The darling bugs (and beasties) of May 2020.

Since the lockdown eased I have enjoyed 3 visits to a local common, namely Highgate Common, containing a mix of woodland and heathland and is owned by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. It is a popular place so one has to hope there is a space on one of the car parks you wish to start your walk from. The Common is approximately 10 miles from my home, too far away for me to walk to and back home and I do not cycle so by car it has to be!
The weather has been so good lately making walks even more enjoyable and with the birds singing sweetly what more could you ask for!

Bird species seen on the 3 walks (and most seen on each visit) were in no particular order: Tree-pipit, Blackbird, Songthrush, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Moorhen, Jay, Common Buzzard, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Nuthatch, and Dunnock. Cuckoo heard on each visit, and a joy to hear!
 A few images taken over the 3 visits. I trust that  I have the ID's correct though if any are incorrect a comment with advice would be appreciated.

                                           Orange tip butterfly.

 

 Mother Shipton, a day flying moth.

                      Oedemera Nobilis,,,a Thick-legged Flower Beetle.

                                           
                                            Orange tip butterfly.

                                             
                                         Small Heath butterfly.

 

The small pool that the majority of birds were seen at. It appears to be a popular bathing area for them.  They are well hidden in almost the middle of the pool which is surrounded by vegetation and has handy trees for the birds to fly to preen and dry off! The odd dog that ventures in to the water does not seem to upset the birds fortunately!

                                              Large red damselfly

Tree pipit. The bird was up high in the tree but still a delight to see and hear!

 

Broad-bodied Chaser.

                                                     Grasshopper sp.

                                             Harlequin Ladybirds.

                                   Another Large red damselfly.

 

Large Skipper

 

 

                                             Longhorn Beetle sp

              
                                          Water Iris and friend.

 

Willow Warbler

                                               
                                               Banded demoiselle

 

That concludes this episode of the 'The darling buds (and beasties) of May 2020'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starling frenzy...about time too!

It was Spring 2012 the last time I had Starlings feeding in my garden that was until  this morning when 30+ arrived for a feeding frenzy on the lawns! Worms, ants and a May bug were on the menu and probably various  grub species! The seed feeders were visited along with the fatcakes and a drink from the fishpond, one looking as though it had had a bath in the waterfall!
I was thrilled to see the Starlings and in good numbers!
I regularly see 5+ fly over the house and wished they would return to the garden, my wish was granted today.
I make no apology for the amount of images in this post as it may be a good while before they return, I hope not.

 

It started with the arrival of 3 birds.

 

The eventual number of Starlings increased and so did the noise. lol

 

                                                                    

 

 A May bug was unlucky, it may have been one of the 9 that were in the moth trap on Thursday morning!

                                                Busy, busy birds!

The sun appeared occasionally highlighting their wonderful iridescent plumage.

                                                    
                                                      Feed me!

 

 

Come back soon lovely, noisy birds!

 

Starlings
By Pam Ayres

 

We're starlings, the misses, meself and the boys,
We don't go round hopin', we walks.
We don't go in for this singing all day,
And twittering about, we just squawks.

 

We don't go in for these fashionable clothes,
Like old Missel Thrush, and his spots,
Me breast isn't red, there's no crest on me head,
We've got sort of, hardwearing...dots.

 

We starlings, the misses, meself and the boys,
We'll eat anything that's about,
Well anything but that old half coconut,
I can't hold it still. I falls out.

 

What we'd rather do, is wait here for you,
To put out some bread for the tits,
And then when we're certain, you're there by the curtain,
We flocks down and tears it to bits.

 

But we starlings, the misses, meself and the boys,
We reckon that we're being got at,
You think for two minutes, them finches and linnets,
You never sees THEM being shot at.

 

So the next time you comes out to sprinkle the crumbs out,
And there's starlings there, making a noise,
Don't you be so quick to heave half a brick,
It's the misses, meself and the boys!

 

 

 

 

 

V E Day. 08/05/2020

‘My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole. We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny. After a while we were left all alone against the most tremendous military power that has been seen. We were all alone for a whole year.’ – Winston Churchill


                           However you celebrate today, stay safe.