Blackartz' Natural History Blog
A last few images of the locally abundant Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus). It’s been a particularly excellent year for this species around here, the unusually harsh couple of winters seems to agree with them. This particular lot are extremely close to our house in Newent and utterly irresistible to toddlers!
First Bluebells #ukspring #phenology http://yfrog.com/h0rh0ahj
Bee fly, jumping spiders, Wolf spiders, parasitic wasp, Chiff Chaffs, Dunnocks, Wrens and lots of interesting bees. Short productive stroll
Two local Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserves within the Golden Triangle are looking truly spectacular at the moment, carpeted as they are with the Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) for which this area used to be famous. This coming weekend is ‘Daffodil Weekend’ in neighbouring Oxenhall so if you’re local, or live within striking distance of the northern part of the Forest of Dean, you should definitely check these reserves out for yourself.
Firstly Gwen and Vera’s Fields, two historic small daffodil meadows:
Then the more substantial Betty Daw’s wood SSSI, an ancient Sessile Oak (Quercus petrea) woodland:
This last photo also features some Cuckoo Flowers (Cardamine Pratensis) which suddenly seems to be appearing in all the hedgerows. Along with the daffs, I consider this to be a terrific harbinger of spring as it’s a major larval foodplant for the Orange Tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines). Fingers crossed they’ll be on the wing soon, as the striking males bring some much needed butterfly colour to these here parts.
I’ve just been contacted by the non-profit group Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership to ask if they can feature one of my pictures on some of their promotional material.
Taken on a trip to the Farne Islands off the Northumbrian coast last Summer. I particularly like this one because it reminds me of those clichéd balanced pebble pictures, beloved of health spas and self help books.
I’ve favourited a YouTube video — OK Go – End Love – Official Video http://youtu.be/V2fpgpanZAw?a
20+ Shelduck, a dozen Oystercatchers, a Curlew and a Peregrine – all whilst eating chips in the sunshine on the beach. #beaumarisbeach
Just saw I clever Crow dropping a shellfish onto the rocks on Beaumaris beach for an easy meal #wildlife
This is not a lube song – Public Image LTD #Changelovetolubesongs
Twitter
Flickr
Delicious