Some amateur photos from my interactions with nature!

 The idea behind this blog post is simple. Sometimes, as I am engaging with nature, I feel the need to take my phone from my pocket and take a snap of the view in front of me. The moments that we are gifted by nature can be fleeting, and capturing them in an image means that we can hold on to those moments a little longer. Maybe even sparking a memory of the feelings that attended the original moment when we look back.

Splashes of red

The above image I took last year. I seem to remember that I came across these poppies in Bromham, Bedfordshire, as I walked a section of the Ouse Valley Way walking route. My knowledge of botany is full of holes, but I am fairly confident these are the common poppy (Papaver rhoeas). I took this picture because the red splash of poppies in a meadow or field of green is always a sight that makes me pause. And, as you might have noticed in this picture, the bees like them too!

Horned grazers

I am no expert on sheep and I have been trying to identify this breed simply by comparing this picture I took against images from the internet! I believe them to be Castlemilk Moorit, but if anyone out there knows better then please do correct me. I am keen to learn as well as share my experiences and what I have learned. I thought this sheep looked very handsome and, if I am right about the breed, I am not the only one; the horned Castlemilk Moorit was created in the 1900s as a decorative breed.

Poorly Speckled Wood

I found this Speckled Wood butterfly on the ground as I was crossing a bridge when I was out walking through villages recently. It was still alive but seemed tired and slow. Cars were driving over the bridge and the current created by their passing was buffeting this little Pararge aegeria. I wondered if perhaps it had bounced off of a windscreen and become dazed. However it had come to be in it's poorly state, it crawled onto my finger when I offered it. I walked with the winged creature in my hand for a while and, when I found this apple in a box of apples outside someone's house (offered for free to passersby) I picked it up and dented the skin with my thumbnail so a little juice would squirt forth. I left the butterfly, with the juicy apple, in some long grass, away from roads and paths, hoping that all it needed was rest and a little sugary juice.

Larvae

On the same walk that brought me into the life of the aforementioned poorly Speckled Wood, I also met this little alien looking creature. And, what is it? Well, this little creature is in it's larval stage in this picture and it wants to eat aphids, though it will take other small insects and insect eggs if it can't get enough aphids. When it has had it's fill and it is ready to move onto the next stage of it's life, it will pupate. And from the pupa will emerge . . . a harlequin ladybird!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this brief look at some of the snaps I take when I am out in nature. If you did, you might like to follow me on Instagram, where my two favourite subjects are nature and books! And, if you really liked this post, you can support me by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi - it fuels me when I head out into nature and when I am tapping away at the keyboard!

Thank you for reading!

How I acquired a brand new nest box for free and making space for wildlife!

 

Common swift - Apus apus (image sourced from rspb.org.uk)

The screaming calls of swifts as they dart through the sky is as synonymous with summer as the call of the cuckoo is with the spring. They winter in Africa, but come to the UK in the summer to breed. Many evenings this summer, I have been strolling along a street in the town where I live, perhaps just to the local supermarket, and my attention has been drawn upward at the sound of them calling. And I crane my neck to watch them as they fly skillfully above and between rooftops.

I am very much fascinated by these birds, and others like them, that could fit easily into my hand but which, each year, make a journey the likes of which I will never know; facing adversities and challenges that I will never have to face. Life and death struggles.

If you would like to know more, you can take a look at the RSPB's info page here on the Common swift (Apus apus).

Making a space for swifts

The breeding season for this year has passed. And, alas, it has passed without my having had the opportunity to put up a nest box for swifts. However, there is always next year!

Unfortunately, the building in which I live - a block of flats - isn't really suitable for a swift nest box. But my parents' house is near perfect. 

A swift's nest box is best situated on the wall of a building, at least 5 metres from the ground, without obstacles in the flight path. Just like house martins, they like to nest under the eaves and they swoop in to the nest in an upward trajectory, so a swift nest box has to be built to accommodate for this behaviour.

As I say, the block of flats in which I live isn't really ideal for a swift nest box. However, the north east face of my parents house is near perfect. The north east face will keep the box out of midday sun and prevailing wind and rain. And the box will be under the eaves of my parents house; it would be without this protection on the wall of my building.

Of course, I did ask my parents before making this decision.

Acquiring a box . . . for free!

