15th - 20th May - Feel The Rain Like An English Summer

I decided that I needed to go and see what the Bluebells were like in Old Down, I haven't been in there for some time, and as the weather was lovely this evening I thought I would take a look.  My walk took me down Brislands Lane where I was serenaded by several Blackbirds and a few Robins. The leaves are now all completely out and everything looks splendid in the evening sunshine.
 

As I left the houses the field to the south of the lane was full of rape and shining bright yellow in the sun, It was though probably past its best now, with the blooms fading a little, but still quite spectacular.

It is quite a while now since all the forestry work in the wood.  Straight after that the ground was clear and the flowers could be seen quite easily.  Since then though with the extra light the bracken and bramble has flourished, and it is hard to see through to the floor, and as a consequence where there were carpets of bluebells these have now been engulfed by the tangle of bramble.

 I walked through to the crossroads,and then turned to the east, a detour to check if the owl was about, which it wasn't, and then back onto the main path.  What bluebells there were are now past there best, so I decided to check on the other side of the wood.  here there were a few more, and in a slightly better condition.

Sometimes it is better to view the bluebells under cloud cover as the sunlight seems to wash out the blue.

 Along the edge of the wood they were perhaps still at their best.

As I walked out of the wood i was taken by the trees above me and the leaves against the sky.

The path that leads to Gradwell Lane takes you through the Rape field.  Probably not ideal if you suffer from hay fever, but nonetheless impressive

 

Coming back along Gradwell Lane a male Orange Tip butterfly flew past, and then flew around as if looking to land.  After an age it finally settled and I was able to get in close to photograph it.
 

Another insect that is still about is the Bee Fly, this year due to the cold spring they have been very late emerging.  A cross between a bee and a fly this little insect has a very different approach to egg laying, flicking the eggs from the oviduct into the vegetation or holes.  I videoed this one, I don't think it was egg laying, but the down draft from the wings was clearing away small particles of soil.

 With the sunny weather holding over the weekend, I decided to put the moth trap out for the first time this year.  Whilst there was nothing really spectacular, it was nice to start to look at the moths once again.

This is a Pale Tussock, a moth I have regularly caught over the years.

This one again a regular in the garden, the White Ermine.

While this one is not so regular, the Figure of Eighty so called for the mark on the side that looks like the number 80.

Other moths present but not photographed were Brimstone, Clouded Border and the Flame Shoulder.

The juvenile Robins are still present, and are now getting their adult plumage.  This will put pressure on them as the parents will not want them about.  Both fledglings have become quite brazen in coming for mealworms which presents us with a problem, as they may become too dependent on these easy hand outs, but it is lovely to see and feed them.

Of the other garden nesting birds the Starlings sound like they will fledge any day, and while the Blackbirds seem to have been feeding birds, there has not been any sign of fledglings in the garden.

On Sunday the House Martins were starting to re-build the nest under the eaves that fell down over the winter.