Day 39: Woodpigeon

Yesterday I managed to see a rare avian visitor to British shores... Today's picture is of  one of our commonest birds.

#100DaysofNature Day 39: Woodpigeon @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/3Fen0wAwkB
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 31, 2014

Day 38: Large White

More butterflies as the sun shines again.   All the usual suspects - Blues/ Brown Argus/ Small Whites

#100DaysofNature Day Large White @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/MoaHrkL8F3
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 30, 2014

I also had a morning at Frampton-on-Severn and just North of Splatt Bridge joined a small band of hardened twitchers to see a Marsh Sandpiper.  A pretty rare vagrant and not recorded in Gloucestershire before.   Nice to see also there six greenshank and 14 ruff.  100+ Swallows

http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Recent%2014-3.htm

Day 37: Red Admiral

In between the current showery - much more autumnal weather a little sunny reprieve and lots of butterflies on the wing. Almost all common blue but amongst them this Red Admiral.  They've been on the wing for a while  in addition to  todays picture I also photographed them on 4th August  (Over thee weeks ago).

Red Admiral (This one from 4th August)

#100DaysofNature Day 37: Red Admiral on buddleia @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/RdhADrm0yy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 29, 2014

Day 36: Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

Time for some spiders...

#100DaysofNature Day 36: Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) on lavender @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO  pic.twitter.com/08hxGIhHZ5

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 28, 2014

Day 35: Common Carder Bumblebee on Scabious

I seem to struggle with identifying bees...   I hope this ones right.

#100DaysofNature Day 35 Common Carder Bumblebee on Scabious @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/AJID3QwmfT

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 27, 2014

Day 34: Lords-and-ladies

More rain soaked misery :(  Hope the sun makes a comeback soon.

This plant quite common in graveyard although tucked way in discrete corners.

http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/lords-and-ladies

#100DaysofNature Day 34 Lords-and-ladies @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO  pic.twitter.com/4HL0QX4PJZ

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 26, 2014

Day 33: Leopard Slug

I think these are about as cool as it gets for a slug. Amazing patterns and extraordinary mating rituals.
Fairly regular spot in the cemetery - just needed a damp day for them to show themselves :)

Today was very "damp"

#100DaysofNature Day 33 Leopard Slug. Well someone has to appreciate the dreary weather! @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/JxesbAadva
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 25, 2014

Day 32: Red-tailed Bumblebee on lavender

It feels like the summer is over... It's not been the best weather, shame after such a glorious start.  It also looks like we're due for proper heavy rain tomorrow.

I'm not totally convinced this is a Red-tailed Bumblebee (my one seems to have a white patch on top of its head) but it's the best match I could find. 

 

#100DaysofNature Day 32 Red-tailed Bumblebee on lavender @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/L4XnpSC1dV

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 24, 2014

Day 31: Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing

The previous evening I went on moth evening organised by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Stroud Valleys Project.  So suitably inspired set the moth trap up in the garden.  Lots of moths - the vast majority of which were Large Yellow Underwings.  This Underwing is a different species and was one of my favourites. 

#100DaysofNature Day 31 Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO self identification!! pic.twitter.com/6xIw8V53yn
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 23, 2014

I've still got a couple to identify and some Micro moths - but this is what I've figured out so far:

1. Large yellow underwing 40
2. Square spot rustic 5
3. Orange swift 
4. Broad bordered Yellow Underwing
5. Dusky thorn 2
6. Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing
7. Copper underwing

Square spot rustic

Large yellow underwings

Copper underwing

Day 30: Through the canopy

The uniform green of the leaves is not going to be around for much longer.  Many of the trees are fruiting now.

Including the Beech, Rowan and Ash

#100DaysofNature Day 30: Through the canopy @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/DuLoImIpBe
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 22, 2014

Day 29: Yew

Love these trees.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/learn/british-trees/native-trees/yew/

#100DaysofNature Day 29: Yew @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/X7k0HMeIYc
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 21, 2014

Day 28: Hoverfly (Syrphini)

A definite autumnal chill to the air this morning. Sky flat and grey with no wind.  This hoverfly - probably  Syrphus ribesii (see http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/syrphus-ribesii) but I can't be certain.

#100DaysofNature Day 28: Hoverfly (Syrphini) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW flat grey morning, autumnal chill pic.twitter.com/C4KeKVcmhh
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 20, 2014

Day 27: Shore Crabs

Last day of our mini-break time for some crabbing.  We were pretty awesome 17 crabs and a random blenny made it into our crabbing baskets.