I am next to hopeless when it comes to DIY and carpentry. Perhaps, one day, I will try harder and be able to build my very own nest boxes from materials I have sourced locally. I certainly suspect that that is the more environmentally friendly option. And, if you can build your own nest box for swifts, I would encourage that you do so (and tell us about it in the comments - I admire your skills greatly!).

With my bank account looking miserable and lacking in the skills to build from scratch, I turned to the internet. More specifically, I turned to freecycle.org, where users are able to leave posts, reaching out to people in their locality. These posts can request or offer items for free to anyone that wants them, the purpose of this network being to divert items that can be reused or recycled from landfills. And so, I posted to the network, looking for a swift nest box. And I got a reply!

So, I have found a nest box, unused and absolutely free, and now all I have to do is get a ladder and conquer the slight problem I have with heights by next summer. Easy!

If, like me, you don't know a saw from a screwdriver, and you haven't the luck I've had in sourcing a box for free, consider buying from the RSPB Shop or other wildlife charities that will put that money back into conservation efforts.

Swift bricks

Swifts nest in holes and, as already mentioned, will nest under the eaves of buildings. They like holes in old buildings. However, humans are just too neat and tidy and have a tendency to fill in holes and knock old things down so that they can erect something shiny, made of steel and glass. Unfortunately though, when we build, we tend to build our shiny and impressive creations to the exclusion of nature and wildlife. 

I very much support including space for nature where we can when we plan and build our spaces, whether that's as individuals or in how we build the infrastructure that serves the wider human population. To conquer habitat loss and the problems of natural spaces becoming fragmented we need to build with nature and wildlife in mind.

As well as pushing for infrastructure to be built with nature in mind, we can make an effort as individuals. If you should find yourself building a new house or having major renovations, consider the use of "swift bricks" in the build. These are pretty much exactly what they sound to be; a swift nest space that is built into the face of the house. This should obviously be done by someone who knows what they are doing, and if you find yourself able to implement this option, again consider the placement of the bricks - a north east face at least 5 metres from the ground.

You can always recommend this option to friends or family too, should anyone you know ever have major work done on their homes. Or maybe even suggest it at work if they are going to do some renovations.

Colonies!

If you can afford it, and if you have the time and space, why not put up more than one box? More boxes may mean more swifts. If you have seen them fly overhead, you know they like company.

The more space we make for nature, the better.

Next year . . .

Hopefully, I'll be putting up a swift nest box under the eaves of my parents house. I don't know if they'll come straight away. I may be disappointed for a year or two. Maybe longer. But I would like to try.

Next year, I will be sitting in my parents garden, around April and May, in the evening, playing swift calls as I look up toward the sky and the nest box placed on the house face. I will be looking skyward with great anticipation, listening for the screaming call of swifts flying overhead. With great anticipation and hope.

I hope you enjoyed this piece, and if you did you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi where I update frequently on my wild and writerly pursuits - all support keeps me writing and, for that, I am extremely grateful.

A Love For Long Walks; Getting Some Exercise, Calming the Mind, and Engaging with Nature!

 

One of the pictures I have taken on one of my walks; I do love the open sky of the countryside. A field in Wilden, Bedfordshire

There are many ways in which one can engage with nature. There are those that will sit in a hide with bated breath and binoculars in anticipation of spotting an elusive bird. There are others that will head out with a camera, hoping to capture the perfect shot. And some go no further than their own garden to get closer to nature, creating a space for plant and animal life where they live. For me, though I have time for these other activities, I have always loved roaming and rambling countryside footpaths as a way of getting closer to nature.

Then . . .

If memory serves me correctly (I took the picture a while ago), I took this photo in a field near Ravensden, Bedfordshire

I grew up in a small rural village, surrounded by public countryside footpaths. I didn't have much interest in the church or the two pubs located in the village, so perhaps it was inevitable I would gravitate toward long walks. 

I was, and still am, something of an introvert, but there's a desire for the great outdoors beating strong within me too. And I was drawn to the footpaths that passed through and around the village where I grew up. In summer and spring they were dry and dusty, in the winter and autumn they were muddy and you had to be more careful as you navigated them. But, as long as the weather wasn't altogether too wet or windy, I roamed and rambled whatever the season.

