Tag: Blue tits

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Cozy Evening Reflections

Posted on by BITM

I am feeling cozy, sitting on the sofa, as I reflect on last weeks observations on a dark evening.

Along with the earlier sunsets, fresh mornings have begun to take hold too. I have been noticing a lot of changes occurring with trees throughout the week. Their leaves are turning autumnal and I have been able to pick fresh apples as I work. Lots of conkers are falling around the bus stop too.

One of the apple trees with lovely sweet apples is pictured below. There were other trees with Russet and Cox apples.

The Rowan tree outside my home continues to have Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) feeding on insects. Plus I have also seen a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and two Long tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) eating insects on it’s branches, along with a Blackbird (Turdus merula) feasting in the berries.

Mr Blackbird wasn’t camera shy.

I still saw Small white (Pieris rapae), Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies as they took advantage of the late flowering perennials.

On Wednesday I noticed a Painted lady butterfly as well as a Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) visiting some Ceratostigma willmottianum which is still blooming while the leaves are turning red.

Some plants have been flowering all summer, such as Geraniums and Verbena bonariensis, and now bloom alongside Sedums, Asters and Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) painting gardens in muted colours.

Sedums and Verbena bonariensis looking lovely amongst ornamental grasses.
Geranium still flowering.
A Painted lady butterfly collecting nectar from an Aster flower.
Autumn crocuses blooming in the lawn.

Cutting back faded perennials was one of last weeks jobs which meant I disturbed a lot of Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata). So I spent quite a bit of time rescuing them from garden waste bins too.

Lastly, as I walked home late on Wednesday, I ended up seeing a beetle walking across the path in the moonlight and enjoyed the view of the Waxing gibbous moon amongst the clouds.

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“Here’s Looking at you Kid.”

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Bank holiday weekend was roasting, especially Sunday therefore I decided to take it easy so I wouldn’t overheat. Even though I didn’t go out, nature came to me. While looking out of the window I noticed a Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) moth trying to remain in shade on an outside wall. This large moth (6.5-7.5cm wingspan) has predominantly red underwings with black and white markings, hence it’s common name. The food of this moths larvae are
Willow (Salix) and Poplar (Populus) trees.

I also managed to photograph one of this years Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) brood in the Rowan (Sorbus) tree outside. They are definitely looking more like the adults now.

It’s also lovely to see the Rowan is full of ripe berries ready for the Thrushes (Turdus philomelos) and also the Redwings (Turdus iliacus) that I usually see in winter.

Monday was slightly cooler although it was still hotter than I prefer it to be. However armed with suncream, hat and water I visited Ham House and Garden in London. While walking round the grounds, bees, crickets and the occasional Ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) could be heard.
There was an extensive kitchen garden with cut flower and edible flower areas which I particularly enjoyed viewing.
I saw lots of Honey bees (Apis mellifera) on Globe artichokes (Cynara cardunculus) within the kitchen garden.

There was another lovely sighting as I ate lunch too. Amongst the Wisteria (having a second flush of flowers) as well as some scaffolding was a Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) sitting on it’s nest. It didn’t move other than to blink as it was no doubt observing us all eating trying to remain undetected.

Upon my return there was a Speckled bush cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) in the hall to welcome me home. As there was no ovipositor on the end of the abdomen (the appendage from which the female lays eggs) I identified it as male.

Long weekends are lovely but they still pass quickly and Tuesday rolled around again, so I was back to work.
I didn’t notice as many butterflies last week, although bees are still prevalent. During the warmest part of the day, when I was once again wilting, I noticed how active the Honey bees were on the Sedums even though they are only just starting to bloom.

I also observed a Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) moth later that evening. It’s caterpillars feed on herbaceous plants especially Ivy (Hedera helix).

The nice weather of sunshine and low 20s temperature continued to the latter part of the week.

Once again it was Honey bees I mostly noticed on Sedums as well as some visiting

-Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Herbstsonne’.

– and Erigeron karvinskianus.

However there was one plant I noticed that surprised me. In a wooded area a small patch of Cyclamen hederifolium was poking it’s flowers above the leaf litter and Ivy; Yet another sign of late Summer and the beginning of Autumn.

Then just when I thought I wouldn’t get to catch a proper view of a butterfly, I managed to see a Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on a white Buddleja bush.

Lastly, I saw another moth in the hall, this time however it was a Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) moth.

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The Ladies Arrived

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I finally got to see a some Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies, in fact there were three visiting a Buddleia I was working near. I thought I caught a glimpse of one last week (but couldn’t be sure) however this was a definite sighting.

I got to see them again on Tuesday together with a Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and a Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on the same Buddleia.

Plus earlier on Tuesday I got to see two Small white (Pieris rapae) butterflies, a Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) along with a Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) butterfly.

Also on Tuesday I got to feast on my first blackberries (Rubus) of the season and see an Oak bush (Meconema thalassinum) cricket in the hallway upon my return from work.

