Fooling a Grasshopper

It has been very hot this afternoon, but a breeze made its welcome presence felt at time and I was happy to spend three hours outside this afternoon, and a further walk this evening. Not sure how bearable that will be tomorrow and days thereafter, but I'll be at work anyway.

I've told my mother she needs to stay cool.

Lots of bright flowers are out at the moment, and the butterflies on view tend to be the various whites, and the second flight red admirals around the maintained gardens, with meadow brown and gatekeeper around the Sconce park grasslands.

I then decided to have a cup of tea at Rumbles cafe, and as I was sat on a wicker chair in the sun, I noticed some rapid movement among the tables. A grasshopper.

It then made the most ridiculous jump, indeed as if it was flying rather than jumping. It ended up on a toy kite on display on the Rumbles window, then it seemed to notice an illustration of flowers on a sign and, seemingly fooled, jumped onto the flowers.

To see a grasshopper on a vertical service is fairly unusual, to see it jumping on to a  picture of flowers is even odder.

I ended up walking two large circuits around town, and came across a pretty banded demoiselle in the castle gardens.

As if there are any ugly banded demoiselles.

Si

More 30 Days Wild Stuff

With nothing much else to do other than walk, I did another enjoyable 10,000 plus steps of it today, taking in the river, the lock and its gardens, and the Sconce, before heading out in the afternoon to go to the gaming cafe after a look along a different part of the river.

I can show you much life, apart from my hospital trip I've been trying to do 30 Days Wild every day, and even with this current injury I want to be active. I even managed 20 minutes on my exercise bike tonight, although I had to put three towels on the seat.

Riding to work is not going to be happen!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.06.19

RSPB Langford Songbirds

On my pleasant trip to RSPB Langford Lowfields, I only bothered to get my camera out to take "cheap" photos of the local songbirds visiting the feeders, while the cetti's warbler sang loudly out of sight.

So here we have the only 4 useable (maybe!) photos I took; a reed bunting, yellowhammers and a pair of goldfinches. I dread seeing how they look when I post them!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.03.19

A Reflective Great Crested Grebe

I took a lot of shots on my walk yesterday! The goosander turned out less well than I hoped, but this great crested grebe, now coming into his breeding colours, was a better subject.

The fact is, unlike the goosander, this character decided he was able to sit still on a mirror calm bit of water and give me at least half a chance. It's still a very soft shot, but it is rather better than a lot of other bird ones I have taken.

Still rubbish compared to the bird shots I see on Instagram!

Still, I give you great crested grebe!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.01.19

A Manic Feeding Time

So, I've had a much lazier day today and only did 10km on the bike, via the park for a cup of tea, and then a loaf about at no great pace to see what was about on the ground.

I was looking primarily for any aconite in bloom in their usual spots. There wasn't, but I did see a stupidly early white crocus out in  the cemetery. The snowdrops are becoming more numerous, lots of little spears about as well as the flowering plants.

Around the lake, children were feeding the birds, leading to a frenzy of all the yarking wannabe Keehars amongst the local gull community. No doubt the giant carp would be enjoying the leftovers.

No exotics - I say exotics but they are only that by town standards - goosander today, and no little egrets, a feature of last winter, yet.

I wonder if they will grace us with their snow  white presence this winter?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.12.18

Christmas Eve - And Snowdrops Already

So, I finished all my shopping for the family yesterday, and today was a day to get myself a large, bottle shaped treat.

Afterwards, I went on a bike ride around the lakes to save my plantar-ish heels, and to check a part of the cemetery which is the first place that snowdrops appear every year. And you know what, they were were! We haven't even started 2019 yet and snowdrops were out, in the little corner opposite the Polish war graves. Right where I was expecting them.

Moving round to the lake itself, I caught sight of something else unexpectedly early - a drake goosander, piebald and handsome. We don't normally see these on the Blue Lake until January.

I thought it was strange a drake was alone, but as it happened there were other goosander on other parts of the lake, a couple of them in a furious battle with some black headed gulls that the drake had caught.

Further round, there were a  pair of females, red headed rather than black, sailing past a couple of fishermen telling each other about how rubbish one of their fellow anglers was at using the pole.

A slightly unpleasant moment followed as three well known local rough lads tried to knock me off my bike on the cycle path; 15 year old pretend hard kids who have been doing this for a while while police take no action. Ugh.

Still it hasn't spolied my day nor shall I let it.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.12.18

A Running Guest

Came across this little character about 2km into my run tonight, 6km of fairly easy paced trotting on a mild evening, heavy cloud obscuring the moon, which is just as well as it hasn't risen yet, thinking about it.

I don't know if it is underweight or not, but it was certainly moving OK!

I've had a flu jab and thus have a sore arm, and a slightly off nose and throat. Didn't seem to affect my running as much as the fact as I'm rather bloated at the moment for some reason.

Need a winter jacket, the Decathlon website is calling...

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.10.18

The Fleur de Lys Spider

A very nice autumnal day today, so found myself doing a 7.2km run out to the Grange Road fields and back into town through Sconce Park, happily listening to Radio 6 as I trundled along the empty harvested fields lined with berry laden hedgerows.

Soon the birds returning for the winter will be feasting on these.

A few butterflies were on the wing today, all white butterflies of various kinds. Big migrant hawkers still patrol the park in their angular flight patterns; mallards are coming back out of eclipse and unbelievably will soon be starting their pre-breeding fights.

And then there was this orb spider, a spider musketeer with a fleur de lys upon its back.

The earth begins to go to sleep for 3 months, but I won't.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.09.18

The Pink Footed Goose is Back

I got out running very early by my standards today, meaning I was able to be infuriated by Gyles Brandreth on "Just a Minute" while I was pounding the pavement. I was hoping to beat the torrential rain that was forecast but in the event never came.

It was actually a lovely bright, if chilly, day, and I rather enjoyed my rather steady 9km jog around the park and  the two lakes. There were interesting birds to be seen on The Blue Lake as well - I reckon I might have come across a couple of common scoter on there, the only black duck. Certainly they were far more spooky than the typical resident birds.

Another unusual bird was seen, but this one more of a regular visitor. The random pink footed goose that arrived last winter has returned, and it was in the company of its massive greylag friend once again.

I wonder where they have been on holiday?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.09.18

A Silver Y

Turned the light on in what I laughably refer to as "The Study" and all hell broke loose, in a small sense of the word, as a fluttering object erupted out from a corner of a bookshelf and started battering itself against a lightshade.

I had a good idea of what it was, but only after it eventually settled back into its little corner and allowed me to get a camera shot. A lovely silver y moth, in great condition.

They do seem to last late on into the season, I've seen them in October in Scotland.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.09.18