Have a goodun
Wurzel
Neil Freeman
Re: nfreem
Fantastic review of the year, brill photos and some food for thought for next year...ace
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
Many thanks for the kind comments all, they are very much appreciated
Rather long post to follow shortly,
Neil.
We did indeed Neil, I have been going through my final tally for the year and did surprisingly wellSussex Kipper wrote:.... It seems that many of us managed to squeeze everything we possibly could out of a very tricky season.
BWs, Neil
Rather long post to follow shortly,
Neil.
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
Looking back at 2012 - The final Tally.
My weeks in Norfolk and Dorset and the trip up to Arnside Knott had added a number of firsts for me this year including Swallowtail, High Brown Fritillary, Scotch Argus and Lulworth Skipper.
I also saw a couple of Species that I had not seen for years, namely Wall Brown and Clouded Yellow.
I had not been keeping a running total of the number of species I had seen and didn’t actually do a count until after I had seen Brown Hairstreaks at Grafton Wood in September.
I had thought that I had probably seen something like 40 or so species and was surprised to find that the Brown Hairstreak had made it a nice round 50 which, considering the year that we have had, I am well pleased with.
My final tally for the year is below, along with a few notes from my own observations and from some conversations with people that I met whilst out and about.
1. Small Skipper – First seen 14th July. Good numbers at most local sites
2. Essex Skipper – A few found at Castle hills and Babbs Mill near Solihull from mid-July. At Castle hills found in different part of meadows to Small Skippers.
3. Lulworth Skipper – A first for me. I was surprised to find fair numbers still flying at Durlston Country Park first week of September.
4. Silver-spotted Skipper – Loads seen at Aston Rowant on 16th August along slopes north side of M40.
5. Large Skipper – First seen 20th June at Salcey Forest.. Found at most local sites but numbers seemed lower than last year.
6. Dingy Skipper – First seen 13th May at Prestbury Hill, Gloucestershire during Warkwickshire BC walk. Good numbers at Bishops Hill Warks. in late May.
7. Grizzled Skipper – First seen 20th May at Harbury Warks. Also at Ryton Meadows 25th May but numbers seemed down on last year.
8. Swallowtail – Another personal first. 4 seen at Strumpshaw Fen 28th May and 1 at How Hill on 30th May. According to locals very late and apparently had a bad year.
9. Wood White – Half a dozen seen at Salcey forest, Northamptonshire 20th June. I believe they have done well here with good numbers seen earlier in June.
10. Clouded Yellow – 2 seen in Dorset, 1 on Bindon Hill, Lulworth 5th Sept. and 1 on Ballard Down 6th Sept. These were the first ones I have seen for years.
11. Brimstone – First seen 13th May at Prestbury Hill. Then occasionally from July until September when I found half a dozen together at Grafton Wood.
12. Large White - First seen in May then not again until August. Loads in Dorset first week of Sept.
13. Small White – First seen 23rd March in garden, then nothing until July when started to see almost everywhere until early October.
14. Green-veined White – First Spring Brood seen 26th April in garden. Summer brood not in numbers until late July onwards then seen everywhere.
15. Orange Tip – First seen 13th April at Castle Hills, Solihull. Good numbers around but not quite as many as last year. Last one seen was a female at Salcey Forest 20th June.
16. Green Hairstreak – First sighting at Prestbury Hill 13th May. Half a dozen at Ryton Meadows 23rd May, a couple of weeks later than last year.
17. Brown Hairstreak – Half a dozen at Grafton Wood on 8th September. A late emergence here but apparently showing well through September.
18. Purple Hairstreak – First seen 14th July at Ryton Wood during open day. Also seen at Oversley and Fermyn but definitely not as many as last year.
19. White-letter Hairstreak – Just 1 seen at Fermyn woods on 24th July on Elm in main ride. Possibly the most photographed WLH in the country this year
but I did not get a good shot.
20. Small Copper – Seen at 4 sites in Norfolk last week in May. Summer brood only found at 1 local site from 11th August. Half a dozen seen at Aston Rowant 16th August including a nice ab. radiata.
