And my First Butterfly Photo of 2023 is...

 ...A comma!

So, all of a sudden on Monday Spring sprung in a big way on a cloudless day full of sunshine. It wasn't particularly warm, but all that buzzes and flutters locally decided to take to the skies.

Gaudy female tawny mining bees patrol the ground at high speed, all russet and gold, looking for suitable nest hole sites to make their little volcanoes. Hairy footed flower bees feed manically off drooping star of bethlehem, far too fast to photograph, and in some locales the chiff chaffs are singing almost deafeningly. 

But more significantly, in my aesthetic view at least, like neon leaves being blown on a breeze, was the appearance of brimstone butterflies at last. It is my firm belief that until you see one of these beautiful butterflies, Spring cannot be said to have started. 

Too bad they rarely settle, and the one that did was far too skittish to be photographed. But a gorgeous fresh out of the packet comma was a more obliging subject, settling on a plant by the cycle track for a sunbathe.

I think this is maybe the second year in a row the comma has been my first fluttering capture of the year. I wonder what will be next?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.04.23

Jailbreak!

 Despite various rehab exercises I've been doing, and also sitting like a lemon with a freeze pack wrapped round my ankle, the tendonitis isn't settling down much and I'm getting frustrated with having to rest the tendon all the time. 

It's not good for my mental health, and it isn't good for you, dear readers, as it means I haven't got anything to show you. 

So, fed up after a mix up at the chemist with my repeat prescription, I just went home, got and my bike, and headed off to first take a look at the lake, and then journeyed up the N64 cycle path to Cotham.

An unpleasant vision in a bright red waterproof - that I had to stuff in my rucksack as I got far too warm - I flushed all the redwing from the hawthorn bushes along the track. The crows were far more composed, cawing in disdain. 

It was a grey day, with flat light, but I was just relieved to be properly active outside. It wasn't a long ride, only 15km, and it is clear that my fitness is suffering, but I intened to try and keep getting on the bike for short rides when the weather allows. 

I owe it to my brain and to you.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.11.22

Got some Buzzers for you

 We've had a couple of bright days so far this week, and I'm pleased to be able to present to you some really nice bee shots - some interesting species too.

I've got a super capture of a buff tailed bumblebee queen from by Balderton Blue Lake, a slightly lower quality set of what I think is a vestal cuckoo bumblebee judging by the yellow edging of the white tail, some shots of a solitary bee on dandelion which I can't ID, and finally from our cricket ground a hairy footed flower bee working quickly around the ground ivy. 

Too cold for flutterers though, I really haven't seen that many yet this rather chilly spring. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.04.21

The Warmth Sends the Flutterers Aloft

 I knew today was going to be the first big butterfly day of the year, the weather forecasts had been so good that to see butterflies today was expected, rather than hoped for.

And so it proved. 

I got to the park, and as I walked up to the old oak wood, a peacock was flitting about, occasionally settling on a plant for a sunbathe, but not letting me get anywhere near it. A brimstone, the true harbringer of spring, flew by in the opposite direction, glinting lemon yellow in the sun. 

As I got on the field, small tortoiseshells flew up from the path in front of me. Others spiralled in mating flights, or seemed to fight with peacocks in the air. 

The blossom is starting to fall, and there were less bees working on it than I thought there would be. I remember springs when the blackthorn trees were alive with with buzzing. 

What was interesting that in the glimpses I got, the peacocks were in much better condition than the small tortoiseshells, which looked a little ragged. 

After the park, kept on walking, lots to see but not near enough to photograph. It was once again next to the cycle path where I was able to photograph a settled peacock and a comma, albeit very awkwardly indeed, ankles wrapped in undergrowth and trying to lean over as much as I could. 

Lluckily for me, these two flutterers were a bit less skittish!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.03.21

First Butterfly of the Year!

 Well, actually the second one I've seen, but the first one that I was able to photograph. And for a change, it's a comma, rather than a small tortoiseshell.

I caught it at a good time as it sunbathed on a fallen leaf down the cycle track, gathering a bit of energy up for a bit more fluttering about. I must say, I always feel a slight bit of superiority noticing these things as other folk stroll by oblivious. 

But only a tiny bit.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.03.21

The Flower Cemetery is at Max

It looks lovely in there, with a great diversity of species in there at the moment. Despite the last couple of days being really really cold, I've started to notice the first worker bumblebees going about their work; tree bumblebees and today what might have been a white tailed bumblebee, I didn't get to see it for long enough.

There's a lot of flowers out along the cycle track too, with the first ragged robin now appearing in its ghostly pinkiness. There was also a large orange-yellow flower like a mega buttercup, but not a marigold.

Never seen it before along here!

After two games of cricket over the weekend, with 17 overs bowled, I was exhausted today, and I could barely run!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.05.17

Another Bloody Bike Fail Today

Yes, I thought it was time to head out again, on my de facto single speed bike, on another attempt to visit the villages I failed to on SAturday.

I decided to miss out the first bit of the cycle path today, hoping to avoid the glass strewn bridge which caused my puncture. I joined the Sustrans 64 further down, near the new wind farm, and hald rolled on for a couple of kilometres when I got that now familiar sinking feeling of a deflating rear tire.

I wondered if it was due to the valve not being tightened, and used my handpump to get some pressure back in, but after riding back homewards and having to pump the thing up 3 times, I realised I was going to have to swap the inner on the road again, this time in HAwton village.

Bloody stupid bike! Bloody bike track! Another genuine puncture. Found it quite easily.

So, after the usual stress of getting the tire back on, sat cross legged covered in oil from the chain, I rode back in and decided to have a little walk down the cemetery again. Which was worth doing, as the wild garlic is now out - gosh the leaves smell strong - and some meadow saxifrage has now appeared as well.

The forget me not is lovely, complete with tawny mining bee, the primroses are still going strong and the sun was bright through the blossom.

Still though. Bloody bike.

Si

All texr and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.04.17

Flowers by Evening

Had a very gentle run tonight to try and get some stiffness out of my legs ready for my match on Sunday. Apparently I'm now regarded as a frontline bowler by the club, and so need to look after myself.

Well, we'll see about that.

We are in a spell of warming weather at the moment, so I was content to go slowly anyway, look at the animals, take in the smell from the buddleias I passed, the sound of the gentle lapping of the water and the wind in the brambles. I tasted my first blackberry of the year, it was ripe and sweet.

THe sun began to set while I was out, and the sky darkened, bronzing the clouds.

It was beautiful.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.08.16

This is the dominant species along the cycle track at the moment. Can't remember what it is!

It is lining the path everywhere

The road to Newark pier

The birds foot trefoil is very tall here

Carder bee comes in for a drink

More pink flowers

The blackberry near the centre was lovely

Horse friends on the lane

"No mule type thing, you drink, I've had enough"

Balderton and Claypole

Sleepy bee on lavender

These tall yellow flowers are near the nature reserve buddleias

Mr Slug

Brazen sky