The wildlife that I saw there always fascinated me. Foxes, deer, birds, and other animals had the power to make me stop and gasp. I'd hold my breath and want the moment to last. But I found other things on the footpaths too. I realised that when I walked them I wasn't as anxious, sad, angry, or overwhelmed. The footpaths were not just where I went to find nature, they were where I went to escape.

Now . . .

A view of River Great Ouse from a footpath somewhere near Great Barford, Bedfordshire

I am now thirty-*cough-cough-mumble* years old; my hair is thinner and almost everything else is thicker. When I walk footpaths these days, I try to ignore just how out of breath I get. But, my increased waistline aside, I still get much from the long walks I take. I still find peace and calm there.

Sometimes I immerse myself in the walks; listening, watching, smelling, touching, and, now and then, tasting the countryside around me. It's like meditation. Sometimes I talk to myself, working out a couple of things. Sometimes I sing a little while I walk. Sometimes I walk for hours, returning home pleasantly exhausted.

Now, I am better at identifying animals and plants I spot. I take pride in being able to identify a gatekeeper butterfly, and being able to tell the difference between them and meadow browns. I am proud of myself for being able to hear the piercing call of a red kite and know that it is indeed that bird of prey calling before I lay eyes on it soaring above me. I am proud of myself for retaining the facts that I have read and heard. But, however much I learn, it is the fleeting moments of peace and calm I encounter, and awe I feel in the presence of nature and wildlife, that keeps drawing me back to the paths I walk.

My long walks became more of a rarity for a while. Because of work, a bad relationship, and all sorts of other things in between, I watched the footpaths fade into the background of my life. However, in the last year or so, I have been reacquainting myself with them, and I find them still so fulfilling and full of beauty.

Though my life has changed, I still walk for many of the same reasons I always did. My love for nature and wildlife is a great part of it, as is my need for something outside of the day-to-day. A hope that it might just reduce my waistline has been added to the list now though.

In the future . . .

Rainwater sitting in the tyre tracks of a tractor in a field near Stevington, Bedfordshire

I have a lot to learn about nature and wildlife. There is still much that I see on these footpaths I walk that I don't understand or can't identify. So, I read books, join social media groups, research online, watch documentaries, read magazines, and take that knowledge with me when I engage with nature. It is important to me that I learn what I can about nature and wildlife for a very simple reason - I love and care about them. If you care for a thing, you have to take the time to understand it; when you understand a thing, you are in a better position to be what it needs you to be.

I did endeavour to begin a university course because of my love for animals. Unfortunately, life overwhelmed me, and I left it behind. Though, to be honest, I believe I chose the wrong course for me, and I was a little dissatisfied with the it anyway*.

A dream that I have had for almost as long as I can remember is that one day I will trek one of the long distance footpaths of the UK. Indeed, there is a long distance route that passes through my home county. The Ouse Valley Way route is 150 miles long and one could follow its path from where I live straight to the coast. However, that part of me that has a desire for the great outdoors and adventure is inhibited by the introverted me that seems to rule the roost.

Perhaps one day my sense of adventure will win out. I hope so. I would love to immerse myself into nature like that, to live with it long-term for a while. I'm not sure how to measure or quantify the rewards I think such an adventure would bestow upon me, but I expect that they would be profound. And I hope that one day I undertake the effort. Maybe, with a little money and/or a willing companion, I might just do so.

*The course was focused on working with animals in business settings (veterinary surgeries, zoos, etc.) rather than wildlife and ecology which would have much better suited my interests. I made a mistake.

I hope that you enjoyed this piece. If you did, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi - it may end up being the fuel that keeps me going on my next long walk! It will definitely keep me writing! All support is much appreciated and gratefully received - thank you!

The importance of cleaning your bird feeders!

 

Image sourced from shopping.rspb.org.uk

I have tried, a number of times, to explain to my sister why she needs to keep her bird feeders clean. Alas, it seems to be falling on deaf ears, and her feeders are in a dreadful state. She either can't grasp or doesn't care why it is important to keep them clean. But she isn't the only one.

"In the wild . . ."

In response to my adamant advocacy of cleaning garden bird feeders, the argument has sometimes been thrown my way that in the wild no one is cleaning the spots from which birds feed and drink. This is, of course, a nonsense; bird feeders are manmade and require human attention for them to serve their purpose, whereas healthy natural spaces require no human interference for birds to exploit them. Indeed, they are probably better off with as little human contact as possible.