21. Small Blue – 1 seen at Prestbury Hill 13th May. A dozen or so at Bishops Hill Warwickshire during 2 visits late May and first week of June.
22. Silver-studded Blue – Loads seen at Prees Heath 4th July in 3 main concentrations along old runway.
23. Brown Argus – Small Colony found at Burgh Castle in Norfolk 26th May. A dozen or so at Aston Rowant 16th August. None seen on my local patch this year.
24. Common Blue – Loads in dunes north of GT Yarmouth 30th May. Good numbers at Bishops Hill Warks. 9th June.
Summer brood very late around local patch, not seen until 18th August at Shadowbrook Meadows and numbers low.
25. Chalkhill Blue – Loads at Aston Rowant on August 16th on slopes north side of M40. A few faded individuals still on Bindon Hill, Lulworth 5th Sept.
26. Adonis Blue – Hundreds seen in Dorset first week of Sept. at Ballard Down, Durlston CP and Bindon Hill. Apparently not such a good year for these elsewhere.
27. Holly Blue – First Spring brood seen 12th April in garden, Summer brood from 3rd week in July. Good numbers seen in garden, possibly slightly down on last year.
28. Duke of Burgundy – Half a dozen at Prestbury Hill 13th May, apparently the most seen here up until then. Definitely later than last year when I saw them here in April. Not a good year for this species.
29. White Admiral – A few seen at Oversley Wood, Ryton wood and Snitterfield Bushes during mid-July. Looks like another bad year for WAs in Warwickshire following on from a bad year last year.
30. Purple Emperor – First one seen at Oversley Wood, Warks. 21st July. Good numbers seen at Fermyn Woods 24th July, just after the main emergence which was late but good this year.
Apparently also seen in Salcey Forest after being absent for a number of years.
31. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Good numbers seen at the Wyre Forest 4th June, most nice and fresh. I had timed my visit here to try and see both PBF and SPBF.
32. Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Good numbers in the Wyre Forest 4th June, most getting a bit faded. Apparently had a good year here.
33. High Brown Fritillary – Another first for me, half a dozen seen at Arnside Knott 29/30th July. According to local info numbers were down this year.
34. Dark Green Fritillary – Good numbers at Arnside Knott 29/30th July. Most getting tatty by now but some nice females still around.
35. Silver-washed Fritillary – Good numbers, similar to last year, seen at Ryton Wood, Oversley Wood and Snitterfield Bushes mid to Late July.
36. Red Admiral – First seen 20th June, then regular individuals until first week of September when I saw hundreds in Dorset. Then loads around local patch until first week of October.
37. Painted Lady – 1 faded specimen seen locally 23rd June. Approx. a dozen seen in Dorset first week of September with all the Red Admirals.
38. Small Tortoiseshell – First local sighting 25th March, a couple more in June then nothing until first week of September in Dorset when good numbers seen.
39. Peacock – Good numbers around locally last week of March. Summer brood very late and not seen until late August, when good numbers around for a couple of weeks.
40. Comma – Also around in good numbers locally in late March, I remember at the time, whilst others were seeing Brimstones, commenting that it was all Peacocks and Commas for me.
Individuals seen regularly at most sites from mid-July then loads from mid-September to early October.
41. Speckled Wood – First one in the garden 25th March, a few days earlier than last year. Then present in garden all year apart from a normal 2 week gap.
This year the gap was in late June which was a couple of weeks later than last year. Also seen regularly at most local sites. Numbers appeared similar to last year.
42. Wall Brown - 1 seen at Horsey Dunes in Norfolk 30th May. Half a dozen seen on Bindon Hill, Lulworth first week of September.
Another species that I have not seen for years, apparently it is extinct in Warwickshire.
43. Scotch Argus – My final first this year, there were loads at Arnside Knott 29th/30th July. They had only been flying for a few days when I was there and I only saw males.
44. Marbled White – First seen in good numbers at Ryton Meadows 14th July. Also Hundreds at Snitterfield 18th and 21st July. Found at 2 local sites for the first time this year.
45. Grayling – Abundant at Arnside Knott 29th/30th July. Loads seen in Dorset first week of September, particularly on Bindon Hill and Sandford Heath.