Wednesday was a washout and Thursday quiet too therefore it was nice to have some wildlife sightings on Friday morning before the rain returned.

While I ate breakfast, I observed the young Bluetits (Cyanistes caeruleus) visit the Rowan (Sorbus) tree. I noticed that their plumage was more like the adults, no longer predominantly green.

Then just before lunch, I noticed a Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius) bumblebee and a Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) visiting some Thyme (Thymus).

The Heath bumblebee visiting some Thyme.
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An Enchanting Week

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My interest in plants extends to herbal medicine and floral folklore. Often found in gardens, such plants are easily accessible.

I find poisonous plants fascinating too. I would like to visit the Chelsea Physics garden as well as the Alnwick Poison Garden in Northumberland. Over the past week, a few wild flowers that I have noticed blooming would probably be found in these gardens, these are;

– White bryony (Bryonia dioica) scrambling over Dogwood (Cornus). White Bryony has poisonous berries and the plant has a very strong unpleasant purgative affect. A few deaths linked to this plant have been recorded.

– Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara).

Also called Bittersweet the plant would make someone incredibly ill; the berries if eaten would cause vomiting and convulsions. There have been a few deaths linked to this plant. It is from the same family as Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna, See Woodland Trust).

I saw other wildflowers blooming too such as the intriguingly named Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana). Confusingly this flower isn’t from the nightshade family at all but is actually a Willowherb. One folkloric belief was that this plant would give protection against Elvish spells.

I also saw Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) along the verges.

I continued to see many birds and insects throughout the week. After many days since the last time, I was happy to see the juvenile Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) back in the Rowan tree (Sorbus). Also on Monday I had a Juvenile Robin (Erithacus rubecula) follow me around. Clearly the instincts for locating food near gardeners starts early.

The first moth I saw last week was an adult female Bee moth (Aphomia sociella). These moths are so called because they lay eggs in bee and wasp nests and also bee hives. Their larvae eat the comb, causing damage and are therefore a pest for beekeepers.

Other moths I saw were two Rosy tabby (Endotricha flammealis) moths

and a Dark arches (Apamea monoglypha) moth.

On Wednesday I was working near a fantastic old Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) tree. Countless Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) were busy flying to and fro pollinating the flowers.

As the summer continues more and more butterflies become visible. I have seen lots more Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Large white butterflies (Pieris brassicae). One of them seen here on some lavender (Lavandula).

Also on Wednesday I observed two butterflies that I have never seen before, a Marbled white (Melanargia galathea) on Verbena bonariensis

and a Small skipper butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris), also seen on the Verbena bonariensis.

Later on the same day I also saw ten Azure damselflies (Coenagrion puella) around the pond.

On Friday morning, as I was going to work, I had to usher a Common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) outside so it could find some aphids to munch on.

Then lastly on Friday I saw a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) on Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’.

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Different sort of Easter chicks

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After a busy seven days it is lovely to finally relax and reflect upon last weeks sightings.

Throughout the week I have seen Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and Brimstone butterflies (Gonepteryx rhamni) flying around as well as more Harlequin ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis). I have seen even more 7-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), well into double figures. Ladybirds make me smile, a reaction than never diminishes. Something else that made me happy last week was seeing lots of tadpoles continuing to develop; it won’t be long before they become frogs feasting on slugs and snails.

On Thursday I walked home again, discovering yet more wildflowers blooming along the verge. The most prolific was Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). Also called Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Chervil it is pictured below amongst Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) and White Dead-nettle (Lamium album).

Other flowers I saw along the way were;

-Honesty/ Moonwort/Money plant (Lunaria annua)

-Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)

-Dove’s foot cranesbill (Geranium molle)

-Cuckooflower/ Lady’-smock (Cardamine pratensis)

-and Hedge garlic/ Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

I know this plant as Jack-by-the-hedge. I’m not entirely sure why it has this name. I guess it refers to being commonly found near hedgerows and Jack used to be a common name. Apparently the leaves, which have a mild garlic smell and taste, can be eaten in salads and sauces with meat or fish (Garlic mustard- Wildlife Trusts).

This week has been great for learning new bird sounds too. I have discovered a Dunnock (Prunella modularis) and a Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) nearby without seeing them. Over the last few days I have heard another beautiful sound too. Each year I have Blue tits (Parus caeruleus) nesting under the eaves and it won’t be long before I hear their young. It is a fantastic sign of spring, better than anything the Easter bunny could bring (chocolate eggs are a close second though).

Yesterday I spent time visiting The Vyne (National Trust). The main attraction was the English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) on the woodland walk. The views were enchanting and smell delightful.

Also flowering near the Bluebells were Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa).

I spotted more Orange-tip butterflies there along with some Speckled wood butterflies (Pararge aegeria) flitting about.

It was a lovely way to spend a sunny Easter Sunday in good company.