When birds feed from trees or bushes, the fruit or insects on which they are feeding will need time to replenish, and so birds will have little reason to return again and again to exactly the same spots. By comparison, bird feeders will provide an almost constant supply of food and water. This means that feeders will attract large numbers of birds that use exactly the same spots over and over again. This in itself makes feeders a perfect place for parasites and disease to be spread.

Some of the diseases spread through dirty bird feeders

Trichomoniasis

This is a parasite spread through the saliva of infected birds. When picked up, the parasite lives in the mouth and crop of the bird. The bird itself can develop lesions, swelling that makes it impossible for the bird to swallow. Therefore the bird will starve before it dies. Given that this is spread through saliva, owners can do much to slow any spread by simply cleaning their feeders; a hotspot for cross contamination.

Salmonella

There is no reason to fill your feeders to the brim if you notice that full feeders tend to sit there for a while, or that certain of the food you use lasts longer than others. Just as with our own food stuffs, food that sits for too long will rot and go bad. When that food is exposed to changing elements, it can create perfect conditions for bacteria, such as Salmonella, to breed and spread. If you are concerned that food you have to throw away is going to cost you money then adjust the amount that you put into your feeders. And there is definitely no reason for allowing mould to grow in your feeders!

Avian pox

According to the RSPB website, avian poxvirus is a resistant virus and lasts for a long time on contaminated surfaces. And as we've already covered, bird feeders, being an environment that will attract a relatively large number of birds of different species, it is more likely that feeders will be a hotspot for cross contamination. The RSPB website also suggests what this post is trying to make a case for, namely that proper regular cleaning of feeders is the correct practice for ensuring prevention of such viruses.

This is not an exhaustive list of avian illnesses, and for more information you may wish to learn more on the RSPB website.

Cleaning feeders

I use nothing more complicated than soap, hot water and a sponge. It takes me all of fifteen or twenty minutes to scrub the cleaners, cleaning them regularly, and then they are rinsed thoroughly and left to dry. If done regularly, it is not such a strenuous job and it prevents a lot of the problems that can occur that we have covered above. Prevention is better than the cure.

There are disinfectants available to purchase, and the RSPB even sell a bird feeder cleaning kit through their online shop.

Losing our birds

You don't need to have been a naturalist or an amateur ornithologist for very long to know that many of the statistics tell a sad story of loss amongst our birds. And you don't need to have been considering the adversity they face long either to know that much of the cause behind their decline is human activity. Many of the problems they face can be traced back to how the landscape has changed because of intensive farming practices; the destruction of hedgerows, ploughing up fields without leaving borders to nature, and even the use of chemicals. 

As those of us that care for nature campaign and advocate for better treatment of our natural spaces, and better consideration for the wildlife that lives there, we must also do what we can in our own spaces to help. And there is no room for half-arsed attempts. When you know that feeders left to become unclean can spread the viruses and parasites described above, you can only but come to the conclusion that no feeder at all is better than a dirty feeder in the garden.

Signing off . . .

If any if this post reads poorly, please forgive me. I had the second dose of Pfizer vaccine yesterday and it has left me feeling quite tired. Still, a little tiredness is better than the sickness. As this post tries to make the case for, prevention is better than the cure!

I hope that this post finds you well, and that you found the read enjoyable and/or informative. If you have, then you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi where I often update about this blog and other of my writerly endeavours. All support is gratefully received! It keeps me writing, so thank you!

Disclaimer: though this blog post contains within it references and links to the RSPB website, this blog is not affiliated with the RSPB and makes no money from any purchases made by those that might wish to purchase the bird feeder cleaning kit through the link in this blog post.

Gardening for night flying moths . . . and . . . other insects too!

 

Image shows a swallow-tailed moth (source: butterfly-conservation.org)

I've only recently developed an interest in gardening, and that interest is really an interest in gardening for nature. I've no interest in creating a garden that's pleasing to the eye if it's to the detriment of nature and wildlife (as you may be able to tell if you read my last post, here). In this post, I would like to consider those plants and flowers that will be particularly attractive to the night flying moths. You might be forgiven for forgetting about those fluttering Lepidoptera that come out when you go to bed, but they will benefit from considerate gardening as much as the day flying butterflies and moths.

