The Full Monty on the Local Patch

It was such a beautiful day today that I decided on a full circuit of the local patch, starting in the cemetery and woodland burial ground and taking in Weelsby Woods, The Dead Wood (Carr Plantation) as well as The Horsefield (Gooseman's ); a walk of over six miles.  It was bright and clear again with a few clouds and a mild 13C.  I was absolutely delighted to find two redwings in the cemetery, my first for this year.  Making my usual way around the woodland burial ground, I was pleased to see the bullfinch pair again and to hear the familiar chiff, chiff, chaff of my first summer visitor: a chiffchaff.  A great spotted woodpecker was drumming in the woods and, although no skylark today, I was pleased to see a linnet fly up in front of me from the thick bramble hedge on the edge of The Horsefield; good to see that they, too, are return to their breeding ground.  My final bird sighting of note was a buzzard soaring over Scartho school field.  Butterflies were again forthcoming with three small tortoishells and a very tatty comma.  Spring has definitely arrived.

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Goat Willow

Chiffchaff

Wren

Buzzard

On the Local Patch with the Macro Gear for the First Time this Year

A longer walk again today taking in the Woodland Burial Ground first and then across Peaks Parkway to Weelsby Woods, the Dead W and then back over Peaks Tunnel and the Horsefield.  An what a beautiful sprink-like day with plenty of warm sun.  These early days of spring are amazing.  The land is drying out quickly now and it is becomming easier to negotiate the Dead Wood, although the middle is still flooded.  There are lots of signs of spring now with primroses well out and also, in the cemetery the alder catkins are in their prime.  I saw my first butterfly of the year and the white violets are coming into flower in the Dead Wood.  I took my 55-200mm lens with extension tubes in the hope of some macro work and used them for the included images.

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Wednesday, Garden and Cemetery/Horsefield Walk

We are well into 'Lockdown' now and trying to get used to the idea.  It is particularly strange for me as I am over 70 and have a heart condition.

It was another beautiful day and to break up the decorating we enjoyed coffee and later lunch in the garden.  I was pleased to see a peacock butterfly which settled for a while.  A sulphur yellow brimstone flew quickly through and bees were out feeding especially on the perennial wallflowers and the occasional bee fly was around.  I was particularly pleased to see a buzzard soaring over the Horsefield while we were having lunch.

After lunch I set off for the normal cemetery/Horsefield walk.  As I had hoped butterflies were now in evidence with plenty of peacocks and tortoiseshells and a single comma on the horsefield.  I noticed that hazel leaves were beginning to open and blackthorn blossom was a froth of white on the hedges.  Before we can blink I shall be collecting the sloes for next year's sloe gin.  Lesser celendine is in flower here as well as in our garden where it is not quite so welcome.  I was delighted to get my first chiffchaff of the year.

Peacock
Small Tortoiseshell
Comma
Blackbird
Robin
Wood pigeon
Jay
Chiffchaff
Magpie
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Bullfinch
Dunnock
Long Tailed Tit
Lesser Celendine 

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Willow Catkins

A froth of blackthorn blossom

Cherry

Cherry

Cemetery daffodils

Hazel

Hazel

Hazel

Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

Peacock

Not often you can take a bird pic with an 80mm macro

Willow

Comma

Comma

Comma

Dandelion

This is why it's called the Horsefield

Peacock