We are going to be on TV!!!

Last year the BBC filmed us for a series about amateur naturalists. The programme is finally appearing on BBC4 on the evening of 10th July.
The whole family will be starring (for about 5 minutes) on 'Born to be Wild'.

Fathers' Day

On Fathers' Day I get to choose what we do as a family. So this year on 15th June we headed to Weeting Heath in Norfolk http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature%20reserves/map-links/weeting.htm and Lakenheath RSPB Reserve http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lakenheathfen/index.asp in Suffolk.

The former was for Stone Curlews. We just saw the one, but there was plenty about including nice views of Woodlark and a family of Spotted Flycatcher just by one of the hides. I took a photo of the Drinker Moth caterpillar above. These are quite impressive beasts. They are named after their habit of drinking dew in the mornings from grass.

Lakenheath was a bit wetter, but still plenty about. We did not manage to see the Golden Orioles.

Several Dragonflies about, though, including this Hairy Hawker, Brachytron pratense.

Click for the Forest

This is an interesting site I discovered while surfing.
http://ettklickforskogen.se/index.php?option=com_aclickfortheforest&Itemid=54

The aim is to save ancient 'old growth' Swedish forest.

They have already saved a site located opposite the village of Årrenjaka, close to the Arctic Circle.
They are now attempting to save Verles old growth forest - a 82 hectare site.


The idea is simple - you click on the site and the sponsor pays a donation! You can also buy trees for about £5-£15.

The Bird Fair in August

I will be running a workshop at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland in August. This will complement the Peregrine Productions stand at the fair.
The workshop is to help novices to start identifying insects. It will be on the Saturday (16th August 2008) and further details are on the Bird Fair website http://www.birdfair.org.uk/

Rumblings of Spring

It has been a while since the last post, so I thought I should put something down!

Spring finally seems to be trying to burst through. This means that Bumble Bees and Butterflies are finally around. We visited my parents in Kent and saw a few Butterflies including a Clouded Yellow at Samphire Hoe, Folkestone. This seemed early to me. The picture of the Clouded Yellow shown here was taken on holiday in Corsica some years ago.

Over the last few days, Beeflies and Anthophora Flower Bees have also been around.

Insects at a Theme Park

On Sunday 30th March, we Tom decided to go to Bewilderwood in the Norfolk Broads for his belated Birthday treat.
This is an 'eco-friendly' theme park in a wood and bog complex. It is based around a theme of some imaginary creatures called 'Boggles' and 'Twiggles' and their adventures. The website is at http://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/. It is not too bad as theme Parks go. The food is pretty good - makes a change!
The weather was much better than it had been the previous week. In fact it was so nice that numerous insects were about. There were at least 5 species of Ladybird - 7-spot, 10-spot, Larch, Pine and Eyed. Also several Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.
Lots of stoneflies were flying. I decided they were Nemoura cinerea. Unfortunately, we did not take a camera.

Easter snow

It's been a while since I posted anything on the blog.

Work has been busy, so not so much time for the important things like wildlife and painting. A snowy Easter caught our cows out - they were not too happy! The children enjoyed it though.

Some Bumble Bees have been out and about prior to this week, so they will hopefully be avoiding the cold snap.