46. Gatekeeper – First few seen at Ryton 14th July. Good numbers around local sites through July and August but not in the same profusion as last year.
47. Meadow Brown - First seen locally on 23rd June, numbers built to the point where they were abundant everywhere I went.
I was still finding fairly fresh females in Dorset during the first week of September and my last local sighting was 15th Sept. This species seemed to have a very good year in the midlands.
48. Ringlet – First seen locally 30th June, this was another species that appeared to have a very good year, appearing in huge numbers at some sites during July.
49. Small Heath – First seen at Prestbury Hill on 13th May. I saw Small Heaths at a number of sites from July and at a number of sites in Dorset but only ever in ones and twos.
My impression is that locally they have not had a very good year.
And last but definitely not least,
50. Large Heath – Seen in good numbers at Whixall Moss on 4th July.
Considering that I made no attempt to see Chequered Skipper, Large Blue, Black Hairstreak, Mountain Ringlet nor Marsh, Heath or Glanville Fritillaries, this means that I saw just about everything that I set out to see plus a few that I did not expect.
I just missed out on Northern Brown Argus at Arnside Knott, apparently a few were still flying just before I went. I also missed the Monarch on Portland by a day, I read about the sighting on the night that I returned home from Dorset, oh well, musn't get too greedy
This means that it was a good year for me despite the weather which was ‘challenging’ at times if not downright atrocious. Amongst the gloom there were sunny days, of which some were glorious, 24th July at Fermyn Woods and the first week of September in Dorset springing to mind. Others were mostly cloudy and wet but still managed enough brightness to produce butterflies, my visits to Prees Heath / Whixall Moss on 4th July and Oversley / Snitterfield on 18th July being prime examples.
Here’s looking forward to 2013, whatever it brings.
Neil.
My weeks in Norfolk and Dorset and the trip up to Arnside Knott had added a number of firsts for me this year including Swallowtail, High Brown Fritillary, Scotch Argus and Lulworth Skipper.
I also saw a couple of Species that I had not seen for years, namely Wall Brown and Clouded Yellow.
I had not been keeping a running total of the number of species I had seen and didn’t actually do a count until after I had seen Brown Hairstreaks at Grafton Wood in September.
I had thought that I had probably seen something like 40 or so species and was surprised to find that the Brown Hairstreak had made it a nice round 50 which, considering the year that we have had, I am well pleased with.
My final tally for the year is below, along with a few notes from my own observations and from some conversations with people that I met whilst out and about.
1. Small Skipper – First seen 14th July. Good numbers at most local sites
2. Essex Skipper – A few found at Castle hills and Babbs Mill near Solihull from mid-July. At Castle hills found in different part of meadows to Small Skippers.
3. Lulworth Skipper – A first for me. I was surprised to find fair numbers still flying at Durlston Country Park first week of September.
- Lulworth Skipper - Durlston Country Park 03.09.2012
4. Silver-spotted Skipper – Loads seen at Aston Rowant on 16th August along slopes north side of M40.
- Silver-spotted Skipper - Aston Rowant 16.08.2012
- Large Skipper - Salcey Forest 20.06.2012
7. Grizzled Skipper – First seen 20th May at Harbury Warks. Also at Ryton Meadows 25th May but numbers seemed down on last year.
- Grizzled Skipper - Harbury 20.05.2012
- Swallowtail - Strumpshaw Fen 28.05.2012
10. Clouded Yellow – 2 seen in Dorset, 1 on Bindon Hill, Lulworth 5th Sept. and 1 on Ballard Down 6th Sept. These were the first ones I have seen for years.
11. Brimstone – First seen 13th May at Prestbury Hill. Then occasionally from July until September when I found half a dozen together at Grafton Wood.
12. Large White - First seen in May then not again until August. Loads in Dorset first week of Sept.
13. Small White – First seen 23rd March in garden, then nothing until July when started to see almost everywhere until early October.
- Small White - Sandford Heath
14. Green-veined White – First Spring Brood seen 26th April in garden. Summer brood not in numbers until late July onwards then seen everywhere.
- Green-veined White Coverdale 11.05.2012
- Orange Tip - Castle Hills 13.05.2012
16. Green Hairstreak – First sighting at Prestbury Hill 13th May. Half a dozen at Ryton Meadows 23rd May, a couple of weeks later than last year.
17. Brown Hairstreak – Half a dozen at Grafton Wood on 8th September. A late emergence here but apparently showing well through September.
18. Purple Hairstreak – First seen 14th July at Ryton Wood during open day. Also seen at Oversley and Fermyn but definitely not as many as last year.
- Purple Hairstreak - Oversley Wood 21.07.2012
19. White-letter Hairstreak – Just 1 seen at Fermyn woods on 24th July on Elm in main ride. Possibly the most photographed WLH in the country this year
but I did not get a good shot.20. Small Copper – Seen at 4 sites in Norfolk last week in May. Summer brood only found at 1 local site from 11th August. Half a dozen seen at Aston Rowant 16th August including a nice ab. radiata.
- Small Copper ab. radiata - Aston Rowant 16.08.2012
- Small Blue - Bishops Hill 09.06.2012
- Silver-studded Blue - Prees Heath 04.07.2012
24. Common Blue – Loads in dunes north of GT Yarmouth 30th May. Good numbers at Bishops Hill Warks. 9th June.
Summer brood very late around local patch, not seen until 18th August at Shadowbrook Meadows and numbers low.
25. Chalkhill Blue – Loads at Aston Rowant on August 16th on slopes north side of M40. A few faded individuals still on Bindon Hill, Lulworth 5th Sept.
26. Adonis Blue – Hundreds seen in Dorset first week of Sept. at Ballard Down, Durlston CP and Bindon Hill. Apparently not such a good year for these elsewhere.
27. Holly Blue – First Spring brood seen 12th April in garden, Summer brood from 3rd week in July. Good numbers seen in garden, possibly slightly down on last year.
- Holly Blue - Coverdale 09.08.2012
- Duke of Burgundy - Prestbury Hill 13.05.2012
30. Purple Emperor – First one seen at Oversley Wood, Warks. 21st July. Good numbers seen at Fermyn Woods 24th July, just after the main emergence which was late but good this year.
Apparently also seen in Salcey Forest after being absent for a number of years.
- Purple Emperor - Fermyn Woods
- Small-pearl Bordered Fritillary - Wyre Forest 04.06.2012
33. High Brown Fritillary – Another first for me, half a dozen seen at Arnside Knott 29/30th July. According to local info numbers were down this year.
- High Brown Fritillary - Arnside Knott 30.07.2012
- Dark Green Fritillary - Arnside Knott 30.07.2012
36. Red Admiral – First seen 20th June, then regular individuals until first week of September when I saw hundreds in Dorset. Then loads around local patch until first week of October.
37. Painted Lady – 1 faded specimen seen locally 23rd June. Approx. a dozen seen in Dorset first week of September with all the Red Admirals.
- Painted Lady - Studland 03.09.2012
39. Peacock – Good numbers around locally last week of March. Summer brood very late and not seen until late August, when good numbers around for a couple of weeks.
40. Comma – Also around in good numbers locally in late March, I remember at the time, whilst others were seeing Brimstones, commenting that it was all Peacocks and Commas for me.
Individuals seen regularly at most sites from mid-July then loads from mid-September to early October.
41. Speckled Wood – First one in the garden 25th March, a few days earlier than last year. Then present in garden all year apart from a normal 2 week gap.
This year the gap was in late June which was a couple of weeks later than last year. Also seen regularly at most local sites. Numbers appeared similar to last year.
42. Wall Brown - 1 seen at Horsey Dunes in Norfolk 30th May. Half a dozen seen on Bindon Hill, Lulworth first week of September.
Another species that I have not seen for years, apparently it is extinct in Warwickshire.
- Wall Brown - Bindon Hill 05.09.2012
- Scotch Argus - Arnside Knott 30.07.2012
- Marbled White - Snitterfield Bushes 18.07.2012
- Grayling pair - Sandford Heath 05.09.2012
47. Meadow Brown - First seen locally on 23rd June, numbers built to the point where they were abundant everywhere I went.
I was still finding fairly fresh females in Dorset during the first week of September and my last local sighting was 15th Sept. This species seemed to have a very good year in the midlands.
48. Ringlet – First seen locally 30th June, this was another species that appeared to have a very good year, appearing in huge numbers at some sites during July.
49. Small Heath – First seen at Prestbury Hill on 13th May. I saw Small Heaths at a number of sites from July and at a number of sites in Dorset but only ever in ones and twos.
My impression is that locally they have not had a very good year.
- Small Heath - Prees Heath 04.07.2012
50. Large Heath – Seen in good numbers at Whixall Moss on 4th July.
Considering that I made no attempt to see Chequered Skipper, Large Blue, Black Hairstreak, Mountain Ringlet nor Marsh, Heath or Glanville Fritillaries, this means that I saw just about everything that I set out to see plus a few that I did not expect.
I just missed out on Northern Brown Argus at Arnside Knott, apparently a few were still flying just before I went. I also missed the Monarch on Portland by a day, I read about the sighting on the night that I returned home from Dorset, oh well, musn't get too greedy
This means that it was a good year for me despite the weather which was ‘challenging’ at times if not downright atrocious. Amongst the gloom there were sunny days, of which some were glorious, 24th July at Fermyn Woods and the first week of September in Dorset springing to mind. Others were mostly cloudy and wet but still managed enough brightness to produce butterflies, my visits to Prees Heath / Whixall Moss on 4th July and Oversley / Snitterfield on 18th July being prime examples.
Here’s looking forward to 2013, whatever it brings.
Neil.
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Re: nfreem
With the wind moaning outside at the end of a grey day this post cheered me right up I might nick the format for my own posting if that's alright Neil?
Have a goodun
Wurzel
I might nick the format for my own posting if that's alright Neil?Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Mark Tutton
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Re: nfreem
Hi Neil - 24 July at fermyn would be my best day of a pretty dismal year. Probably one of the most pleasant weather wise but also a great introduction to the best emperor site I have visited and of course meeting up with your good self - well worth spending seven hours in the car for! Regards Mark
Diary entries for 2012 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
The wonder of the world, the beauty and the power, the shapes of things, their colours lights and shades, these I saw. Look ye also while life lasts.
Re: nfreem
Excellent resumé that, Neil. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
You listed 50 species and then went on to mention the following that you didn't see:
Chequered Skipper, Large Blue, Black Hairstreak, Mountain Ringlet, Marsh, Heath, Glanville Fritillaries and Northern Brown Argus.
That's 58 species in all but which is the one missing if the UK is supposed to harbour 59 in total?
You listed 50 species and then went on to mention the following that you didn't see:
Chequered Skipper, Large Blue, Black Hairstreak, Mountain Ringlet, Marsh, Heath, Glanville Fritillaries and Northern Brown Argus.
That's 58 species in all but which is the one missing if the UK is supposed to harbour 59 in total?
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
Many thanks for the great comments guys, they are always appreciated
Wurzel, feel free to use the format, all I did was list the butteflies in the order they may be found in my books and added my comments.
Hi Mark, I'm glad Fermyn is closer for me, about 90mins or so, I am not sure I could have coped with a 7 hour drive after all the walking that day. A fantastic day and definitely one of the highlights of my season too
David, I would go for Reals Wood White (or whatever it is called now, seem to remember something about it being now called Cryptic Wood White) being number 59. Could be wrong though, I often am
Cheers,
Neil.
Wurzel, feel free to use the format, all I did was list the butteflies in the order they may be found in my books and added my comments.
Hi Mark, I'm glad Fermyn is closer for me, about 90mins or so, I am not sure I could have coped with a 7 hour drive after all the walking that day. A fantastic day and definitely one of the highlights of my season too
David, I would go for Reals Wood White (or whatever it is called now, seem to remember something about it being now called Cryptic Wood White) being number 59. Could be wrong though, I often am
Cheers,
Neil.
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Re: nfreem
Spot on, Neil. Thanks for clearing that up.nfreem wrote:David, I would go for Reals Wood White (or whatever it is called now, seem to remember something about it being now called Cryptic Wood White) being number 59.
