Day 69: Dandelion

Time's running out for flowers?  A gorgeous sunny day

#100DaysofNature Day 69 dandelion clock. Time - summer's over @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/AFjAP7pPXY
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 30, 2014

Day 68: Traveller's Joy

Currently growing on just about every hedgerow.

#100DaysofNature Day 68 Traveller's Joy @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/UQbch8xH5J
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 29, 2014

Day 67: Wildflower meadow

Ecotricity kindly  lent me an electric car to get around in whilst my leg is in plaster.  Ecotricity also lead sponsor of FGR - world's greenest football club. Complete with rapid car charger and lots of management for nature.  One of the features is the wildflowers planted as you arrive at the stadium. Took this one when I went to charge the car.

#100DaysofNature Day 67 wildflower meadow @FGRFC_Official still lots of blooms @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/EWrWEPdGqv
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 28, 2014

Day 66: Haws and Hawthorne

Trees seemed to have good crop this year.

#100DaysofNature Day 66 Haws @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/nv7zhRMRuD
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 27, 2014

Day 65: Cluster Fly

These insects frustratingly difficult to id with any real confidence - this is the one I'm sure we called horseflies as kids and we scared of them biting.. So I don't really know.

They're very common and widespread Pollenia genus. So I hope this is close.

#100DaysofNature Day 65: Cluster Fly - At least I hope that's what it is! @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/WKnBtEfwQI
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 26, 2014

Day 64: Crane Fly

A lunchtime drive to get this one... Don't know what the congregational noun for Crane Fly is - but there were 10's of them skipping low across the long grass as I hobbled past.

Perhaps a squadron?

#100DaysofNature Day 64 Crane Fly. No better indicator of Autumn? @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/Cu3LtUQpNy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 25, 2014

Day 63: Caddisfly - Stenophylax permistus

A caddisfly in the moth trap - well a bit of a surprise - but what is worse is the fact I thought it was a moth for ages and couldn't key it out :(

OK not too bad until you consider that I used to key out the larvae  professionally and did my degree dissertation on them... Hangs head in total shame.  I don't recall seeing the adults like this one for ages and it did look like it had scaly wings (my closeup eyesight isn't what it used to be) but no excuse really.


There were actually at least seven in the trap and I'm not sure where they came form though and where the water habitat they would need is?

#100DaysofNature Day 63 Caddisfly - Stenophylax permistus. in a moth trap?  @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO  pic.twitter.com/rTeFxCU8B5
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 24, 2014

Day 62 weevil

Not sure I can key this one out...  Too tricky and I dropped him shortly after the photograph...

#100DaysofNature Day 62 weevil 🐜 @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/e6e1L9XzVz
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 23, 2014

Day 61: Metellina segmentata

Surprisingly difficult to find a good candidate to identify this.  Search numerous websites to try and find a match

I went for this one finally based on

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/metellina-segmentata

#100DaysofNature Day 61 spider spider. Metellina segmentata @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/kvUQeB7kLT
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 22, 2014

Day 60: Grey Squirrel

Regular visitors to the garden - watched this one caching hazelnuts in all the garden flower pots.
Finally got a mammal for the list :)

#100DaysofNature Day 60 The Hazelnut Thief @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/IAA5ddDIo9
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 21, 2014

Here he is in action:

Day 59 Turkey tails

More autumnal fungi.

#100DaysofNature Day 59 Turkey tails Trametes versicolor @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/QPIzS175UA
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 20, 2014

Day 58: Sulphur Tuft

One our commonest mushrooms and found on a drive out late afternoon after work. In the beech wood and growing on a rotten tree stump.  The pictures don't do justice to their colour.

#100DaysofNature Day 58: Sulphur Tuft @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/rmWEOzxJtN
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 19, 2014

Day 57: Alder and catkins

With the gammy leg  in plaster it's severely restricting my project opportunities.   So I took a drive out to the canal by near Pike Lock to see what I could find.  The catkins looked quite nice.

#100DaysofNature Day 57: Alder and catkins @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/9ETkKzG6Gd
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 18, 2014

Day 56: Marbled Carpet

Nice to see in the house and I couldn't find my field guide and resigned to trwling through images on internet - and drew a blank.

#100DaysofNature Day 56: Nature in the house. Now I just need an ID? Anyone? @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/oM3lEglqn8 pic.twitter.com/Kb1N8kAYuW
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 17, 2014

I got a nice response from the county recorder:

Your moth is marbled carpet - either Common Marbled Carpet or Dark Marbled Carpet.  Both are highly variable and you need to look at the subtle patterns on the underside of the wings in order to differentiate.

. @BritishMoths could someone help me with an id please. Same moth with/without flash. Found in my house today. Thks pic.twitter.com/9QycjKZ0lt
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 17, 2014

Day 55: Hazelnuts

Staggering number of hazelnuts on the tree in our neighbours garden.  Might help me bag a photograph of a squirrel.

#100DaysofNature Day 55 Hazelnuts A bumper crop on our garden tree. @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/oM3lEglqn8 pic.twitter.com/tI6Sh7HBCi
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 16, 2014

Day 54: House Fly on Common Bindweed

Still finding my feet in the garden - literally and figuratively.   Obviously fewer photo opportunities. We'll keep going though.

No way for me to id this fly to it's species but this is close enough.