The plants mentioned here will benefit other insects too.

Evening primrose (Oenothera missouriensis)

Image shows evening primrose flower (source: wildlifetrusts.org)

This flower's bright lemon-yellow colour and its evening fragrance ought to be alluring to those emerging when the sun goes down. This hardy perennial will bring colour to your garden year after year. Years during which  moths will have one more reason to visit your garden.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

Image shows common honeysuckle (source: gardenersworld.com)

On summer evenings, the fragrance from the flowers of this plant will call irresistibly to pollinating moths. But this plant can also provide food for birds, bees, other insects, and even dormice. It is of great value to all forms of wildlife! However, some species of honeysuckle are invasive and can outcompete other plants in the garden so do your research. In fact, that would be a good idea with regards to anything that you are going to plant in your garden.

Common jasmine (Jasmine officinale)

Image shows Common jasmine (source: gardenersworld.com)

As with the previous entries this flower will draw in moths in the evening, providing nectar for night flying moths. If you can plant all three of these plants in your garden - or any diverse selection that will provide moths with food - you might want to set up a moth trap (an old white sheet and a decent torch will do the trick). That way you can find out which species are getting the most from your efforts!

Common stinging nettles (Urtica dioica)

Image shows stinging nettles (source: wildlifetrusts.org)

I know, they're not particularly attractive. And if, like me, you're partial to roaming countryside footpaths you'll probably have caught the irritating sting of this plant on your calves or forearm as you've made your way along an overgrown path. But a patch of nettles is hugely valuable to a number of species of butterflies and moths which will lay their eggs on this plant, which in turn will also provide food for the caterpillars. If you need another reason, you can add nettles to some of your own recipes! It's not just for the caterpillars, you know! (Better to harvest them when the caterpillars and butterflies are done with them though, I'd say).

Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Image shows holly leaves and berries (source: rhs.org.uk)

This evergreen plant, as well as being long associated with Christmas, is another that caterpillars will feed upon. Of course, the berries also provide food for birds, and it will be attractive to many other pollinators. Also, if you let it grow a little wild, not cutting back too much, it will provide cover for moths and other insects that are attempting to evade predators. Moths will use the cover of plant life, as well as leaf litter on the ground, to hide. I mean, don't forget, bats also come out at night and, whilst the bats are just doing what they need to do, it might be nice to give the moths a fighting chance!

Well, this is nowhere near being an exhaustive list but I hope it has given you some ideas. Our gardens can be a joy to us during spring and summer days as we sit in the sunshine and listen to the bees or watch the butterflies. But don't forget that the night has its own life with its own struggles, and we can make space for those that occupy the dark too.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this piece, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi, where I regularly post updates about this blog and other of my writerly endeavours; all support is received gratefully and is very much appreciated! It keeps me writing, so thank you!

The importance of wildflowers and why lawns are dumb!

 

Pictured above: the common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuschii); image sourced from gardenersworld.com/plants/garden-identifier-to-british-wildflowers/

In my humble opinion, there is no such thing as a perfect lawn. In fact, I think it might be a very real contender for one of the dumbest things that humanity has ever cultivated. It serves no real purpose. Of course, a case could be made for creating a space in which sports are able to be played. But, beyond that, I cannot think why anyone would take pride in investing time, effort, and money into creating something that is essentially a dead monoculture; in a world where the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s, it seems, to me, to make little sense!

Where does the love of lawns come from?

The love of lawns really is a love affair embedded in tradition. Whilst clearing land around castles may have once served the purpose of making the work of guards easier - easier to spot visitors (some being enemies) without obstacles - the cultivating of lawns purely for the sake of having them has always been a pointless endeavour.

The closely cut and maintained lawn became popular in seventeenth century England, and they were a status symbol of wealthy landowners. The "perfect lawns" were, essentially, a flag flown by the rich; a flag that said, "I own this land, and I can afford to spend money on growing nothing but this pointless plant." It was only the rich that could afford to have the lawns maintained.

And, still today, there are some for whom a nice lawn is something to take pride in, something that they compete with the neighbours over, and something that they look upon as though it is their own little kingdom. 