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
Nothing much to report from the past few weeks, I have been much too busy catching up on stuff around the house that I kept putting off through the summer.
Birds are coming back into the garden now that the weather is turning colder, some days there has been a bit of rowdy little gang consisting of Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits all squabbling over the feeders. I keep trying to get some photos of them but so far nothing that I am happy with, they are far too lively.
There have also been a couple of Nuthatches visiting regularly, the first time I have seen these in the garden. The photo below was taken some weeks ago and is the best that I have managed so far, I need to do a bit of practising taking photos of birds.
Amongst the glorious Autumn colours of the trees this year I have noticed that the Oaks are looking particulary striking. There is one particular road near my house which I regularly travel along but had never really noticed the colours until this year.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Birds are coming back into the garden now that the weather is turning colder, some days there has been a bit of rowdy little gang consisting of Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits all squabbling over the feeders. I keep trying to get some photos of them but so far nothing that I am happy with, they are far too lively.
There have also been a couple of Nuthatches visiting regularly, the first time I have seen these in the garden. The photo below was taken some weeks ago and is the best that I have managed so far, I need to do a bit of practising taking photos of birds.
- Nuthatch in garden.
- Autumn Oaks - 17.11.2012
Neil.
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
When the sun shone through...
I have been going through some of the many butterfly photos that I took during 2012 and it has struck me that on a surprising number of occasions I took location shots that show that the year was not a total washout.
I am not saying that the year was all that brilliant, I also have a load of location shots taken on gloomy days, in fact earlier in this diary I posted shots of my son Chris photographing butterflies in the rain.
A few shots below in memory of some of the better days of 2012 and in hope that 2013 will be a better year.
Heres hoping,
Neil F.
I have been going through some of the many butterfly photos that I took during 2012 and it has struck me that on a surprising number of occasions I took location shots that show that the year was not a total washout.
I am not saying that the year was all that brilliant, I also have a load of location shots taken on gloomy days, in fact earlier in this diary I posted shots of my son Chris photographing butterflies in the rain.
A few shots below in memory of some of the better days of 2012 and in hope that 2013 will be a better year.
- The year started of with such promise - Elmdon Park in March, loads of Commas and Peacocks.
- Castle Hills near Solihull in mid-April
- Strumpshaw fen during a good week in Norfolk in late May.
- Salcey Forest in late June
- Fermyn/ Souther/Lady Woods in July
- Babbs Mill - clear blue sky in July
- Shadowbrook meadows in August, not that sunny but a very warm and muggy day.
- Sandford Heath, Dorset - what can I say about my week there, absolutely glorious.
- Sheldon Country Park - late september.
Neil F.
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Re: nfreem
Certainly some photos to bring back warming memories. I was interested to see the shot of Fermyn as it wasn't the way I imagined it perhaps I ight make it there next year? My personal favourite shot was of Sandford Heath, but I am biased of course
Have a cracking New year
Wurzel
Have a cracking New year
Wurzel
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
Hi Wurzel,
If I remember correctly the Fermyn shot was taken in Souther wood, just to the south of Lady Wood which is across a farmers field to the south of Fermyn Wood proper. Some more shots below showing different aspects.
And heres another photo take in Dorset
Happy New Year, I hope its a good 'un
Neil.
If I remember correctly the Fermyn shot was taken in Souther wood, just to the south of Lady Wood which is across a farmers field to the south of Fermyn Wood proper. Some more shots below showing different aspects.
- Looking across the field from Fermyn to Lady Wood
- Another ride in Lady/Souther Wood
- Southern end of Souther Wood, opening out before coming completely out of the wood. Last PE of the day seen here at around 4.00pm.
- Corfe Castle taken whilst passing on the Swanage steam railway.
Neil.
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Neil Freeman
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Re: nfreem
My first entry in 2013 and along with most people throughout the UK we have had a fair bit of snow over the past few days. The main event was Friday with a good few cms falling over most of the midlands.
The snow eased off yesterday but it remained cold and although most of the roads were cleared the snow just stayed where it was elsewhere.
