Whirlygig Beetles, Bumper cars and Grass snakes!

Like crazed dodgem cars, the Whirlygigs were enjoying the autumn afternoon sun, speeding up when disturbed and then settling down to a less frenetic pace when they sense the danger has passed.

This grass snake was making its way across the pond as I was watching the beetles.

 

Autumn...

Crabapple

Reedmace

Sweet Chestnut

Elderberry

Walnut

Cherry Laurel

Crabapple

Dogwood

Field Maple

Medlar

Sparrowhawk - Early breakfast (Click to enlarge pictures)

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

While making my breakfast I glanced over to the trees near the bird feeder and saw that I was not the only thing up early and having breakfast at Longbeach farm! I had seen the Sparowhawk just the day before harassing some pigeons on the lawn, and occasionally I have seen a hawk dash past the bird feeders hoping to catch a finch or tit.

While it is sad to see a songbird come to an early demise, even the hawk has to feed and so goes the circle of nature. Amazing to be privileged to see such beautiful birds just meters from the kitchen window.

It was low light conditions so had to brighten the image outside of the camera resulting in a rather grainy image, but happy to have captured the shot dispite not noticing I had the Camera ISO set to a very low 200!

 

Meadow Cut, Tedded and Baled.

 

We held off the hay cut for as long as possible as it seems criminal to cut the meadow in the height of summer when the bees and butterflies are avidly feeding on the nectar and pollen. Our small plot yielded 17 large bales of hay. I know that in terms of the nutritional value of the hay it will be lower if cut later in the year but my priority is for the wildlife so happy at the compromise. I don't have livestock so I just arrange with those that do to take it away for free if they do the harvesting. Seems like a win win for all. 

Excited to see how the meadow shapes up in year three and if I will need to make more regular cuts in the first few years to help reduce the fertility, all assuming I can bring myself to allow a much earlier cut!

Brimstone Butterfly

 

Brown Argus Female And Male Common Blue

Male Common Blue

Female Brown Argus

 

Kingfisher Returns!

 

The Fisher King taking a stickleback from my pond - Kingfisher Heaven!

 

Stop the killing of bees Sign the petition.

Sign Petition here

https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/ban-bee-killing-pesticides 

Bees are essential for our survival. They pollinate much of what we eat and play a critical role in sustaining ecosystems around the world. But the last decade has been devastating for insect populations, and bees have been hit hard - with populations shrinking by a third in the UK.

Bee-killing neonicotinoids have been banned across Europe since 2013, but the UK government has just approved these deadly chemicals for emergency use - posing a lethal threat to bee populations

Blue tailed Damselfly

 

 

Wildflower Day

 

Butterfly Bonanza

Comma Butterfly on Dogwood shrub

Large  Skipper

Green-veined White

 

Cinnabar moth - Tyria jacobaeae

 

Cinnabar moth on burdock leaf.

Scarce Chaser (Male) - Libellula fulva

 

Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata

Click to enlarge. Not a great picture but a record none the less.!

 

Red-eyed Damselfly - Erythromma najas

Male. The small red-eyed damsel male can be identified by a small black x shape mark on the last segement of the abdomen.  

 

Common Darter

 

Wildflower Time - What's not to love!

Bladder Campion

Corn  Camomile 

Sorrel

Wild Carrot

Brown Hare - Leverette 

Common Vetch