On my holiday to Australia in February, I had the good fortune to be able to photograph many different species of wildlife. The colourful and often noisy birds, cute mammals, fascinating lizards and the many species of gorgeous insects I encountered will, I hope, all be blogged about in the near future.
Today it is the turn of the beautiful butterflies and moths – with a couple of caterpillars too!
I went to visit my friend today. Before we sat down for our cuppa and a catch up, I went on an exploration of her beautiful garden. She has left the bottom part of her garden to grow wild, but even the planted and managed part of her garden is full of wildlife. All the gorgeous colourful flowers are ideal for bees and butterflies. A great home for our precious pollinators.
Today I went to visiting a friend. She is a passionate gardener and it shows, her garden is beautiful, so full of colour and life.
After a cup of tea and a catch up, we stepped out into the stunning summer garden. There were so many bees, butterflies and bugs! There was one plant in particular that caught my eye – Buxton’s blue geranium. It was covered in 4 different species of bees! There were honey bees as well as carder bees, red-tailed bumblebees and buff-tailed bumblebees!
But it wasn’t just bees, there were mullein moth caterpillars, lots of wolf spiders carrying their silken egg sacks, a holly blue butterfly and a cinnabar.
The whole time we were serenaded by a very loud blackbird!
With great company, the warmth of the sun, some beautiful bird song and watching some lovely bugs … it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
Day 22- Some unexpected wildlife
As I was leaving work, I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to have a wild moment, a Red Kite flew overhead. Not something seen there until about 2 months ago. Exciting to see!
Then when I got home, I came across this beauty waiting for me on my front door!
Day 23 – Ox eye daisy
In May I planted an Ox eye daisy plant, today it finally flowered! I took a photo because I clearly wasn’t the only one enjoying the new bloom.
Day 24 – Burt
While out and about at work today, one of the very tame resident Robins came to say hello! I call them all Burt – after Burt Ward. If you’re really lucky, they sometimes come and feed from your hand!
Day 25 – An unusual view of a moth
Today I had the chance to admire a very pretty moth. It had landed on a window, so I was able to not only see the top of the moth but also the underside of it. I think those eyes are amazing!
After a few busy days, I’m playing catch up with my 30 Days Wild blog.
Day 17 – Bradgate Park, Wildlife Weekend
I knew Saturday was going to be a good ‘wild’ day when I heard my first cuckoo of the year right at the very beginning.
I managed to get myself to Bradgate Park again. This time to help out on the stand for my local bat group who were attending the park’s Wild Weekend. There were lots of other wildlife organisations there and I enjoyed having a little nosey at their stands too.
The last few hours of the day I spent walking through the park and despite the blistering heat, the wildlife was really active in the summer sun.
Day 18 – A little Leafcutter Bee
While being given a lift I had an encounter with a lovely little Leafcutter Bee. It came through the window as the car was moving at a little speed. It landed in my lap stunned, so I held it in my hands for a few minutes as it gained its bearings. As we slowed for a junction the wee mite found its wings and was back out through the open window into the world!
Day 19 – Moths
Today I found some rather beautiful moths in places you wouldn’t normally look!
Day 20 – A country drive
While driving through the countryside my friend and I stopped to enjoy the grand oaks that lined the narrow lanes. The gentle breeze was a cool welcome sensation on the skin. A simple moment of peace and serenity.
Day 7
I was feeling under the weather, so going outside was a bad plan. My day 7 was spent under the duvet with Springwatch Live running in the back ground of my snoozing.
Day 8
Despite the inclement weather, I’ve managed to have quite a wild day.
I have found some bugs in some unlikely places! A Woodlouse making it home on my friends desk, a Lesser Stag Beetle in the kitchen and finally a White Ermine in the toilets at work!
The bugs got returned to the green outdoors. I managed to film the Lesser Stag Beetle take her first steps in her new home.
I also made a trip down to the nature reserve at work again, I watched a Buzzard being mobbed by 3 Jackdaws. I spotted my first Speckledwood of the year and had the brief opportunity to admire a view of a female Scorpionfly.
Last day in National Insect Week, so I marked the occasion by watching a Natural World (from 2011) called “Butterflies: A Very British Obsession”. Though a few years old, it was wonderful and eccentrically British!
Headed out to the shops but was delayed as when I stepped outside I came across this stunning female Ghost Moth! I was really rather taken with this beauty!
Continuing the Lepidoptera theme, I decided to get a little arty and paint a picture of butterfly! I haven’t finished it yet so I shall share a photo of it tomorrow.
One beautiful sunny day I decided to explore my direct local area. Investigate footpaths, local lanes, and wheat fields. What was meant to be a little wander did end up being a very long walk! It was worth it, I got to see and photograph some wonderful wildlife.
I’ve had a rather an exciting summer, moving to a new home 65 miles across the country! I now live in the Market Bosworth area and it’s a lovely place to live.
I have hedgehogs visiting my front garden, at least 5 different individual hogs come to munch on the bowls of mealworms that I leave out for them. I’m guessing they come from the beautiful allotments just down the road from me.
I’ve also got colony of sparrows and a flock of starlings visiting the bird feeders in my front garden. It’s wonderful to watch, but I do end up refilling the feeders every day!
In a hunt to find a top up bird seeds for those hungry birds, I found a lovely garden centre. In the warm sun, I balanced eating an ice cream with photographing these lovely butterflies!
On my way home from work one night I got a surprise, I came across a gathering of traction engines. So I had to stop and admired the incredible machines!
I had a bit of fun another evening, watched the Leicester Morrismen. A pint and a dance, a great evening!
The most random of moments happened a few weeks ago. When I opened the door to put out the hedgehog food, a large buzzing beastie flew over my head. Turned out to be a Large Elephant Hawk-moth. A most welcome and colourful house guest!
My last photo for this blog is a rather stunning sunset taken on my way home from work one evening. I couldn’t resist stopping to admire these fiery streaks of colours.
Here is the last 10 days of my 30 Days Wild!
Day 21 – Who knew that an old dry log would be so interesting!
Day 22 – Today I spent time watching a Goldfinch investigating the bark of a tree!
Day 23 – Popped by my local Kestrel nest … I’m not sure who was watching who today!
Day 24 – I was given the choice between doing the books or counting the bugs!
Day 25 – Stuck in traffic? I decided to do a long distance plant survey! I counted 19 different species between two junctions!
Day 26 – Today I rescued a bee from the office, two beetles from the classrooms and a bush cricket from butterfly house!
Day 27 – Paused to admire this beautiful fungus growing at the base of dead tree!
Day 28 – Today I enjoyed blue skies, green fields and wild views along the Severn Valley Railway!
Day 29 – I got to enjoy the flutterings of these stunning Scarlet Tigers!
Day 30 – On the last wild day of June, I found this old tractor being reclaimed by the wild!
I have really enjoyed doing 30 Days Wild. Being with the wild is something I naturally do every day, so I will be staying wild! I hope that you all will be too!
lulovelock 