An Evening at Trumpington Meadows

The meadows at Trumpington are spectacular with swathes of Oxeye Daisies, Hawksbit and Quaking Grass together with many other meadow species including hundreds of Bee Orchids and a good stand of Pyramidal Orchids. Here an impression of the visit - just needs sound added of Skylarks, Cuckoo, Meadow Pipits and, notably, Corn Buntings - songs reminiscent of this area in the 1960s before agricultural practices and building removed their habitats. After very heavy showers all day, yesterday evening was clear skies and even a hint of warmth in the sun. 

Parkgate 12th February

Parkgate on Monday presented so many spectacles - the view of masses of birds against the industrial scenes on the other side of the estuary and the speed with which the water rushed in to inundate the marshes at high tide. There were lots of White Egrets catching the voles, flocks of Pipits and Skylark, hovering Kestrels, Herons etc.

Dorset - Chesil Beach (30/05/2023)

Back from Dorset but still lots to process and record on my Blog (aka diary!!). I wanted to visit Chesil beach as I always find it a wonderful mixed wildlife area and was rewarded with insects, flowers and birds - here only a sample. The skylark had a very battered tail presumably as a result of ground nesting in a very rough terrain. Quite a few butterflies including mating Common Blues and lots of Bee Orchids, Broomrape and Wild Gladioli.

Windy Walk on Royston Heath

I walked across Royston Heath, through the Beechwoods and back along the edge of the golf course this morning admiring the winter trees and wind-swept clouds. As with my hunt for flowers in bloom in Toft on January 1st, I found only a single dandelion and small patches of Groundsel though the Hazel catkins are in full flower

 

Spring is in the Air

Wonderful to hear a couple of Skylarks trilling away at Trumpington Meadows - not enough for the collective  'Exultation of larks' but still enough to raise the spirits. Plenty of other activity among the rooks, waterbirds, gulls and jackdaws