#100DaysofNature Day 54 House Fly on Common Bindweed @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/VJ8hDfgD5Y
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 15, 2014

Slightly enhanced picture (sharpened and enhanced definition)

Day 53: Collared Doves

A very common UK species these days.  Have bred in the garden for the last two years.

#100DaysofNature Day 53 Collared Doves @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/c5dzs0fUPp
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 14, 2014

Day 52: Rhingia rostrata

 This hoverfly bright orange.  I fairly sure it's this species ticks all the diagnostic features I could find on:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157629849058963/

and


http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/rhingia-rostrata-0

#100DaysofNature Day 52 Bottoms Up!! Rhingia rostrata, hoverfly on a close inspection @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/BPZCfiENv6
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 13, 2014

Other pictures give better diagnostic features:

Day 51: Harvestman

In the garden now.  Hopefully it'll be a rich ground for photographs and I'll notice lots of thing I've never noticed before.

Our next door neighbours garden is somewhat over grown - almost a blanket of bindweed.   In amongst the leaves I found this harvestman - I think I've got the identification correct.

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/leiobunum-rotundum

#100DaysofNature Day 51Harvestman - Leiobunum rotundum - or Daddy-longlegs if you prefer :) @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/6WSLuwEbiI
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 12, 2014

Harvestman

Day 50: Ivy-leaved Toadflax

Well half-way through the project now. Leg in plaster so no chance of any graveyard photographs in the immediate future.   Hope I can make it to the end.

This one from the garden wall.

#100DaysofNature Day 50 Ivy-leafed Toadflax. Half-way there :) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/Aho0bEdCG5
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 11, 2014

Day 49: Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)

This tweet and photograph is actually from yesterday.  I don't feel too bad about it as the lower half of my left leg is in plaster from my Ankle Op yesterday.   I took a couple of "spare photographs" to tide me over. Should be able to get out to the garden later...

This dock bug is a squashbug :)

http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/coreus_marginatus.html

#100DaysofNature Day 49 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/D2NoF5hcXx
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 10, 2014

There were lots of them around and they seem quite social there are three on the blackberry below - they were much closer together until I pointed the camera at them :)

Dock Bugs on Blackberry

 

Day 48: Corizus hyoscyami

Here's a new one for me - not seen this before, small but striking colours.

#100DaysofNature Day 48 Corizus hyoscyami (who knew!) @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/HfHkWdH9kp
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 9, 2014

Day 47: Common Lizard

Another sunny day. Got these pictures on my evening walk - still basking in warm sunshine. Lizard was eventually confiding, Not sure that this was his tail skin though.

Still great to get.

#100DaysofNature Day 47 Common Lizard and sloughed tail. Ecdysiast extraordinaire @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/9NJMQBRqyd
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 8, 2014

Day 46 Tortoiseshell

More sunshine and an opportunity to add another butterfly  to the role of honour.

#100DaysofNature Day 46 Tortoiseshell. Glorious sunny day ;) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/pfGwrI1UpE
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 7, 2014

Here's An SLR picture from Friday:

Tortoiseshell

Day 45: Painted Lady

The sun came out today and all the butterflies back on the wing lots of Red Admirals and tortoiseshells and among them on the Buddleia was this lovely Painted Lady.  Fist and only one I've seen this year.

#100DaysofNature Day 45 Painted Lady. sun's out summers not over yet ;) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/8OwlW9V6yd
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 6, 2014

Here's an SLR picture:

Painted Lady (foreground) - Soft focus Red Admiral (background)

Day 44: Pleated Ink Cap

I guess I've not been looking before - but I've never really noticed fungi in the cemetery.  This little chap was just at the edge of the path.

Never tried any mushroom ID before so I hope this is right.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pleated-ink-cap

#100DaysofNature Day 44 Pleated Ink Cap. @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/voJujBhxQd
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 5, 2014

Day 43: Thistle Down

Lots of plants setting seed at the moment non more obvious than the thistles.

#100DaysofNature Day 43 Thistle Down. It's like a pillow has exploded. @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/oM3lEglqn8 pic.twitter.com/6jure46zXR

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 4, 2014

Day 42: Field Bindweed

This might be better title, "the one that got away". I've been trying to get a photograph of common lizard for a while now.  I've seen loads but not "got one" yet.  So camera at the ready I checked out the four little squares of corrugated iron I put out a few years ago. Slow worms galore lots and lots of baby ones under the first three tins.  Last tin I looked under -bingo, even better than a lizard a grass snake. I've seen them around a couple of times but never under the tins.  Sadly he was faster than my camera - which was still trying to focus and he was gone :(

The field bindweed is pretty common in the cemetery. This one seemed to be strangling the life out of some umbellifer.

All you need to know about them.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/field-bindweed

#100DaysofNature Day 42 field bindweed @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/XpFkm33ByT
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 3, 2014

Day 41: Sycamore helicopters

More autumnal fruits  - Helcopters seem to be the official word :)

"In some parts of the UK the winged seeds are known as 'helicopters', and used in flying competitions and model-making by children."

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

#100DaysofNature Day 41: sycamore helicopters @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/eHa08EgBns
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 2, 2014

Day 40: Rose Hip

Another flat grey day... Not ideal for photography.  These Rose Hips a nice splash of colour.  Apparently used as a great source of vitamin C and were commercially harvested during second world war.

#100DaysofNature Day 40: Rose Hip @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/KrUiJDxiOc
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 1, 2014