And, perhaps it is. I mean, it certainly isn't particularly welcoming to much else . . .

Quiet little monocultures

That patch outside your home, left to its own devices, will produce more than just grass. Leaving the mower in the shed will produce a far richer diversity of plant life, which in turn will benefit other life. Wildflowers will attract pollinators, taller and better coverage will provide spaces in which insects and small mammals can evade predators, and these benefits at the bottom of the food chain will benefit those further along. Plus, in my humble opinion, a patch outside with diverse plant life and flower heads is far more attractive and interesting a view than the uniform dullness of the mown lawn.

Humanity has been building and creating spaces to the exclusion of nature for too long. We are just now realising that we need to start including nature in the spaces that we occupy. 

I have had this conversation with a member of my own family. She wants a nice lawn. I have no idea why. She happily cut down the flowers that were growing up there this summer, and she invests in trying to improve her lawn. As part of a conversation, I told her about that statistic I mentioned earlier - the one about how much wildflower meadow space we have lost - and she responded with a shrug and telling me, "Well, I didn't do that." 

And, I fear, it is that attitude that the world is up against; "I didn't do anything, and I want mine". 

Can we compromise?

Unfortunately, I am not in a position where I have a lawn of my own that I can leave to become overgrown and spotted with wildflowers. But, I did have a pot and a pack of wildflower seeds. And now I have a pot and some young wildflowers. It's not much, and not even a drop of what we have lost, but I do what I can. And, I urge others to do the same. 

I can't wait until the flower heads open and I see pollinators and other bugs begin to visit. I don't think I would even begrudge a caterpillar or two! They need it more than I do, and I can always plant some more.

For those that do have a lawn outside, can I make a suggestion? Allow that lawn to be become a mini-meadow. If you want, plan out a path through the grass and flowers and mow along that route so that you can walk through and enjoy the life within. Personally, I think's that much more exciting and aesthetically pleasing than a flat lawn.

Picture shows a garden mini-meadow, complete with path mown through (image sourced from themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk)

However, if you're not quite ready to let go of the lawn yet, maybe you could just leave the edges uncut. If you leave the borders, about the width of a footpath ought to be enough, you are still creating space for life. That is space where animals can find food and evade predation.

The best part about this conservation effort? It asks that you do less work, not more! How often do you get to feel the satisfaction of having contributed something to the world by not doing a chore?!

In conclusion . . .

When I visit my parents house in the countryside, I often go upstairs to their bathroom and look down on their garden below. It is unkempt and many plants grow unchecked. And I see red admirals, peacock butterflies, small tortoiseshells, and small whites. There are a few different species of bee that visit. And, at night there are moths, and spiders, and slugs, and worms. And there are bats flying about looking for food!

Their next door neighbour's garden is much more neat and ordered. It is mostly covered with concrete slabs. There are hanging baskets and pots in which flowers grow, but it's all very neat and ordered. And, I don't see half as much life visiting that space as I do visiting my parents' garden.

Nature prefers nature.

This is why you may have heard or read of campaigns run by wildlife charities attempting to convince people to leave the lawn be (No Mow May, for example). For a little too long too many of us have been living our lives to the detriment of the nature around us. And, yes, we need to push and get the message across to those in power that our infrastructure needs to be built and maintained with nature in mind, inclusive of wildlife, but we can take these smaller steps ourselves. After all, lots of small steps can get you pretty far.

I hope that my wildflowers succeed and I hope they attract life. But, as we know, life needs more than just a few little oases in deserts of grey concrete and red brick, so I hope you will join my small effort and make spaces of your own.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this piece. If you did, please consider buying me a coffee over on ko-fi; it keeps me writing and walking in nature! Thank you again!

All the butterflies I saw during this year's Big Butterfly Count!

As the Big Butterfly Count 2021, run by Butterfly Conservation (https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about), is coming to an end for this year, I thought I would do a little run down of all the butterflies that I spotted for this year's count. Each entry will contain a few facts about the species and a picture to help you identify them if you see them too.

Butterfly Conservation launched the nationwide citizen science project in 2010, and it has gone on to become the world's biggest survey of butterflies (and a few day flying moths too). The data collected all goes toward the efforts of butterfly conservation.