#100DaysofNature Day 27 shore crabs Brixham Harbour @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/FyVpZ4dMvY
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 19, 2014

Pick of our catch (Carcinus maenas)

Day 26 Turnstone

 One of the most confiding of our our Waders.  Theses turnstones true scavengers of the shoreline.

#100DaysofNature Day 26 Turnstone Brixham Harbour @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/w8io1tnudE
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 18, 2014

Day 25: Herring Gull

These gulls always look slightly menacing.

#100DaysofNature Day 25 Herring Gull (well we're by the sea) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/HMRa4uMna7

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 17, 2014

Day 24: Ripening Blackberries

These just starting to ripen now.  Warm summer with some well time rain.

#100DaysofNature Day 24 Ripening Blackberries @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/I2x4p0MRrW
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 16, 2014

Day 23: Eyed Hawk-moth caterpillar

This first post not from the cemetery - It's only 300m away (and I'm off to Devon for the weekend) but this guy was too unusual to pass by.   He was on the pavement outside my house.

Having found out what it is - he was probably looking for a place to bury and pupate - so feel slightly guilty at putting back in rose-hip bush.  He wouldn't have lasted long on the pavement though :)

I wonder if we'll see the adults in the moth trap soon?

#100DaysofNature Day 23 Eyed Hawk-moth caterpillar @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/t10Ky8XI8G
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 15, 2014

Day 22 Dark-Bush Cricket

Rumbling thunder on my afternoon walk and I was convinced I was going to get soaked, luckily it didn't rain.  I'm trying to get a Lizard shot - they reside under the tins with the slowworms, only they are far less obliging to be photographed.  I did see a lizard but he was off far too quickly.  I got this compensatory bush cricket on the the underside of tin sheet.

#100DaysofNature Day 22 Dark-Bush Cricket @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/TCdc3j2P3e
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 14, 2014

Day 21: Slow worms

Pretty much a "shoe-in" to see Glow worms in the cemetery. There is a quite a population of them and I put some tins out a few years ago which they use all of the time to warm themselves up - so even though it's quite cool and raining I can always find them.

Not too hot on their ecology but these both look to be adult females and possibly gravid?

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/slow_worm.htm

#100DaysofNature Day 21 Slow worms is the "fat one" pregnant? @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/AcxGKhortx
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 13, 2014

Day 20: Meadow Grasshopper

I hope this is a meadow grasshopper - otherwise I'm not very good with my FSC key :(


Another adventure in photography.  Thought I'd try a slow -Mo video of a grasshopper taking off.  No Grasshopers were harmed in the making of this film.

#100DaysofNature Day 20 Meadow Grasshopper: I've attempted a slow-mo video http://t.co/xGbIAJh9ts @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/NuchXZWRHy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 12, 2014

Here's the youtube sensation.

Day 19: Greenbottle (Lucilia sp) on Wild Oregano

Hurricane Bertha not quite done with us - a few torrential downpours and still very windy. As a result photographic opportunities were somewhat limited. But by biggest limitation was having no dog to take on a walk. Poor Lono is currently in Langford Hospital recovering from an operation to remove a grass seed from behind his eye. He'll be home on Wednesday.

The "Greenbottle" was super shiny and nicely perched on top of a sprig of wild Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

#100DaysofNature Day 19 metallic greenbottle Lucilia sp on wild oregano @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW #shiny pic.twitter.com/YbUXmkB8Mx
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 11, 2014

Day 18: Moody skies follow Hurricane Bertha

A morning of prolonged and lashing heavy rain. It eventually eased off in the afternoon and clear skies overnight.

This was remnants of Hurricane Bertha. Not a serious threat but still pretty impressive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28730305

#100DaysofNature day 18 contrasting vista @BBCSpringwatch moody sky after remnants of Hurricane Bertha swept through pic.twitter.com/UIPmBPmutr
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 10, 2014

Day 17: Common Blue (male)

Took a few days but I eventually got one...

#100DaysofNature Day 17 Common Blue (male) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW what a stunner pic.twitter.com/dXCwplubpH
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 9, 2014

Day 16: Cooper Beech Mast (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea)

These trees covered in mast and already dropping on floor... Wonder if this is normal?

