Sun!

wow, what a week! the UK has had some scorching weather these past few days. It's very hot and humid here, it's making the walks quite a task. However i have been trudging the fields, despite the heat and many other projects that i have at this moment.

I went yesterday (9th) and spent an hour getting a few photos of the different points on the route just to give you guys an image of the land. Not as many Hirundines as usual, plenty insects making the most of the Himalayan Balsam.

most of the time was spent around the pond at point 2, making note of some of the species around that area. Alot of small spiders on the bank along with many chirping of Common Green Grasshoppers. A Gatekeeper butterfly was also most patient and allowed me to take a quick picture

Gatekeeper Butterfly ( Pyronia Tithonus )

I got pictures of most of the points on the route except the last point, due to me having to leave early, i will get a picture next week. Also while i was sat next to the pond having a minute i looked at the grass to find the empty shell of a Dragonfly or Damselfly Larvae. I'll try to get it properly identified and a picture will be posted this week.

Hope you're making the most of your summer.

Busy

This week i have been pretty busy with other projects, projects in which i hope to earn a bit of money, so i haven't had the chance to go and get some food for the feeding station. At this time of year, a feeding station isn't that important, however when winter arrives and the ground freezes your garden feeding stations are extremely important in the survival of many birds.

Today i had some time to take a quick walk ( from 1:30pm - 3:20pm ). The weather was a dull grey overcast with spots of rain here and there. The walk from Point 1 to Point 2 was full of insects, i need to have a day of just identifying and photographing the flies and other insects, when the weather becomes abit nicer, that is the first job.

Alot of meadow Brown butterflies were present today, male and female. Also in abundance was Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars, some singular peices of Ragwort were completely covered. A few Whitethroats poked out from the scrub near the pond at Point 2. A few of the migratory species that i saw today should be ready to return to their wintering grounds at the end of the month, if they havent already started to fly south, these species include Swift, Whitethroat, Chiff Chaff, Swallow and House Martin.

I walked a little further east from point 5 today after hearing a bird of prey call, it turned out to be a pair of Buzzards that flew low over the farmers field and back west over the Belvedere fields, such graceful flyers.

On my walk today i was looking for spots for the feeding station, point 5 seemed decent, alot of bird activity today, lots of Tit flocks and charms of Goldfinch's.

Oh, i'm going to make another page on this blog for my wildlife illustrations, the photography will just be included in future blog posts. I am going to start including factual info about some of the species that i discover, especially if i can't get out over the fields, just so the blog is constantly on going.

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars