sunflowers

Tuesday 31st July

Well here we are the last day of July, bit of a mixed bag today, light showers but warm.

Had a nice walk up to Captains and up to the Corn fields, popped down and had a stroll along Stonechat's Lane, but apart from a few magpies there wasn't much to be seen in the way of birds.

So a long slow stroll back up the carrot field, lots of common blue butterflies around along with gatekeepers and large whites, noticed the ferns are turning colour, could be signs of an early autumn.

Up along the muck heaps I did spot several sunflowers dotted around, such a pleasure to see these.

A stroll down to Stone Pool, the field was full of hay bales all ready and waiting to be collected, always nice to see this sight but means we are slowly getting toward the end of Summer.

From top of corn field with Titterstone Clee Hill in the backgroud.

Looking towards Captains Pool

Looking toward Stone Pool, you can see why I enjoy my walks.

Lilies are abundant in Stone Pool, surprised to see no-one fishing on such a pleasant day.

From the pool I made my way back along the Cloisters where I spotted a lone Red Kite, lost sight of him though as he flew behind the tree line.

Did spot more sunflowers in the field though, hope we shall see more of them, Captain's was very quiet so it was off home for a cup of brew.

quiet week

Been a very hot and humid week so only been walking around Captain's and the Cloisters, hopefully fresher next week and can get back to some decent walks.

Three images here not far from Captains which were used by the BBC for the weather programme.

Common Darter

Seen mainly the usual suspects over the field, purple hairstreaks perched on the brambles by the pool, holly blues, common blues and brown argus still about, lots of speckled woods and gatekeepers still around, but haven't seen many large skippers this year, I'm still living in hope that I might see something rare, but I've been beaten by the sun this past week.

a FIRST for Spennells

Thursday 19th July

Well another hot and sunny day with no end to it in sight, today I just didn't feel like a long walk round Spennells, so I decided to pay my first visit to Trench Wood which is just outside Droitwich.

What an amazing place, butterflies and dragonflies everywhere, the first two butterflies I saw were Purple Hairstreaks, lots of fritillaries, white admirals, skippers amd more.

Silver Washed Fritilliary

Male purple hairstreak

On return home I popped along the Cloisters which is my favourite place for insects, spotted this Mint moth, did see Brown Argus, common whites, couple purple hairstreaks and the usual million whites.

Saturday 21st July
A walk along the Cloisters, blooming warm again, met someone who was looking for adders, best of luck I told him as I don't know of anyone who has seen one around Spennells, the only snake I have seen is on the pool.

Nursery Web Spider

Icheumon Wasp

Southern Hawker at rest by the Pool.

Quick walk down to the 3 pools and was very surprised to see this Emerald Damselfly, I double checked the ID with Jason and he confirmed it and also told me that he thinks it is a first for Spennells, so very pleased to have spotted a first for the site.

Sunday 22nd July
Warm start again, so a quick visit to the 3 pools, but no sign of any Emeralds this morning, lots of blue-tails about and too many to count common blue butterflies, just want to get back to normal weather now as it's just too hot to stay out very long. The forecast is for it to get hotter again, phew!

4 images of the blue-tail damselfly and 1 of a common Crane fly.

Still playing with Affinity Photo, photos of the moon, fox and an infrared image, images all taken by myself and merged together.

A new walk

Saturday 14th July

Warm morning which soon changed to very very warm, the wife came along on this walk, we followed the lane to the right of Captains Pool and walked up to the corn field, we then made our way down to Stanklyn Lane, walked along there until we cam to Stone Church, saw a brown argus there and also a woodpecker.

We walked down the bank and turned right toward Dunclent, we veered right, away from the kennels along the lane, along there was very busy with Gatekeepers and ringlets.

We carried on for a good way, easy walking and then came to a nature reserve, to be honest I didn't even know this place existed, we entered and walked a hundred yards or so but was very dull and the legs were starting to get tired, so 2-1/2 hours later we got back home, shall will return another day soon.

Small magpie moth

Gatekeeper

Hover Fly

Silver Y moth

Small tortoiseshell

Sunday 15th July

A day off today and we visited a NT property, Berrington Hall with the family, was also a kite festival and although there wasn't much wind they did manage to fly a lot of kites, our 2 grand children loved it.

We did have a walk around the lovely lake and saw many different species of dragonflies, damselflies and demoiselles, but I did not have the close up equipment with me.

Wednesday 16th July

Dull but warm start saw me over by Pirates Wood again, saw a hummingbird hawk moth which is an amazing moth, but sadly I didn't get a photo.
Saw lots of butterflies, but not a purple hairstreak, still after a better photo of that, had a good walk around the fields, but not a lot about today.

Common green grasshopper

Speckled bush cricket.

Tuesday 17th July

Had a good walk today, not much along the Cloisters so went down to Stanklyn and made my way to the Railway field, poppies have all gone over now but lots of wild plants thriving there, saw mainly whites, a few common blues and also some painted ladies which were in perfect condition.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Common Blue

Sky looked interesting so took this one and sent it to the BBC, it has been picked so should be used for the weather at some point today.

Purple Hairstreak butterfly

Wednesday 11th July

It's school run day so not much walking, an hour early on was my lot, especially as it was England v Croatia on telly, England did well to be fair with such a young and in-experienced squad, but not for one minute did I think they would beat Croatia, Croatia only have a few world class players and that proved to be enough.

England now play Belgium for the third place on Saturday and as much as I would love them to win I just can't see any way in which they can beat Belgium.

Another Brown Argus, I do love these butterflies.

Common Blue

Thursday 12th July, a dull and fresher start, and ventured out for an hour before lunch.

Hoverfly

Speckled Wood close up

Lone tufted duck on Captain's

Friday 13th July
A walk down Stanklyn Lane in very humid conditions, was hoping to see a purple hairstreak as a photo is still eluding me.
My first photo of a Gatekeeper this year was my only bonus for this morning.

Very sunny and humid again this afternoon, I popped along to the tree where I knew there were several hairstreaks, saw quite a few and finally one landed and I managed to get one shot, lots of small Coppers about along with a few dragonflies and numerous other butterflies.

Purple Hairstreak

Small Copper

Hopefully now I have that photo in the bag I shall get back to some half decent walkabouts.

More butterflies

Saturday 7th July

Once again very hot, so only a short walk, down the Cloisters and Pirates wood, this view below is from the edge of the wood, corn looking quire ripe.

My usual place for butterflies near to Captain's Pool, very pleased to spot this Brown Argus butterfly, not the easiest of spots as they are quite small.

Hope for a rest before watching England beat Sweden 2-0 in the world cup, although they haven't yet been up against a real quality team I now think they have a good chance, come on England.

Met up with Jason later on down Stonechats Lane to look for the purple hairstreaks and we were not let down, now I need to try and get a photo which is not easy as they don't settle very often.

Sunday July 8th

Yet another hot one with no let up forecast for at least the next week. 

I braved an hour's walk before lunch, yes once again my usual short walk, spotted 3 purple hairstreaks along the Grey Lady's Cloisters.

This Brown Hawker was resting amongst the ferns, I was very lucky to spot it, but couldn't get a real good quality image.

Green veined white's

White butterflies in the late evening light.

Monday 9th July

A good walk this morning, up by the pool and then along the Cloisters, up the carrot field and down to Stonechat's Lane, a walk along there and then retraced my steps and ended up down by the three pools, which was amazingly quiet.

Marbled White with a 6 spot burnet moth.

Close up of a marbled white

Plume moth

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Emporer Dragonfly laying eggs.

Damselflies

Buff Ermine moth caterpillar

Tuesday 10th July
Weather touch duller today plus had a few things to do so it was just an hour near Pirates Wood.
Brown Argus

Common Blue