Staines Moor SSSI yellow wagtails

Earlier in the week Tom managed to get a free half day, so he went to Staines Moor after a quick trip to the reservoir. The reservoir was rather busy, with highlights of bar-tailed godwit (summer plumage), comic terns, the mallard/tufted duck hybrid family, little gull and quite literally hundreds of swifts (as well as the usual GC grebes, red kite etc.). 

On the moor it was nice to see the first butterflies including battling speckled woods, a brimstone and a holly blue- I was also surprised to be mobbed by a male emperor moth. Along with the first whitethroats and wheatears, the number one highlight had to be the dozen or so yellow wagtails...

Wheatears on yellow meadow ant hills.  

Wheatears on yellow meadow ant hills.  

Male and female yellow wagtails.

My three sightings of yellow wagtail since moving down to Egham in September... slowly getting better sightings and better photographs of these stunning birds.

Wyoming update

Just a few photos from Molly's camping trip last weekend - on the Wyoming / Montana border. Slightly spectacular scenery and wildlife! To keep up with Molly, the best way is to follow her on Instagram at  mollyonthemap.

The Bighorn river and canyon. 

Wild horse .....

A wild stallion - beautiful!
 I quote Molly: While we often generalize wild horses as “mustang”, the truth is that most populations across the US have a muddled genetic history. Ancestors often bred with a multitude of breeds such as drafts and thoroughbreds. The Pryor Mountain wild horses, however, are genetically unique and most of their traits do indeed stem from the Spanish mustang. Fortunately this population is closely monitored on the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Keeping population numbers low while maintaining genetic diversity means better conditions for both the horses and local wildlife alike.

Great horned owl.

Gorgeous colours (and dog).

Molly.

Maryport turnstones

A walk along the beach at Maryport this morning while waiting for the Chelaris to come in, to buy fresh fish. Much of the beach is made up of slag and the local 'Red Point' as always, provides inspiration...as do the turnstones.

Caldbeck to Hesket Newmarket

A glorious day and walk along by the river. The spring flowers were spectacular, especially the wood anemones. 

Wood anemones.

Wood anemones, celandines and Rocky.

Wood anemones, herb Paris, goldilocks buttercup and the first and only wild garlic in flower.

Bluebells ...just a few. 

Primrose, violets and celandine, celandine and wood anemones.

Reflections....

...and then the river dried up. 

First moth trap of the year

On Friday night we put the trap out for the first time in the year. Not a brilliant set of species or numbers, but comparable to other traps at this time of year. We had: streamer 3; clouded drab 8; Hebrew character 19; early thorn 3; common quaker 5; small quaker 2; dark swordgrass 1; powdered quaker 1; red chestnut 1; early grey 1.

Clouded drab.

Dark swordgrass.

Early grey.

Early thorn.

Hebrew character.

Streamer.

Fire pit...

Just a few photos of the fire....I love the colours and movement! 

Carrock Fell

It was so nice sat out on the fell sketching today. My new favourite technique of an acrylic background with wax crayon on top.....

Septarian Nodules in felt!

While we were in North Yorkshire last week, I enjoyed hunting for the perfect septarian nodule. Of course there isn't one and they come in all sorts of patterns. I fancied seeing if I could make a felt version ...and then designed and made a felt sheet based on them. 

The septarian nodules.

...and including my felted version.

...and my felt picture. 

Ruby tiger moth

It was nice to find this beautiful little moth - we haven't had one for a while now and it is quite early in the year for us in North Cumbria.