Two Sorts of Ladybird

Today's 30 Days Wild is a nice opportunity to talk about ladybirds.

I found two species on my walk today, dodging the heavy showers that interrupted the sunny afternoon.

One was a native 7 spot ladybird, the most commonly seen native species in my part of the world. The second is a non-native harlequin, in this variation a paler orange colour with more numerous spots and a white triangle on the head. You also get eye-catching black variants with two large red spots.

The natives emerge first in spring, but as the summer goes on, the harlequins become more numerous, out-competing the native species for food, and eating their eggs and young.

It's rather too late to stop this invader from Asia, however.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.06.20

Another Day of Stress

Spoke to my manager on the phone today; talked about the fact I spend about 70% of the day feeling anxious about one thing or another.

Going shopping is a trial. I've found Asda to be the best organised, but not perfect. Aldi is on and off ok, but Morrisons today was terrible. No idea of social distancing from the folk in the checkout queue, I think I will avoid the place from now on.

That after the coughing Aldi worker the other day.

It was, as they say, a shit-show.

But I have a couple of nice photos for you, and it was nice to see fledgling sand martins over the other side of the river by their nest hole in the metal wall of the marina.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.06.20

Getting Faster

Yesterday was a miserable, entirely blank day, and today looked like it was going to be the same until the rain stopped in the later afternoon, and we ended up having a beautiful evening.

That aroused me from inactivity, and I headed out for a run up to and around Beacon Hill Park.

Despite the climb of Beacon Hill, I got 5km done in 28.54, faster than I've run for a little while. Which made me feel decent, as it has been another of those anxious days.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.06.20

Poppies are Back

If you have followed this blog for a few years, you may remember my posts about the incredible poppy field we had here in Newark on the South edge of town.

It attracted visitors from all over the country.

Sadly, it has now been built over for a new housing development, but I heard that a field across the road I used to run through a lot when I lived in my old flat. Tonight, after a lazy day, I decided to run there and see what it was like.

The answer is it is not a patch on the old poppy field, but it still looked pretty stunning in a low evening sun.

I hope you like these photographs.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 16.06.20

Return to the Orchids

Today I ran back to Beacon Hill Reserve in order to try and take better photos of the orchids for identification purposes.

It was a hot, tight chested sort of run of 7.6km there and back, with my nose absolutely streaming all the way - I think hot weather hayfever is something I'm going to have to put up with now.

It is pretty clear that the orchids are indeed of the southern marsh variety - they have unspotted leaves. Sadly they are now past their best.

I found a lovely fresh ringlet butterfly for you today. It's markings are the clearest I have ever seen.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.06.20

Mr Snail

I've been out today, and so was Mr Snail.

It's not exactly snail weather, being warm and dry, and Mr Snail wasn't in the best place for a snail; I found him crossing a tarmac pavement which couldn't have been much fun.

He was vulnerable as well, he seems to have had some sort of scrape to account for the holes in his shell. Perhaps even he'd had a lucky escape from a song thrush. I remember in our family home, there was a brick that the local thrush used as an execution block for snails; their wrecked shells littered the garden around it.

Plenty of bees around today on this pleasant day, and a strange socially distanced power boat convention on the Trent. Another first during this mad time.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.06.20

Have I Found Orchids?

Today has felt like a much more positive day, with some pleasant conversations out on the streets and the cricket ground. It could even have been a normal day. Although, as we know, these are not normal times in all sorts of ways.

I've been up to Beacon Hill reserve today, taking the back way up clay line and up the hill which looked almost alpine, it had so many flowers on it. The bramble bushes were busy with bees, although my photos are slightly disappointing. The autofocus on my Moto G7 plus can be a bit twitchy, it only really works if there is a decent sized backdrop.

It was in the reserve itself that I had my big treat of the day, potentially. Of the path in the nursery part of Beacon Hill Park - the entrance of which now boasts an Extinction Rebellion cardboard placard - two purple flowers were growing, of a type I've never seen in the park before.

I thought straightaway that they were orchids, as the flowers were blooming on a spike, but I've been fooled by woundwort before. They maybe common spotted orchids, a species I've never seen before, but am awaiting confirmation.

I had a shorter walk this evening. It was beautiful.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.06.20