A Murder Overhead

With the clocks going back an hour and thus hastening sunset through the office windows, I'm getting to see all sorts of stuff just before home time.

The other day, some fantastic low level formations of canada geese flew over the car park, honking away against a deep twilight, flying at speed and looking like an air force. I'm not seeing the mass pied wagtail roost yet, but I'm now on the wrong side of the campus.

I will cycle over on my way home, to the trees that they roost in.

What I'm also seeing in large numbers are big flocks of crows -  probably more likely to be rooks than carrions? - heading overhead usually about half an hour before sunset. I don't know they have been spending the day doing, working freshly ploughed fields perhaps, but they are going over in flocks over a hundred strong, cawing away as they fly towards the sun.

The two shots I've got aren't the biggest sky murders I've ever seen, nor the lowest. They aren't easy to  photograph with my mobile.

But it's what's happening up there!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.11.18

Sleeping Invader

Came across this hibernating harlequin ladybird at work today. I doubt it  will be able to sleep here on a window sill regularly patrolled by our cleaners, but I hope it can find a quiet spot.

A passing Polish girl said "Don't they live for the number of years as they have spots?" - I told her if that was true this ladybird was going to live a very long time!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.11.18

A Witch's Cat

Next door's bad tempered, bushy tailed and very unfriendly black cat decided to give me a really nice photo opp tonight.

Alas the composition wasn't amazing because if I'd opened the door the pissy moggy would have run off. But I'm still pleased I got the shot.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 31.10.18

Up to the Nature Reserve

My heel has gotten a bit sore after I did that 11.5km run - grrrr - and was particularly bothering me after the 6km yesterday.

So today, I put on my big walking boots, and my new Aldi hooded training top -  as ever  you to go to Aldi to buy a bottle of coke and end up digging through the specials and take home some bit of sports kit or other - and walked up to Beacon Hill nature reserve through Clay Lane park.

I was hoping to find a) winter thrushes in the hedgerows or fields and b) interesting fungi in the woodland in the reserve.

In the end I found neither. But I did have a highly pleasant walk on a very bright day, happily listening to Stuart Maconie, a brilliant writer as well as brilliant DJ, and using the sun for photographic purposes.

So, I've had an okay weekend in the end, after the rank, miserable Saturday where I did nothing.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.10.18

Polish Commemorations

A day of two outside sessions; a very much 4 seasons in one day kind  of visit to Sconce Park where warming sun and chilling  rain alternated at 20 minutes intervals, and then a 6km twilight  run around the lakes.

I noticed in the cemetery that it was the annual Polish Commemoration of their war dead buried in a section of the graveyard. General Sikorski is no longer buried here, but his  countrymen still rest here and every year the local Polish community - quite a large one - light a lantern on every grave.

The candles will still be burning now.

It was a nice run actually, took it pretty smoothly and it was cool enough to make my running jacket wearable without it getting too boil in the bag. The gulls had already flown to their roosts, the ducks gathered under the trees overhanging the lakes.

It's been a pleasant, if cold, day.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.10.18

More Skies

This week sunset has put on an incredible display, high altitude crystals, Rayleigh Scattering, smoke from the sugar factory and power station.

The sky goes gold as the lower edge of the sun skims the horizon, then the dark violet band of the girdle of venus appears and the lower clouds go purple, and the higher ones go gilded orange; vapour trails from escaping jets leave temporary scars across the vault.

It's beautiful.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.10.18

The Last Bee of the Year

I have some beautiful skies to show you, but later, dear readers, later.

Today I saw what was almost certainly the last bee I will see this year, feeding off the small flowers that grow in a hedge at work. The chances of any bees being around after the forecasted temperature drop tonight seems pretty mimimal to me.

So here it is, not great shots alas, but a sort of watershed moment nonetheless.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.10.18