4P4/s320/P1190674.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLUKcyFXMDsxibgDbdmpFW6K0U5quysa6EFqqByksNa-mgyQ3HYiRRwpZMdopmzdkI9G0LqrNyLoGLd3ag2JsUJrrtdDcPiMVQbz3ura60KPJMYTjPVw8Ka0okVJ4N9vhM_2-9Pf09zUW/s1600/P1190673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLUKcyFXMDsxibgDbdmpFW6K0U5quysa6EFqqByksNa-mgyQ3HYiRRwpZMdopmzdkI9G0LqrNyLoGLd3ag2JsUJrrtdDcPiMVQbz3ura60KPJMYTjPVw8Ka0okVJ4N9vhM_2-9Pf09zUW/s320/P1190673.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-8612953675001146112015-12-28T12:00:00.002-08:002015-12-28T12:01:13.036-08:00I saw some violets in flower up the Welcombe.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, we know the weather is unseasonal but to see violets in December must be unusual. I saw just a couple of these </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">today</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in the woods overlooking the Welcombe Hotel.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjU1W0DUS1lIaXb0sRVkUgj_O_8GUxmM0FhnNYJRi03sXsIaDSRFRFT-AT3Pwv7Dv-nhziBfaoE8BiJeyMe2_MzgIUcRZloltOUvWiG7zhWm73PM36JF6e5xIprilT_uADrjTWSw6U8BU/s1600/P1190667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjU1W0DUS1lIaXb0sRVkUgj_O_8GUxmM0FhnNYJRi03sXsIaDSRFRFT-AT3Pwv7Dv-nhziBfaoE8BiJeyMe2_MzgIUcRZloltOUvWiG7zhWm73PM36JF6e5xIprilT_uADrjTWSw6U8BU/s320/P1190667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm wondering what the effect of this prolonged mild spell will be. I suspect there will be winners and losers as is usually the case. It can't be bad for the birds, but the wet weather won't be good fro small mammals and as a consequence those that feed on them. Plants that bud may have those buds taken by the surely inevitable frost.</span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-40357772305971166452015-12-23T03:45:00.001-08:002015-12-23T03:45:38.162-08:00I saw some Blackthorn flowers up the hills this morning<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been unusually warm so far this winter. The grass is a lush green and still growing and some of the spring buds are showing early. I was a little surprised to come across these sprigs of Blackthorn flower this morning though. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguffjYRh6AS33e9o9ESOCmG24Q95BI4znlYIBc4YnpxRuFxW2RF6Qg4yDbSZPjQD9Geuoa373O7caOr8A1k_GZ5qB_JRnf2fWoTqZtcG91TgtuCBGHXyh2xk4kX0e9riTqeWIe4fdXhy7x/s1600/P1190605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguffjYRh6AS33e9o9ESOCmG24Q95BI4znlYIBc4YnpxRuFxW2RF6Qg4yDbSZPjQD9Geuoa373O7caOr8A1k_GZ5qB_JRnf2fWoTqZtcG91TgtuCBGHXyh2xk4kX0e9riTqeWIe4fdXhy7x/s640/P1190605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425076284708639060.post-42005452340761830712015-12-11T23:55:00.000-08:002015-12-12T04:01:02.111-08:00I found these pics of sunnier days from the summer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside it's cold, wet and it will inevitably be very muddy up the Welcombe. The dogs won't mind though so regardless of the weather we'll be about up there before too long. I was looking through pics on my computer, as I do from time to time, and came across some I took one summer of a family flying kites on the Monument Field. Running in a field, catching the wind with your kite - how good is that? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15BJAEuL5-YUwM30fHtxxxWPoi8i6oYjrPCFBFgELjy0Qa_lz4D9HlKO3Ys3VGt2o45I7tuA8Ui-UAFn428cQCVrFOQbz1TFzqu3_q7qlOenn6bvsi9PuDUN7vpYHKUahyphenhyphen2RDGAZq-sal/s1600/P1080952.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15BJAEuL5-YUwM30fHtxxxWPoi8i6oYjrPCFBFgELjy0Qa_lz4D9HlKO3Ys3VGt2o45I7tuA8Ui-UAFn428cQCVrFOQbz1TFzqu3_q7qlOenn6bvsi9PuDUN7vpYHKUahyphenhyphen2RDGAZq-sal/s400/P1080952.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's another pic I took of the grasses and flowers on the Clopton Park side in the summer. It seems to me the Welcombe Hills has got so much to offer so many people.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWdV7INBFiDUHLXJj3N0UPis738GqjPFM2PfrO8l482AXIod1TaymbVTsFdq_X4ydihuW_s8O_7_A19R0jvyelljSfx2AOh5aKm_mHdNuvQfbaC79BYDth2n6frKPUzI-2PCb-ric-Sgq/s1600/P1100103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWdV7INBFiDUHLXJj3N0UPis738GqjPFM2PfrO8l482AXIod1TaymbVTsFdq_X4ydihuW_s8O_7_A19R0jvyelljSfx2AOh5aKm_mHdNuvQfbaC79BYDth2n6frKPUzI-2PCb-ric-Sgq/s320/P1100103.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rain's pattering on the conservatory roof, the dogs are getting restless for a walk and I'm thinking about how many layers I'll need to keep warm and dry. I'm also wondering at the incredible seasonal transformations of our countryside. Whilst it won't be a great deal of fun up there in the rain today, it won't be long before spring, the longer days and colour returns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be sure, I'll be up there and posting regularly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189294389503660353noreply@blogger.com1