During the Big Butterfly Count (which this year has run between 16/07 and 08/08), you can do as many counts as you like. All you need do is sit out in a garden, park, or some other sunny spot, and count the number of butterflies that you see. This year, I did two counts; one in a town garden, and one in a village garden. In each spot I saw different numbers and different species.

Before we start proper, I perhaps ought to mention that I undertook my counts in the south east of England and the town count was undertaken in July, while the village count was undertaken in August.

Town count

Unfortunately, for the duration of the fifteen minutes that I spent in a garden in the centre of Bedford, I saw no butterflies, not a single one. However, Butterfly Conservation asks that even if you see no butterflies you still upload that to their website. It all goes towards building up a picture of where species are doing well and where they are not. 

However, after the fifteen minutes that Butterfly Conservation asks of its citizen scientists was over, I did have some visits from Small White butterflies (Pieris rapae). 

Picture shows a small white (source: butterfly-conservation.org)

As its name suggests, the Small White is mostly white; in the sun it is brilliant. However, a black spot adorns each forewing, and each forewing also has black tips. I have seen this butterfly in both town and country.

For more info, see the Butterfly Conservation's entry for the species here.

Village (rural) count

Meadow brown

Picture shows a meadow brown (source: butterfly-conservation.org)

The first butterfly I saw in the village garden count was the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). This medium sized butterfly is relatively common throughout Britain and Ireland. Indeed, it is another butterfly I have seen in town and country, though more often in the countryside in my experience. When I have been out walking and had a brown butterfly fluttering about me, I have sometimes confused a Meadow Brown with a Gatekeeper butterfly, however, the Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is a little smaller and its wings are more orange than the Meadow Brown. They're easier to tell apart when they aren't fluttering around, to be fair!

For more info, see the Butterfly Conservation's entry for the species here.

Peacock

Picture above shows a peacock (source: butterfly-conservation.org)

I saw a couple of these beautiful butterflies in the country garden. They love the buddleia - also known as the butterfly bush! - that grows there. The Peacock (Aglais io) is a magnificent butterfly; a furry body with wings of dark orange-red, and eye-spots adorning each wing. When the sun is out, these are familiar visitors in this country garden and, though there are arguably more stunning butterflies out there, I am honoured to be able to get up close to this attractive species - I love the red and those eye-spots! When you get up close, the pattern looks like the most intricate chalk on the most delicate paper ever!

For more info, see the Butterfly Conservation's entry on the species here.

Red admiral

Picture shows a red admiral (source: butterfly-conservation.org)

The last entry in my count was this not unfamiliar visitor to British gardens. Another butterfly that likes the buddleia plant that grows in the countryside garden where I did my rural garden count. With its beautiful red and black wings, splashes of white at the tips, it catches the eye. They are strong flyers. Unfortunately, a couple of the ones I saw looked as though they had seen better days; their wings were faded and a little torn - perhaps they got caught in a downpour - but they were still flying. The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a familiar but beautiful visitor.

For more info, see Butterfly Conservation's entry on this species here.

Well, that was it for me. Though, I won't stop looking out for butterflies!

I realise that my own count this year might not be terribly exciting for some, these not being unfamiliar sights for butterfly watchers or lepidopterists. Still, I think they are beautiful and this was my experience during this year's Big Butterfly Count. What was yours? What did you see?

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How to get out of the house and on a nice long walk!

 

The above picture is from my personal collection and depicts the bridge in Great Barford, Bedfordshire.

For the first post in my nature blog, I thought I would introduce you to one of my great loves - walking!

I grew up in the countryside, in a small village, and I was pretty spoilt for choice when it came to public footpaths to explore. And, explore them I did! I have my rural upbringing to thank for my love of long walks and hiking, and I am ever so grateful that I grew up in the brown, blue, and green of the countryside, rather than the concrete grey and brick red of the town.

So, I thought I might cover a few basic "how to" points of getting out on those dusty/muddy paths, since there are a few things to be taken into consideration. So, here we go . . .

The correct clothing

Before you leave the house check the weather. Most of us have a smart phone in our pockets these days - for better or worse - and it isn't too difficult to find the weather forecast on a weather app. However, having said that, I wouldn't just rely on the one app and I would check what at least two different sites have to say. I have noticed that Google and the BBC site often differ slightly in what they have to say about the weather forecast. Of course, check the sky outside your window, but I live in England where the weather can be sunny one moment and rainy the next. If one or another site or app says there is a chance of rain I take a coat with me. Also, make sure your shoes are water proof; you don't want to end up walking for a couple of hours in sodden trainers because you had to walk through puddles or wet vegetation.

