Hog in the House

Copyright : Matt Mullins.

Copyright : Matt Mullins.

Hedgehogs readily take to purpose built Hog Houses, if they are placed in quiet corners of suitable gardens as is the case here. Photos taken as dusk fell.

18th July......House Martins

This young House Martin fledged by it's self from the nest, spending at least an hour perched on the gutter gathering it's thoughts & getting it's bearings, before returning to rejoin it's siblings in safer surroundings. Note the white edges of the primaries, only found in juvenile House Martins.

Back to the safety of the nest for now.











Don.

Hogs

Good to hear from Bill & Monica in Amersham that they have two Hedgehogs visiting their garden every night. Initially only one was visiting, feasting on Hedgehog food, which amazingly to my surprise can be purchased online. After several weeks it's been joined by another, the two scrapping in the darkness over the food. Hog houses have been positioned to entice them to bred, they need all the help they can get, as the species is in serious decline, mainly due to the over use of pesticides/pellets in the garden & solid garden boundaries preventing their freedom of movement. Also present in their garden are a family group of Bullfinches & a pair of Blackbirds still feeding young in the nest.

Don.

15th July..... Alien's have Landed.

My little green friend from Saturday remains on the Toadflax blending in perfectly with it's host plant. It has a real turn of speed as it races along the silken highways that have been created between the neighbouring plants.

Thistle

The first of the Knapweed is beginning to flower, a sure sign that summer is reaching it's peak. Wild flowery places will be full of Butterflies & buzzin' with Bees & insects of all shapes & sizes.

Yellow Shell moth. Thanks to David Hastings (Butterfly Conservation) & Martin Albertini (Bucks moth recorder) for ID help.

That's what I call a Cobweb!!

Don.

Chesham United

Today in Pictures.

Toadflax.

Interesting little thing.  

Betony.

Skipper on Betony.

Betony.

First Blackberry......

.....with many more to follow.

Don.

13th July. Linnets & Ants.

Plenty of tiny Froglets in the garden pond, along with the usual Blue & Great Tits, two Linnets & two Juvenile Robins all taking an early morning bath. Robins have done their annual disappearing act while they moult skulking in the bushes out of sight, though did glimpse a tail less adult yesterday in the neighbouring garden.
Plenty of Ants on the wing at home & in Chesham being preyed upon by House Martins & Chaffinches imitating Flycatchers, at least fourteen Red Kites over a garden being fed by the house holder, not a good idea.

Don.

In the Garden. 12th July.

Had a good day around the garden with a few surprises. Started with a silver watched fritillary, a first in the garden that I’ve seen. Then followed by large ,small, green veined and marbled whites, brimstones, meadow brown and gratekeepers and a comma. Nine species and then found an elephant hawk moth caterpillar, had a noisy Raven fly over too.
Stewart.                                                                                                                                                                        

Small White Copyright : Stewart Dennis

Large White  Copyright : Stewart Dennis

Silver - washed Fritillary Copyright : Stewart Dennis

Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar Copyright : Stewart Dennis

Marbled White Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

Brimstone Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

 

11th July. Makin' Hay....

....while the sun shines. This heatwave has come just at the right time for hay makin'
I joined one of my farming friends this evening for a short while.....

    Problem with the twine.....

    ..... so it was all "Fingers & Fumbs"

                                       Those of a certain age will remember " Lady Jane"

    Back to the yard with this load, then on to the next field, while I joined the nation glued to the T.V. for the World Cup semi-final, these chaps carried on feeding the nation!!

All images Copyright : Don Stone.

College Lake, 10th July.

We had a trip out this morning to BBOWT College Lake, much more comfortable in the cooler weather of today. Headed towards the round hide and watched a large and very blue looking dragonfly  hawking at speed over the ditch on the right of the path, no ID. Then came across this lone ducking looking very lost. A reed warbler singing loudly a little further on. Best seats taken in the hide so moved on. Heard and saw a raven fly over. It was amusing to see maybe 30 Canada Geese popping their heads up and down in the annual wildflower meadow, having a beak full then popping up to see who’s watching. Good numbers of butterflies with gatekeepers possibly top with marbled white a close second. Others included meadow brown, ringlets, whites a few commas and only saw these two common blues, one male one female in different locations. Lots of blue damselflies about.

At home, there might have been a more sinister reason the frogs were jumping out of the pond the other day, saw a large grass snake in there this afternoon.

Stewart.

???? Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

Common Blue Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

Canada Geese Copyright : Stewart Dennis.