Over to the Dead Wood.

A superb morning walking over the Horsefield and around the Dead Wood (more correctly Carr Plantation) at the back of Weelsby Woods.  The wind has moved round to the south west and with only a gentle breeze the clear sunny day felt warm and spring like.  I had gone to the trouble of carrying my tripod as I wanted to rephotograph some xanthoria lichen that I had take the other day and not got as sharp as I had wished.  As I was carrying the tripod, I left the birding lens at home which was a shame as some excellent opportunities presented themselves - ah well!!  I was delighted with very close views of a sparrowhawk as it flew over and enjoyed listening to a greater spotted woodpecker drumming in the cemetery.  I noticed a pair of crows busy with their nest, high in a tall tree on the edge of the cemetery.  It was good to have a socially distanced chat with friends Nigel and Jackie who were walking Tilly while I was photographing the lichen.

It was very satisfying to see and hear a couple of skylarks singing and a buzzard called while soaring over the Dead Wood.  I disturbed a small flock of mostly male yellowhammers where they were feeding on one of the cultivated fields; I would have thought that they would have been paired up by now.  

Plenty of butterflies were on the wing on this warm morning: 2 brimstone, 6 peacocks and 9 small tortoiseshells.
To view large, please click on an image.

Blackthorn

Dandelion

Feather

Feather

Lesser Celendine

Lichen

Lichen

Xanthoria Lichen

Xanthoria and grey lichens

Silver birch catkins

Brimstone

Sparrowhawk

Sunrise and Dawn Chorus on The Horsefield

A mega early start this morning to catch the sunrise on the Horsefield.  Up at 5.00 for an early morning cup of tea and out of the house at 6.00.  As we made our way across the fields the sky was just beginning to colour up.  It was easier going across the first cultivated field now as it has been disc-harrowed, drilled and rolled.  Although there was no rain forecast clouds were building from the west.  It is bone dry now and the soil suface baked hard with cracks forming.  The Horsefield has a bleached end of winter look, although hawthron leaves are well open, blackthorn in flower and the soot black buds of ash trees just beginning to open and show their flowers.  The dawn chorus is now underway with blackbirds the main contenders at the moment; even a cockerel on the allotments joined in along with a pheasant.  As sunrise approached the sky coloured up nicely.  As we walked along the hedges, back from Peake's Tunnel magpies were about their business and reedbuntings, dunnock and chaffinches were singing.  There was still no sign of a wheatear, although I have been reliably informed that there is one about.
Blackbird
Chaffinch
Magpie
Woodpigeon
Yellowhammer
Robin
Reed Bunting
Dunnock
Crow
Heron
Blue tit
Great Black backed Gull
Herring Gull
Grey Lag Goose
Pheasant
To view large, please click on an image

Chaffinch

Pheasant

Reed Bunting

Yellowhammer

Dunnock

Just the Cemetery

Feeling like some fresh air on Tuesday afternoon, Heather and I went for a walk just around the woodland burial ground.  The primroses are still looking well and it was good to hear the wheezt song of a greenfinch.  I was also delighted to hear a chiffchaff calling.  Although overcast, when the sun did come out it felt quite warm.

When we returned home I noticed that amongst our usual purple snakeshead fritillaries, a white one had popped up.  Beautiful.

Robin
Blackbird
Magpie
Woodpigeon
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Chiffchaff
Great Tit
To view large, please click on an image.

The Cemetery

Neglected grave in the older part of the cemetery

Neglected grave in the older part of the cemetery

Neglected grave in the older part of the cemetery

Feather caught on last year's hogweed.

Feather caught on last year's hogweed.

Oak Apple

Oak Apple

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Great Tit

Greenfinch

White snakeshead fritillary

White snakeshead fritillary

Cemetery Walking.

On Monday morning I enjoyed watching the buzzard soaring over the houses from my study window.  In the afternoon I opted to do a version of my usual walk despite the more overcast conditions.  There was mixed sun and cloud with a cold northerly wind which made it feel quite bleak when the sun went in.

I began my walk by going through the cemetery which is now not open until 12.00 noon. The primroses were still looking good as I followed my usual route around the edge and then around the outside of the woodland burial ground.  I enjoy this section.  Attractive and often productive, especially in the summer when it attracts large numbers of butterflies and dragonflies.  I have also found early chiffchaff and willow warbler here and I have seen evidence of deer and live in hope of seeing/photographing the animals themselves.  Sadly when I reached the gate out into the Horsefield I found it chained and locked and I am certain that this is just down to bloody-mindedness rather than the coronavirus.  Undaunted I continued through the crematorium grounds and along the footpath by the side of the allotments to reach the Horsefield that way.  Here brambles were coming into leaf, a reminder that spring is here, despite the chilly weather.  After exploring the Horsefield I made may way home via Edge Avenue round the corner from home.

Gates to Horsefield sadly locked.

Gates to Horsefield sadly locked

Xanthoria Lichen

Looking a bit bleak on the Horsefield

Amazing what you come across

Bramble leaves beginning to open now.

Bramble leaves beginning to open now.

Bramble leaves beginning to open now.

Routes from home through the cemetery and around the Horsefield.