Books, books, books

My other great passion, besides getting out into nature, is books. In fact, my other blog is a book blog (https://monstareader.blogspot.com/). And, there are a lot of good books out there on nature and wildlife; the sorts of things of which you might want to know as you tread country paths. For example, the writer, Tristan Gooley, has written a number of books on being outdoors, and he covers subjects such as weather conditions, topography, and many of the ways in which you can read signs of what lay ahead in the landscape, the sky, and bodies of water, etc. Or, perhaps wildlife is more your thing, in which case you might want to seek out a pocket book to help you identify some of what you might see. That suggestion goes for plants as well, especially if you intend to do a little foraging. Though, in that instance, be sure that you know exactly what you are doing and, especially when it comes to fungi, if you are unsure, leave it alone.

A camera? Binoculars?

If you want to hit the public footpaths with the intention of seeing wildlife, you may wish to take one or both of these with you. I can tell you from experience that wildlife doesn't often hang around when people come blundering through. Get too close and they are liable to take flight. So, take those binoculars, make it easier on yourself, and the wildlife, by observing from a distance. And, if you have a camera with you, you can document those special but all too fleeting moments that you are privileged enough to share with nature. Wildlife photography can be an extraordinarily rich and rewarding pastime, and it allows you to share those beautiful moments with others. You may well inspire love for nature in others through your pictures! Post them to social media - we love to see them!

Tell people where you are going

If you intend to go off walking or hiking alone, tell people where you are going. As with any other physical endeavour, long walks and hikes carry with them a fair share of risks. Going back to the first point on the list, if the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse, you may find yourself in a position where you are stuck for a while, wishing to take shelter where you can rather than carrying on, especially if paths have become hard to pass in adverse weather conditions. There is, of course, also a risk of injury. If you twist your ankle and you're an hour from anywhere that isn't fields or woodland you are going to be thankful you told someone where you are walking. Tying in with this point, make sure your phone is fully charged before you head out; not only will it mean you can make a call if you find yourself in need, but if you really need to be found, there are apps, such as what3words, that can help to pinpoint your location for others trying to find you.

Money

When I leave the house and head out for a walk, especially if it's a long one, I will have a little cash in my pocket more often than not. Firstly, money can mean food or drinks; I may want or need to stop at a shop to purchase some snacks and water. I have, now and then, been out walking and found myself feeling in need of a little pick me up, a little sugar to keep me going.

Maybe you are heading out fully intending to hit a few places for refreshments; the pub walk is great fun! A nice glass of something cool and refreshing in a cosy pub between hours of hiking country paths is a real treat!

However, a little cash in the pocket could also be used for transport. If you find yourself feeling unexpectedly tired, in adverse conditions, or having suffered an injury, and you are able to acquire access to public transport, you'll thank yourself for having pocketed your wallet before you left.

Leave nothing behind but footsteps

Unfortunately, when you go out into the countryside some of the most colourful things poking out from amongst the grasses are not flowers but plastic wrappers and drinks cans. It's a real shame because though those paths for us might be a great visit and opportunity for a little exercise, for others it is home and habitat. Around those paths are birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. If you were lucky, you probably heard or saw some of them.

You sometimes see some odd things discarded from countryside paths, and tipping in the countryside is an ugly practice. Endeavour to do what you can to disturb and disrupt as little as possible. Not only is it good practice to take any rubbish away, but also keep dogs on lead in the countryside. I know they can love to run free (Monsta was my own dog - hence why this blog is called Monsta Wild), but they can disturb or destroy nests; distress young animals that have been left by adults (leverets or fawns, for example); and, they can alarm farm animals.

Basically, do what you can to leave the paths and countryside you visit as much like they were before you turned up, and pop any litter you have in a bin.

Well, that's it for now. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and if you think of anything else it might be worth remembering before heading out for country walks do let me know in the comments. You can follow/support me over at ko-fi where I post updates on my blogging and writerly endeavours. All support is gratefully received and much appreciated! It keeps me writing and walking! Thank you!