This morning dawned with a fine drizzle of light snow that persisted all morning and got heavier this afternoon. As I write this it has reverted to a fine drizzle again and is forecast to go on for a while yet.
I walked the 3 miles to work on Friday, looks like I'll be doing the same tomorrow.
Cheers,
Neil.
The snow eased off yesterday but it remained cold and although most of the roads were cleared the snow just stayed where it was elsewhere.
This morning dawned with a fine drizzle of light snow that persisted all morning and got heavier this afternoon. As I write this it has reverted to a fine drizzle again and is forecast to go on for a while yet.
- Earlier this morning the road outside my house was clear.
- Back Garden.
- Back garden
Cheers,
Neil.
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Re: nfreem
That three mile walk to work - are you starting your training for the season ahead? 
I'm very jealous of your garden by the way it looks awesome 
Have a goodun
Wurzel
I'm very jealous of your garden by the way it looks awesome Have a goodun
Wurzel
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: nfreem
Hi Wurzel,
Not so much training as just shuffling along
A couple of quick shots taken on my phone at about 06.00am this morning on my walk to work. It was nice and peaceful and really quite beautiful, the phone photos do not do justice to the way the street lights lit up the snow on the trees. Should have taken my camera but truth be told I am on autopilot at that time of the morning
Cheers,
Neil.
Not so much training as just shuffling along
A couple of quick shots taken on my phone at about 06.00am this morning on my walk to work. It was nice and peaceful and really quite beautiful, the phone photos do not do justice to the way the street lights lit up the snow on the trees. Should have taken my camera but truth be told I am on autopilot at that time of the morning
Neil.
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: nfreem
Wow! You seem to have been hit a lot harder than we have in Swansea.
Most of our snow at road/pavement level is already history.
Most of our snow at road/pavement level is already history.
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: nfreem
Hi David,
We had a double whammy, a few inches on Friday, nothing Saturday, then yesterday(Sunday) we had it all day and it didn't stop until around midnight. The temperature is dropping like a stone outside at the moment so looks like an icy one tomorrow morning.
Cheers,
Neil.
We had a double whammy, a few inches on Friday, nothing Saturday, then yesterday(Sunday) we had it all day and it didn't stop until around midnight. The temperature is dropping like a stone outside at the moment so looks like an icy one tomorrow morning.
Cheers,
Neil.
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: nfreem
Freezing fog's the worst thing, Neil. I hope and pray none of us has to put up with that tomorrow!
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
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Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: nfreem
Sunday 17th February.
The weather has been almost pleasant over the past few days after the rain and snow of the preceeding couple of weeks. Today actually felt like there was a promise of Spring in the air
I spent a bit of time this morning pottering about in the garden but couldn't really do a lot as most of the lawn and borders are still saturated. Walking on the grass left my forprints as muddy puddles so I kept off it as much as possible.
No Butterflies or other insects to be seen but there were a good number of birds about including Robins, Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits, Dunnocks, A pair of Blackbirds, a pair of Blackcaps, a Thrush and a Wren.
Bye for now,
Neil.
The weather has been almost pleasant over the past few days after the rain and snow of the preceeding couple of weeks. Today actually felt like there was a promise of Spring in the air
I spent a bit of time this morning pottering about in the garden but couldn't really do a lot as most of the lawn and borders are still saturated. Walking on the grass left my forprints as muddy puddles so I kept off it as much as possible.
No Butterflies or other insects to be seen but there were a good number of birds about including Robins, Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits, Dunnocks, A pair of Blackbirds, a pair of Blackcaps, a Thrush and a Wren.
- Robin - Coverdale 17.02.2013
- Male Blackcap - Coverdale 17.02.2013
- Great Tit and Dunnock - Coverdale 17.02.2013
- Long-Tailed Tit - Coverdale 17.02.2013
Neil.
Last edited by Neil Freeman on Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: nfreem
Some great shots there Neil What lens are you using to get such sharp close-ups - or are you dressed in a Gilly suit and creeping right up to them?
Have a goodun
Wurzel
What lens are you using to get such sharp close-ups - or are you dressed in a Gilly suit and creeping right up to them? Have a goodun
Wurzel
Diary entries for 2013 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.