Monday 12th September 2016

Hot and sunny, loving it but trees and shrubs are sadly suffering.
Started the day with another dawn walk at Fobney. A stunning walk but did miss the atmosphere created by the mist as yesterday.
Day spent on Autumn clearing and the planting of 100s of Spring and Summer bee friendly bulbs. Can't wait for Spring now.
         Somewhat noticeable birds are in short supply in the garden. Not refilled the feeders for three weeks now. Probably due to the abundance of berries at the moment?
Spike used its home again last night, never there in the mornings so leaves in the early hours I guess?
Making my coffee tonight I spotted this delightful moth on the wall. Seeing more moths in the house or garden than in the trap this year.
           Tonight I attended a meeting at Trooper Potts re the future of Men's Sheds. I have pretty strong views on this venture which smacks in the face in what they wanted to achieve when the idea was first muted. I was never part of that team and only recently have they approached me for help. Surprisingly they all appeared to agree with my thoughts and suggestions so now back to the drawing board.
Looking forward now to the visit by Margaret and Paul tomorrow, staying with us for a few days. This is Pauls first venture outside Leeds since his stroke in the Spring.

Sunday 11th September 2016

Another stunning day, warm and sunny all day.
Started the day with a misty dawn walk at Fobney Nature Reserve. Superb, love mornings like that. So annoying I am unable to hear the bird calls at the moment. Only another two weeks before I have the speakers fitted.
Once home I spent the time on some Autumn clearing ready for the planting of spring bulbs.
        Not much in the way of wildlife today, just two moths and a rather large slug to report!
Pictures 1 - 6 - Fobney at dawn.
       "    7 & 9 - Moths.
       "           8 - Slug.

Saturday 10th September 2016

Very warm but sadly also very wet. Showery all day.
This morning Dom popped over with 7 year old Maddie and 2 year old Albert all mad keen on all things wildlife. Despite the weather we fed mice, watched activity in the pond from the hide camera and studied the fine detail of a dragonfly. With a mini museum at home they were pretty excited about the nymph I gave them in a magnified pot.
Amazing at the transformation in Albert after his recent liver transplant. Only a few months ago it was touch and go if the poor lad would survive then the chance of a transplant was offered. An amazing story, the family have been through on incredible journey but look at the lad now.
              This afternoon enjoyed an indoor BBQ with Graham, Trish and the rest of the Mullen family. Shame it was so wet as it is another wonderful garden created to enjoy amongst wildlife. Graham has just the one camera covering the garden but with some great results. Only last night two hedgehogs fighting over a food bowl was recorded.
Good to catch up with Mark, not seen for a while, great to catch up on the Tornado and Flying Scotsman news. Ian, his brother has just finished another re-paint job on the Scotsman. While talking a message flashed up on Mark's phone about a steam train crash on the Hythe line after hitting a tractor this afternoon. Mark was saying the driver must be pretty traumatised as was the first week in the job. Reports coming through this afternoon suggested there were no life threatening casualties.
Shocked Mark a little as knew the driver very well.

Friday 9th September 2016

A stunning day, warm and sunny most of the day. Very breezy by late afternoon.
Day spent trimming and shredding the bay tree and the ivy hedges. Can't believe the amount of growth this year the shrubs and trees have made.
Shame I was disturbing so many moths while cutting the ivy hedge, hopefull all back settled again now?
Spotted a fair few ladybirds about today mostly on the sunflowers, talking about sunflowers the squirrel has chewed off all the sunflower heads, just the stems left now. Not my year fro sunflowers that's for sure.
Picture 1 - Ladybird on the fence.
      "     2 - Foxy after spikes food.
      "     3 - Spike just leaving its headquarters last night.
      "     4 - Trimming and shredding the bay tree.

Thursday 8th September 2016

A stunning day, very warm and sunny well into the evening.
Today's blog is all about the guided walk with a group of local residents organised through the Community Centre.
I am also posting all my photographs of today in preference to any of garden wildlife.
I did not know any in the group and was not even aware of how many would in fact turn up. I could not have wished for more, a group best described as vulnerable and what a tale they told. They were over the moon to be walking in such beautiful surroundings (Island View Nature Reserve) and feeling at ease in friendly company. 
The stories I was told today was heartbreaking in how they have had to cope in life in fact still having to cope as almost on a daily basis they are abused in some way. I would like to write more and more publicly but I have to recognise these people are still to this day very vulnerable.
It was a pleasure to be out with them and hope to repeat this walk on another occasion. I will add, being vulnerable does not mean these people do not have certain skills, one chap pulled out a note pad and drew an amazing picture of what interested him today and another chap took great pleasure in naming every spider and insect he spotted and also named every tree.
It really was an enlightening day.

Wednesday 7th September 2016

Another scorcher of a day, will not like it when the weather changes this weekend.
Not the best day of my life, started with an 8am appointment with the dentist for a filling and the creation of a mould for my my replacement crown. Next visit on my birthday, thanks!
Then a visit to the solicitor and the weekly Morrisons shop.
Was glad to get home. Afternoon just chilled as mouth still numb making me feel rather lethargic. 
              Two moths in the trap last night, a record for this year. More spiders about with their respective catches. 
Cameras confirmed foxy, spike and mice were about last night. Spike entered a house but did not stay. A bit warm I guess.
Looking forward to tomorrow now and my first guided walk for folk from the community centre, looks as though the weather will be kind for us which was always a bit of a worry.
Picture 1 - Shield Beetle on the window cill.
   " 2 & 3 - Spider with ones catch.
   "        4 - Shield Beetle on a sunflower leaf.
   " 5 & 6 - Moths from last nights trap.

Tuesday 6th September 2016

A very warm and sunny day, like it.
Today was all about Mapledurham Golf Club House and our annual cousin get together. A stunning day to appreciate the rural surroundings. A little different to last year when it just poured for the day soaking us big time.
Good to catch up particularly with David and Christine as not seen for some time. Memories of my nights with David back in the early 70s came flooding back with talk of Isopon high on the agenda! How many cars did we repair with that stuff I wonder?
             Back home late this afternoon and was surprised to see the number of spiders that had appeared clutching ones meal for the day.
Not good to see how birds eating blackberries has stained the wooden furniture. Not just the furniture but also the decking.
Picture 1 - Blackberry stained chair.
      "     2 - Spider with a fly.
      "     3 - Spider with a wasp.