#100DaysofNature Day 16 Copper Beech Mast @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW wintering brambling will love these pic.twitter.com/T5EhOOp7Xq
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 8, 2014

Day 15: Brown Argus

An early evening walk - straight after work.  Glorious sunny evening with only a light breeze.  A Blue butterfly - that's brown!!

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=agestis

#100DaysofNature Day 15 Brown Argus @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/8DENNCowRf pic.twitter.com/KVN6YN5plk
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 7, 2014

Brown Argus (3rd August)

Day 14: Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

I've noticed not main butterflies around in the morning when I walk the dog - so opted for early evening today to try and increas echances of seeing and then photographing.  Proved quite difficult though no direct sun so no basking and quite windy which meant focussing was a bit hit and miss.

http://butterfly-conservation.org/679-1176/common-blue.html

#100DaysofNature Day 14 Common Blue (females). Early evening, lots of blues @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgUbwW pic.twitter.com/LcUlh5jaVh
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 6, 2014

Day 13: Banded Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)

Hoping the sunny weather is set for a return soon. I want to get as many butterflies in as possible. Anyway with all the rain this morning - it's great for snails but not much else :(  Lots of other snails around at least two other species.  This one I identified from:

http://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/terrestrial.html?/gastropoda/terrestrial/banded_snails.html

#100DaysofNature Day 13 Banded Snail. What a load of molluscs - wet and rainy, great for snails. @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/KsMzhHEJLp
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 5, 2014

Day 12: Nemophora metallica on Scabious

I thought this project might allow for some fairly geeky behaviour and it's happened sooner than I expected.  I've had a brush with the hoverfly recorder when I found my Hornet Mimic and now I've tried to identify a micro-moth.  So clueless was I at the start of the process I actually thought I'd photographed a beetle - it wasn't until I looked at my pictures that I realised it was a moth.

I've been seeing them  in cemetery for about a week but not been able to photograph them.  With their bronzy metallic  sheen and super long antennae they look more like a character from Dr Suess or "Gold Bug" from Richard Scarry's books.

After some serious googling I eventually tracked it down as being a micro-moth and based on features, location flying time and habitat I've gone for Nemophora metallica.

See http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=147


"Wingspan 15-20 mm.

One of the 'longhorn' moths, the male has antennae three times the length of the forewings, the female around half this length. The wings have a relatively plain bronzy sheen.
Like other members of the genus, the larvae feed at first on seeds and later on leaves or leaf-litter, mainly of field scabious (Knautia arvensis).
Occurring in the south of England and East Anglia, the moths fly in June and July during the day."


I think I'll write to the county recorder for moths and see if I can get confirmation...

#100DaysofNature Day 12 Micro Moth - I'm guessing a Longhorn Moth (Nemophora metallica) on Scabious @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/OibqQTDnKe
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 4, 2014

Here's a better picture with my SLR Nemophora metallica on Scabious (Knautia arvensis)

Day 11: Peacocks on Buddleia

A sunny breezy day  lots of butterflies on the wing - but too difficutlt to get a semidecent picture with the smartphone.

#100DaysofNature Day 11 Peacocks on Buddleia #TheEyesHaveIt @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/OCXPfAZbhR
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 3, 2014

Day 10: Broad-leaved Helleborine

A rain soaked morning - we were due one after such a long spell of glorious weather. Undeterred, the dog always needs a walk, the photographic odyssey continues.

There are few species of orchid in the graveyard.  But this project started too late for the others:

• Pyramidal Orchid is  most common, flowers in June. 
• I've also found white  helleborine, also flowers in June. 

Pictures at the foot of the post.

#100DaysofNature Day 10 . Broad-leaved Helleborine @BBCSpringwatch #rainyday #thedogstillneedsawalk pic.twitter.com/wRlvlaJEFy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 2, 2014

Pyramidal Orchid (16th June 2007)

White Helleborine (5th June 2012)

Day 9: Ringlet and Green Shield Bug

Today noticeably cooler and greyer than the last week or so.  Still looking for the blue butterflies which seem to have disappeared.

I did find these sheltering from the weather.

#100DaysofNature Day 9 Ringlet and Green Shield Bug. Sharing is Caring @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/y7T1hePBwC
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 1, 2014

Update 10th September.

Seeing lots more shield bugs now - really surprising how much they vary from nymph stage (instar) to nymph stage as they mature.

I found this one on 9th September - looks more like the mask of a Marvel superhero.

Green Shield bug (5th instar)